Multicultural Therapists in 60202

My therapeutic approach is rooted in the belief in the healing power of authentic self-expression within a safe and nurturing setting.I offer a non-judgmental space for clients to explore their strengths and challenges. I employ trauma-informed care to facilitate recovery, and my practice is underpinned by a commitment to social justice and multicultural sensitivity. I recognize the complexities of identity and the unique challenges faced during acculturation. I assist clients in navigating these issues without re-traumatization, fostering resilience, and self-expression.

I believe therapy has a power to HEAL, enhance growth, and obtain inner peace. As a psychotherapist, I strive to empower my clients by building on their own strengths and encouraging insight within a nurturing environment. Together we can identify goals to facilitate growth and healing. My specialties include trauma therapy, domestic violence/sexual assault counseling, substance abuse, and empowerment training. I am experienced in working with clients struggling with trauma, depression, anxiety, self-esteem/body image concerns, women's issues, relationship concerns, and troubles with adjustment and life transitions.

Each one of us experiences a time of difficulty in this journey of life. You could be navigating difficult relationships, coping with loss, grief, facing tough transitions in your personal, academic, or professional life, or grappling with existential questions, taking that first step towards professional support is empowering and essential for your healing journey.

Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, confused, frustrated, discouraged, disappointed, lost, anxious, sad or angry, you are not alone. Most of us experience those feelings at some point in our lives. We care about the people we serve, and we believe every person is individual, authentic, and unique. We use evidence-based practice (EBP) methods for mental health to help children, pre-teens, teenagers, adults, couples, and families to live their best lives. We understand that therapy can seem scary and intimidating, though we know that finding the support you need is the key to starting the self- healing process.

I believe therapy takes on many forms and is not a cookie-cutter process. That is the sort of approach I take with individuals who took the courageous step toward therapy for their healing journey. I believe that therapy should be a collaborative and therapeutic space for you and your goals. You know yourself and your life more than I do, so I value hearing your story and providing you with support and tools to get you where you want to be. To better tailor to those goals, I focus on an integrative approach of using a systems, strengths-based, or client-centered approach to therapy

My passion for being a Psychotherapist stems from the desire to help others reach their highest potential, no matter the obstacles in life. Individual therapy creates a confidential, caring, and safe environment that promotes self-discovery and growth. My philosophy aims to meet you where you are and to guide and support you by building hope, resiliency, and self–love. I will empower you by using therapeutic strategies that instill aspiration, courage, and progress. Couples treatment provides a safe and trusting environment where we can identify issues and achieve growth.

My role as your therapist is to empower you with compassion and care that allows for healing. I guide you back to your inner voice to cultivate meaningful relationships. We are continually evolving because life is a creative process. I provide insight so that you better understand your relationship dynamics, allowing for the creation of new habits and patterns. Connection is essential, and it begins with the relationship to self. Increasing self-awareness, self-understanding, and establishing healthy tools for self-care empowers and equips you in navigating life's stressors.

My approach relies on collaboration with my clients in order to develop individual treatment plans. I believe the answers to many of our worries lie within us, yet often life events make finding clarity problematic. My goal is for clients to learn how to navigate their current experiences and find balance and peace within their lives. I see my role as a facilitator where the focus is assisting my clients in achieving integrated and progressive healing. Our work together is based on safely addressing issues of concern while finding a path to healthy and stable choices that work for your life and circumstances.

We sometimes find ourselves struggling in life. Psychotherapy can be a great place to examine where we are, how we got there, and where we want to go from here. I work collaboratively with clients to explore these questions with empathy, curiosity, and care. I am passionate about supporting clients in being their true, authentic self, and helping them to create deeper connections with the people in their lives. I value the diverse identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences that each client brings. I aim to meet clients where they are at to uncover the right goals for them.

Life can be an unexpected wave in the water that makes you feel unsteady, or it can be a giant wave that overwhelms you, and it keeps coming, and it is hard to regain your sense of balance. But when a helping hand reaches out, it can help you to find your strength and balance. Whether it feels like a big or small wave, I can be that support and guidance so when the waves come, you can brace them and keep going. I believe in providing empathetic care and guidance through a collaborative therapeutic relationship by navigating the unique experiences that influence each client’s life.

