Therapists in Chicago, IL

Therapy is a truly unique journey. I believe in the power of the mind-body connection and seek to help clients understand how their experiences affect their whole system. Connecting with clients brings me joy and I strive to cater my skill set to meet your specific needs. Often, I invite creativity in to help you heal and grow into a more integrated version of yourself. Movement is a helpful tool to build more awareness, but I also recognize that moving and exploring creatively in a therapeutic setting can be challenging. My hope is to help you feel more at home in yourself while finding a soft landing to do the work.

Our lives are made up of stories. Some chapters are beautiful, while some can be tragic. As we create our own narrative to the events of our lives, rushing to find some semblance of normalcy, we often become lost, challenged, overwhelmed. We forget there is beauty and resiliency in not only the events that bring us joy, but also the events that may not. As a licensed social worker, I work with you to identify meaning in each story that you share, finding a new and clearer perspective so you may live a happier life.

Takisha is an associate Marriage and Family Therapist. Her clinical interest includes working with couples/family systems and empowering clients from culturally diverse backgrounds to work on communication, parenting, and intimacy. She has an empathetic and energetic personality, which helps clients find and understand their voices, regain trust, and have more fun together in their relationship. Takisha uses a narrative and solution-focused systemic approach in therapy. She believes in the power of stories to help strengthen the core aspects of familial relationships, and she affirms collaboration and creativity in all of sessions.

I am an experienced clinician who provides individual therapy for clients ages 18 and up. My areas of special interest are anxiety, depression, infertility, life changes and trauma. I also enjoy working with first responders. My counseling approach is person-centered utilizing techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy and solution-focused therapy. I encourage clients to engage in self-reflection and help promote personal growth. I am passionate about my work and enjoy being a support for others. I feel honored to be able to help clients improve their mental health and wellness.

Congrats on taking first steps towards taking care of your mental health. Taking care of your mental health is not a sign of weakness; it is a commitment to your own strength and well-being. This process is not selfish, it is essential. I am here to help you embrace the glorious mess that you are and remind you of hope, even when your brain tries to convince you there’s none. Beyond developing a supportive and collaborative relationship with each other, my aim is to create a safe and nonjudgmental space for us to explore your thoughts, feelings, struggles, as well as your future goals.

Katie Diffay has been a mental health professional for over ten years. She has experience working with persons struggling with varied challenges, including stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. Katie has a strong desire to help others explore and heal from their past experiences while working through their present-day needs. Katie's objective is to create a safe space, free from judgment, that is client-centered, solution-focused, and trauma-informed. She is ready to help you discover your innermost desires, identify your goals and streamline a plan to help you attain them.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and have been providing individual, couples, family and group counseling services in a variety of settings for over 17 years. I truly believe in the power of the therapeutic process working together to identify personal challenges and develop healthy solutions that utilize individual strengths. Whether a client presents issues relating to chronic mental health, stage of life changes, relationship conflicts or simply to maintain mental wellness, therapy is a supportive environment that facilitates personal growth.

Starting therapy can be a daunting and overwhelming process. It is my goal to make it an easy and comfortable transition. I view therapy as a team approach including the child and/or adolescent, the family, community resources, and myself. We work together to best address the presenting challenge. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over a decade of experience working with children, adolescents, and families within a variety of therapeutic settings. I received my Master of Social Work from New York University and a Post Master's Degree from Loyola University.

Hello, my name is Kari Stearns-Lamb. I am a licensed clinical social worker in both Illinois and Iowa. My priority is you, and what you need to feel successful in your life. I believe in the holistic approach. This allows you to heal by taking all of your life experiences into consideration during the treatment process. I enjoy working with adults ages 18 and up. I have a mix of experiences that allows me to adjust my therapy approaches as needed. I strongly believe in nonjudgmental therapy and a trusting relationship. It is a true privilege to work with each of my clients, and I honor the relationships and the trust placed in me.

