Kaileen Gaumer

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor

Professional School Counselor

Certified Career Services Provider

Embrace the
Next Step

Utilizing a strength-based approach where clients feel seen, supported, and empowered to take their next steps with purpose.

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“Embrace the next step, it is the first step toward a new beginning.”

About Next Step Counseling

I founded Next Step Counseling to continue doing what I love most – helping people move forward with clarity and confidence.

I believe in utilizing a strength-based approach and creating a warm, down-to-earth space where clients feel seen, supported, and empowered to take their next steps with purpose.

I specialize in working with teenagers and young adults, but also provide services for individuals 8 and older, adults of all ages, and couples. I also provide career counseling for high school students beginning their career search, recent college graduates, and adults looking to make a change.

Services:

Individual Counseling
Couples Counseling
Pre-Marital Counseling
Career Counseling

Specialized Services

High School Student Career Counseling

Students will be guided through self-assessments, college and career planning tools, and goal setting to build clarity and confidence about their future after high school.

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Pre-Marital Counseling

Set yourself up for success as you enter a marriage, partnership, or major commitment with pre-marital counseling.

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Recent College Graduate

This counseling series is designed to support recent college graduates as they transition into the workforce.

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Meet Kaileen Gaumer

LCPC, PSC, CCSP

Hello! I’m Kaileen Gaumer, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Professional School Counselor, Certified Career Services Provider, and EMDR trained clinician. I earned my M.S.Ed. in School Counseling from Northern Illinois University and spent 16 rewarding years as a school counselor at Sterling High School in Sterling, IL.

During that time, I had the privilege of guiding students as they navigated high school and explored their post-secondary paths.

In 2023, I transitioned from education to private practice, where I now provide mental health and career support to individuals in my community and beyond.

View my Psychology Today Profile

Ready to take the next step?

Whether you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply unsure of what comes next, reaching out for support takes courage. Next Step Counseling is here to walk alongside you as you navigate life’s challenges, make sense of your experiences, and move toward clarity and confidence. You don’t have to have it all figured out to begin. You just have to be willing to take that next step — and you’ve already made it this far.