Specialized clinical health psychology services focused on your evolving questions and concerns.

A woman with glasses and long curly hair, sitting in a blue armchair in a modern office, smiling, with a large landscape photograph of mountains and a lake on the wall behind her, a desk with a laptop, notebook, pen, and a potted plant nearby.

Elizabeth Kacel, PhD, known affectionately by many of her patients as “Dr. Beth,” is a licensed clinical psychologist in Illinois. She is the founder of PEAR Health Psychology, PLLC… cultivating Purpose, Empowerment, Acceptance, and Resilience among people facing cancer and other medical conditions. Since losing her grandfather to his fifth cancer diagnosis in 2008, she has dedicated her professional career to supporting individuals and families with cancer and other medical conditions. Beyond a personal connection to her work, Dr. Kacel received specialized training in Clinical Health Psychology from 2013 through 2021, including a postdoctoral fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Inclusive of her education, training, and professional experience, Dr. Kacel has worked with individuals and families with cancer and other health conditions for more than 15 years. She has worked in top academic health centers and hospitals, contributed to 20+ peer-reviewed journal articles, and participated in numerous local and national conferences focused on psychosocial oncology and health psychology.

“When patients leave therapy with me, I hope they feel like they have found themselves— or found themselves again, have a greater ability to cope with uncertainty, and have a deeper sense of clarity and conviction in their everyday lives. What makes my approach different is the deeply personal way I connect with every single patient, through an emphasis on our shared humanity, to center their strengths and unique experiences as the foundation for personal growth.”

-Dr. Beth 

Looking up at a canopy of green trees with sunlight filtering through, clear blue sky visible through the leaves.

Education & Training

Postdoctoral Fellowship
Mayo Clinic
2019-2021

Predoctoral Internship
University of Florida
2018-2019

PhD in Clinical Health Psychology
University of Florida
2013-2019

Master of Science
University of Florida
2013-2015

Clinical Research Coordinator
Harvard Medical School
2010-2013

Bachelor of Arts
Northwestern University
2006-2010

Professional Recognition & Awards

2021‍ ‍

William N. Friedrich Award (Department of Psychiatry & Psychology, Mayo Clinic)

Howard P. Rome Psychology Fellow Academic Writing Award (Department of Psychiatry & Psychology, Mayo Clinic)

2018

Office of Research Graduate Student Travel Award (Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University of Florida)

2017

Eileen B. Fennel Graduate Student Teaching Award (Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University of Florida)

2016

Nathan W. Perry Scientist-Practitioner Memorial Scholarship (Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University of Florida)

Clinical Health Psychology Area Research Travel Award (Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University of Florida)

2015

Florence Shafer Memorial Award for Excellence in Psychotherapy (Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University of Florida)

Pre-publication press release of “especially newsworthy” abstract submitted to American Psychosomatic Society Annual Meeting

Top 7 Abstracts Award at the University of Florida’s College of Public Health and Health Professions 2015 Research Day

2013

Graduate School Fellowship (Four years funding, tuition waiver, and graduate assistantship; University of Florida)

2010

Undergraduate Academic Honors – Cum Laude (Northwestern University)

Undergraduate Departmental Honors (Psychology, Northwestern University)

Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Chapter (Northwestern University)

2008‍ ‍

J.G Nolan Endowed Scholarship (through 2010 academic year; Northwestern University)

Owen L. Coon Scholarship Fund at Northwestern University

Order of Omega Honor Society, Delta Nu Chapter (Northwestern University)

Gamma Sigma Alpha National Greek Honor Society

Professional Memberships

American Psychosocial Oncology Society

Society for Health Psychology (Division 38-American Psychological Association)

Dr. Kacel is a native Chicagoan and enjoys living in the city with her husband and two cats. She is an avid traveler, nature lover, yoga practitioner, and amateur photographer. She also enjoys frequenting local farmer’s markets and cooking vibrant healthy meals for her loved ones.

A view of the ocean with blue sky and white clouds, seen from a rocky shoreline with some grass and stones in the foreground.
A bowl of oatmeal topped with blueberries, blackberries, and a pink berry smoothie on the side.
A fluffy cat lying on a black exercise mat with a blue foam roller at the bottom of the mat. The person standing on the exercise mat is wearing black leggings and beige socks.
A marshland with tall grass and a narrow waterway under a partly cloudy blue sky.