Therapists in Chicago, IL

The word renaissance literally means rebirth. So many things in our lives we were born into and did not get to choose; like our parents, our siblings, our homes, our genetics, nor the hand of fate in our lives. Yet there are many things we now get to choose; such as how we relate, the meanings we make, what we choose to believe about ourselves and others, and the decisions we make as a result. We began to write our rule book of life, long before we even knew how to write, and often we don’t realize we are still playing by those same rules that may no longer serve us. Now we can choose differently and free ourselves up to win.

Therapy is an opportunity for self-reflection and personal growth that requires a compassionate and safe therapeutic relationship. I practice from an insight- oriented approach that allows for an increased awareness of past and current relational patterns. Together we will examine these patterns, develop tools, and find ways to respond differently in order to alleviate immediate stress while also creating lasting change.

I am a licensed clinical therapist in Illinois with over 10 years of experience providing therapy services. My goal for when we first meet is provide a safe and comfortable space to explore what has been causing distress in your life. In our sessions we will work together to determine the root of the issue, assess what has or has not been working, and collaborate on how to move past whatever is holding you back.

Over the past 10 years I have provided counseling services for people at varying life stages experiencing anxiety, depression, family conflict, trauma and much more. I have a collaborative nature with my clients wherein we are working together to heal. I want nothing more than for you to gain insight into your life, replenish what’s been depleted and become your own healer. This is my mission and the mission of Empowered Counseling.

My name is Emily Deaver and I am a warm, compassionate counselor who believes in a holistic and integrative approach that meets your unique needs and the needs of your family. I specialize in working with young people utilizing a multifaceted, developmentally appropriate plan to address a wide range of challenges. I work in partnership with my clients to increase healthy coping mechanisms and to improve their overall quality of life.

Growing Boundlessly is a holistic wellness collective dedicated to providing a variety of wellness services to individuals, couples, and families to promote holistic healing, cultural awareness, and spiritual exploration specifically to BIPOC. Our goal is to help you cultivate and grow into a boundless life by providing support as you journey through healing with therapeutic support, self-care practices and wellness offerings.

Connection to ourselves and others makes life noteworthy. To make those connections deeper, it is vital to find and maintain healthy relationships that enrich our lives. If you're like most people who struggle with relationships from time to time, let me help you by giving you the skills to make this happen.

You deserve to feel better and to see real benefits from therapy. Oftentimes we are looking for insight and tools to help us feel better, but we’re not sure where to look or what to try. Feeling disconnected to yourself or others, worrying too much, feeling stuck or avoiding certain aspects of life can be common experiences but they don’t have to define our lives. Together we will assess your concerns and develop a tailored plan that will help improve your quality of life and yield lasting change.

Feeling overwhelmed with work, life? or going through a difficult transition? Talking to family and friends could be helpful at times, but the support and expertise of a therapist can be meaningful when you want to focus on you, your emotional well-being and individual growth. Everyone deserves the opportunity to heal from past and/or current issues, and feel empowered during the process of finding what works for them and their unique situation. I invite you to be brave and take the first step to a better and stronger you!

Entering counseling is about developing a therapeutic relationship with the client. With that in mind, I make every effort to engage clients by first getting to know them and their needs. I believe that for change to occur for clients, they need to trust that their therapist is trustworthy, sincere and supportive. My counseling style tends to be interactive, with a focus on key issues that present in clients lives in the form of themes, patterns. I am comfortable working with different theoretical approaches, keeping in mind what clients respond to most.

We aren’t meant to go through life alone. We need people around us to celebrate the highs, talk us through the lows, and above all else, we need people to listen and hear us. I truly believe that no problem is too small for therapy and that no one should have to navigate the tough parts of life on their own: I want to hear your story, and I’m here to support you through your journey. Therapy is a collaborative effort that requires us to work together to create goals that will best benefit you, while being mindful of where you’re in that moment.

As we move through our lives, we are presented with experiences through which we can grow and change. This is true at every stage of our lives, whether we are leaving home for the first time, creating our own families, dealing with relationship loss, or managing our own aging or the aging of loved ones. For healthy growth to occur, we need skills, tools, and support to adapt to changes in our lives. When we do not have these, we experience a myriad symptoms of distress—including depression, anxiety, and exhaustion. I view therapy as a relationship that can help find ways to turn these barriers/challenges into growth opportunities.

I work best with clients who are curious about themselves and their experiences and who are ready to examine what is getting in the way of their lives and heal their wounded parts.

The artist Coldplay once said: "Everybody knows I'm in over my head." Many of us can relate to that sense. Life can lead us to feel like we are "in over our heads." We feel stuck, overwhelmed, or confused. However deeply you might relate to this, I believe that living life with your head above the water is possible. I believe that together in counseling, we can discover the path out of anxiety, obsessive thoughts, depression, grief, shame, relational conflict, and other barriers to greater wholeness and connection. As a therapist, one of my greatest passions in life is to see people flourish and live life more fully.

Anxious and depressive thoughts can often make us feel stuck in a cycle. I will help you gain a rich understanding of yourself and your past to take the first step toward processing any feelings of anxiety, depression, grief, relationship difficulties, and more. I prioritize learning about you as a unique individual and I cater my approach to suit your specific needs and goals. Together we will explore your values, identity, attachment style, culture, and relationship history. We will use this insight to address current thought/behavior patterns. This will help you to interrupt the cycle, get un-stuck, and live the life you desire.