Narrative Therapists in 60056

Curiosity leads to authenticity, but it's often suppressed or silenced by judgment and painful experiences. Your sincere curiosity is welcomed here, and we can work together to create spaces that feel safe to be honest and vulnerable. I believe that everyone is formed with an unreplicable uniqueness, and it's absolutely worth it for you to take the time to reconnect with your authentic self. Together, we can identify where you're feeling stuck or lost and explore pathways that lead to finding, accepting, and living freely as your true self.

I hold the strong belief that everyone has the right to be heard with an open mind, regardless of their background or circumstances. I see my role as someone to help you understand yourself, ideally to gain insight and healing. As a clinical social worker, my training has shown me that you, the client, will tell me what you need. Some people need support for a single issue, others need to sort out their past, yet others to plan for their future. We will often find that issues are connected, and strive to put the pieces together.

I am a solutions focused therapist with over 20 years of experience. I have worked with children, adolescents, adults, family therapy, couples therapy and lgbtqia+. My therapy style is cognitive, interactive, compassionate, and non-judgmental. I will listen to you deeply, help conceptualize the problems, patterns, and dynamics which are causing you trouble, and identify ways to improve your life at your pace. Together, we will find ways to build your confidence, self worth, and greatly improve your relationships, life and address potential barriers such as anxiety, depression, adjustment/transitions, relationship issues,and trauma.

You deserve a balanced, happy and successful life. Whether you are questioning what to do, who you are, struggling to find motivation/strength, or just not sure how to attain what you want, there is a safe & non-judgmental space for you. You will learn how to become the "you" that you have always wanted to be. Through empowering work, you will challenge thoughts and uncover negative and sabotaging patterns to help overcome barriers.

I use an integrative approach to therapy that is collaborative, solution-focused, and aimed at creating meaningful movement towards positive change. I want to provide a safe, secure, and non-judgmental environment in which clients can feel free to openly discuss their thoughts and feelings. I am a member of the LGBTQ community and thoroughly enjoy helping clients overcome their fear and anxiety and move towards a more authentic life. I additionally enjoy helping couples and families improve communication and overall relationship dynamics. I believe that change happens when knowledge and experiences are shared.

I work with individuals from all walks of life: adults, couples, adolescents, children and families in addressing a variety of challenges such as depression, anxiety, trauma, identity issues, self-esteem, substance abuse, and life transitions (i.e. divorce, immigration, illness), family planning, family relationships, and parenting. I am also experienced in doing mental health and substance abuse evaluations for courts and administrative purposes. My approach to therapy takes on psychodynamic perspective based on the belief that person must attend to the whole self -mind, body, and environment- to achieve understanding and self-realization.

At the Center for Emotional Wellness, we are committed to helping our clients live their best life. Our team of clinicians are devoted to providing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other best practices in treating diverse disorders affecting children, adolescents, and adults. We are continually working to bring the most effective and innovative techniques and approaches to our center in order to better serve the individuals and families in our community. With over 10 therapists, we will match each client with the clinician with the most appropriate style and expertise to match individual needs.

I welcome my clients with warmth and compassion at any stage of their healing journey. I understand that processing past experiences and navigating the uncertainty of the future takes courage. I create a space where clients can foster curiosity about these fears and uncertainties, gain insight about themselves, and feel empowered to make positive changes. I incorporate self-compassion, shame resilience, and value exploration in our work so we can break cycles and make changes towards a fulfilling and authentic life.

Kristin uses a holistic approach to mental health and is committed to promoting her clients' overall well-being and personal growth. Coming from a humanistic lens, she hopes to teach clients to lean into healing with openness and curiosity. She strongly encourages mindfulness, cognitive behavioral, and dialectical behavior techniques in her sessions to comprehend better and integrate life experiences.

My current availability is daytime only. I enjoy working with children, adolescents, families, adults, and couples. I specialize in relational issues, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, life transitions/stress, gender identity/sexuality, and self-esteem. I work collaboratively to raise awareness and teach emotional regulation, expression of anger and distress tolerance. I empower families and individuals to understand/create/communicate needs. I am skilled at finding the best methods and interventions to meet my clients’ needs because everyone is different and it is important to find a good fit.

My treatment philosophy helps clients gain a new perspective on the concerns that may be holding them back, which enhances their ability to focus on the things that they value most in life. I have spent many years in various roles at Northwestern Medicine Behavioral Health Services, most recently as Psychiatric Counseling Coordinator.

Welcome! I am open for business and taking new clients. I have virtual and in-person options available. I look forward to talking with you!

My clinical approach is authentic and integrative, resulting in a collaborative treatment plan based on client’s culture and values, the best available clinical research, and clinical expertise for my clients to thrive in their lives. I enjoy working with children, adolescents and adults in individual, family and group settings. I specialize in the treatment of anxiety, ADHD, OCD, Executive Functioning (EF) skills, complex trauma/PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, racial/cultural identities, academic performance, family conflicts, relationship issues, grief, life transitions, stress and other life concerns. I also speak Korean.

The adage “we repeat what we don’t repair” is especially true of couples. Couples often start therapy knowing that their relationship can and should be better, but they feel powerless to change. Constant fighting, threatening to leave, infidelity, always feeling distant, anxiety and depression—these are signs that something needs to change. Couples therapy with me focuses on helping you and your partner break these cycles by first understanding how they came to be. I offer a unique perspective that emphasizes the importance of exploring unconscious dynamics and your past’s influence in your relationship.

Are you ready to reach your potential? Are you tired of being caught in repeating patterns? Would you benefit from supports and insight? I believe the best motivation to change comes from within and with support. Making changes is not an easy process. I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with over 19 years of clinical experience working with adults and adolescents on issues related to depression, anxiety, traumatic experiences, relationships, emotion expression and other life challenges.