Racial Identity Therapists in 60622

Making the decision to enter therapy can be frightening and may weigh heavily on us yet it can make all the difference when we feel stuck, conflicted, or alone. If you have something in mind that you would like to see change, we can work collaboratively to address emotional barriers, past experiences, stressors, or relationship patterns that may be exacerbating your concern. I believe that a safe, warm, validating, culturally competent, and empathic therapeutic relationship is the foundation for change.

For people hoping for their relationship with their parents to change, their future to be less lonely, or their anxiety to quiet down: I am one of Agave Studio's professional counselors and a trauma therapist, trained as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. Somatic Experiencing works to heal trauma through accessing the nervous system and allowing the body to complete physiological responses that got stuck in the body during a traumatic event, or over time, as is the case for racial and childhood trauma.

I enjoy working with individuals navigating their anxiety, feelings of walking between two cultural worlds, complex grief & loss, depression, family dynamics, forced displacement, gender identity, intergenerational trauma, all life stage transitions, spirituality, & relationship with a breast cancer diagnosis. With a trauma-focused & intersectional lens, I primarily work with adolescents, young adults & elderly people from AAPI, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, immigrant & refugee communities. I focus on 1.5 and 2nd generation Filipino/a/x & South Asian American Immigrants, young adults with breast cancer & older adults chronic comorbidities.

Having been involved in the mental health field for over a decade, working across various setting (hospitals, VA, college) I now focus on those eager to enhance their creativity, community, and value-driven experiences. As the founder of an organization that has seen significant growth, my interest lies in supporting leaders—whether they are in creative roles, parenting, or mental health professions—who struggle with the demands of their work environments and the prioritization of their own healing. I believe relationships are formed in repair and I am useful to those seeking to deepen the interpersonal and cultural spaces.

Sometimes all it takes is an outside perspective to be the catalyst for change. But let’s be real, change can be hard, especially when we feel we “should” be able to do it on our own. If there’s one take away message here, it’s that you do not have to do the hard work alone. I hope to be the one by your side on this journey. I aim to treat adult individuals and couples who struggle with a variety of concerns including, but not limited to, depression, mood and anxiety disorders, perinatal mental health struggles, identity development, LGBTQIA+ and other minority group stressors, and life transitions.

I provide relational, psychodynamic, LGBTQIA+ affirmative, and culturally-responsive therapy to adults, couples, and teens. I am trained on the impact of trauma on the body and the brain, the connection between thoughts and behaviors, what motivates us to change, the relationship between people and their environment, and grief and loss. As a trauma-informed yoga instructor, I believe that there is a critical connection between the mind and body and assist in the process of helping the two work together in synchronicity toward healing.

It can be difficult to ask for help in today's society, and even more difficult to find the best fit in a therapist. As a trauma-informed queer biracial therapist, I strive to create a therapeutic environment that is safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental. My clinical background includes work with individuals managing co-occurring disorders, difficulties related to identity (e.g. racial, cultural, gender, spirituality), Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar, ADHD, Autism, Trauma, PTSD, and grief. I work with individuals and couples at any point in their lifespan, though my background has primarily focused on young adults and families.

As a neurodiverse multiracial queer individual, I have often reflected on my understanding of self and my relationship to community. I recognize that there are few spaces for individuals with marginalized identities that are safe for exploration and processing, and I work to create a non-judgmental space for people to feel seen and supported. I believe that therapy is a collaborative space for individuals to develop their own stories through exploration and healing. My clinical approach is client-focused, centers on empowerment and social justice, somatic awareness, and trauma.

I specialize in providing relationally focused therapy to individuals, couples, children, and families from diverse backgrounds and identities. As a bilingual clinician with Ecuadorian and Colombian heritage, I am particularly committed to serving BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and migrant communities who may face unique challenges in understanding and accessing mental health resources. By working alongside clients, my goal is to help break down societal beliefs surrounding therapy and identify a better understanding of yourself, and/or your family that is holistically informed by identity, culture, and past experiences.

