Therapists in Ottawa, IL

Welcome! We provide traditional and holistic healing for mind, body & spirit health. We work with individuals, couples, families & groups age 5 and up. The facility is located on a main street with free parking. This is a private practice with a private waiting room in a very comfortable & soothing setting. Look for the yellow house with raspberry trim. Hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and from 2:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. When you call, we will do a brief intake, verify your insurance benefits & schedule your first appointment. We do not have a waiting list and can schedule your first appointment within the same week.

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.

Let’s keep this simple. I’m a nice person just like you. I listen to intuitively help you improve your situation, whatever the case may be — 100% judgment free. You'll leave EVERY session feeling LIGTHER. Combined clinical training and holistic expertise provide integrated, effective, and rapid transformation. I CAN help if you're ready.

My approach to therapy is collaborative, whether you come in alone, with a partner, or with your family. Together we explore your therapeutic goals. I firmly believe in the power of relationships to foster resilience and healing. In my work, I strive to cultivate connection and curiosity in an active, direct, and compassionate manner as you explore life's challenges -- deepening your understanding of yourself and learning to connect more meaningfully with others.

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.

As a therapist and mental health advocate, I believe everyone deserves one hour a week completely dedicated to them and what's coming up in their life. Whether you're experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, LGBTQIA struggles, or relational issues, I can offer you a nonjudgemental and engaging space to get to know yourself on a deeper level. Through a process of self-understanding and self-acceptance, we lay the groundwork for your desired life shifts.

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

Eve Brownstone, LCPC, Expressive Arts Therapist and Certified Psychodramatist I have been providing compassionate care for the creative soul for 32 years. I enjoy supporting and empowering my clients to look within to gain more self-awareness, self-love, and self-acceptance. Art therapy, dance/movement therapy, guided imagery, meditation, journaling, and role-play are some of the tools used for this journey. The arts are excellent outlets to cope with stress and therapeutic tools that get below the surface to the heart of the matter. Not everyone’s first language is verbal and the arts can help us speak. Speak our own truth.

Healing is a circular and cyclical journey with many paths, choices, & discoveries. We meet you where you are today, acknowledge that you are ever-changing, ever evolving. We know how hard it is to ask for help…to embrace, hold, and make space for change…we know how challenging it is to have a dissolution of self, or a version of yourself that no longer fits. Together, we can uncover & compost outdated & stifling beliefs, unrealistic expectations or goals, let go of worries & fears, discover self-sabotage, burrow through behaviors & deeply hidden feelings & emotions that keep us stuck, fearful, unable to step into empowered selves.

Life can be hard. Being a college student can be hard. Life transitions (like starting college) often make it clear that some things just aren’t working. Maybe you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, anxious, alone, or depressed. Emotions, worries, or confusion become overwhelming and lead to unhelpful patterns. You've tried everything, but nothing has worked. You wonder if it will ever get better. All you want is peace, stability, and confidence in the direction your life is going. To feel good about yourself and your choices. To feel comfortable in your own skin and to believe in your ability to succeed.

Along the journey through life challenges are inevitable and there aren't always easy or clear answers about why things happen and what to do about them. We want our lives and life itself to have value, meaning and purpose; and finding or creating these things for ourselves can be confusing, frustrating and even scary. However, finding our deeper reason(s) in life can also be rewarding, exciting and empowering experience that provides the hope, courage, strength and tenacity needed to face life's challenges. Having the courage to begin this process and asking for support along the way doesn't mean you're weak, it makes you strong!