ARTI PERSAUD, Ph.D. works with adults, children, adolescents, and families from diverse backgrounds. Dr. Persaud has worked in the field since 2000 in varying capacities and multiple clinical settings. These include domestic violence agencies, inpatient and outpatient hospitals, homeless shelters, youth mentoring services, rape crisis hotlines, child protection services, and educational settings ranging from preschool to college. In addition, she has a myriad of clinical and supervisory experience with children, residential, and graduate internship programs.

Dr. Persaud specializes in working with domestic violence, teen dating violence, prevention education, the child welfare system, child abuse and neglect, complex child and adult trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, dissociation, special populations, crisis intervention, infertility issues, grief and loss, and sexual assault.

Dr. Persaud values the therapeutic relationship, and her goal is to apply her experience and compassion to facilitate healing for clients. Dr. Persaud employs a client centered approach while encouraging and supporting change by creating a safe space for clients, trust, non- judgmental, and empathy. Dr. Persaud believes that clients are the experts on their lives, and she is there to help them see their strengths, utilize their resources, begin to address their personal issues, improve their quality of life, and ultimately attain a resolution to their issues.

Dr. Persaud has a strong interest in social justice issues including violence against women, diversity, and multicultural issues.

Psychotherapy for Transgender, Gender Non-confirming, Gender Expansive and Non-binary (TGNCNB)

Dr. Persaud provides affirmative care for Transgender, Gender Non-conforming, Gender Expansive and Non-binary (TGNCNB) people.

In Dr. Persaud’s work with transgender youth, it is necessary to ensure that individual, family, and community factors are addressed to support resilience. Individual resilience can be promoted through building stress resistance. The family domain builds resilience with transgender youth when there is a supportive and unconditional parental figure. Community resilience is fostered when all school personnel ensure there is safety and social support built into all levels of the educational system.

Dr. Persaud works with the staff at The Gender & Sex Development Program at Lurie Children’s Hospital to provide the gender identity assessment and evaluation Letter of Readiness for transgender youth who wish to start cross hormone treatment. Lurie’s Gender Program provides comprehensive services for transgender, gender expansive and gender-nonconforming youth.

Dr. Persaud is dedicated to working with the transgender population and participated in November 2019 Harvard Medical School’s ‘Excellence in Transgender Health Conference”. Dr. Persaud participated in a yearlong certificate program “Advanced Training in Affirmative Therapy for Transgender Communities” through Widener University in 2020.

Education & Credentials

PhD Community Psychology, National Louis University

MA, Clinical Psychology, Argosy University

LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor)

Professional Affiliations

American Counseling Association (ACA)

International Society for the Study of Trauma & Dissociation (ISSTD)

Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association (IMHCA)

Presentation & Consultation Topics

Domestic Violence and Trauma in Children

Child Abuse and Neglect/ Child Protective Services

Prevention Education in Schools

Bullying

Women experiencing Homelessness and Trauma

Childhood Sexual Abuse/ Adult Sexual Assault

South Asian Indian Experiencing Domestic Violence