Elma Augustine, PsyD
Teletherapy: Illinois
In-Person: Chicago – Lakeview
Elma Augustine is an experienced psychologist with a demonstrated history in providing mental health care. She holds a doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from Illinois School of Professional Psychology and is trained in Advanced Accredited Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counseling. She is also a certified Crisis Intervention Training Coordinator (CIT International) and is skilled in psychological assessment and treatment of abuse, forensic risks and needs, custody and competency evaluations, and mental health disorders that impact children, adolescents, and adults.
Dr, Augustine has been a licensed psychologist in Illinois for 31 years. She has served in various clinical and supervisory positions which include specialized hospital units for the assessment and treatment of abused children and adolescents, inpatient and outpatient mental health facilities, regional coordinator of mental health, DCFS consultant, correctional systems. Her most recent position was Director of Training and CQI data and, Unit Director of Super maximum Division at Cook County Jail. She has also held international licenses to practice in the Cayman Islands and Belize.
Dr. Augustine has presented papers locally at the Illinois Psychological Association Convention, Chicago Family Therapy Conference, Family Institute, Illinois Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. She has also presented papers at international conferences in Antigua, Guatemala, Portugal, Morocco, Montreal, Deli, India, Martinique, and Guadalupe. Dr. Augustine is also a published author of a booklet on Color Prejudice, republished in The Psychological Legacy of Slavery, Essays on Trauma, Healing and the Living Past (Edited by Benjamin Bowser and Aime Charles-Nicolas, 2021) and co-authored a manuscript on ‘Reduction of Hospital Recidivism of the Mentally Ill’.
Dr. Augustine is a strong advocate for at risk disadvantaged individuals faced with social and cultural barriers, and individuals who are stigmatized because of their struggle with mental illness. Additionally, her passion for enhancing mental health is evident through past appearances on TV and radio presentations and in international newspaper articles on mental health issues in Belize and the Cayman Islands.
Dr. Augustine offers treatment for mental disorders, abuse, emotional and behavioral difficulties, relationship difficulties, losses and separation, drug, and alcohol addiction, managing stress and post-traumatic stress symptoms.
Dr. Augustine’s treatment focus is to instill hope, enhance mental health, foster personal development and self-empowerment and to foster healing from abuse, trauma, addictions, emotional and behavioral difficulties. Dr. Augustine’s approach is holistic and is also influenced by the trauma-informed model of “How is your ability to be well, communicate with others, build meaningful relationships, live the life you want, impacted by what happened to you?”
She also conducts psycho-educational workshops and trainings for social service organizations, non-governmental organizations, parents, teachers, mental health professionals, court, police, and prison staff, as well as for corporate organizations invested in keeping their workforce healthy, resilient, and motivated.
Areas of Interest:
Addiction/Substance Use, Anger Management, Anxiety/Social Anxiety, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Bipolar Disorder, Child/Adolescent, Depression, Grief/Loss, Identity/Self-Esteem, Marriage/Relationships, Mindfulness/Meditation, Mood Disorders, Neglect, Panic Disorder, Parenting, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Prejudice/Discrimination/Social Injustice, Sexual Abuse, Stress, Trauma