AEDP Therapists in Chicago, IL

As a trauma-informed therapist, I believe developing trust and safety within the therapeutic relationship is crucial to doing meaningful work together. For this reason, I strive to bring warmth and authenticity to my sessions with the goal of supporting clients in feeling truly seen and heard. In graduate school, I trained in feminist therapy which has informed my belief that clients are experts of their own experience and given me a deep understanding of how identity and oppression relate to one’s mental health. I am particularly interested in working with my clients around trauma, grief/loss, and relationships.

McCall Barsamian is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist who works with couples and individual adults. Her open, empathic, interactive, and respectful approach focuses on collaborating with clients to deepen their understanding of themselves and their relationships in order to bring about the transformation they seek. McCall has extensive, hands-on-training from world-renown Psychotherapists and clinical experience in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) with both couples and individuals. McCall also uses a variety of other Empirically Supported Approaches as she sees fit.

Currently on maternity leave. I will be accepting new clients in May.

As a creative, eclectic therapist, with a trauma informed approach, my focus is exploring opportunities geared towards strengthening an individual’s ability to live in alignment with their values and experience joy. Understanding the importance of a non-judgmental and caring approach, I offer a warm, empathic, and collaborative therapy space that reflects my passion for helping clients build fuller and more authentic lives. My hope is that by building a safe and secure relationship, we create space to process and grow from the breadth of experiences that make us human: the moments of joy, the moments of hardship, the unknown.

The world is filled with stories about who we should be, what we should do, how we should feel, what we should want, and about who we are if we don’t fit into those narratives. These stories, shaped by culture, society, religion, family, and experiences can help us find meaning and purpose initially. But, often things don’t play out as we'd like, which leaves us confused, hurt, uncomfortable, overwhelmed, frustrated, discouraged and afraid; feelings often exacerbated by others' expectations. Untangling and making sense of our own stories creates the opportunity to rewrite these shoulds and make meaningful, intentional changes.

As human beings, we all have a need to be seen, heard, and understood. Our relational needs are particularly important when in a place of struggle. As your therapist, I will strive to hold space, offer safety and relational connection as you reimagine and change your relationship with yourself, others, and the world around. I am experienced and passionate about working with individuals, groups, and queer couples. Areas of focus include LGBTQ identity work, becoming an anti-racist, embodiment, substance use, spiritual trauma, interpersonal and internal conflict, and anxiety.

People work with me to deeply understand themselves, create more meaningful connections with others, and learn new ways of coping with their pain and life's challenges. Many patients see me because they are dealing with depression, anxiety, PTSD and the effects of trauma, and relationship challenges. But often, those are broad terms for more subtle issues—maybe you feel dissatisfied, stuck, confused, distant, lonely, uncertain, lost, or have difficult feelings about yourself or others. Whatever your specific concern, you are seeking therapy because you are looking for growth, change, and more freedom in your life.

Welcome! I'm Macauley, a passionate and dedicated therapist committed to guiding you on your journey towards emotional well-being and personal growth. I believe in the transformative power of therapy, in tandem with mind-body practices, and am here to support you in navigating life's challenges with empathy and understanding. I firmly believe in the interconnectedness of mind and body. Together, we will explore the integration of traditional therapy with yoga, meditation, and somatic practices, unlocking your potential for healing and growth.

Eroticism is adult play: ideally it is expansive, vibrant, joyful, and stress-free. Living in a sex-shaming society damages our ability to have a loving, easy relationship to our erotic, sensual, and sexual identities. That damage can lead to conflict and disconnection with ourselves and our intimate others. Our relational health is a necessary ingredient in our overall life satisfaction. Most of us long for our intimate relationships to be a safe haven from the stress, overwhelm, and chaos of our lives. When that isn’t the case, it can lead us to feel lost, uneasy, and wondering how to find our way back to a feeling of security.

