About Silvia Skripkauskas, LPC, RN

Licensed Professional Counselor | Registered Nurse | Women’s Mental Health Specialist

About Silvia

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Registered Nurse (RN), and National Certified Counselor (NCC) who brings more than two decades of experience in healthcare, research, and women’s mental health to my work as a mental health therapist.

With master’s degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from National Louis University and in Health Services Policy from Northwestern University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Biology from Lake Forest College, I integrate science, empathy, and mindfulness to support women through life’s complex transitions.

My work centers on helping women reconnect with themselves and trust life as an unfolding process.
Silvia Skripkauskas, LPC

My Path To Becoming A Therapist

My journey began in a family of physicians, where conversations about healing and care were woven into daily life. From an early age, I understood that well-being reaches beyond the body. And that it lives in how we feel, think, and connect to others. Growing up across cultures shaped my appreciation for the many ways people make meaning and express resilience. I’ve long been drawn to people’s stories, to helping them find clarity, compassion, and a sense of purpose within their experiences.

That desire guided me through years of education and professional exploration. I worked in research at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and later as a senior manager at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, where I supported studies focused on patient well-being and quality of life. Along the way, I earned my nursing degree and became a Registered Nurse, working directly with patients offering guidance and wellness coaching through telehealth. But despite the accomplishments and credentials, something still felt incomplete.

I realized that what I loved most was not the systems or the data, it was the human connection. I wanted to hear people’s stories, sit with their emotions, and help them find relief and clarity. That realization brought me to therapy.

My Approach To Therapy

Today, my work as a therapist blends the precision of science with the empathy of human connection. My approach is relational, client-centered, and grounded in evidence-based methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based practices. I’m eclectic in what I use with clients, trusting that each person is the best teacher of what they need. I believe that healing begins with understanding because when you feel seen and heard, new possibilities for growth emerge.

I also draw deeply on my nursing background and mind-body training. The way we experience stress, burnout, anxiety, or hormonal change is not just in our minds, it also lives in our bodies. In our session, I pay attention to the full picture you’re sharing with me including your thoughts, your posture, your breath, and your tone.

Sometimes what feels like “burnout” or “not being good enough” has as much to do with physiology and hormones as it does with external pressures and what’s going on in your heart. I help clients understand their mind-body connection and learn the skills needed to care for both their emotional and physical well-being.

Supporting Women Through Transition

I specialize in working with women ages 18 and older who are navigating the challenges of identity, relationships, career, motherhood, caregiving, and aging.

Many of the women I work with describe feeling stretched thin, restless, or disconnected from themselves, as though they’re always caring for others but rarely have time or space to care for themselves.

Some are young professionals questioning their direction, others are mothers balancing careers and households.

One of my particular areas of focus is perimenopause and menopause, a stage that too often goes undiscussed or misunderstood.

As both a nurse and a therapist, I bring a compassionate, informed perspective to this deeply physical and emotional transition. I understand how changes in hormones can influence mood, anxiety, sleep, and energy, and how easily these symptoms can be dismissed or misdiagnosed.

My goal is to help you understand what is happening in your body, advocate for yourself in medical settings, and find emotional steadiness amid life’s changes.

My role is to be a catalyst for that change. I’m here to listen carefully, challenge gently when needed, and create a space where you can reconnect with your values, your strengths, and your sense of self.

Through this work, many discover greater clarity and ease along with a renewed sense of purpose and the freedom to live in alignment with what they truly desire.

What Therapy Is Like When You Work With Me

Clients often describe therapy with me as grounding, collaborative, and deeply human. Sessions are conversational rather than clinical. I offer you a place to talk freely and explore what’s working, what isn’t, and where you want to go next. I don’t tell clients what to do; instead, I ask questions that help uncover patterns, beliefs, and possibilities that might not have been visible to you before.

Together, we reframe the narrative inside of your head and by doing so we transform your self-criticism into curiosity, relieve anxiety and sadness and transform uncertainty into forward movement.

I believe there are no right or wrong answers when it comes to personal growth, only the next right step for you.

The Journey Of Becoming

Throughout my own life, I’ve learned that growth rarely happens all at once. It unfolds over time and through the choices we make. As a woman, a mother, and a lifelong learner, I understand the pressure to be everything to everyone. I also know the strength that comes from pausing, listening inward, and finding your own rhythm again.

Therapy is often where moments of clarity begin. Whether you’re feeling anxious, burned out, disconnected, or simply unsure of what’s next, you deserve a space to pause, reflect, and rebuild. It would be an honor to walk alongside you in that process.

Education & Credentials

MS, Clinical Mental Health Counseling — National Louis University
MPPA, Health Services Policy — Northwestern University
BSN, Nursing — University of Illinois at Chicago
BA, Psychology & Biology — Lake Forest College
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) — Illinois (#178.021901)
Registered Nurse (RN) — Illinois (#041.425548)
National Certified Counselor (NCC) (#1739088)
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Facilitator — Centre for Mindfulness Studies
Mind-Body Skills Group Facilitator — Center for Mind-Body Medicine

Areas Of Focus

I specialize in:

Ready To Begin?

If you’re ready to take the next step toward feeling more balanced, supported, and at ease, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out today to schedule a consultation or ask any questions about therapy. Together, we can start creating space for the version of you that’s ready to emerge.

You Don’t Have To Hold It All Alone. Reach Out Today.

I offer therapy exclusively via telehealth and am licensed to practice in the state of Illinois. Gray Therapy Group is a practice committed to high quality care that prioritizes women’s mental health and emotional well-being.