Therapists in Oak Brook, IL

As a psychotherapist, I have a unique perspective from my combined experience as a mental health professional and former law enforcement officer; as such, I have significant experience in counseling military veterans, law enforcement officers, and first responders.

Providing culturally competent and client centered therapy is an important part of my job which is to help you feel safe and heard. I specialize in working with clients who want to understand the emotions and behaviors that impact their daily lives.

Feeling anxious, stressed or depressed? Many people are overwhelmed these days. There is help.

I understand that whatever brought you to this page has not been an easy part of your journey. There are many struggles and challenges that I offer support with, and I utilize an approach where I listen to your experiences attentively. I combine reflective questions with actionable steps to help you work through the current challenges you're facing. Beyond any pathology, I am curious about each individual's life journey of where you've been and where you want to be going. Through love, curiosity, and accountability, I believe that healing is possible.

Individuals and relationships are dynamic; you may have received messages from people in the world that have you questioning parts of yourself. Integrating authentic, complex parts of yourself can help you feel more full and move you towards meaning and vitality. I provide a warm grounded environment to help you explore your unique experiences and identities with self-compassion and curiosity, even if what you are feeling is overwhelming or hard to talk about.

From my own personal journey, I have a passion for working with those confronting uncertainties around their sense of identity and how they express themselves. These uncertainties may be from issues related to gender identity and sexuality, difficulties with body image, or feeling lost in the transitional stages of life. I deeply value understanding the unique background of every individual and how the intersectionality of various identities impacts the equally unique nature of everyone's lived experiences. I believe this understanding is the key to developing an effective approach to finding and living as our most authentic selves.

As your therapist, I partner with you in navigating the impacts of both internal and external circumstances on your ability to thrive. I practice client-centered therapy and will assist you in exploring your agency, your relationships, your healing, and your joy. I hope to co-create a space of trust and possibility that follows your lead, and uses our own evolving relationship as an anchor for understanding and transformation. I work with relationships, friendships, and families, and hold a sex positive approach that is inclusive of those who are monogamous, non-monogamous, into kink and BDSM, and involved in the sex trade.

I believe our mental health is deeply impacted by our collective narratives, particularly in the context of our environment(s), our access to resources, and our experiences of privilege & oppression. Therefore our work together will be centered in your wholeness, examining and holding how all of these positions & experiences have shaped, and continue to shape, your life story & lived experience. What are the stories you tell yourself about who you are? What stories have been assigned to you w/out your consent? How might your life be different if you reclaimed & rewrote these stories?

We work from a relational and cultural lense because the people you engage with on a daily basis affect the lense through which you view your world. Those lenses can diminish your ability to cope and form new, stable, and healthy connections, continuing to utilize unhealthy means of solving your dilemmas. The goal of therapy is to guide you in using your innate abilities to develop healthier lenses to view the world and healthy coping mechanisms. Mental Health Services: Individual Therapy, Group Therapy, Life Coaching, Mindfulness Meditation, Reiki, Vibration therapy, Crystal Work, and Cannabis-assisted Therapy.

I work holistically with clients to explore how their past, present, and future all impact their identity, self-expression, and quality of life. I work with youth, adolescents, emerging adults, and adults on mood (depression, anxiety, anger), identity development, LGBTQIA2S+ concerns, creativity difficulties (professional and expression), ADHD, and family of origin difficulties.

I specialize in providing therapy to adolescents and young adults from a wide range of backgrounds, with a particular focus on supporting BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ clients. My practice includes working with individuals facing a variety of challenges, such as ADHD, autism, anger management, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, boundary issues, and relationship difficulties. I am especially passionate about helping individuals who have experienced trauma, and I seek to approach each client with cultural sensitivity, empathy, and a genuine desire to understand and support their unique experiences.

As a clinical psychologist, my approach is collaborative, intentional, and custom fit to meet the needs of clients searching for support/guidance in improving their overall emotional well-being. I view each client as the expert of their own experiences and work with them to find a life and way of living that is congruent with their values and current goals.

My ideal client is someone who has a foundation of wellness and is looking to bridge the chasm between where they are and where they would like to be. They have self-awareness, motivation, and a support system to aid them in their journey. They are looking to learn and implement sustainable tools, practices, and habits that will embody their authentic truth and enhance their lives as a whole. They are curious and open about alternative and holistic methods of healing. They are willing to lean into fear of walking the unknown path of internal alchemy and evolution, knowing they are the ultimately the one that can heal themselves.

Are you are feeling depressed, anxious, stressed, lonely, angry, confused or just plain curious about yourself, your feelings or why you do the things you do? You owe it to yourself to talk to a trained mental health professional. Knowledge is power, but self- knowledge is more powerful! As a psychologist, my goal is to help you uncover your true potential in order to lead a life that is worth celebrating.

I specialize in working with children and adults who have faced systemic harm and societal stigma, including LGBTQ and TGNC individuals, women, and those from other marginalized communities. I have extensive experience working with young people who have endured complex trauma, and I believe in the power of a strengths-based relational therapy model. I am committed to celebrating diversity and I hold an affirming stance on all genders, sexualities, careers, reproductive choices, and alternative relationship structures.

Change is constant. Whether it’s the tumult of growing up, or the twists and turns of adulthood, life is constantly shifting and rearranging under our feet. In this context, getting to know yourself—your emotions, your grief, your needs and your gifts—may be overwhelming. I honor the part of you that is seeking therapy for your particular journey. In my practice, I work with adults, teenagers, and children, specializing in therapy for queer and LGBTQIA+ youth and adults.

Are you or your teen struggling with navigating your identity? Have you experienced trauma, bullying, communication issues, self-harm, or suicidal ideation? Has your gender and/or sexuality impacted your mental health and you are wanting to learn how to embrace your most authentic self? Knowing how to navigate your own identity, or knowing how to support your child as they discover parts of who they are, can be a scary process. In order to embrace authenticity we need safety, security, and an ability to communicate. We will work together on finding healing, cultivating healthy communication, and creating a sense of safety.

The therapist you NEED is not necessarily the one you WANT. Counseling changed my life. The journey wasn't easy but it was simple... I had to change everything about myself. I know that change is possible and inevitable when you have the right people supporting you. All people are deserving of love and respect, whether you identify as a racial/ethnic minority, LGBTQI+, or Religious/Spiritual. I am here to help you... find your AMAZING life!