I work with people who are experiencing anxiety and distress. Many feel stuck in unsatisfying experiences. We can gently explore these experiences in ways that can loosen their "grip", and bring innate healing resources into play, cultivating a deeper sense of ease and opportunity in everyday experience. The dissolving of these unsatisfying patterns, and the appearance and growth of more satisfying ones, happens in both individual and relationship therapy.

Congratulations for taking the first step to care for yourself and your mental health. I am a professional counselor in Illinois and I support clients as they navigate depression, anxiety, interpersonal concerns, identity conflict, family of origin issues and trauma recovery. Using a biopsychosocialspiritual lens to understand people, my approach to therapy is trauma-informed and relational. I believe that our relationships impact all areas of our lives, including our identities, how we see ourselves, how we see others, and how we interact with the world.

Greetings! I am a passionate Master's level clinical mental health counseling student at Northwestern University, dedicated to fostering positive change and resilience in individuals. My therapeutic approach is rooted in an integrative framework, with a strong foundation in psychodynamic theory. I am committed to creating a tailored experience that meets the unique needs of each client.

Let's talk about something we all know to be true – life is one big tangle of relationships. Whether you're dating, single, married, engaged, part of a cozy little family, or navigating the chaos of a massive one, relationships are everywhere. And, you know what? Contrary to those picture-perfect moments we see online, not all of these relationships are sunshine and rainbows 100% of the time, or even 50% of the time! But, here's the deal – you're not alone in feeling some type of way about your connections with others or with yourself.

As you scroll through all these listings you know you’re looking for something—and it probably isn’t just someone to help you sort things out or someone who practices a certain way or works with a particular kind of person—there’s definitely something else. But what is this elusive “something”? I’m convinced it’s a feeling of connection or rather the potential for connecting, finding a fit in other words, or as the academics term it, rapport. Which interestingly is by all accounts the single best predictor for success in therapy: how well people relate to their therapists.

Many of us want to have closer, happier, more genuine relationships with our children, spouses, partners, and friends. We may feel stuck, unsatisfied or trapped in our careers or in school, overwhelmed by a strong sense of pressure coming from all directions. There are feelings of stress, anger, guilt or a sense of loneliness that get in the way, too. Often we compare ourselves to others and fall short of expectations. We may look "fine" on the outside, but on the inside, we don't feel fine.

I love what I do. I enjoy assisting you and your loved ones working through pains to a deeply connected, authentic, and satisfying life for yourself and with each other. I am equipped to help you with a wide range of struggles including emotional turmoil, traditional or non traditional relationship issues, sexual difficulties, and self esteem issues. I believe we have the strength within ourselves to heal, and I strive to help you and you significant other get into contact with that innate resiliency for a more nourishing life. I do so in a collaborative way, with cultural sensitivity, and sharp wit.

I am a licensed psychologist offering online therapy in 39 states. I am an integrative psychotherapist and bring curiosity, warmth, compassion, and a sense of humor to the therapeutic relationship. I consider societal and cultural influences while helping clients to explore their relationship/intimacy issues, sexuality, identity, struggles with depression, anxiety, trauma, and other mental health concerns. I take a sex positive approach and am attuned to the needs of poly, non-monogamous, open, kink, and BDSM clients. I find Clients do best when they understand the science associated with their struggles and mental health.

Now accepting new clients! When we are struggling in life, feeling stuck, hurt, confused, or alone, we all deserve a place to talk with someone who we know will not judge or shame us, but instead who will walk alongside us and help us create change, finding our hope and strength. I believe that you were designed to heal and you have everything you need inside you. If you are feeling overwhelmed, it's okay to reach out for help, support, or guidance so that you can move towards the life you want to live.

My approach is all about cultivating a strong and trusting therapeutic relationship between my patients and me. I bring to therapy my years of experience working in special education, developmental therapy, restorative justice, and community mental health as well as my work as a financial counselor. My decade of studying and practicing Ayurveda deeply influences my understanding of individual constitutions and my approach to holistic healing. I work with individuals and couples from ages 16 years and up.