Therapists in 60202

When difficult emotions or experiences interfere with our ability to enjoy life, it can be hard to figure out what to do. You might feel stuck in patterns of thoughts or behaviors that are stopping you from fully engaging in the life you want to live. I work with you to process what may be contributing to your pain and to recognize your many strengths within. We each deserve to be seen for all that we are by someone who cares. Honoring your unique personality and needs, we will determine how the therapeutic relationship can best serve you.

Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, confused, frustrated, discouraged, disappointed, lost, anxious, sad or angry, you are not alone. Most of us experience those feelings at some point in our lives. We care about the people we serve, and we believe every person is individual, authentic, and unique. We use evidence-based practice (EBP) methods for mental health to help children, pre-teens, teenagers, adults, couples, and families to live their best lives. We understand that therapy can seem scary and intimidating, though we know that finding the support you need is the key to starting the self- healing process.

Change is hard. But change is necessary when we find ourselves in situations where we feel sad, anxious, angry or stuck. My ultimate goal as a therapist is to help you develop more options in life -- to help you realize your potential in love, work and play. This involves the development of new ways of thinking, feeling and behaving. I will be your collaborator in this process. I will strive to create a safe, empathic and non-judgmental environment that will allow you to identify and explore your current struggles. Working together, change is possible.

Congratulations on taking this step toward healing. You are not alone. I have experience working with adults of all ages struggling with trauma, addiction, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, co-dependency, relationships, and life transition issues including young adulthood, marriage, pregnancy, postpartum, parenting, separation, divorce, and grief.

I firmly believe in our capacity to make the choices necessary in order to live our lives fully and authentically, meeting life on life's terms. It is an act of courage to seek help when life's terms seem different than our own. Together we create the space for you to strengthen existing skills and develop new ones to achieve purpose, meaning, and contentment in your life and relationships. I believe in collaboration, respect, and humor to promote insight and change. We will create a safe environment in which you can feel empowered to enact the changes you desire.

Throughout life, we are faced with many challenges...some more severe than others, some harder to overcome, and some which we ignore for the moment. When we choose not to face our challenges, it can negatively impact our true being. My experience includes working with those struggling with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, substance abuse, trauma, parent-child relationships, crisis intervention, just to name a few.

Difficult times in life are opportunities for growth and change. I specialize in exploring identity, relationships, and transitions, mindful of the interplay between our formative experiences and current ways of being in the world. Through the therapeutic process, we understand and address anxious and depressed feelings; recover from losses and addictions, and manage work and family related stresses. I facilitate my clients' innate movement toward healing and authenticity.

I mostly work in an Internal Family Systems (IFS), relational way. To me that means working in therapy towards having good enough internal harmony. Life is hard and life is amazing. Because life can be hard, we often have to get into intense, protective relationships with ourselves. Then parts of us can be pushed into the shadows. So we can wind up feeling "out of whack" and living our daily lives can be harder. Therapy can help us work with our multifaceted psychology so that we then have greater internal friendship and harmony. That can then translate into our relationships, our work, and our lives in the world.

I am an experienced clinician with over 15 years of experience working with clients across gender, ethnic, generational & religious differences. I am dedicated to establishing an authentic connection and creating a safe space for you to begin or continue your process of growth and healing. I tailor my approach to each client and their values and goals. In meeting you exactly where you are with empathy, we will work towards exploring what is at the core of your struggle and develop the insight and tools needed to help you improve your overall wellbeing.

I believe the therapeutic relationship is the crucible within which clients are helped to heal their pain. I take an active role in the therapeutic process by engaging with the client so he or she feels understood, respected, and seen. The feelings of shame, fear, anxiety and other painful emotions are worked through so the client feels taken care of. The clients I treat often come into therapy in a survival mode. I help people in moving from survival to a life of thriving and self love. Dysfunctional behaviors creates people who feel inauthentic, even to themselves. I assist people in developing true authenticity and a real self.

Even as you come into therapy wanting to change, I understand that change can be difficult and confusing at times. I hold the space as a compassionate guide for you to rest into your own self-awareness. We will collaborate to help you discover your authentic path to healing and wholeness. My approach is based on cultivating interpersonal connection and as well as mind/body/soul awareness through helping you deepen and trust your connection to self. From this place, you will find more freedom of choice, feeling of purpose and sense of agency in your life.

My way of doing therapy involves insight-oriented exploration and problem solving, and an invitation to make deeper contact with core issues and inner healing potential via somatic experience and "parts work." I'm trained as an IFS therapist and can be an especially good fit for those with established mindfulness practices and an ability to tune into inner experience. While working with me you may find yourself looking at problems in a new way, with more curiosity and self compassion. Less judgement.

Vanessa is a dedicated therapist in Chicago, holding a master's degree in Clinical Psychology and licensures as a Board Certified Dance Movement (BC-DMT) Therapist and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and is completing her doctorate in Expressive Arts Therapy. Vanessa radiates warmth and spunk. It’s not unusual for her clients to experience an array of emotions: crying, laughter, sadness, and hope; all within a single session.

My role as your therapist is to empower you with compassion and care that allows for healing. I guide you back to your inner voice to cultivate meaningful relationships. We are continually evolving because life is a creative process. I provide insight so that you better understand your relationship dynamics, allowing for the creation of new habits and patterns. Connection is essential, and it begins with the relationship to self. Increasing self-awareness, self-understanding, and establishing healthy tools for self-care empowers and equips you in navigating life's stressors.

My therapeutic approach is rooted in the belief in the healing power of authentic self-expression within a safe and nurturing setting.I offer a non-judgmental space for clients to explore their strengths and challenges. I employ trauma-informed care to facilitate recovery, and my practice is underpinned by a commitment to social justice and multicultural sensitivity. I recognize the complexities of identity and the unique challenges faced during acculturation. I assist clients in navigating these issues without re-traumatization, fostering resilience, and self-expression.

The people I work with sense a shift could be important. Their relationships seem to have a lot of ups and downs, they feel like they cannot control their emotions, and they sometimes experience unwanted mood swings. Specialized evidence-based treatment can generate a shift. They feel more centered in themselves, are less likely to be taken over by emotions, and can more quickly recover from intense feelings. Their relationships with themselves, and with others, improves. They gain a stronger sense of purpose, increased ability to communicate, more often avoid misunderstandings, and can resolve conflicts more quickly.

I act as a facilitator of change for individuals who suffer from depression, anxiety, various traumas, panic, grief/loss, stress, postpartum blues and depression, low self-esteem, and who are going through life transitions and have parenting challenges. I believe that human birthright is to experience joy in life. Individual journeys in healing and growth are the ways to achieve that.

People enter into therapy for a variety of reasons such as; having experienced a recent or past trauma, struggling with anxiety, depression or a life altering event. Ultimately, we all want to feel better and live more productive lives. I believe that therapy is a collaborative endeavor which takes place in an open and non-judgmental environment. My role is to help clients gain a deeper understanding of themselves, what motivates their behaviors and how they can bring about the desired changes.

Clients I serve are typically curious about their wounds - psychological and other. They are interested in examining the connections, complications, and complexes of their inner vs outer self as well as any aspects of themselves they find uncomfortable or distressing. My hope is to serve clients in transforming unknown aspects of their being into opportunities for enduring growth and healing through reworking, reclaiming, reintegrating, and meaning-making.