Therapists in Woodlawn, Chicago, IL

I am a licensed clinical social worker with more than 20 years of experience providing counseling and psychotherapy to individuals and couples. My style is interactive, exploratory and collaborative. My goal is to provide a safe and empathic environment that supports growth and change. Those who work with me tend to develop increased insight into their relational patterns and life experiences, a strengthened sense of agency and self, and new approaches to challenges in their personal and professional lives.

Tired of being tired? I get that. Always having to be strong can be exhausting. Overwhelmed, excessive worry, lack of interest, irritability, and procrastination are just a few things I hear from Black women in therapy. Together in therapy we can address those feelings and work towards your goals and improved mental health.

There are times for many of us when life no longer feels workable. The stress of life changes, work, or study becomes overwhelming. You might feel unable to find connection, joy, or a sense of purpose in your life, frozen by the pain of your past or uncertainty about your future. You withdraw into numbness or despair, caught in patterns that you can’t seem to break and unable to fully connect with the people and the world around you. Perhaps anxious thoughts and behaviors nag and exhaust you, driving you further from the things that you value. It feels like your own mind has become an enemy.

I strive to develop a collaborative environment with each client so they can feel safe and comfortable discussing what brought them to therapy, identify their goals, and take steps to building a meaningful and rich life. I am interactive in the therapy process and support clients with practical tools and strategies to challenge old patterns, while incorporating new skills that aim to improve the client's ability to live more intentionally and authentically. I employ elements of ACT, DBT, and CBT to respond to the unique needs of the individual.

Guided by my passion for healing through creativity & understanding, I'm a dedicated therapist poised to empower you on your unique journey. I offer a safe & affirming space for individuals & couples from all walks of life. My clients come to me looking to tackle women's issues, depression, anxiety, perinatal/postpartum mood & anxiety disorders, sexuality, intimacy & libido issues, grief, gender, loss, trauma, life transitions, self-esteem, LGBTQIA+ exploration, relationship challenges, & more. My mission is to help you navigate life's twists & turns, weaving a path to well-being that's uniquely yours.

My general approach seeks to honor the emotions and experiences brought into a session while acknowledging the impact that systems and experiences have had on our development and identity. Our experiences in relationship with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us can be the source of pain but also the source of profound healing and recovery.

I understand that making the decision to begin therapy can be as daunting as it is positive. I will provide a warm, supportive space to begin to sort out life's challenges. I believe that everyone has the resilient capacity to create change and will help guide clients toward healthy goals by letting go of past issues, negative thoughts, and/or unwanted behaviors. As an experienced, licensed psychotherapist with a masters degree in clinical social work from the University of Chicago, I have been a practicing social worker since 2004 and a psychotherapist since 2011.

Above all else, I value the human experience. My approach is to meet individuals, couples, and families where they are to help balance their current reality with what they desire. I can help you develop improved insights and effective coping skills. I work with couples and families to achieve healthy goals of relating. Once empowered with tools, clients can begin to experience a new and positive reality. For clients who desire brief or solution-focused therapy, I'm happy to work with you in minimizing past failures/problems and shift towards increasing your strengths. *Call me to make an appointment.

You and I meet when you have a notion that you want to be different. For whatever reason, you have found yourself seeking change in behavior, perspective, or attitude. Whether you feel alone or are lonely; in need of a healing, reflective mirror to other possibilities of yourself; want more depth in your relationships with self and others; or are needing to explore options of how to view and be in the world, this is a path we can walk together. I work best with people wanting to access the wisdom of their whole selves, people who are willing to entertain the opportunity and challenge of being, here, now. That's when you and I meet.

I work from a "empathy above all" perspective and am extremely individualized in my approach with regards to client needs. Therapy is not "one size fits all," and neither is recovery; recovery from trauma, substance use disorder, alcohol use disorder, toxic relationships, disordered eating, and more. These are only a few examples of the issues I am qualified to work with.

Discover a life full of hope, healing and fulfillment! You have taken the first step on your journey toward living healthy and whole. Emotional wellness is an essential component of life. Many aspects of our lives are impacted by our mental health such as our relationships with family and friends, job performance, self-esteem and overall physical health. When our mental health difficulties go unaddressed, we face the risk of feeling hopeless, dissatisfied, emotionally drained and living an unfulfilled and inauthentic life. I would like to help you on your path to emotional health and wellness.

I believe in a holistic approach to healing understanding the connection of mind, body and spirit. Using a strengths-based perspective, I focus on building resilience and identifying barriers to the healing process in order to achieve desired goals. My background is in community mental health, women's issues, substance abuse, trauma, self-empowerment and coaching. My goal is to help individuals on their journey to find purpose, equanimity, and more joy.

With care and collaboration, I meet people where they are by drawing upon various therapeutic models to engage in identity exploration, address stress, decrease anxiety, and work with family dynamics. Whether you are an individual or a part of a relationship, I am passionate about helping you individually and relationally at the same time.

I believe one of the most courageous acts a person can take is to seek therapy and professional support. As your therapist, my goal is to work collaboratively with you to create a space where you feel safe to learn more about yourself and better understand your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Seeking to heal and be whole is a brave undertaking, and I hope to journey alongside you as we work towards your therapeutic goals.

I believe you have already taken a courageous step on your healing journey! You have accessed courage within yourself to reach out for support in whatever challenge you may be facing. Along with courage, there are other aspects of your wholehearted self that are always present though sometimes may be be hard to access. In Internal Family Systems (IFS), we call those parts who can seem to get in the way protectors or exiles. These parts may be anxious, depressed, over function, or may hold obsessive compulsive patterns, or have experienced trauma (racially, sexually, emotionally, physically, spiritually).

Are you struggling with emotions, career, relationships, or chronic pain, but not sure how to move forward? As we've all experienced through the pandemic to certain degrees; life events can be unexpected, overwhelming, and traumatic. You deserve space to process what brings you to therapy with a professional who can validate your experiences and commit to working with you, at your pace, to develop solutions. I work from a culturally-aware, trauma-informed perspective to ensure that you feel seen and heard, and offer Art Therapy. Non-judgmental by nature, I collaborate with clients by building on strengths to overcome challenges.

Hyde Park Counseling&Therapy is rooted in a wellness model & strength based philosophy. The therapist, April Robinson, strives to promote peace & authenticity within the self. She provides an environment & process to facilitate clients in the journey of self-exploration, self-education, & personal growth. Her therapeutic work is rooted in humanistic & cognitive behavioral techniques. In addition to this framework other traditional or non-traditional techniques may be used when appropriate. She treats mental health issues ranging from mild stressors to traumatic or severe conditions. She works to help each client alleviate his or her discomfort no matter how acute or chronic.

I provide insight-oriented, problem-focused, integrative psychotherapy to adults, with 20 years of experience. Currently most appointments are through telehealth, with the option for monthly in-person meetings. Together we can explore your concerns, improve communication in relationships, and help you make choices to improve your life - career, relationships, family - and negotiate hurdles, or grieve losses. I provide gender-affirming care and support to LBGQTIA individuals and families.