Family Therapy in Uptown, Chicago, IL

My goal as a therapist is to put you back in touch with your own unique voice and sense of self that allows you to thrive. I use a psychodynamic, existential approach to find solutions to the unique challenges your life contains. Through building on open and honest relationship, we will explore effective coping tools and new ways to look at persistent issues that effect you.

Dr. Sirota specializes in working with emerging adults, young professionals, students, and clients with complex intersecting identities. She has a particular interest and experience in depression and anxiety, as well as concerns related to identity development, grief/loss, social justice, family of origin, and interpersonal dynamics. She also has extensive experience in the training and supervision of therapists-in-training.

Are you feeling sad, anxious and overwhelmed? Do you need someone that can listen and work with you to process any challenges you are having?

Hello! I am delighted to introduce myself to you. My name is Li Drummond. I have worked with many different presenting issues including adjustment issues, anxiety, depression, suicide risk, stress, loss, trauma, struggles with drugs and alcohol, family problems, child welfare, family problems, offenders, and relationship difficulties. I feel comfortable working with clients ranging in age from children to adults and feel especially well-equipped to work with clients facing discrimination and marginalization including members of various immigrant communities, LGBTQIA+ clientele, black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC).

I believe in creating safe space for self-expression and exploration in a collaborative and affirming way. I have worked with individuals navigating gender and sexuality identity exploration, polyamory struggles and dynamics, sexual trauma – including religious trauma and family of origin trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, HIV+ status, domestic violence, ADHD, suicidality, and milestone transitions. I have also worked with couples around family of origin conflict, communication struggles, parenting, navigating polyamory and kink, gender and sexuality expansion, as well as various role changes across the lifespan.

As one of the first in-home addiction treatment providers in the country, we are an excellent fit for those struggling with substance abuse and/or mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress who want to remain engaged in positive forces in their lives (work, family) while they recover. Our clients also value the privacy and convenience that our treatment program offers. Of course, there should not be a one-size-fits-all approach to addiction treatment, as you have unique needs and goals. To that end, our clients have a dedicated team of addiction professionals to provide psychiatry, medication, and counseling services as appropriate, over the course of an entire year. Not only are we able to more precisely tailor your recovery program than other addiction treatment providers, but we also help you learn and practice coping skills in the environment in which your sobriety will be tested.

As an intercultural and bilingual therapist, I provide culturally responsive, client-centered services to diverse populations in Spanish and English. I have extensive training and experience supporting children, youth, adults, couples, and families. I strive to create a safe space that is responsive, affirming, and inclusive. I use an integrative approach in therapy, considering personal strengths, values, culture, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, and intersectional identity.

I believe that therapy should be a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space, that offers the opportunity to process and make sense of emotions and experiences, and move towards deeper sense of self understanding. I am dedicated to helping people identify how certain thoughts, feelings and behaviors contribute to distress, and creating a collaborative path to change. My passion for providing therapy comes from the belief that we are inherently aware of what we need to be successful and are capable of making the changes necessary to move in a positive direction.

I love supporting my clients in discovering the brightest versions of themselves. I strive to be a grounding presence, offering strengths-based insight in a consistent, nurturing, and nourishing space where you can stretch, grow, and thrive. My trauma-informed clinical work also names the heavy impact of the systems at play in our lives - racism, white supremacy, colonization, capitalism, patriarchy, anti-queerness, anti-fatness and ableism must be acknowledged as complex and enduring influences on our institutions and therefore on our individual and collective healing.

Our relationships with others can be both fulfilling and challenging. If you don’t feel you have a sense of place or home, I specialize in relationships with couples, families, care-givers, and self. I value collectivist and systemically aware approaches that create trust and empathy. Together, we can develop personal insight that honors your unique needs. We are each dynamic people with different intersections of identity. We can work together to understand and accept your full identity, desires, fears, and experience.

It can sometimes feel as if our thoughts are overtaking us, sending us down a negative or anxious spiral. In these moments, it can be difficult to think clearly, feel connected to our bodies, or even to take a deep breath. We start to panic, realizing that we are spiraling downwards, which often leads to even more panic. This negative or anxious spiral does not just live in our minds, but also impacts our everyday lives--we can experience difficulty sleeping, flashbacks, changed eating habits, or withdrawal from social activities, among other things.

I work best with clients ready to take action and needing support to face the anxiety and depressive thinking beyond old trauma. The people who care about you want to see you build an inner strength to face challenges directly. Over the last 13 years, my clients have improved their relationships, careers and deepened the release of past pain. Prepare for facing directly your stress and symptoms, recognizing internal versus external barriers, holding yourself accountable toward healthy choices, and understanding barriers you face. Our work will support your growth and awaken the motivating force inside you.

I am a licensed social worker and educator experienced in working with adults living with trauma in the form of domestic violence, family, and general mental health wellness. My ideal client is someone who is ready to begin the journey of healing. I use narrative therapy, goal-setting, and strengths based thinking to help individuals become the best version of themselves. I am also a member and an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Life is often the hardest on the kindest of souls. Many of my patients have suffered complex and extensive adverse experiences throughout their lifespan, compounded by their intersectional identities. They come from all walks of life and have experiences specific to complex trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, narcissistic family systems, estrangement, divorce, and self-identity. These experiences have made it difficult for them to connect with others, verbalize their needs, and feel worthy of existing as their true selves. Together we will work collaboratively on developing trust and exploring who you are at your core.

Thank you for taking the first step towards a happier, healthier life - you are making the important decision to support yourself. Brendan’s background is in sexual and domestic violence. He believes trauma affects us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. By establishing safety, remembering, and grieving, we are able to reconnect with our current lives. Our mental health has physical effects; Brendan focuses on the damage chronic stress has on the body as well as the mind. Our nervous system cannot absorb the impact of trauma alone. We find healing through our relationships and communities. Together, we find a path forward.

My areas of expertise include relational concerns, anxiety/depression, emotion regulation, young-adult development and life transitions (moves, school/career, divorce/separation, etc.) Interpersonal difficulties with repetitive arguments, communication and messaging, lack of understanding, stonewalling/withdrawal, infidelity, difficulty navigating needs and expectations. Together we will identify patterns, stressors, the role of beliefs, goals and emotions in motivating behavior. Life comes with problems, and success is dependent on navigating the ups and downs.

It is not always easy to admit when we need help – and then to ask for it. Taking the step to seek therapy is an important one, and I want to help make it a positive experience for you. Sometimes our worlds on the inside and on the outside can leave us with overwhelming feelings that may not be easy to manage on our own, and you don’t have to. As you work with me, you will find that I am compassionate and easy to talk to. I support clients in a number of areas, including: trauma; questions around identity and expression; relationships; family of origin; life transitions; anxiety; and depression, to name a few.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I earned a Masters of Social Work from University of Illinois Chicago Jane Addams College of Social Work and has a BA in sociology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. My clinical skill set includes: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness practice, relational-cultural therapy, solution focused therapy, and trauma focused therapy. I view presenting problems in a multifaceted manner, allowing me to develop a positive therapeutic relationship and understanding with my clients.

If you are serious about coping with all forms of stress in your life related to emotional, relational, work, and physical health than I am very interested in supporting you to develop the skills to heal yourself. I challenge people to move away from emotional ruts and embrace a happier and more productive life. If you are struggling with issues around self-esteem, substance abuse, fears and phobias, and/or relationship challenges, I can give you the support you need to improve the quality of your life.