Brooke Petersen
Brooke began her career as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. After working in the parish for 6 years, she returned to school to work on a PhD in Pastoral Psychology at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. Her dissertation specifically focused on Queer persons who had experienced Religious Trauma in non-accepting religious communities. Her academic research begins with the belief that religious communities must recognize and affirm the fluidity and diversity of gender identities and sexuality in order to meaningfully support human flourishing.
During her PhD work, she engaged in clinical training at the Center for Religion and Psychotherapy. Her therapeutic techniques are eclectic, meaning that she uses techniques and theories best suited to each client. Her work is intersectional in nature, centered in anti-racist and feminist theory. She is mindful of the ways that trauma influences life experience and therapeutic practice. She has experience with a wide range of clients in age, race, and sexual orientation. She also has significant experience in addressing spiritual concerns as well as religious difficulty and religious trauma. She is specifically trained in Narrative, Client-Centered, Family Systems and Self Psychology methods and is a licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Illinois.