“No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.” ~ Maya Angelou

Dr. Camille Ellimac-Raheem, referred to as Dr. Camille, is an inspirational speaker, National Certified Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor residing in Illinois, and a Certified Crisis Intervention Specialist. She has completed a 60-hour Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault certification program, along with specialized training in litigation and evaluation involving abuse allegations in family court cases. Dr. Camille is committed to helping others navigate life’s many unexpected challenges while maintaining a calm demeanor and exemplifying compassion.

Driven by a heart to serve, Dr. Camille loved hosting outreach events through her ministry before the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to help and encourage others. A graduate of Living Word Ministry School and licensed by Dr. Bill Winston, she considers one of her most significant accomplishments to be speaking to a group of domestic and sexual abuse survivors in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 2016. During this missionary trip, she courageously shared her own experience as an adult survivor of child sexual abuse. To this day, she periodically continues women empowerment sessions online with some of the women she met in Haiti and the minister who served as her interpreter.

In 2007, while employed at a Fortune 500 company and pursuing her M.A. in Strategic Communication & Leadership at Seton Hall University, Dr. Camille realized she was not fulfilling her true purpose. She recalled helping and 

encouraging others since her adolescence, often receiving gratitude from those she supported.

Dr. Camille has delivered inspirational messages at various venues and previously hosted her inspirational talk show, The Speak Life Show, on a local Fox television channel. She has facilitated inspirational workshops at prisons, conducted self-esteem workshops for women, and held sessions for teenagers recovering from heroin addiction.

She began a Doctorate of Ministry program at South University, but after organizing outreach events and encountering numerous people facing mental health challenges, she redirected her focus. Dr. Camille returned to college to pursue what she considers her true calling—clinical therapy. She completed her M.A. in Professional Counseling at Seton Hall University and later earned her Ph.D. in Counseling & Psychological Studies, with a concentration in Human Services Counseling.

Now a clinical therapist with a national mental health organization serving over 33 states, Dr. Camille is dedicated to building effective therapeutic relationships. She specializes in working with younger and older adults, couples, and families. She also holds a special place in her heart for her work as a substance abuse counselor for adolescents and as a grief counselor for diverse populations After relocating to Illinois and learning about the gang violence in Chicago, she felt a deep desire to support youth affected by gang involvement. During her time as a substance abuse counselor, her daily mission was to remind her clients that there is "light at the end of the tunnel."

Despite losing loved ones during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Camille credits God for giving her the strength to support her clients in their grief journeys. She provided extensive individual and family counseling and facilitated grief and loss support groups for a diverse population.

Dr. Camille is a  member of the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) and was honored to be selected for AMHCA’s Inaugural Leadership Institute. She also served on AMHCA’s Public Awareness Committee, which she describes as a wonderful experience.

In her spare time, Dr. Camille enjoys cooking, photography, traveling, working out, and most importantly, spending time with her family. She has been married for over 28 years. One of her proudest accomplishments is supporting her children in achieving their educational goals. Her daughters earned their bachelor’s, master’s, and juris doctorate degrees before the age of 25. Her twin sons earned their bachelor’s degrees in marketing and engineering. For this, she is deeply grateful.