About

Kathryn D. Gardner, MA, LMHC, LCPC, PMH-C, CHC

Women's health and well-being is my passion

With over 20 years of experience providing counseling, I have focused the last 15 years
on the specialty area of women's health. It is my favorite topic!

Who Am I

I am a mom of 2 kids, a wife of a retired police officer, a Licensed Therapist (in FL and IL) and Certified Health Coach. I am involved in our Catholic church. I specialize in working with all types of helpers - moms, teachers, nurses, therapists, social workers and family caretakers. I know how challenging it is to juggle it all. In 2022, our family moved from Chicago, IL, to Tampa, FL, to live near the ocean and find tranquility!

My Therapy Style

Every woman is unique. I enjoy meeting you, hearing what your struggles have been. I want to connect with you and am honored to be part of your journey.
It is important to me that you learn about your mind and body. I want you to walk away from the very first session with tools to make changes. In our ongoing therapy relationship, you will be able to grow and improve in each role you have. We will go over self-care techniques and natural tools to manage your health, mood and anxiety.
I am trained in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. I love the ability to quickly identify what is triggering you, recognize if your thoughts are rational or irrational. An action plan will help you to make changes right away. Positive Psychology has brought out my strengths and helped me to find happiness, I believe it can do the same for you!

Faith

My faith and spirituality have deepened since becoming a mom. I was raised Catholic and enjoy being part of a strong Christian community. I seek God's wisdom and strength in all aspects of my life, especially parenting and business. I know God's deep love for each of us. Reading the Bible and praying have brought me such comfort during dark times. I love sharing faith, hope and love!

Specialty areas:

  • Helping other helpers to find hope and happiness
  • Family caregivers in families coping with a serious diagnosis, illness or a tragic injury of a loved one (for example, caring for your parent, spouse or child)
  • Professional helpers: nurses, medical professionals, teachers, therapists, social workers, and those who care for others in their career
  • Anxiety, Worry, Over-thinking
  • Burnout
  • Panic Disorder
  • Pregnancy and Postpartum stress
  • Hormonal stress, including peri-menopause and menopause
  • Grief and Loss
  • Pregnancy loss, Infant loss


Therapy:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • Positive Psychology
  • Humanistic Psychology


Background:

  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor (Florida)
  • Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (Illinois)
  • Perinatal Mental Health Certified (PMH-C)
  • Certified Health Coach (CHC)


Services

  • Individual Counseling
  • Public Speaking
  • Retreat Leader

Topics I Teach

  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
  • Women's Health
  • Family Caregiver support
  • Anxiety Coping Tools
  • Pregnancy Loss, Perinatal Loss
  • Christian and Catholic Spirituality
  • Self-Care and Well-being
  • Postpartum/Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders
  • Perimenopause and Menopause Education

Roles

  • Adjunct Professor of Psychology, St. Leo University, St. Leo, FL, 2023-current
  • Chair of the Board, Postpartum Support International - Illinois Chapter, 2017-2020
  • Group Leader and co-founder, Cherished Angel Perinatal Loss support group, at Little Company of Mary Hospital, 2018-2020

Find Your Tranquility

  • You will experience times when you feel calm, confident and able to enjoy the moment ~ that's it, that's a Tranquility Moment.
  • In a Tranquility Moment, you feel joy, peace and love.
  • You are filled with hope.
  • In a Tranquility Moment, your body, mind and soul are aligned in harmony.
  • Seek and cherish Tranquility Moments.


Be Well and God Bless,

Kathryn Gardner

Bio
I love what I do and the nearly 1000 families I have seen get stronger through counseling. I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and a Certified Health Coach (CHC). I have been providing quality care in Individual and Family Therapy since 2001. I have searched out and completed specialty training in anxiety, women's health, including Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, reproductive health, hormonal health, pregnancy, perimenopause, grief and loss.

I work with women to gain a better understanding of the situation and new ways to cope. My therapy style includes listening to the struggles, giving education and setting a plan for progress. I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, as well as Family Systems, Interpersonal and Psychodynamic therapy. I would also love to share the research-based exercises from Positive Psychology with you in session. I have a sensitivity to various concerns and dedication to working with each patient to feel hope again.

In 2014, I was a Co-Founder of New Dawn Wellness Group, one of the first integrated women's counseling practices in Illinois. We collaborated mental health care directly with a multi-disciplinary team of OB/GYNs and women's specialists.

In 2017, I became the Chair of the Board of the Postpartum Support International - Illinois Chapter. After years of collaborating with Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder clinicians around Illinois, I was happy to lead the state in unifying services and resources to all women. I have been a member and involved with Postpartum Support International since 2010, including being a volunteer on the warmline.

In 2018, I became the Group Leader and a co-founder of the Cherished Angel Perinatal Loss support group at Little Company of Mary Hospital, Evergreen Park, IL. The group supports women and their partners coping with miscarriage, stillbirth and infant death. 

In 2018, after 13 years of being in private practice, I saw a need for a place for women to receive specialty counseling and opened Tranquility Health and Reproductive Wellness, LLC, in Illinois and Florida. (Renamed to 'Find Your Tranquility' in 2023). I have years of training and have helped hundreds of women coping with becoming pregnant, during their pregnancy, coping with the loss of the pregnancy or infant, and managing the high responsibility of a newborn and oneself postpartum. I have been working with women in all stages of reproductive and hormonal wellness. It is important to me that helpers have the best support to enable them to care for and care about their family!

Yet, my most creative project has been the beginning of my YouTube Channel in 2020. I began with over 30 videos for moms, coping with emotions and motherhood stress. Then, I transitioned to videos about women's health, hormones, perimenopause to menopause, and sharing DIY Wellness Travel tips. 

In 2020, I completed my Certified Health Coaching (CHC) Program with the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute. As a mom and clinician, I have respected the work and research of the Dr. Bill Sears' and Martha Sears' books and resources. It was exciting to learn from the amazing Dr. Sears Health Coaching team, to have more resources for moms. I started my coaching services to help moms improve their health, learn about their hormones and find tranquility. I love sharing my favorite tools with women to improve their body, mind and soul. 

My wish is to gain more knowledge and tools to share with women, in order to support YOU and provide you with education, encouragement and empowerment on your wellness journey!

 “Weather out the storm in the island of tranquility
to find inner peace."

Ana Monnar
Ego says, "Once everything falls into place, I'll find peace."

Spirit says, "Find your peace, and then everything
                   will fall into place."

Marianne Williamson
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