Therapists in Kendall County, IL

Dr. Laura Bokar is the CEO/President of Fox Valley Institute for Growth and Wellness and has been an individual, marital/couple and family therapist for almost three decades. Her approach is tailored to the client's need. She is an open, non-threatening therapist with a sense of humor. Dr. Laura is a LMFT, LCPC and an Approved Clinical Supervisor. She is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). She is also certified in Rapid Resolution Therapy (RRT), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Critical Incident Response, Prepare/Enrich Pre-Marital Assessment, Primary Care Behavioral Health, and DBT.

It feels hopeless. It is intimidating. It may even feel insurmountable. It is the pain of life, and it is real. But, what if I told you it is not hopeless? That you hold the key to making things better. Seeking help can feel equally daunting, but it is the first step of breaking through the negative cloud of despair. I meet my clients where they are in their life’s journey and I consider myself a “fellow traveler.” I join them it that journey to help them gain insight, to provide perspective, and to collaborate and determine the best course of treatment to regain the direction of their destination.

Psychotherapy is about growth, expansion, and evolution, in addition to healing from painful experiences. Seeking support through psychotherapy as a strength. My aim and purpose as your therapist is to cultivate a collaborative therapeutic alliance meant to empower, foster self-compassion, and promote and motivate change. My enthusiastic and relaxed style encourages clients to address concerns with freedom and non judgement.

When it comes time to move forward, call me. I can help you reach your life goals. If you have been wanting to make some changes in your life but haven't been able to get started, I can help you move forward in just a few sessions. I can help you set goals and develop a plan to achieve them.

I work with a number of clients clients including adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Several issues I feel comfortable working with include anxiety, depression, stress management, grief issues, adjustment and change issues, Bipolar Disorders, working through past trauma, issues with self-injury, suicidal ideation, sexual/verbal/emotional/physical abuse issues, self-esteem/self-worth issues, bullying, communication issues, sexual or intimacy struggles. I specialize in working with the LGBTQIA community and other gender and sexually diverse populations.

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?

I believe that the 'fit' with a therapist is one of the most important aspects of the therapy process. I am the founder of KM Institute; a private practice that is dedicated to customizing your unique needs in order to ensure an effective 'fit' for your therapy process. I bring 19 years of experience working in schools, jail, residential, emergency room, and outpatient settings. I am dedicated to helping adolescents, adults, couples, and families with finding and implementing tools that help them reach their goals, and improve their emotional health. My specialities include trauma/PTSD, self injury, depression, anxiety, and grief.

I strive to provide services to anyone feeling misunderstood, unheard, lost or struggling with the next stage in their life. Society can have a picture of what our lives should look like and how we should feel when certain events happen to us, it can get hard when we do not fit into that picture. Sometimes all we need is someone to listen and to validate our emotions to be able to find ourselves.

We all experience ups and downs. When individuals or families are struggling with difficult emotions, behaviors, memories, or events, then therapy is one option for support. My passion is working alongside my clients to support healthy adjustment, effective communication, and healing. I integrate a variety of strategies including cognitive-behavioral techniques (CBT), existential therapy, client-centered, and mindfulness. We will also consider the influence of your family's culture and history. Most importantly, we will create a space to explore your difficulties together, without judgment and in a safe space.

I have a specialty in working with members of the LGBTQIA community. I consider and provide care that is specific to the needs of these individuals. I am able to provide individual, family, couples, and group therapy to these clients. I assist in linking clients to medical professionals, if necessary, for living an authentic life and affirming their gender identity. I have knowledge specific to issues of this population including sexual orientation and gender exploration, gender transition, gender dysphoria, relationship and sexual issues, and family/social issues.