Therapists

Shamia Williams, LPC, has dedicated her career to the field of behavioral health, beginning her journey as a mental health counselor in 2013. Passionate about her work, she quickly recognized the deep connection between behaviors, trauma, and family dynamics, which led her to become both a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Parent Educator.

With extensive experience working with youth, adolescents, and families, Shamia specializes in supporting individuals navigating depression, anxiety, self-injury, learning disabilities, and sensory processing disorders. She is skilled in addressing peer and family relationships, social and emotional development, and behavioral concerns, including anxiety, depression, and ADHD. She also has experience working with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) to support students in achieving academic success.

Shamia provides care at A Ray of Hope's Libertyville, IL, and Kenosha, WI, locations, as well as through telehealth services. She finds immense fulfillment in helping individuals and families build resilience and develop healthier emotional foundations.

In her free time, Shamia enjoys watching Lifetime movies, reading, meditating, and spending time with her beautiful family. She also loves traveling and exploring different cultures, embracing new experiences whenever possible.

RJ Paskanthi, LPC, holds a Master’s degree in Art Therapy and Counseling from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She brings over five years of experience providing therapy across hospital settings, community mental health, and private practice, supporting children, adults, and older adults.

At A Ray of Hope, RJ will offer virtual therapy to patients, working with individuals ages 13 and up. She specializes in life transitions, grief and loss, identity development, generational trauma, anxiety, and depression. She welcomes all forms of expression and encourages the use of symbolism and metaphor in the therapeutic space. With an awareness of how intersectional identities and systemic factors impact mental health, RJ brings authenticity, transparency, and deep compassion to every session.

RJ views therapy as a collaborative journey, with the participant guiding the process of exploration. She integrates Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (MBCT), and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), while also incorporating holistic modalities that address healing within the mind, body, and soul. Her approach is always tailored to what best serves the individual.

RJ is fluent in Gujarati and Hindi, allowing her to serve a broader and more diverse community. Outside of work, RJ enjoys going to the beach, hiking, meditating, cooking, and diving into a good book.