Therapists in Chicago, IL

I have a strong belief in the human spirit, and that individuals inherently possess the ability to make very powerful changes in their lives. I help to provide effective tools for transforming negative self-talk into a more motivating and inspiring internal process. I gently challenge habitual emotional reactions that tend to hijack a person's ability to think clearly. Once a person is able to manage these struggles a bit better, he/she/they are able to achieve better emotional regulation and make optimal choices toward personal growth and well-being.

You may feel increasingly more anxious, emotional, or depressed. Life may even feel unmanageable. You might find yourself trying to fill internal voids with external things, such as substances, food, sex, or relationships. Experiences from your past could leave you feeling stuck in your present. Change can be terrifying, and taking that first step may feel really scary.

Perhaps you have been having difficulty trying to manage your symptoms. Maybe you struggle with depressed or anxious feelings and troubling thoughts. You may at times feel overwhelmed or paralyzed by what you are experiencing. You might even have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep because your mind has once again been hijacked by troubling thoughts. Try as you might, you have not been able to obtain much relief from these symptoms and feel it is time to call a professional to help.

My passion for the Collective Liberation of all LGBTQIA+ identifying folks through vulnerability, self reflection, and community connection help inform my approach. Are you a member of the QTBIPoC population seeking a space to process everything that is happening all at once? Are you invested in Revolution and Liberation, struggling with self connection and maintenance? Do you want a therapist that honors where you’re at while also helping you work towards your favorite self? Collaboration, Challenge and Compassion are things I provide to help guide you towards a more grounded life.

It is common for human beings who experience trauma and life stressors to feel like their lives are unraveling. My passion is bringing healing to people who have been through a traumatic/stressful experience and also improve their lives. I enjoy working with adults of all ages. I am fluent in English and Portuguese. As a client-centered and trauma-informed therapist, I view the therapeutic relationship as a collaborative space and a vehicle for change.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the effects of trauma, by challenging circumstances, or just feeling stuck in life? Do you have a hard time expressing or describing your feeling in words?  My therapy is rooted in care and trust. With compassion, understanding and guidance, I assist my clients to increase their self-esteem, confidence, and self-awareness and reconnect with their own inner strength to overcome the hardships in their lives. With my background as a clinical trauma specialist, an expressive artist and a Japanese immigrant, I am uniquely positioned to help guide you towards a more positive and empowered life journey.

New you, new flow! Have you been able to process how your nervous system is adjusting to life's stressors? I take an empathetic and affirming approach and I acknowledge that doing the inner work can be difficult. I'm proud of you for considering & investing in yourself. I work with clients who are BI&POC-Black Indigenous and People of Color. I enjoy empowering clients as they explore how their nervous system is responding to past and current experiences. Your relationships, career and dreams are evolving and when you win, I win!

As a therapist who lives with ADHD, I understand and feel the challenges of life from the point of view of a neurodivergent individual. There are so many difficulties we face every day, and we are not born knowing how to use coping skills and tools to manage them. As a result, the path you’ve been on may be scary, but I want you to know that you are not alone! This is where I come in. I am a trauma-informed therapist that specializes in working with adolescents and adults who experience ADHD, trauma, PTSD, LGBTQIA+, domestic violence, and sexual assault, or are in need of crisis intervention.

You’ve worked hard and invested a lot to get where you are, but now it feels like something’s missing. You're just not thriving. In fact, most of the time you're exhausted, anxious, overwhelmed, or angry. You worry that you’ve lost your drive. Or, maybe you find that the goals you once thought mattered most just don’t make you happy anymore. If you’re feeling stressed out, burned out, or unhappy with the life you’ve built, I’m here to help. I’m passionate about helping you tap into your wisdom and rediscover your deepest authenticity and joy.

If you’re looking for a therapist for leaders who is creative, thoughtful and cares about your background traditions and future dreams, you’ve found one! My specialty is in body-based mental health care, and I see myself as a member of your team. That means I honor your expertise about how your own life feels for your body and mind, and join it with my expertise as a wellness strategist who has been a licensed mental health therapist for 10 years. I am a Black, queer and non-Christian person of faith who affirms various relationship, parenting, religious and cultural backgrounds as a norm.

Phoenix Rising Counseling and Guidance, LLC is a holistic practice built on the premise of helping individuals like you to recognize your strengths and potential and rise up from the ashes that have negatively impacted your life. We strive to combine the treatment of mental health with mindfulness and spirituality. We believe that everyone has the tools and the innate ability to change their external world by working through the blockages, thought perceptions and cloud of their internal world.

Feeling completed overwhelmed by a recent major life change? Are you a parent, recently ended a relationship, or simply experiencing the growing pains of life? Maybe you are ready to make some changes, but not sure exactly where to start. I am passionate in assisting you with sorting through family of origin issues, & then interrupting patterns that have kept you from the life & relationships that you deserve, including the one with self! l I am also trained in perinatal mental health. I can support you through pre-pregnancy through postpartum. Wherever you are on your life's journey, you don't have to live unfavorably in any way.

Please note that I have limited daytime appointments only at this time. Life can be challenging and overwhelming for everyone. I’m bilingual and bi-cultural and enjoy working with folks of all backgrounds, but am especially passionate about working with folks from the Latino/x community. I always think of my clients as multi-faceted, keeping in mind their culture, identity, immigration history, trauma, attachment, family history, development, and relationship patterns.

"Normally, you're great at keeping things together. But lately, you feel like you're holding on by a thread, going through the motions and, at any moment, things can fall apart. You're ready to get your life back on track, but you need a place where it's okay to not have it all together. You need someone who will provide the support you need to make the desired changes. You've come to the right place, and you've found the right person."

You might be noticing patterns showing up in your life. You might feel confused and unsure about how to make changes in your life. Have you noticed trauma symptoms interfering with your daily life? Want to work with clinicians who are passionate about providing quality mental health sessions virtually? At Healing and Fuerza therapy, we will honor how cultural, systemic oppression, gender and sexual orientation impact your mental health.

Everyone believes you have it all together. The truth is it’s getting harder to cope with the stress from work, family, and relationships. Despite your achievements and strengths, you can’t tune out the voice that says you’re not "good enough". You struggle with setting boundaries and when you finally find the words to express your needs, you’re overcome with guilt and anxiety. You put yourself last and are often your own worst critic. You're exhausted by this pattern and are ready to make changes. You want to build your confidence and develop a more compassionate relationship with yourself.

Derek values establishing the therapeutic relationship as a means to providing a safe, nonjudgmental, supportive, and collaborative environment where clients can contemplate new perspectives, and regain more balanced, satisfying, and fulfilling life. In his experience as a hospice grief counselor, he has helped and supported individuals and families struggling with grief, health challenges, isolation and loneliness, relationship concerns, major life transitions and crisis.

For the past 12 years, I have had the honor of meeting with clients of all ages and am amazed by human resilience. Often, emotions can be complex to navigate and difficult to manage alone. My goal is to support you through difficult moments, help you build awareness and understanding for your behaviors and feelings, gain clarity in confusing times, better understand your relationships, and ultimately help you see life in clearer terms.

As Oscar Wilde once said, "One's real life is so often the life that one does not lead." But, for you, today can be your first step on a path of authenticity, growth, interpersonal connection, and greater ease in your body. As a licensed clinical social worker and practicing artist, I am skilled in collaborating with you to first identify and then reimagine the themes, forms and narratives of your past and your everyday. My objective is to help you rediscover your potential and lead a more satisfying, self-aware, and generative existence—all while feeling at home somatically.