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Inside everyone is an essential desire to create and live a life of fulfillment and happiness.
Smart Love Family Services recognizes this basic human desire and our mission is to help people increase their inner well-being and build healthy relationships. We do this through our counseling services, early childhood education, assessments and tutoring, and parent/community resources programs that are based on the well-established and recognized Smart Love™ principles.
Smart Love Family Services remains committed to helping create a truly just society where every person has a chance to live a long, safe, and fulfilling life. Creating a future that is free from racism and all kinds of hate begins with how we treat our children today. Children grow into open-minded, patient, caring, and loving adults through the relationship they experience with their parents and caregivers. When parents offer kindness, acceptance, and love even when children display mad, angry, or other unhappy behaviors, children will grow up to show that same kindness, acceptance and love towards others. Smart Love’s programs are designed to help create that future for the children of today and the children of tomorrow. In the same way, Smart Love’s services for adults are intended to help them reclaim and sustain their birthright to happiness.
What We Offer
Counseling Services
We offer a full range of services, including child, adolescent, and adult therapy, play therapy, couples and family therapy, parent coaching and counseling, psychological and neurological testing, treatment for autism spectrum disorder, and child and adolescent group therapy.
Early Childhood Education Programs
We offer toddler, preschool, and kindergarten programs in addition to summer camp, all based on the Smart Love approach to early childhood education.
Assessments & Tutoring
We offer programs designed to support children and adolescents with learning challenges and their families. Our services include therapeutic tutoring, psychoeducational evaluations, teacher consultations, and parent guidance.
Parenting & Community Resources
We offer a range of support for parents and the community, including peer support groups, seminars, webinars, videos, hand-outs and publications.
Professional Development
We offer a range of programs for schools, organizations and students to advance their knowledge of the Smart Love philosophy and approach, including workshops, internships and training.
Publications
We offer a range of publications for those interested in learning more about how to apply the Smart Love principles in their own lives and families.
Smart Love Family Services offers a number of ways to help families access our programs and services that they cannot otherwise afford. We offer fee waivers and reductions, scholarship assistance and sliding fee scales based on need. Please contact us at 773.665.8052 ext. 4 or contact@smartlovefamily.org to learn more.
The Fund for Smart Love
Your financial investment in Smart Love directly funds our work to build healthier, happier families and ensure bright futures for their children.
Gifts, sponsorships, and grants from individuals, companies, and foundations enable Smart Love to provide our uniquely supportive care and guidance to every family that comes to us - particularly those experiencing financial hardship.
Through Your Child's Eyes
Smart Love's Blog: To learn more about Smart Love and our take on issues, trends and questions in child development and parenting, please visit our blog here.
News & Events
Introducing Smart Love's New President
Lauren Joyce Hensel
Announcing Lauren Joyce Hensel as the newly appointed President of Smart Love Family Services. Lauren comes with extensive experience in managing not-for-profit organizations and a passion and commitment to helping children and families. With her leadership, we're excited to bring the Smart Love approach to more within our community. Learn more about Lauren here.
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Celebrating 20 Years of Care!
Since opening our doors in 2002, Smart Love Family Services has helped thousands of children and families build healthier and happier lives and futures. Click here to learn more.
It Takes A Village - Parent Group & Youth Group
Click here for full schedule.
Smart Love offers biweekly free-of-charge Parent and Youth Groups for families with children of color. Led by Smart Love therapists, the program provides a safe, confidential, and supportive space for participants to learn and share with one another. Click here to learn more and to register.
Smart Love Preschool Virtual Open House
Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023
1:30 p.m.
Join us for a virtual open house where our Preschool Director will provide a slideshow showcasing images of our classrooms, curriculum as she discusses the Smart Love approach to early childhood education and answers your questions! Register here.
Understanding Children’s Play: Wisdom from a Preschool Teacher
Chicago Parent interviewed our Karen Hermach, Preschool Teacher, on how play can be a window into your child’s world and can help you decode what your preschooler may be thinking and feeling. Read it here.
"What are the Advantages of Preschool for Your Child?"
Chicago Parent interviewed our Kelly Perez, Vice President Education Programs and Preschool Director, on how to ignite a love of learning and the many advantages of preschool. Read it here.
Fun4theDisabled features Mommy, Daddy, I Had a Bad Dream!
Fun for the Disabled is an organization that creates digital media and content highlighting opportunities for people with disabilities in the community. They recently posted Dr. Martha Heineman Pieper’s children’s book, Mommy, Daddy, I Had a Bad Dream! on their website for accessible reading. Watch it here.
NPN's Webinar Series with Dr. Pasola
Smart Love therapist, Dr. Bill Pasola, provides insight on child development with NPN's parenting webinars.
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Preschool Philosophies: Learn about preschool philosophies and get a deeper understanding of the various programs available - including Smart Love's!
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Diagnosis & Treatment of Anxiety in Children ages 2 - 8: Gain clarity around anxiety, symptoms of anxiety, when a diagnosis is appropriate, and what support resources and treatments are available.
"A Chicago Mom Shares Her Experience Finding the Right Preschool"
Chicago Parent interviewed Emily Lorentzen about her experience sending all of her children to Smart Love Preschool and how the approach helped them in kindergarten and beyond . Read it here.
"Why Kids' Feelings Do Matter"
Chicago Parent interviewed our Director of Clinical Services, Dr. Carla Beatrici, to explore how understanding toddlers' feelings helps parents to respond in ways that can alleviate tantrums while also strengthening the parent-child relationship. Read it here.
Smart Love Preschool's Garden Program Wins Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Award
The Natalie G. Heineman Smart Love Preschool is pleased to announce the receipt of an Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Award from the Education Division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. This award and accompanying grant was made through the IDNR’s annual Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Award competitive application process – and the Smart Love was the only preschool in Chicago to receive the honor.