Counseling Services is a component of the Wellness Center. We offer Dominican University students confidential counseling to help cope with day-to-day stresses and difficult periods in life.
 

Topics of concern might include, but aren’t limited to,

  • relationship issues,
  • stress management and self-care,
  • depression,
  • self-esteem,
  • anxiety, and
  • transitions.
Our mental health professionals are available for supportive, individualized counseling in a safe, comfortable environment.

There is no fee for Dominican University students for these services.

You can schedule an appointment by calling (708) 524-6229. 
 
The Dominican University Counseling Staff would like to remind you that email communication is not secure; therefore, we cannot ensure confidentiality. Please use your discretion when sending information that is sensitive in nature.
Counseling files are maintained independently, and they are not a part of permanent student records. Administrators, professors, residence hall staff, parents, friends and roommates cannot obtain information about a student or a student's counseling. The counseling staff abides by state laws and professional regulations that inform a counselor’s conduct with respect to a student's privacy.
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    FAQ: Distressed Students Required DOMU -Identifying and Assisting Distressed Student.docx Edit FAQ: Distressed Students Delete FAQ: Distressed Students
    Young People's Alcoholic Anonymous Meetings

    This is a list of meetings in the nearby and Chicago area where college age people attend. The * indicates open meetings where anyone can come. It's a good idea to check https://www.niafg.org/ to make sure the times and location are correct. If you are starting to attend meetings, try several, maybe six or so, to see what is a good place for you. And contact the Wellness Center if you need more help. We do assessment and counseling for DU students. 708-524-6229.

    Required youngpeoples.docx Edit Young People's Alcoholic Anonymous Meetings Delete Young People's Alcoholic Anonymous Meetings
    While focused on a reorder icon, press the Enter key or spacebar to "select" the icon. While a reorder icon is selected, pressing the up and down arrows will change the order of the selected item within the list. Pressing Enter key or spacebar again will drop the selected item at that location in the list.
While focused on a reorder icon, press the Enter key or spacebar to "select" the icon. While a reorder icon is selected, pressing the up and down arrows will change the order of the selected item within the list. Pressing Enter key or spacebar again will drop the selected item at that location in the list.
Counseling Services is located in The Wellness Center on the lower level of Coughlin Hall.
Michael Purcell, PsyD 
Assistant Clinical Director for Counseling Services
mpurcell@dom.edu
 
 
Dr. Michael Purcell is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with a diverse professional background who joined the Wellness Center in 2009. He has extensive clinical experience in hospital, school, and community mental health settings. Michael earned his doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago. At the core, Michael values the uniqueness, complexity, and strength of each person. He greatly appreciates the tremendous diversity within the university community and is especially interested in supporting those students who have felt marginalized due to race, ethnicity, social class, spiritual beliefs, gender, age, sexual orientation, and physical appearance or disability. Michael values collaboration in his clinical approach and seeks to help his clients recognize and utilize their strengths in overcoming obstacles in their lives. He strives to provide an atmosphere of genuineness, empathy, and care, so that clients feel safe enough to share of themselves. Michael also values humor as a way to cope with the unpredictable twists and turns which life often brings. In addition to counseling students directly, Michael is proud to direct the training and supervision for our great counseling team comprised of clinical professionals and graduate interns. He also coordinates the development of mental health outreach programs across campus and serves on the Behavioral Concerns Team. Michael lives nearby in the Galewood neighborhood of Chicago with his wife and three children. In addition to spending time with family and friends, Michael enjoys movies, reading, jogging, and other recreational sports. 

Michael values collaboration in his clinical approach and seeks to help clients recognize and utilize their strengths in overcoming obstacles in their lives. In addition to providing counseling to students directly, Michael will also provide training and supervision for graduate interns and counseling staff, as well as coordinate the development of mental health outreach programs across campus.  

Kathleen Janosky, MSW, LCSW
Staff Therapist
kjanosky@dom.edu
 
Kathleen, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, has been working in the Wellness Center since 2009. Kathleen obtained her Masters in Social Work from Loyola University in 2001 and has specialized training in domestic violence and sexual assault. She has a broad range of clinical experience including working in community mental health centers and in homeless shelters. Kathleen believes that a collaborative therapeutic relationship is the cornerstone for creating a safe space where individuals use their unique history, needs and strengths to begin positive change. Areas of particular clinical interest are trauma, body image, anxiety and identity.
Joyce Mojica, PsyD
Staff Therapist
jmojica@dom.edu
 

Joyce Rawdhetubhai, Psy.D., CADC is a licensed clinical psychologist who earned her doctoral degree at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in 2007. She has worked in various community and clinical settings, including Youth Outreach Services, Pillars, and a group private practice in the southwestern suburbs. Joyce has experience treating children, adolescents, adults and families with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, self esteem and substance abuse. She uses a collaborative and interpersonal approach when working with clients and also focuses on psychodynamic, systemic and cognitive behavioral techniques. Her interests include helping others manage their anxiety and depression using stress management techniques, such as mindfulness and breathing to help focus their attention as well as exploring how their thoughts might impede their progress. Joyce also enjoys exploring how family dynamics contribute to stressors and relational concerns with clients.

Elizabeth (Betsy) D. Ritzman, MS, MDiv, LCPC
Director

Rev. Elizabeth (Betsy) D. Ritzman, Director of the Wellness Center at Dominican University. A licensed clinical professional counselor, Ritzman is also an ordained minister in the American Baptist Churches of the USA. Ritzman received a bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work and religion from Ottawa University in Ottawa, KS, a master’s degree in divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Kansas State University. Betsy comes to Dominican from her position as director of the mental health counseling practice at AltCare Health Center in Oak Park. She previously served as director of the AIDS Pastoral Care Network at Access Community Health Network, Chicago and as director of Midwest Resources for Counseling & Psychotherapy in Oak Lawn.

Her focus is on identifying best practices in health care and mental health and developing the competencies of teams and organizations to provide “excellent, innovative and compassionate clinical care so communities and individuals can stay connected to their potential for growth and transformation”. Betsy directs the Wellness Center operations, provides administrative supervision to all staff and provides psychotherapy to limited number of students.