Petya Randelova, PsyD

I'm Dr. Petya Randelova and I built Practical Resilience for people who want therapy that goes deeper than coping skills. I care about work that is both deeply human and clinically refined. My goal is to offer therapy that feels thoughtful and intentional, and that actually creates change rather than just insight.

Before opening my solo practice, I spent years in leadership at a group practice, including four years as Director of Training, where I trained and supervised clinicians in trauma-informed, relational care. That work shaped how I think about therapy. I value depth, structure, and clarity. I want what we do together to feel purposeful and responsive to what you need, not just what tends to work in general.

My approach is depth-oriented, trauma-focused, and rooted in both relational work and nervous system support. I believe meaningful change happens when we slow down enough to understand what is happening beneath the surface, what is being protected, and what keeps certain patterns repeating in your body, your emotions, and your relationships.

Therapy with me is warm, direct, and collaborative. I want you to feel supported, but I also think clarity matters. We are not just naming what is wrong. We are learning to recognize patterns, respond differently, and build something more sustainable.

I most often work with adults who want to understand how early relational experiences and relationship patterns have shaped the way they connect, protect themselves, and move through the world.

EMDR is available when it supports your goals and the timing is right. I integrate it within a broader relational and nervous system-informed approach, with real attention to pacing, preparation, and containment. I am not interested in rushing anyone into processing. For some people, EMDR helps shift what talk therapy alone has not moved. For others, the work begins with building steadier regulation and understanding the pattern more clearly first. Either way, we go at a pace that feels grounded and useful.

As a queer first-generation immigrant, affirming diverse identities and relationship structures is not an add-on to my practice. It is part of how I work. I bring cultural responsiveness and systems awareness into the space when it matters, because emotional pain does not happen in a vacuum. People are often navigating not only personal history and relationship patterns, but also larger systems that shape how safe, seen, and supported they feel. I provide affirming care for LGBTQIA+ clients and am committed to ongoing learning and staying current with emerging research. 

I earned both my MA and PsyD from Adler University. I am a Licensed Psychologist in Illinois, a PSYPACT authorized provider, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and EMDR trained. My practice is based in Illinois, and sessions are offered virtually for adults in Illinois and PSYPACT participating states. If you are looking for therapy that is warm, structured, depth-oriented, and focused on real change, I would love to connect.