Family Systems Therapists in Chicago, IL

Welcome to therapy! I work from a place of common humanity: everyone has self-defeating behavior, and everyone needs help sometimes. Therapy can help you break free from unhelpful cycles such as avoidance, panic, overthinking, and people-pleasing. It sounds paradoxical, but "fighting" these cycles often creates more pain. Therapy can help you accept and make sense of your struggles, reduce the pain associated with them, and use them as tools for growth. I enjoy helping clients with anxiety, depression, self-doubt, unhealthy relationships, ambivalence about change, life transitions, and mood swings.

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.

For nearly two decades I have had the honor of supporting individuals on their journey toward healing and growth. I take an active, collaborative, and individualized treatment approach. I work from a trauma-informed lens utilizing insight-oriented, family systems, ego state, and EMDR therapies. I have expertise in depression, anxiety, PTSD, relationship difficulties, and self-identity exploration. I also help people navigate life transitions, such as early adulthood, career choices, grief and loss, and retirement, in addition to other life transitions. I offer hourly sessions, extended sessions for EMDR and am fluent in Spanish.

Many of the individuals and couples I work with experience anxiety, professional/work-related stress, interpersonal relationship issues, life transitions, depression, and unresolved trauma. Often, clients are looking to reflect on their personal and family history, build self-awareness, process everyday stressors, and/or develop coping skills. In my work with clients, I seek to establish a supportive, empathetic, and consistent relationship that will be the foundation for deep introspection and growth.

Welcome! My name is Sara and am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I have been in the field for more than a decade; licensed since 2020. I specialize in teens and young adults, but love working with adults of all ages. I work primarily with people who are struggling through adjustment to different phases of life and/or are experiencing anxiety and depression. I believe in person centered care where you are the expert in your own life, but firmly believe everyone could use a good support team. I feel fortunate to be part of that team.

Dr. McVey received her Doctorate and Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology-Chicago. Prior to that, she attended the Purdue University, where she obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology. She incorporates various theories into her work, including person-centered, cognitive-behavioral, and family systems. In addition to individual therapy, Dr. McVey has experience conducting group therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, and psycho educational consultations. Dr. McVey's overall goal for every client relationship is to help the client improve their overall well being through the therapuetic relationship and self exploration.

Do life’s challenges feel all-consuming? Or maybe how you've been coping just isn’t working anymore? I get it. Anxiety, depression, trauma, relationships, and transition can feel overwhelming or impossible to navigate. I approach the therapeutic relationship as a fellow human, showing up with warmth, affirmation, and support. I fully believe that YOU are the expert in your own life, and I aim to uplift and celebrate your unique strengths while accounting for the identities and systems that impact your world. We will work in collaboration to establish openness and safety as you build towards greater healing.

I am a passionate therapist with a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northwestern who worked at the Studio For Change for six years. I use client strengths, humor, parts therapy, and goal setting to resolve problems and work with individuals, couples and families from diverse backgrounds. I take a holistic approach to all my cases combing elements of mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional wellness to bring healing into client's lives. I am a level 1 graduate of Internal Family Systems therapy, and a "Prepare-Enrich" premarital counselor.

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you - Maya Angelou. Have you ever found yourself stuck within stressful relationships, triggering environments or confusing emotions? That "stuck" feeling can often lead to stagnation in our day to day lives, and uncertainty about the future. I address these struggles by utilizing a holistic, trauma-informed approach, which incorporates body-oriented, anti-oppression and harm reduction practices. These strategies allow me to focus on the strengths already within each client, while also uncovering past wounds that might be limiting growth.

Are you an individual wanting another perspective as you sort through life? A new couple or family? Been together for what seems like forever? Issues with your grown siblings? Whether just starting out and working through the complexities of a new job, relationship or family, or understanding that living with the same person day in and day out, year after year, can be difficult (right?!), sometimes it is helpful to bring in an outside person to help work through the "everyday-ness" of life.

Are you struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or a mood disorder such as bipolar disorder? These are areas I specialize in and will collaborate with you to facilitate healing. If you woke up tomorrow and your life was exactly the way you wanted it, what would your life look or feel like? Let's see how close to that vision we can get. Clients I work best with are those who are motivated to change and looking to evolve their perspectives and life. We will work together to get you to that place where you are confident, full of self-love and attract fruitful opportunities to your life..

Having difficulty communicating effectively - We Can Help Having the same fight, over and over again - We Can Help. If you're looking for a safe space to repair, restore and revitalize your relationship - We Can HELP! In sessions you'll practice new relationship skills, gain a greater sense of self-acceptance and self-awareness as you begin to eliminate communication patterns interfering with trust and intimacy. Together we explore the roadblocks in your relationship while strengthening a path toward greater intimacy, communication and relationship satisfaction.

My clinical interests include working with individuals experiencing relationship issues, depression & anxiety, body image concerns, and life transitions. As a clinician, I approach my work with warmth, empathy, humor and logic & greatly value the therapeutic relationship. I am LGBTQIA+ affirming and committed to practicing with cultural humility. I consider it a privilege to work with people with varying backgrounds and identities.

Explore. Understand. Grow. These three words best explain my approach to therapy. Through the establishment of a trusted therapeutic relationship, together, we will embark on the process of psychological change. We will explore what is preventing you from reaching your full potential. You will develop a greater understanding of yourself, which will facilitate your growth into the person you want to become. I am a licensed clinical psychologist offering counseling to adults, adolescents, children, and families. I have extensive experience treating clients with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, low self-esteem, eating disorders, parenting issues, behavioral problems and career concerns.

I am a psychodynamic therapist that utilizes a person-centered approach with an internal family systems lens. Basically, I am here to help you improve the relationships in your life by exploring your past, promoting self-acceptance, and establishing a shame and judgement free environment. I am passionate about working with individuals who seek to improve the relationships in their lives and become better versions of themselves.

Whether this is your first time in therapy, or you’re looking for someone new, my goal is to help you through life’s challenges. I work with adolescents, young adults, adults, and families to help them overcome the barriers that keep them stuck in unhelpful cycles. I understand the ways in which guilt and shame can keep us paralyzed and have the necessary tools and clinical skill set to help guide you through life difficulties. I firmly believe that people have the answers within themselves, but it often takes the therapeutic alliance to help work through problems and guide the person to resolutions and self-realization.

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 strengths-based clinician and I encourage all of my clients to work on their understanding of themselves while we work together to develop their goals during the therapeutic process. I believe it is important to consider the environment you live in and communities involved in your life when learning to understand yourself through therapy so I encourage you to collaborate with family and friends outside of our work together.

Joie is a North Side resident, and a proud member of the Queer, Neurodiverse, and Chronically Ill/ Disabled communities. They believe in nurturing and cherishing these identities (as well as all others!), and challenging social norms with the radical act of being yourself. Joie is a former social emotional and sexual health educator, and has worked with young people in various capacities for over 10 years. They’ve worked both in the schools and via Telehealth to provide therapy to children, adolescents, and emerging adults, focusing primarily on acute and complex trauma, neurodivergence, and gender/sexuality identity development.