Liana Apuli, MSW, LSW

Liana Apuli, MSW, LSW

Liana’s educational background is in psychology and social work. She received her bachelor’s in psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago and her master’s in social work at Dominican University. She has worked with children her entire career and even started babysitting at her church’s nursery when she was only 14 years old, which continued throughout high school and college.

 

After earning her undergraduate degree, Liana worked in early childhood education for 6 years before deciding to pursue her MSW. Since 2020, she has been working with elementary-aged students, adolescents, and young adults.

 

Liana’s approach to therapy is holistic and strengths-based: she looks at the whole picture and which parts may need more attention. This stems from the biopsychosocial-spiritual model and a CBT/talk therapy modality. She is experienced in applied behavioral analysis (or ABA) therapy, often used with children on the Autism Spectrum. She also uses play, art, and music therapy. Additionally, she has extensive experience in trauma-informed practices and social justice narratives.

 

Liana believes that everyone’s life experiences are uniquely their own and that processing begins with self-love. She seeks to empower individuals and families by guiding them in their own personal journeys and utilizes active listening to create a safe, non-judgmental, and empathic space for my clients to explore and process their life experiences at their own pace.

 

Additional interests and background include:

  • Early childhood
  • Developmental disorders
  • Eating disorders/body dysmorphia
  • Substance abuse
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Personality disorders
  • Gender questioning/dysmorphia
  • Trauma

 

With her holistic and strengths-based framework, Liana aims to provide individuals and families with the tools they need to feel fulfilled in their everyday lives.

 

Liana was born in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago to Filipino immigrant parents and grew up in Grayslake.  In her free time, Liana loves spending time with her dog, family, and friends. She also enjoys playing the piano, and novels of any genre, as well as journaling, painting, and traveling.