Founder, Therapist, Educational Advocate

Dr. Michelle Magida is the Founder and Clinical Director of Therapy Etc, a successful group practice dedicated to improving social, emotional, behavioral and academic functioning. She has over 15 years of experience in helping children, adolescents, young adults, families, parents and schools achieve social, emotional, behavioral and academic success.

Dr. Magida’s background in special education and expertise in executive functioning, helps in treating individuals with anxiety, depression, emotional regulation difficulties and/or attention/focus issues. In addition, she enjoys partnering with parents as they develop new tools to diminish power struggles and establish healthy boundaries within the family system.

Dr. Magida has presented in numerous venues on such topics as understanding executive functioning, how to avoid the dreaded power struggle, classroom management, and Polyvagal Theory in therapy. She has also created a parenting course titled Connection Before Correction.

Before founding Therapy Etc, Dr. Magida worked as a special education teacher in the therapeutic day school setting. She also served as the Behavior Intervention Specialist for District 60 in Waukegan, Illinois, providing training and support to district social workers, psychologists and administration.

Dr. Magida earned her Bachelor’s in Science in Education from Illinois State University. She received her Master's degree in Clinical Psychology, with a concentration in children & adolescents, from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She earned her Doctorate in Counseling Education & Supervision from Adler University.

Specialties:

• Child / Adolescent
• Trauma
• Mood & Anxiety
• ADHD
• Family / Parenting
• Anger / Emotional Control