Pearl Parks ​

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With expertise in working with individuals, couples, and families, Pearl is a certified facilitator of Gottman's "7 Principles for Making Marriage Work" program. Her leadership in the field is evident through her past presidency of the Illinois Association of Couples and Family Counseling. Pearl's commitment to professional growth is demonstrated by her receipt of the Schultz Foundation's Professional Development Grant for training in Northwestern University's Divorce Mediation program.

Pearl's extensive counseling experience spans various challenging areas, including work with domestic violence survivors, youth in specialized foster care, and adolescent sex offenders in residential treatment. Her career has included roles as a Rehabilitation Counselor at Elgin Mental Health Center and the Illinois Department of Human Services, as well as serving as a Guardianship Representative for the State's Guardianship and Advocacy Commission. Currently, Pearl contributes to the Illinois Department of Correction's Parole and Re-entry Group, helping individuals transitioning from correctional facilities find housing.

Passionate about destigmatizing mental illness and promoting mental health awareness, Pearl is particularly focused on outreach within church and African American communities. She actively engages with her local church, facilitating "Mental Health Weekend" events, "Loving Yourself" workshops, and grief support groups. Pearl's expertise extends to training ministries in establishing counseling care programs and speaking on crucial topics such as trauma, grief, anxiety, and depression.

Pearl's commitment to professional development and community support is evident in her establishment of the "South Suburban Clinical Therapists Consultation Group" which provides networking and consultation
opportunities for therapists in her area. As a clinical supervisor, she mentors master's-level clinicians, further contributing to the field's growth.

Her dedication to advancing mental health awareness has led Pearl to present at conferences, including her workshop "Increased Suicides Among Faith Leaders – Restoring Our Communities' Strongest" at the Illinois Association of Multicultural Counseling's Conference.

Pearl brings her wealth of experience and passion for mental health advocacy to her role on the Schultz
Foundation Board, where she is excited to contribute to advancing counseling as a means of improving community health and well-being.  

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