




At PFECT, we guide people of all ages—children, teens, young adults, couples, and families—through life's toughest times, focusing on school anxiety and refusal. Instead of relying on just one method, we combine diverse therapeutic styles, including CBT, DBT, play-based, and narrative therapy, to create tailored, empowering experiences for each family.
Jena Griffin, LCSW, LBS‑1, provides focused therapy for individuals and young adults. She excels in helping young clients with emotional regulation, self-esteem, executive functioning, and school-related stress, enabling them to confidently tackle new life stages. Her warm, strengths-based approach helps teens apply their learning in both home and school settings.
Nicole Wiesman, LCPC, specializes in therapy for teens (13+), couples, and families. She strengthens communication, resolves conflict, and navigates challenges like adoption, blended-family dynamics, and school anxiety. Nicole’s person-centered, solution-focused approach builds connections by fostering understanding and appreciation among clients.
Jena and Nicole embody PFECT’s belief that therapy is most effective when it’s multifaceted, family-inclusive, and coach-based. Whether in individual, couples, or family sessions, or through peer support groups and workshops, our team addresses emotional, relational, and developmental needs with practical strategies and genuine empathy.
PFECT, which stands for "Positive Foundations for Emotional Care and Therapy," is a dedicated therapy group in Downers Grove, focusing on individual, couple, and family sessions, especially around school anxiety, school refusal, and family dynamics. Co-founders Nicole Wiesman, LCPC, and Jena Griffin, LCSW, bring their expertise in working with teens, families, children, tweens, and young adults. At PFECT, we combine cognitive-behavioral techniques with a relational, strengths-based approach. We believe real change happens by empowering the entire family, helping everyone feel understood, supported, and ready to grow.
The therapists at PFECT specialize in anxiety, school refusal, family conflict, life transitions, and relationship challenges. Nicole Wiesman, LCPC, has a particular passion for working with teens, couples, and families navigating communication issues, adoption, and school-related stress. Jena Griffin, LCSW, specializes in helping children, tweens, and young adults build emotional regulation skills and confidence through a creative, play-based lens. Together, they offer deeply personalized care with a focus on strengthening the entire family system.
PFECT is unique in that we specialize not just in individual care, but in supporting the full family system—because we know real change doesn’t happen in isolation. Nicole Wiesman, LCPC, brings expertise in complex family dynamics, adoption, and teen mental health, while Jena Griffin, LCSW, offers extensive training in child development, school anxiety, and play-based interventions. Together, they combine practical strategies with deep empathy, creating a space where kids, teens, and families feel understood, empowered, and truly supported.
At PFECT, we’re in-network with a wide range of insurers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Oscar Health, United Healthcare/Optum, Oxford, Cigna, and Anthem EAP/Carelon Behavioral Health. If you have a different insurance plan, you're still welcome—our clinicians are out-of-network providers, and we’ll supply a superbill to support your reimbursement claims. For those opting for private pay, our session fees are capped at $150, payable at the time of service, and we accept credit/debit cards, checks, cash, and HSA/FSA.
ADHD - Skill-building and support around organizational challenges, distracted attention, procrastination; building and maintaining healthy routines and structure
Adoption & foster care - Support around pre- and post-adoption challenges including family dynamics, challenging behaviors, attachment issues, and navigation of the child welfare system or adoption agencies
Anxiety - Coping with excessive worry, nervousness, or stress; intense discomfort in social settings (social anxiety); sudden and intense feelings of panic (panic disorder)
Child mental health - Specialized strategies for common childhood disorders including attention issues, attachment problems, behavioral disorders, learning disorders, autism spectrum diagnoses, and feeding or elimination issues.
Life transitions - Coping with difficult or impactful life changes, such as moving to a new area, relationship transitions, child rearing, or career changes; learning self-care to better manage resulting stress
Relationship issues - Understanding one’s wants and needs in relationships; exploring patterns of interaction, addressing concerns, and strengthening satisfaction in relationships and dating
The practice will call you for a free 10 minute phone call to discuss your needs and ensure a match!
This provider has no upcoming call times available.