Therapists in Chicago, IL

Hello and welcome! I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Expressive Arts Therapist in Chicago, IL. My holistic framework and creative process supports the whole person improving physical, emotional, social, intellectual and spiritual well being. Combining Psychotherapy, Expressive Arts therapies and EMDR, I provide a safe, supportive and non-judgmental space to gently explore the underlying causes of symptoms, expand self-awareness, learn valuable coping skills, embrace self-compassion, connect the mind and body, and rewrite your past narrative. All of you is welcome here. Share your voice, speak your truth, take up space.

My passion is to serve the perinatal population, women, and parents. The miracles of life are challenging whether you have a desire to become a parent, independently or partnered, and especially as a birthing parent. The perinatal period of our lives is one of the most challenging and dramatic times in which we are often at our most vulnerable. The journey of parenthood is a ride of joys, overcasts, detours, and surprises which shape us as people. I meet my clients at the intersection of counseling and art therapy using trauma-informed, positive, person-centered, expressive arts therapy to hear, validate, and empower.

I am a Black, queer therapist that has 6 years worth of experience working with the following topics: trauma, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, life transitions, and interpersonal. I also feel comfortable addressing issues related to kink, BDSM, polyamory, and other sexuality and intimacy concerns. I also am a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP).

Jenna's clinical experience includes working with teenagers and adults coping with a variety of presenting concerns including depression, anxiety, OCD, and life transitions. Jenna believes facilitating the connection between mind and body helps to maintain a healthy and happy life. She appreciates the use of humor to decrease the power challenges may hold over each individual. Jenna is committed to providing an empowering and welcoming space to her clients.

I specialize in working with those who are navigating large life transitions, and am particularly passionate about working with adolescents, college students and young adults who are struggling to find their footing. I prefer to meet clients where they are at in life - your challenges are unique to you, and your therapy should be too!

Art therapy offers a fresh way to view challenges and explore solutions. Our therapy sessions will encourage you to see things from different angles, creating a deeper understanding of yourself and your mental health journey. As a neurodivergent practitioner, I can offer a safe space for you to unmask and give you tools to navigate challenges and embrace your strengths. Feel free to reach out today and we can set up a free consultation!

Our goal is to serve as your guide and walk with you on your life journey. We aim to help you overcome obstacles that may be holding you back from reaching your dreams, while providing you with healthy strategies to implement in your life outside of therapy. Whether exploring the past, present, or future; discussing coping strategies; processing stressful events; building resiliency; healing from trauma; creative problem-solving, or enhancing communication within your relationship. We serve an array of culturally diverse clients, including: children, adolescents, teenagers, college students, adults, couples, and families.

As a results oriented clinician, I welcome clients across the lifespan for individual, couples, and family therapy. My specialization is working with clients facing depression, trauma, grief and loss, infertility, self-esteem, mood and motivational challenges. My approach to psychotherapy is insight based integrated with other methods to meet the unique needs and goals of my clients. Additionally, my interests expand to family psychology, supporting clients through separation and divorce as well as parent-child therapeutic reintegration and reunification therapy.

Do things in your life not seem to be working anymore? Are you feeling more disconnected, down and isolated, and unwilling to engage in the things you used to enjoy? Or are you feeling so anxious about life that it no longer seems manageable? Maybe you're drinking more, eating less (or more), or finding it difficult to get out of bed. Perhaps you find the meaningful relationships in your life lacking. Sometimes life throws us curveballs that we don't believe we can recover from. And you know what? That's okay. Because you can get through this.

My core belief that people are resilient and are capable of growth. The first step to making change in your life or to get “unstuck” can be difficult. With warmth, encouragement, acceptance and a little laughter, we will work together to find new ways of coping, identify patterns that no longer suit your needs, build and repair relationships, and create a positive therapeutic relationship while you explore your desires, goals, and motivations. My approach to therapy is trauma-informed, affirming, and client-centered. Through a social justice lens, I recognize the multiple systems that affect your experiences and relationships.

To say that life is always smooth sailing would be the furthest thing from honest, but working to develop, explore, and establish yourself can help provide greater ease on your life's journey. Exploring your holistic identity, my treatment approach uses mindfulness practices and art making to connect you to your mind and body. I have experience working across the lifespan with individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, life transitions, self-esteem, trauma, self-identity, and learning disabilities. Our minds and our bodies are intertwined to create a unique whole being.

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.

There comes a time in each of our lives where we feel inadequate, anxious, depressed, heartbroken, lonely, confused, and in need of a helping hand. If your ultimate goal is to strengthen your emotional wellbeing, find peace with your past, and live the life you always wanted, you have found the right Therapist. Whatever is overwhelming you today, whether it’s a tough breakup, grief, abuse, work related stress, relationship issues, past trauma, or simply finding the motivation to get out of bed and have a productive day, help is a phone call away. My role is to listen, empower growth, and help you become the best version of yourself.

You get a pit in your stomach when you think about, discuss, or engage in sex; you no longer or never enjoyed it. You have pain, erection, arousal, or orgasm issues and feel stuck. You're curious about trying on a sexual identity or playing in kink/BDSM. You have out-of control or shameful behaviors, dilemmas, porn use, or masturbation problems. You don’t know how to talk to your partner(s) about sex, let alone pulling their load more at home. Religion or the feeling of shame greatly limits you. You just can’t communicate. You can’t trust or forgive them – you’re too hurt and angry. Let me engage you in sex and relationship therapy.

I utilize a combination of somatically-focused, cognitive, and psychodynamic approaches to assist you in understanding your concerns. I'd love to help you address current changes you'd like to make, but also address underlying concerns so that current struggles are less likely to resurface. I specialize in tailoring treatments in developmentally attuned ways. With adults I assist clients in understanding how their life journeys have led them to their present concerns, and work on uncovering and undoing patterns you may find less effective.

With a cultural diverse background of her own,Marija holds a Master Degree in Counseling. She provides Immigration psychological evaluations, Counseling & Life Coaching services to children, adolescent & adult population in English, Macedonian, Serbian, Croatian, Bulgarian & Bosnian. Prior to moving to Chicago, Marija honored her skills at Lindenwood University & refined them in a research program at Washington Uni. School of Medicine, Psychiatry, under supervision of Dr. Ginger Nicol.She set those skills to trial, & enriched them while working with children and adolescents in a clinical setting with acute cases at CLSH.

I take a client-centered focus in therapy; meaning I believe you are the expert of your experience. As a trauma-informed therapist, I think it is important to meet you where you are with the recognition that healing and growth are not linear. I approach this by building a strong therapeutic relationship. This relationship develops into a trust where you and I can work collaboratively for you to make the desired change you’re seeking.

This a group practice that employs clinicans of various ethnicities and backgrounds. People come to therapy due to feeling excessive stress at work, at home, or in their relationships. They find the pressures of everyday life have exceeded their abilities, overwhelmed their senses, and left them with an inability to cope. They are often having problems with school, completing tasks, getting along with others at work, and finding activities enjoyable. We believe in the resiliency of the human spirit, and that therapy is a process of exploring and getting to know oneself.

Relationships can be complicated. You may find yourself struggling to express yourself and to feel heard. You find yourself avoiding conflict or feel like you’re walking on eggshells. Resentment and emotional distance are building up from trying to gain respect and understanding. You crave intimacy but the emotional distance makes it feel unbearable. You can have a healthy relationship with yourself and others. I became a therapist because I have seen in my personal experiences people who have been hurt or used. I am dedicated to changing ongoing cycles of suffering and hidden wounds. I recognize that relationships take hard work.