EMDR Therapists in Chicago, IL

Ashley N Wofford, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker who works with adults in several different specialty areas, including but not limited to anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and stress management. She obtained her master's degree in social work from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and has been practicing for over a decade. While she utilizes an eclectic approach in therapy to tailor treatment to match each client's needs. Therapy styles include but are not limited to solution-focused therapy, EMDR, strengths-based, psychodynamic, and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Prioritizing mental health, now more than ever, is paramount to leading a healthy and fulfilling life. The personal and systemic traumas we encounter can lead to increased anxiety, isolation, depressive symptoms, and physical ailments. You are not alone! I have vast experience working in integrated health and understanding how stress and trauma impact us physically. I also recognize the secondary trauma that can arise from dealing with the systems meant to help us. I specialize in trauma-informed therapy and am EMDR trained. Creating a non-judgmental, safe, and reliable space is my number one priority.

Ever since we have embarked on our journey through life, we may have had the opportunity to experience love, kindness, joy, or passion—but we may have also experienced pain, discomfort, anger, betrayal, tragedy, or grief. During the moments you’ve experienced the latter it’s very possible the events that took place have been frozen in your mind, making it impossible to forget or process. This may have left you feeling depressed, anxious, mistrusting, stagnant, or even scared. My goal as your therapist would be to support and empower you on your journey so you can develop a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you.

I work with adolescents, adults, and couples of all backgrounds, ethnicities, and sexual orientations. I utilize a trauma-focused lens to help you feel safe, see events from different perspectives, and understand ways in which the trauma you have experienced is shaping your current reality. By working together, you will understand that your feelings are valid. Together, we will achieve improved mental health. My life, educational, and career experiences give me a unique and compassionate lens to help you navigate life and reach your goals.

Sometimes our life experiences can leave us feeling stuck, confused, and unable to move forward. There might be a disconnect between who you are and who you want to be and you're not sure how the pieces fit together. Our work together would include exploring the things getting in the way of living more authentically, and incorporate coping skills for managing day to day experiences. I take an integrative approach, incorporating various techniques and strategies that fit best with you and your goals.

Chicago Pride Center offers a breadth of specializations and training to tailor the therapeutic experience to the needs and preferences of each client, serving children and adults throughout the life-course. We bring a depth of experience in work with LGBTQ+, Gender Expansive folx, Allys, non-monogamous relationships as well as veterans through trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, transformative justice and empowerment-based frameworks.

I am a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) licensed in Illinois with over 18 years of experience. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, infertility, parenting difficulties, career challenges, OCD and PTSD/trauma. I have a specialization in working with victims of crime (physical/sexual abuse and traumatic grief and loss) as well as law enforcement/military members and their significant others and children.

My approach to therapy is both practical and positive. I work primarily with adults who are looking to make changes in their lives and are unsure of where to begin. I enjoy the process of connecting with my clients, who often experience anxiety/depression, and developing a relationship that supports movement and acceptance. Specializing in addiction and trauma work I incorporate evidence-based strategies to facilitate healing. I have a mind and body approach that I believe promotes patience and encourages understanding to all aspects of a persons life.

Do you feel overwhelmed by changes in your life, disconnected, or that stress is blocking your ability to be who you really are? Are you exhausted, spreading your energy too thin? Do memories or fear rob your ability to be in the present moment? Allow me to help you reboot your spirit and your self-appreciation. Together we can tease out what needs to change to help you gain control and connect with your own power. I use cutting edge techniques that help you highlight your strengths, lower stress levels and get you moving in the right direction.

I am dedicated and passionate about forming a meaningful bond with each client I work with. Empathic, effective, and client-centered mental health care are foundations of my therapeutic practice, and I aspire to create a space that is both welcoming and safe for all clients.

Being queer myself, I often work with LGBTQ young adults and teens who are navigating life stressors while forming their identities. I’m formally certified with EMDRIA international in EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) and often use this approach to support clients' healing from childhood & other interpersonal traumatic experiences. I also assist clients in their processing of other aspects of identity including family, ethnicity, faith, and spirituality. I am very passionate about working with queer folks, people of faith, and additionally, those with post-traumatic stress symptoms and/or PTSD.

It's my belief that people have many of their own answers, they just need the dedicated time and space to process and explore. I assist my clients in understanding and overcoming the challenges that they face day to day. Through a transparent and collaborative therapeutic relationship, I guide clients in honoring their needs and accomplishing their goals. Therapy can be a powerful tool in one’s mental health toolbox. My goal in therapy is for clients to feel empowered to use ALL of their tools including social support, health care, boundary-setting, well-managed medication, joyful movement, and effective communication.

Derek is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and respected expert in his field. He is also fully trained in EMDR Therapy. In addition to two bachelor degrees, one from Kalamazoo College and the other from University of Wisconsin-Madison, Derek also holds a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Roosevelt University. Derek has worked extensively with people suffering from all types of addictions as well as depression, anxiety and dual diagnosis. He believes in collaborating with his clients and "It all works out in the end. If it hasn't worked out, it's not the end"

Louise is dedicated to renewing lives and supporting the recovery of those struggling with chronic stress, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, low self-worth and trauma. Louise strives to enhance an individual's quality of life and relationship with self, understanding that when met with adequate support, we can all find healing and fulfillment in life. Louise utilizes an integrative therapeutic approach, including Insight Oriented Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Attachment-Based Theory, Experiential Therapy, Mindfulness, Somatic Experiencing, Psycho-Education and EMDR Therapy.

The clients I work alongside of often seek reflection and changes in their life. This can sometimes be scary, painful, intimidating and occasionally leading to leave things as they are. However in my experience, the thirst for a more fulfilling life is always present. Sometimes hiding behind a hobby or creative interest, music we listen to, places that make us feel at home or a certain moment of the year when we feel more hopeful. I deeply enjoy helping my clients find those special pieces of fulfillment together. With time and intention, these later become the foundation for healing, change, and deeper reflection.

Has life thrown a lot at you? Maybe you’ve successfully gotten through past difficulties, only to find your old ways of coping no longer serve you. Let’s work together to find your healing. With warmth and acceptance, I work to unlock your connection to and trust in your strengths, wisdom, and creativity. We'll shape an understanding of who you are, where you’d like to be, and what tools work for you to build skills and find solutions to your goals. Using my foundation in the neurophysiology of stress and trauma, I will partner with you to cultivate cognitive and body-based tools to cope and find new responses to present challenges.

Therapy is an opportunity to explore how to heal in order to live an empowered and fulfilling life. If you are feeling anxious and overwhelmed from your day-to-day or recovering from a traumatic event, therapy can be a supportive space to explore various avenues for healing and growth. In our collaborative space we will identify what brings you a true sense of joy and belonging as well as practical skills for managing life stressors. My role in the therapeutic relationship is to act as a curious observer - to reflect back what I notice and to broaden our shared understanding of your experiences.

The hardest part of the therapeutic process is asking for help. Taking those first, but necessary steps, can be exhausting. I am here to help make the transition into therapy smooth and successful. My goal as a therapist is to provide a warm, welcoming, and safe environment for my clients.

Please Note: I am currently taking a waitlist for new clients... Humans have an amazing capacity to cope with trauma, loss and extreme stress; however, sometimes events overwhelm all our capacities, and even when those events are over we struggle to get past them and feel fearful or hopeless about our future. Using both EMDR and talk therapy, we will work in the present to identify problems, patterns, and symptoms; trace those issues to the past events that source them; reprocess those events to alleviate the present issues; and build resources to foster hope in the future.