Buddhist Therapists in Chicago, IL

I work with life transitions, grief, and spirituality. Maybe your sense of purpose or meaning has gone missing - maybe someone you know is no longer here, or perhaps something you thought was a certainty in your life - a job, a relationship, a friend, a pet, a community, your health or very life - is not so certain anymore. You don't know why or maybe even how. That's okay. We'll start there. We'll hold space together as we work collaboratively to build awareness, cultivate compassion toward your self no matter how your self shows up, and act toward your values and desires.

My counseling work is grounded in my Zen Buddhist practice. My meditation practice supports a present-moment relationship with each client, creating space for us to explore the landscape of experience together. I practice contemplative psychotherapy, using mindfulness techniques to help clients access their own wisdom. Reflecting on this wisdom together can lead to making choices and taking actions that better reflect clients’ values and the way they would like to be in the world.

I enjoy helping clients develop greater insight into where they are and where they would like to be, helping them improve relationships, careers, creative endeavors, and their overall ability to find clarity and a deep sense of meaning. I teach clients creative ways to connect with the wisest parts of themselves so they can progress in their lives with equanimity and confidence. My clinical experience includes treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, addiction, as well as interpersonal and relationship issues. I also have a strong ability to help artists and other creative individuals to become more effective versions of themselves.

My approach is rooted in the practices of mindfulness and self-compassion. I integrate a variety of mindfulness techniques to psychology to help people nurture their lives with kindness and awareness, and connect with their natural well-being. My practice is informed by cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic techniques, client-centered approach and Buddhist psychology. My clinical experience includes a range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma, relationships, sexuality, addiction and grief.

Best to submit contact us form on website. Lic. IL and WI. I identify as a Queer, Non-Binary, Womxn. I'm humanistic and person centered in my approaches. This essentially means that you decide the content of our sessions. I believe you are doing the very best you can in your life and you’ve come to a point where you need an additional perspective on a topic or situation. You may feel stuck, maybe you've tried a lot or a little to resolve your predicament. Either way that's where I come in. I'm a temporary stop on your journey. Therapy is not forever.

Hi! My name is Emma. I offer an alternative, holistic, and spiritual approach to therapy for people in their 20s and 30s. I help you get to the root of your problems and heal past wounds so you can feel more conscious, integrated, and whole. I use IFS therapy, Depth Hypnosis, Shamanic Counseling, Buddhist Psychology, nutrition, Psychedelic Integration, and TRE, all of which I am trained and/or certified in. One fun fact about me is that I have studied, lived, and worked in many countries, and I've been to 32 countries total! Ask me about working at a mindfulness center in Thailand or getting yoga teacher trained in India.

As a queer and neurodivergent therapist, I understand that systemic issues and stigmatization make reaching out for support a daunting task. I understand how difficult talking about emotions and past experiences can be. You may be yearning for someone to recognize the experience of being in your skin. My goal is to work with you to develop strategies that align with your unique strengths and challenges. As your therapist, I intend to foster a sense of safety and trust in our sessions, nurturing you into your most authentic self. I am passionate about exploring how our experiences and backgrounds shape our identities.

If you are suffering emotionally and/or mentally and seek to heal your relationship with yourself to call more harmony and balance into your daily life, please reach out to me. I'm accepting new clients :-) My ideal client needs the nurturing, safe space of our sessions for deeper understanding, and acceptance of self. You can rely on me to compassionately hold up the mirror to you, to expose mental and emotional patterning that may be holding you back from your truest potential. With me, you will to learn to accept what you cannot change, and lean into the parts you can. Compassion will guide the way, I'll show you how!

Penny McGrath LCPC LLC is a Chicagoland-based counseling services center that works with child, adolescent, and adult individuals using a mindfulness based approach that aligns with neuroscientific principles.

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.

Do you and your partner love each other, but you're not lining up when it comes to sex and intimacy? If sex has become one more thing to cross off the To Do List . . . if one of you has a way lower drive than the other . . . or just wants more passion in your love life . . . reach out and let's talk! When left unchecked, sexual issues can become the elephant in the room and can even lead to the end of the relationship. I know this from personal experience! But, there is so much you can do to diagnose the real issues and get you back on the right track. Sometimes you just need a guide who has been down that road before.

There are numerous reasons why an individual makes a decision to seek therapy. From my perspective, the key factor in being able to examine your individual reasons is based upon the relationship between yourself and your therapist. I offer a safe, supportive, non-judgmental environment in order to explore your individual needs with a commitment to placing the highest priority on your care. We will work collaboratively to identify and address your concerns in order to foster meaningful change in your life. My clinical experience has included working not only with individuals but couples, families and groups.

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.

As a member of the LGBTQ community, I understand how important it is to find a therapist with whom one can identify and feel comfortable sharing the very personal reasons that bring individuals to counseling. As such, I provide a safe, non-judgmental space in which to explore the needs of my clients. For me, finding meaning and purpose is paramount to maintaining one's mental health. As such I work in collaboration with my clients to help find those things that make one feel whole and connected.

Are you having difficulty relaxing and keeping your anxiety level down? When people come to therapy, they may be fed up with excessive worry, feeling like they can’t get their life together or that their confidence has taken a hit. You may be frustrated with feeling triggered in everyday situations. You might not even remember a time things didn’t feel this way. But one thing is for sure: you’re ready for some relief. You’re ready to feel better about yourself. You’re ready to learn tools to manage strong emotions. Most of all, you’re ready to break free and create the life you want to live!

The clients who are the best fit for my clinical approach tend to be people who want to build a stronger sense of self, learn how to center their own needs and set boundaries, and are open to inner child healing. The clients I work with want to change their relationship with themselves to be more compassionate and nurturing. They are recovering people pleasers, people who want to learn how to be more assertive, often have unresolved trauma, and are ready to break cycles in order to establish new patterns. They seek support from me to discuss dating, relationships, sex, childhood traumas, identity, and healing from abuse and neglect.

When we feel stressed and overwhelmed, numb, or stuck, calmness and connection is harder to come by. Our own bodies may feel beyond our control, or we may feel disconnected to them. We may desire change but don't know how to create it. If we feel shame or self-doubt, we may have difficulty finding our voice, our community, or our life’s work. Managing and making sense out of what we’re feeling or thinking sometimes is too much to carry alone. When we know it's time for the way we're feeling or thinking to shift, and we want more health, creativity, and joy in our lives, it's time to invest in ourselves and our wellbeing.

It is my goal to provide you with a safe, therapeutic space to unload and explore your needs, worries, and fears whatever they may be. The path to healing is unique for each of us. We will work collaboratively towards meeting your goals and needs, and in doing so, make your life more comfortable and satisfying. It is my hope that each person who meets with me feels accepted, as I respect each individual's culture, gender, race, religion, and sexual identity.

Whether you’re seeking therapy due to dissatisfaction regarding a specific issue in your life or just trying to find peace in the midst of world events, I strive to help clients develop self-compassion, resilience, healing and greater happiness. While suffering is a normal part of being human, therapy provides a safe space to explore our response to internal and external stresses and develop a greater sense of peace, meaning, and fulfillment. In addition to genuine concern and empathy, clients have mentioned my 'particular blend of pragmatism and humor' as helpful in establishing a collaborative therapeutic relationship.