Therapists in Chicago, IL

I have immediate openings for new clients. I specialize in individual therapy for depression, anxiety, stress related to family and relationships dynamics, eating disorders, and trauma-related stressors. Engaging in a therapeutic process requires vulnerability and courage; I admire and respect you for making the decision of going through the journey to your inner world.

‘Life’s obstacles are easier to overcome when you have the right support’. You may be experiencing emotional, professional, romantic, familial or other relational obstacles that you may need additional guidance and support with. When life gets difficult to overcome, you can start to believe that nothing is going well and be rushed with a feeling of hopelessness. It can leave you feeling severely out of control. Understanding deeply the distress that can come with struggling with relationships and feeling out of control, I’m here to be a gentle, yet skillful and measured process for you to approach your current feelings and thoughts.

My cornerstone belief is that you are doing the best you can with the strengths and tools you already have. I recognize the complexities of the human experience and want to honor your unique story. Through a foundation of compassion and trust, I strive to meet others where they are at, while guiding them towards a deeper understanding and connection to themselves.

Life has probably provided many challenges this past year, and has produced far more questions than you can find answers for. My goal in our work together will be to help you search for the solutions that can increase your self-esteem, decrease your anxieties as well as develop a better insight into your life. In our work together, your strengths will be our focus, and in a non-judgmental environment we will address the most intimate or overwhelming issues impacting you and/or your relationships through a mind/body approach. I am LGBTQIA+-affirming, sex-positive, kink and poly-friendly.

Hello, I’m Dr. Kelly Hamoudah! In my work, I believe that establishing a safe space and building rapport is the first step towards the healing process. If you’re looking for help from a psychologist who uses evidence based interventions, is warm and friendly, and cares about you reaching your goals, then you’re in the right spot.

Do you feel overwhelmed, lost, or stuck? Do you want more from life, but feel like old patterns and difficult emotions are holding you back? Maybe you need support accepting yourself, making peace with your body, or healing from your past. No matter what you are facing, you don’t have to face it alone. I will create a non-judgemental space for you to express yourself and feel understood. Together we will build off of your inherent strengths, connect you with your self-determined values, and develop self-compassion that will move you towards positive change.

Are your thoughts and emotions becoming overwhelming? Is your nervous system on overdrive? Then talk therapy might be a good place to start. My goal is to help you understand how your past experiences help shape how you process every day life scenarios. Here, you’ll also start to untangle yourself from any unhealthy thought patterns and fully experience your thoughts and emotions while staying grounded. I’ve also added a Reiki Practitioner to my practice, whose grounding body work is available to you based upon your need. I am now accepting supervises in need of supervision for their LISW or LCSW licensure.

Are you aiming to live your life in greater alignment with your values? I am here to support you in making positive changes in your life, all while fostering a more compassionate relationship with yourself. I approach therapy with empathy, warmth, and genuineness while maintaining a balance of being gently challenging to help reach your goals. I am passionate about working with young adults experiencing anxiety, depression, disordered eating/body image concerns, and self-esteem issues. I aim to provide a safe, empowering, and nonjudgmental space where you can find the courage to be your authentic self while promoting growth.

Making changes in our lives can feel impossible at times, even when our habits and thinking patterns no longer serve us. In the therapy room, I practice radical acceptance with the ups and downs of growth with humor, patience, and curiosity. Grounded in the DBT tradition, I prioritize nonjudgment and dialectical thinking: we can accept difficult realities and still lead a life worth living.

My philosophy in working with clients is to build a trusting relationship with them by learning about their story - their family's story, their personal story, their triumphs and their challenges. I then work with the client to use their strengths to help them form a new story, a story where they change ingrained habits and live the life they have always wanted to live. I like to use the relationship we have built together to help the client feel safe making these changes in a supported environment.

I offer collaborative psychotherapy for anxiety, depression, and substance use, using naturalistic research-supported approaches that enhance awareness, access strengths, and build skills. These approaches - which vary according to individual needs and preferences - include mindfulness, depth-oriented counseling, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Existential Psychotherapy. Particular concerns may include worry, panic, obsession, procrastination, grief, esteem, frustration, habits, and/or motivation. The overarching model promotes psychological growth, transcendence of purpose-limiting "world views," and personal empowerment.

We face many challenges and stages in life’s journey and navigating through its different phases can sometimes be a difficult process. I focuse on supporting clients through this difficult process and collaborating with a strong therapeutic relationship. The beauty of therapy is that it will look different for each person and will be tailored to specific needs. I also specialize in facilitating sustainable empowerment and personal growth for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) community.

Beliefs, values and expectations are core aspects of our being. At some point, in most individuals lives, these aspects can be challenged by difficult decisions, situations and hardships. Therefore, an individual's personality and self-awareness are Key elements as it pertains to areas that can benefit from growth and healing. The field of counseling is a great way to offer knowledge, guidance, acceptance, support and another perspective surrounding these issues. We all go through difficult periods in life. My position is to help you become your most optimal self within these areas by helping to facilitate a healthy desired change.

Available for those seeking a safe space to explore your emotions and navigate life’s complexities. I specialize in supporting individuals who on their journey towards mental wellness. My approach is grounded in authenticity and compassion. I believe in meeting my clients where they are, providing a non-judgmental environment where they can feel seen and heard. Together, we can explore the intricacies of your experiences and work towards healing and growth. I believe in validating the messy, uncomfortable parts of life that often go unrecognized by cultivating a sense of acceptance.

Seeking therapy is a courageous act. As your therapist, I'm privileged to meet you where you are at. I view my clients holistically and with a humanistic lens to gain an encompassing understanding of their experience. My style of therapy is based in person-centered principles and guided by empathy, authenticity, understanding, and respect. I use cognitive behavioral strategies to identify patterns and barriers, enhance cognitive flexibility, and empower clients to carve out their unique path of individual fulfillment. My goal is for your life to be both more functional and fulfilling.

With warmth and compassion, I aim to create a space where you can explore your concerns and feel empowered to make the desired changes in your life. My work is strength-based and rooted in principles of mindfulness and acceptance. I have a holistic perspective, in which I strongly value the role of our environments and cultural experiences on our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. I utilize techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to provide a Person-Centered approach to my work.

As a queer, gender-expansive, and neurodivergent therapist, I deeply empathize with the diverse lived experiences of my clients. If you struggle with issues related to your sexual health, self-doubt, overthinking, being overly self-critical, or people-pleasing, then we might be a good fit! My warm approach emphasizes the pursuit of pleasure, self-compassion, and is rooted in mindfulness. I'm affirming of all identities, relationship structures, and am a kink-aware clinician. I’m passionate about helping queer and trans folks unlearn values of cisgender/heteronormative culture, discover repressed desires, and embrace self-kindness.

In session, I am focused on being your teammate and collaborator to help guide you through your journey of self healing and self discovery. I specialize in treating ADHD, Eating Disorders, Anxiety & Depression. The tools I use are Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), & Mindfulness. Working with ADHD, I am able to draw upon personal experience as well as clinical knowledge to offer ways to manage symptoms. This ranges from organization and task management, to working through how we experience our emotions and daily life due to the symptoms.

Therapy can be a slow and, at times, uncomfortable process, but it can also be extremely rewarding. While I work with people with all backgrounds, I am particularly interested in working with clients who are experiencing life changes, learning to understand and embrace their identity, perfectionism, and those struggling with self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and trauma. Creating an authentic relationship of mutual trust and respect is crucial to me in my work. I look to support clients in developing tools to navigate life and unpack life experiences.