The human experience can be challenging at times. One can encounter situations leading to feeling powerless, in pain, or stuck. At times, this can look like an individual ruminating in the past or experiencing levels of depression. Or possibly, one can also be worried about the future or experiencing anxiety levels. I value the autonomy that people have and their ability to problem solve. Yet, I also acknowledge that a constructive and intentional space could provide efficiency for individuals maneuvering through various situations. As a counselor, I intend to help you within this space and support you on your healing journey.

I am a clinical social worker and I strive to provide a safe environment in which you can explore your issues and challenges, face difficult life choices, recognize the sources of your conflict and reactions and empower your strengths. Are you able to communicate your sexual wishes and needs to your partner? Therapy can help you learn to relate to one another verbally, emotionally and sexually. My approach to psychotherapy is to integrate insight into emotional patterns with behavioral and cognitive techniques, and other modalities depending on each client's unique needs.

During these stressful times, do you feel overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed? Recovering from a traumatic experience, or dealing with a life transition, work stress, or relationship challenges? I provide compassionate, generous listening and practical tools to soothe anxiety and anger so you can reach a calmer state and clear-sighted perspective. Through the therapy process, clients typically make effective, long-term lifestyle changes that promote well-being and more balance in life. With couples counseling, I incorporate evidence-based approaches, combining Gottman's work with Terry Real's Relational Life Therapy.

One of the pillars of a fulfilling life is the ability to be our authentic selves. Sometimes obstacles, hardships, and missteps cause us to forgo authenticity to survive. As a result, we may feel stuck, lost, or alone in our struggles. As a therapist, I see myself as a partner to my clients in their journey toward healing and growth. My approach is holistic - I consider the whole person and their context in everything I do, and I work collaboratively to ensure that each session feels personalized and effective. I provide a safe space to process where you are and begin to make progress toward where you'd like to be.

As a body-inclusive psychotherapist, I believe that we have within us everything we need to heal and grow, and that safe, supportive, and collaborative relationships help us to tap into our innate systems of healing. Whether focusing on overall emotional and physiological regulation, managing symptoms related to anxiety or depression, or addressing specific traumas or stressors, we can work together to move away from "stuckness" and towards an enhanced sense of harmony and well-being.

Are you a woman struggling with carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders? Maybe you've been labeled a "perfectionist", or can't seem to find the courage to say no to projects at work? Perhaps you're second-guessing your life choices, not sure what direction to take with your career, relationships, or future? You're exhausted & anxious, tired of constantly problem solving and taking care of everyone else... but yourself? This chronic stress leads to burnout- feeling stuck, helpless, and exhausted. If you're motivated to make a change that helps you rediscover the inner Queen that you are, you've come to the right place

Sometimes even day to day activities can feel overwhelming. Whether you are a child just starting school, an adolescent going through changes, a young adult navigating being on your own for the first time, or a parent who is struggling with understanding your child, know that you are never alone. Taking that first step in asking for help and seeking out therapy is understandably difficult, even if it isn’t the first time, but can make a world of difference. Therapy is a way to better understand you and/or your child’s experiences, while also creating healthy coping skills, boundaries, and sense of self.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the effects of trauma, by challenging circumstances, or just feeling stuck in life? Do you have a hard time expressing or describing your feeling in words?  My therapy is rooted in care and trust. With compassion, understanding and guidance, I assist my clients to increase their self-esteem, confidence, and self-awareness and reconnect with their own inner strength to overcome the hardships in their lives. With my background as a clinical trauma specialist, an expressive artist and a Japanese immigrant, I am uniquely positioned to help guide you towards a more positive and empowered life journey.

Vanessa is a dedicated therapist in Chicago, holding a master's degree in Clinical Psychology and licensures as a Board Certified Dance Movement (BC-DMT) Therapist and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and is completing her doctorate in Expressive Arts Therapy. Vanessa radiates warmth and spunk. It’s not unusual for her clients to experience an array of emotions: crying, laughter, sadness, and hope; all within a single session.