My name is Emily Cassidy, and I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). I work with adolescents and adults, and focus on anxiety and panic disorder, depression, life transitions, and non-complex trauma. I assist clients to meet their goals by focusing on the here and now, utilizing modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Mindfulness.

I am passionate about assisting others as they draw meaning in their lives and seek to establish relational support when faced with adversity. Oftentimes it is difficult to connect from the inside out and from the outside in when we are hurting. Many individuals are longing for someone to hear, care, and validate their feelings. I have worked with diverse populations with a myriad of mental health challenges, and have come to an understanding that hurt and pain knows no race, creed, or ethnicity; we all share in these throughout our lifetime.

Hello, I'm Nakia, a graduate student on a mission to make a positive impact in the realm of mental health and well-being. My journey in the field of counseling is driven by a genuine desire to help individuals like you navigate life's challenges, find their inner strength, and experience personal growth. As a graduate student, I'm committed to honing my skills and knowledge to provide you with the best possible support on your path to a healthier and happier life. My approach is grounded in empathy, aiming to provide you with a secure and supportive environment where you can freely explore your thoughts, feelings, and aspirations.

I believe in striving to meet clients wherever they are along their journey and working together to create a treatment plan that utilizes a holistic therapeutic approach. Together, we will tailor your care to meet your specific needs and address your concerns. My background in trauma-focused therapy allows me to take proven techniques from this branch of therapy and apply them across the board to each client’s unique needs, whether trauma related or not.

I know that it takes courage to begin therapy and my goal is to make this process as comfortable for you as possible. My approach is to create a non-judgemental, open and collaborative space. I believe it is important for a client to feel safe in order to be able to do the work of therapy. I believe in working together to identify your goals and to explore the areas of your life that are important to you.

Everyone deserves to feel heard and seen. Change is scary. Uncertainty is scary. Each of these though are important for personal development and growth. I have always felt therapy is displaying patience, compassion, empathy and empowerment. I strive to bring these qualities to each session as well as incorporating light-hearted humor, which can go a long way! Rapport building within a client-clinician relationship is important to create a safe and respectful space for self-exploration. It's important to me to collaborate with each person to best support their own goals and wants for therapy, meeting the person wherever they are at.

My name is Aillen (Lynn) Ford. I am a licensed clinical social worker who utilizes a variety of evidence-based strategies to provide you with the tools you require to address your treatment goals. I have over a decade of experience working with people of all ages. My focus has recently been on 18-65 years old with anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder, ADHD, and communication issues in regard to relationships and parenting. My focus has recently been on 18-65 years old with anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder, ADHD, and communication issues in regard to relationships and parenting.

Are you feeling stuck because of your anxiety and depression? Do you feel overwhelmed and unable to manage your emotions? Are you going through something that feels all consuming? Do you seem to be repeating the same undesireable patterns? Is your difficulty coping with stress impacting your daily life and ability to connect with those you love? I am here to help! I have a well-rounded background with over 15 years of clinical experience. I am highly trained in addressing the needs of clients struggling with depression, anxiety, OCD, mood disorder, grief, PTSD, trauma, and much more.

Possibly one of the most overlooked yet effective approaches to taking care of yourself is the simple act of listening–listening to yourself, listening to your body, and having someone you trust listening to you. Listening is where I like to start – to ensure that before anything else, I take the time to understand who you are. Each individual takes a unique path and one of my goals is to embrace that in a collaborative and open treatment experience. I take a nonjudgmental and empowering approach to ensure that my clients are strengthening their sense of self while acknowledging the past and present challenges.

A time of stress is one of the most common reasons to seek therapy. People also often enter counseling after experiencing a loss or a looming loss, whether it concerns a health crisis, relationship, divorce, job, the death of a loved one, or a major disappointment. My goal is to develop a warm and trusting working relationship with every client so that they have the opportunity to explore their thinking and feelings in a setting that is safe and secure. My work is solution-focused and evidenced-based. Ultimately, the goal of any therapy is life enhancement.