Walking With You Toward Clarity, Resilience & Emotional Well-Being
Life is a complex journey. We can find ourselves challenged in that journey. In the complexities of life, finding a new direction can be helpful and sometimes life altering. We assist people with finding new directions. Sometimes these are small changes, sometimes they are large. We focus on helping clients develop insights, and applying those insights to make more effective decisions. We focus on relationships, and the complexity that can be a part of those relationships and other commitments we make.
Both Karen and Jay focus on treatment issues in the context of building strong relationships with our clients. Every new client is asked after one or two sessions if the fit between counselor and client is a good fit for the client. If a client decides it is not a good fit, we help them find a counselor that is better suited to the client’s needs. This journey is about what the client needs to accomplish, not the counselors schedule being filled.
“Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
Why Research Based?
Research is important because it can direct us to the most favorable outcomes and provides direction to the clinical process. As a counselor it is important to find solutions that bring about lasting change. Quick fixes often lead to a quick return to the old and familiar.Lasting Change
Lasting change is best directed toward measurable outcomes and improved emotional well-being.
Emotional Well-Being
Emotional well being can be difficult to measure, and it is different for each person.
Measurable goals however help to provide evidence of change. This can provide hope and encouragement on the path to an increased sense of contentment and gratitude with increased resilience.Speaking of Resilience…
The topic of resilience is well documented in research as highly related (correlated) to success across a broad spectrum of life functions and events. Those with resilience tend toward an increased level of satisfaction and success in life. In today’s culture so many are so easily offended, this is evidence of a lack of resilience to life’s realities and difficulties.
Pop Psych simply seeks to validate the feelings
Good clinical practice informs us that frequently not everything is what it seems to be. Clinical practice seeks insight to clarify perceptions and misperceptions. Clarity leads to more effective outcomes, not misdirected efforts.
Be a wise consumer, ask questions and expect answers. A good counselor will be willing to discuss their approach and the way in which they see people, how they approach change, and how do they help bring about change.
At Birch Creek Counseling Associates, we meet for a session or two. Then we evaluate the fit between counselor and client. We are realistic. Not everyone meshes well. If it is a good fit as determined by the client we move forward. If the fit is not good we will make every effort to help a client find a counselor that is more suitable to the client’s needs.
Meet Your Counselors
Karen Platzbecker, LCPC
In her experience of counseling, individuals, teenagers, pre adolescents, and married couples over the last 15 years, it has been Karen’s privilege to be invited into the challenges and struggles of life and relationships. Through a variety of therapy modalities and interventions, Karen will work to choose the most productive options for your counseling work. This is not one-size-fits-all, but uniquely prescribed for you at your pace. The goal is to help you progress to a better level of hope, healing, and enjoyment in life.
Jay Budzynski
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1994, MA Counseling Psychology
Trinity College, Deerfield, IL, 1987 BA Psychology
I have had 32 years in Private Practice serving the Northern Illinois / Southern Wisconsin area. My passion lies in using research based psychology to bring health and wellness to those seeking to make a difference in their lives.
My personal journey through struggles and difficulties led me to counseling as a client in college. My experience in college helped me to initially investigate an interest in psychology. That interest eventually led to a deepening passion for the profession. I have sought out mentors, instruction, experiences, and clients that have helped me to increase my understanding and skill level in my practice. This has always been with an eye toward solid research-based psychology on a variety of topics relevant to clients’ needs.
In my practice, popular or feel-good psychology has no place. Where real difficulty and suffering exist, real, solid, tried and true interventions are needed.
In my practice, for those seeking spiritual health, those principles are integrated into our treatment. Not as a second thought, but as a primary reality for many of our clients. I do not see my faith as a feel-good strategy, but as the basis of truth within our lives. Having been blessed with the best medical services in the world (Rochester, MN), I see the need for that level of professionalism, competency, and continued growth as a provider in my profession.
If you simply want someone to agree with you, no matter how your choices affect your life negatively, this office is not the place for you. I have always, and will continue to, assist others in finding healthy habits, relationships, and places to live within. I have had to learn to be resilient, and have benefited greatly from that resilience. I am committed to helping people build resilience in a world that challenges us at every turn.
Tina Paggi, Counseling Intern
Building a bridge between service and healing has been the defining theme in Tina’s career. Born and raised in Tennessee, she spend four years in the U.S. Army, including two deployments for OIF I and OIF III to Kuwait and Iraq. Following her active duty service, Tina served three years in the Illinois National Guard and spent over a decade as a Veteran Service Officer for the State of Illinois.
For 13 years, Karen walked alongside Veterans and their families, helping them navigate the complexities of the benefits system. This work deepened her understanding of the unique challenges faced by those who serve. As she completes her Master’s in Clinical MEntal Health Counseling, she is transitioning that dedication into the therapy room.
Tina’s approach is rooted in the resilience she witnessed in the military and first responder communities. Whether you are a Veteran navigating transition, a first responder facing high-stress demands, or a community member seeking a supportive space, Tina is here to help you navigate life’s challenges with a counselor who truly understands the meaning of service.
Tina will finish her academic work in May 2026 and join the staff at Birch Creek as a counselor.