I aim to create an environment of hospitality, welcoming each client to explore the places in their life where they feel stuck or dissatisfied, so that we can begin to work together to imagine and create a different future. I believe that everyone has the answers that they are looking for within them, and that often the problems and suffering we face can be lessened when we establish and strengthen a deeper connection to our inner world. My belief is that our outer lives improve in satisfaction, meaning, and freedom as we grow in self-understanding and authenticity.

Finding yourself here means that you are curious— curious about why you are feeling this way and how therapy might help. Often we forget to take the necessary time to check in with ourselves; to figure out where we’re at, how we got here & what we need in a particular moment to move forward. We find ourselves STUCK. Allowing yourself a weekly space to slow down and think aloud, opens you up for deeper clarity. I have 18 years of clinical experience collaborating with my patients to unearth underlying concerns and figure out future goals and intentions to begin moving forward.

Life is a journey with many challenges, and people often become stuck, whether in a way of feeling (sad, anxious, in pain) or a way of being (job, relationship, lifestyle). Such distress and confusion can make it hard to move forward. A therapist who genuinely understands and accepts you can help relieve that distress and mobilize your strengths to move forward in a meaningful direction. As a psychologist, I am skilled in helping you free yourself from being stuck to find the meaning, fulfillment and joy that also can be part of life's journey.

Welcome! Following my 20-year career in Human Resources, I am filled with joy to be in the mental health field helping others find their path to improved mental health. I deeply believe that through positive human connection & service, we can help ourselves and each other heal, repair ruptures in our relationships, & rebuild our communities. My ability to connect with clients, establish a foundation of trust, & engage them in meaningful work early in the therapeutic process is a gift & privilege that I don’t take lightly. I’m known for being honest, direct, welcoming, affirming, creative, & infusing fun into therapy!

I believe that approaching therapy is truly one of the bravest things someone can do. By cultivating a space of kindness, humanity, and empathy, I invite my clients to be curious about themselves. I value how everyone’s therapeutic journey is unique because of one’s own life experiences and coexisting identity memberships. I believe in connection and leaning into the therapeutic relationship as a crucial step in one’s healing journey. As a multiethnic, multicultural therapist who deeply cares about advocacy, equality, and accessibility to clients of all backgrounds, I greatly value working with clients from all walks of life.

I believe one of the bravest things you can do is begin the journey to healing and personal growth. Life is full of stressors and challenges that can leave you feeling overwhelmed, frustrated or hopeless. I can provide a safe space in order to explore and manage destructive behaviors and feelings.

My belief that all people deserve meaningful opportunity and satisfaction in life defined my 15-year career helping adolescents, young adults, adults, families, and parents overcome barriers to wide range of goals. I serve clients with a variety of needs stemming from disability, depression, anxiety, trauma, parenting/caregiver roles, family of origin, substance use, and vocational exploration. I see value in finding meaning in difficult life experiences to inform new ways of understanding ourselves and engaging others, and I believe people benefit most when equipped with the tools, knowledge, and care to author their own stories.

Maybe things aren’t “too bad”, and you are doing “pretty well”. Maybe you feel broken, lost, or hopeless about whether things can get better. I believe healing is possible, and everyone deserves love and support at times of struggle. How do we move beyond coping and towards healing? While it is normal to feel alone, we all live in relation to other people, institutions, systems, and cultures. I believe we can carve our ways toward a better quality of life by exploring our vulnerabilities, our needs, and our relationships.

Synapse Chicago is a clinical practice with caring, professional staff who provide excellent services in the field of psychology. We integrate traditional psychotherapy and assessments with the latest in clinical neuroscience to help people achieve their optimal potential. Using a holistic approach coupled with an array of therapeutic modalities, we can help a wide variety of issues. Our emphasis is on a highly personalized assessment and customized therapeutic plan in order to find balance while alleviating the reoccurrence of symptoms.

You might look for individual therapy because you experience obstacles that happen again and again; you are trying to figure out who you are and what you want in life. You might be looking for couples therapy because you feel disconnected from your partner or have difficulty communicating; you fight or have difficulty with being intimate. You might be looking for family therapy because you don’t know how to connect with your kids; there is conflict in your family and you don’t know how to resolve it. You might be a person of color, immigrant or second generation and struggle with issues mentioned above.