Therapists in Elmwood Park, IL

I am compassionate and understanding psychotherapist who is dedicated to helping you through your daily struggles that might be interfering with your life. I'm able to support individuals (youth, adults, and elderly) while utilizing an integrative and collaborative approach. Being able to work with the individual to identify skills and values that they each hold to help them to the fullest. I have experience working with the LGBTQIA++ community. I am a trauma informed therapist, who utilizes active listening. Feeling alone when you are struggling is not ideal; I am here to help you identify coping skills to help you.

NOW Accepting New Clients! We are here to support you. Life Aligned Counseling offers individual and couples counseling services. Our team of therapists has experience in a wide variety of issues including anxiety, depression, trauma recovery, loss and grief, relationship issues, self-esteem and self-concept, family conflict, stress management, spirituality, significant life transitions, lgbtqia+ concerns, women's issues, men's issues, etc.

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.

To me, therapy is about seeking wholeness; it is a journey of more fully integrating our minds, bodies, & souls. Many of us live trapped in patterns & scripts that weigh us down & that keep us from living full, authentic lives. As a trauma-informed therapist (& former spiritual director), I take into consideration the whole person, noting that past or ongoing traumas, wounds, & injustices shape the way we understand and engage with ourselves and the world. I help clients draw connections between formative past experiences & current ones in order to identify & shift those relational patterns & ongoing struggles.

My name is Nidisha Kaul, LPC. As a Licensed Professional Counselor I have had the opportunity to assist clients in areas such as personal growth/life transitions, sport performance, unresolved childhood wounds, understanding past and current patterns of dysfunction, substance misuse, and their relationship with self and others. Therapy is a self-care practice one embraces to grow, heal, learn, and create a path to self-actualization. By building trust and partnership, I can assist my clients in creating a plan of action that addresses the problem at its core.

As a collaborative counselor, I create a therapeutic relationship that is genuine, warm, and non-judgmental. My approach is centered on considering the client as expert while working to help you reach stability, manage your challenges, and reach your goals. Coming from a cultural background where mental health is often stigmatized, I understand that seeking support can be difficult and therefore I aim to create a welcoming space for you ... a space of empowerment, improvement, and healing.

Private Psychotherapist & Consultant, licensed as a clinical professional counselor and learning behavior specialist with 16+ years experience, serving people on the gifted, talented, twice-exceptional (2e), professional, public-figure, straight, LGBTQIA+, anxiety, depressive, bipolar, obsessive, ethically non-monogamous, ADHD, autism, and other neurodivergent spectrums. If you (or someone you love) feel overwhelmed, anxious, stressed, depressed, misunderstood, fed up, sad, etc.—or you simply desire to work with a person who facilitates more optimal functioning and genuine wellbeing—then please call or email to check for an opening.

I think I work best with clients whose goals are both large and realistic: working with depth enough for deep healing and growth, but with an eye to the practical, and with clear communication back and forth. Clients who need to tackle embarrassing, painful and difficult issues may appreciate my gently direct, understanding and non-judgmental approach. Those who have been frustrated with cookie-cutter approaches may appreciate my close listening, collaboration, and inventiveness based on extensive training and experience. I find I work well with a variety of symptoms and presenting problems in adults, children and relationships.

Feeling stuck? Overwhelmed? Dealing with life transitions? Then I'm the therapist for you! I understand the importance of the therapy relationship and meet my clients with my genuine and authentic self. I strongly believe in "walking the walk" and would not assist or advise others to do anything that I have not done myself. I believe in empowering my clients and walking along side them during their healing journey.

Life gives us challenges. These challenges can include anxiety, depression, difficulties in relationships, or just feeling stuck in life. However, we do not have to face these challenges alone. It is my job to help you identify and eliminate stresses, embrace your strengths, and work towards empowerment. Through collaboration, we together can create an individualized and comprehensive plan to help you create an identity of your own, integrate positive practices into your daily interactions, and grow to live a happy and healthy life.

Life gives us challenges. These challenges can include anxiety, depression, difficulties in relationships, or just feeling stuck in life. However, we do not have to face these challenges alone. It is our job to help you identify and eliminate stresses, embrace your strengths, and work towards empowerment. Through collaboration, we together can create an individualized and comprehensive plan to help you create an identity of your own, integrate positive practices into your daily interactions, and grow to live a happy and healthy life.

Do you feel like you're constantly "on", doing everything for everyone else, feel disconnected, or misunderstood by people around you? Does the thought of relaxing stress you out even more? You're in the right place. It is very common when you experience stress or trauma to feel overwhelmed, stuck and alone. This can impact how you feel, make decisions, and connect with others. Next thing you know, you're scrolling on your phone and it's 3 am. Welcome to your first step towards change. You've already done something different than usual, acknowledged that you need help.

Taking the step to get counseling takes a lot of courage. You are already on your way to reach your desired goals. I believe that everyone faces their own challenges and has their own unique experience, but you don't have to go through it on our own. It is my job to guide you in your journey to reach health and happiness. I work with adults, elders, and adolescents ages 12-17 with anxiety, depression, sexual trauma, and grief and loss. I also have special insights with people who are marginalized (BIPOC, LGBT+, Women etc.).

I welcome clients who see themselves aligned with values in my profile, especially those who seeking a better therapy experience grounded in emotional connection, social justice, and authenticity. Therapy has the potential to be incredibly healing, but also comes from a history of harm, having othered people on the basis of age, race, gender, sexuality, spirituality, and disability. I offer a trauma-responsive relationship through which we can explore narrative healing of your authentic self, commitments to anti-oppressive and anti-racist living, anti-adultist parenting support, and supportive community and relationship building.

My treatment approach is integrative in nature, which includes interpersonal and systemic interventions. I take an integrated, culturally informed, and collaborative approach to therapy. I believe that various contextual and environmental factors can contribute to clients' presentations and strives to help clients achieve a more congruent life.

I believe that people are experts in their own lives. We all have strengths that sometimes are not apparent to us, but we can learn to identify them. As we connect to our internal experiences, we discover that our thoughts and beliefs about the way things are might be more workable than we had previously believed. My approach when working with people is to be collaborative and relational. I meet clients wherever they are in their journey and we work together to identify goals that help them lead meaningful lives. As your therapist, I look to create a safe space, be fully present, and listen deeply with non-judgment.

I specialize in working with women, femmes, and BIPOC on gender identity, trauma, sexuality, dating/ relationships (traditional/non-traditional), anxiety, life transitions, identity, religion/spirituality, & racial/cultural concerns. I believe the most important aspect of the therapeutic space is having a collaborative, genuine, & empathic relationship with the client. My hope for those that I am so fortunate to work with is for them to reach a place of peace, acceptance, & liberation. I have confidence in my client's ability to cultivate change, create new meaning, & rewrite their stories. I am LGBTQIAI+, kink- & CNM- responsive.

Are you feeling like your best self? Are you struggling to get out of bed in the morning because you didn't sleep at all or all you want to do is sleep? Have you been thinking about going to a therapist but life just always seems to get in the way? Do you convince yourself that other people "deserve" therapy but not you? Does your child/adolescent struggle with social skills, executive functioning skills and/or coping skills?

Are you feeling alone in navigating your mental health struggles? Are you struggling with depression, trauma, bipolar disorder, spiritual crisis, or another issue where you feel stuck? I offer sensitive and responsive therapy to help you understand yourself better and navigate through challenging times. I have expertise in mental illness and approach your issues from a gentle, non judgmental place. I’ve worked in severe mental health settings, trauma research, and with refugees. I’ve also facilitated support groups in bipolar disorder and depression.