Dr. April Crawford

Dr. April Crawford is a licensed clinical psychologist with several years of experience working with children, adolescents, families, and adults with a wide range of presenting concerns. Dr. Crawford has an interest and experience in the treatment of trauma, PTSD, mood, and anxiety disorders. Additionally, Dr. Crawford helps patients through challenging periods of adjustment, including job transitions, ending a romantic relationship, pregnancy, and returning to school. As an individual that identifies as biracial and is part of the LGBTQ community, she brings a unique perspective to therapy and welcomes discussions of diversity.

Dr. Crawford is a firm believer that individuals naturally seek self-fulfillment and have inherent strengths that when fostered can help them reach their goals. She uses a client-centered approach which posits that positive change can occur through creating an environment that honors the rights of patients and grants them the opportunity to explain their experience from their personal and cultural perspective. Dr. Crawford also integrates cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions and other evidenced based treatments into her work creating individualized treatment plans for each person. Additionally, Dr. Crawford has specialized training in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), an evidence-based treatment for PTSD.

Prior to joining Chicago Center for Growth and Change, Dr. Crawford worked as a staff psychologist at Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital’s (LPCH) outpatient clinic serving mainly adults with a wide variety of mood, substance abuse, and psychotic disorders. She also supervised doctoral psychology students providing clinical care and conducting research on LPCH’s inpatient units. Dr. Crawford has worked and trained in a variety of settings, including a college counseling center, adult inpatient psychiatric setting, a rape crisis center, a juvenile offender probation program, and was in various roles at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center’s (AIMMC) Behavioral Health Services (i.e., outpatient, consult-liaison to the medical floors, and as a crisis worker in the emergency room).