Dr. Kristen Brendel

Dr. Kristen Brendel Associate Professor of Social Work specializing in mindfulness & nature-based interventions. Welcome to Per La Vita Wellness, PLLC! I am Dr. Kristen Brendel.

I am so excited to be sharing my passion for wellness with you! I have my license in clinical social work and my Professional Educators License. I earned my PhD from Loyola University Chicago. I am a mother and wife, college professor, researcher, and certified yoga therapist and instructor. I know that we all have the capacity to achieve happiness and the life that we want. I have spent the past 20 years engaging in research and practice on how to best help my clients reach their goals and potential. The best and most current research indicates that we need to take on a holistic perspective when it comes to our health and wellness. I practice mindfulness-based cognitive interventions that help clients relieve symptoms of mental health concerns such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, and stress. I also work with clients with health issues including cancer, chronic pain, heart problems, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. I also love working with veterans! Mindfulness-based interventions involve integrating yoga and meditation directly into our work together. Not into yoga/meditation? There are other options as well. Many insurances accepted. (Yes, that means that insurance covers interventions with yoga!). Call me to make an appointment or for more information. I would love to hear from you. For the evidence-based interventions that I use in my work with clients, corporations, and schools, please see:
Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction
Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Thank you for stopping by. Wishing you an amazing day!

When my clients have this issue, I give them very similar suggestions. Ultimately, what's most helpful is for the brain ...
11/24/2025

When my clients have this issue, I give them very similar suggestions. Ultimately, what's most helpful is for the brain to focus on something benign that also requires a little effort, like assigning a number to every letter of the alphabet and then spelling people's names with numbers. Usually, people are back to sleep well before each letter has a number. I also suggest an exercise that's rooted in EMDR called the container exercise. Where you have an imaginary container with a lid, and you go through an entire process of imagining yourself walking to the container, describing it in great detail, using all five senses, and then quickly naming the distracting thoughts you're having and putting them in the container. You then close the container and put it away. Every time there's a new thought or even emotion, you go through the process again. It's quite boring, detailed, and therefore effective. I do this one myself, and it's my ace in the hole. Pro-tip- Make sure the container and where you're keeping it have neutral to positive associations.

If you're reading this at night while trying to fall asleep, perhaps give it a go. Let me know how it worked out for you. Sleep well!

If racing thoughts are stealing your sleep, these strategies can help you calm your mind and get more rest.

Great news!
11/20/2025

Great news!

The Northwestern Medicine Dauten Behavioral Health Institute will aim to redefine behavioral health by using new diagnostic and treatment approaches, according to a news release announcing the gift.

11/17/2025

A worldwide movement to sing gentle songs to the dying provides comfort, peace and release to both the suffering and the singers

Happy Veteran's Day! Thank you!
11/11/2025

Happy Veteran's Day! Thank you!

11/02/2025

If you experience any symptoms related to less sunlight this time of the year, here is my prescription that will likely help quite a bit.

1. Get a Happy Light that's cordless and rechargeable and use it for 20 minutes while you're getting ready in the morning. The cordless feature means you can move it around with you as you're making your coffee and brushing your teeth. Do not use it in the second half of the day, as it can disrupt your sleep cycle.

2. Have an orange daily. It's like consuming sunshine as well as fiber and Vitamin C. We need more fresh foods in our diet, too.

3. Take Vitamin D. Don't take high doses unless prescribed by your physician. I take 2000 IU daily this time of the year with food for better absorption.

4. Get outside each day and walk for any distance possible.

5. Stay hydrated- very important. Please drink plenty of water daily!

10/14/2025

Acceptance is one of life’s hardest skills, but also one of the most essential. It means opening up to the full range of our emotions so that love and purpose have space to grow.

In this article, I share how I’ve been practicing acceptance myself, even in the bittersweet moments of watching my youngest son grow up. And I offer some simple ways you can build this skill before life really demands it.

Read the full article here: https://stevenchayes.com/the-bittersweet-art-of-acceptance-2/

10/04/2025
10/04/2025

This month, make the world a little better.

Thought we could use some levity on here.
09/13/2025

Thought we could use some levity on here.

We’re thankful for every cookie: past, present, and future. ❤️🍪

08/28/2025

Address

3420 Lacrosse Lane
Naperville, IL
60564

Website

https://linktr.ee/drkristenbrendel

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