Psychodynamic Therapists in Andersonville, Chicago, IL

Often, people come to us without having explored psychological concerns in a sophisticated way. If they had past therapy, they were at times disappointed that it did not go deeper, as it left the greater meaning (the "roots") of their symptoms unexplored. As psychodynamic therapists, however, our goal is to see comprehensively, with thoughtful attention to the subtle depths and intricacies of your experience. In so doing, we can help to both resolve symptoms and impart meaning to your experiences, even those thoughts, feelings, and emotions that are often deemed painful or meaningless.

I'm Albe (she/her/ella), also known as Miss Albe, a bilingual (English/Spanish) art therapist working with individuals and groups among Chicago’s various LGBTQIA+ and Spanish-speaking communities. I view therapy as a collaborative experience designed to enhance personal insight, coping skills, & communication techniques through various avenues of self-expression. I am a kink and poly aware therapist with a strong background in direct service, advocacy, and engagement with the LGBTQIA+ community and transgender women of color in particular.

Often, people come to us without having explored psychological concerns in a sophisticated way. If they had past therapy, they were at times disappointed that it did not go deeper, as it left the greater meaning (the "roots") of their symptoms unexplored. As psychodynamic therapists, however, our goal is to see comprehensively, with thoughtful attention to the subtle depths and intricacies of your experience. In so doing, we can help to both resolve symptoms and impart meaning to your experiences, even those thoughts, feelings, and emotions that are often deemed painful or meaningless.

In psychotherapy, I am a supportive listener who helps clients to uncover blind spots where difficulties lurk. I teach healthy coping strategies, and I coach people to try out new behaviors in their daily lives. I further help individuals, families, and couples to shore up inner resources to face life's challenges effectively and with a stronger sense of self-worth. I also guide individuals toward a better understanding of their feelings and emotional states. Finally, my approach focuses on breaking problematic interpersonal patterns and striving to be more autonomous and self-governing in one's day-to-day life.

Building meaningful connections with all my clients is my foremost goal. I am currently accepting clients at Dr. Jessica L. Hudson, Ph.D., LLC (jlhudsonpsych.com), located in Chicago's Andersonville area. I work with a variety of clientele struggling with anxiety, depression, OCD, and PTSD. As a psychodynamic therapist, I am extremely interested in your lived experience to inform how best to help you. From there we will work together to develop cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness strategies to implement in your daily life.

Most of my clients identify as LGBTQ and I have a special interest in working with this population, but I welcome anyone to my practice who wants to disentangle longstanding problems, understand themselves more deeply, and feel more alive. While symptoms of depression, anxiety, or distraction signal that something is wrong, most of the issues people bring to therapy are complex and woven into the fabric of their lives, family histories, relationships, and communities. For this reason I work primarily within a psychodynamic framework, which is most effective in facilitating deep, lasting change compared to other forms of therapy.

As a therapist and mental health advocate, I believe everyone deserves one hour a week completely dedicated to them and what's coming up in their life. Whether you're experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, LGBTQIA struggles, or relational issues, I can offer you a nonjudgemental and engaging space to get to know yourself on a deeper level. Through a process of self-understanding and self-acceptance, we lay the groundwork for your desired life shifts.

I believe in a collaborative approach to therapy and seek to empower my clients through collaboration in treatment. My worldview and theoretical approach is rooted in a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and social justic framework and utilizes interventions from methodologies such as Somatic Experiencing, existentialism, psychodynamic, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Therapy can be a powerful tool to hold space for clients and I come from a place of empowerment to help give clients space to process and dialogue through thoughts and feelings.

I feel every person deserves to have a space where they feel heard and supported. Therapy should be a space where you feel safe to explore, laugh, cry, and reach those goals you have been thinking about. I will work to provide a space that you can feel safe and together we can accomplish this goal. I believe therapy is about exploration and understanding. Sometimes we go through life not feeling connected to ourselves, those around us, or activities that once made us happy. We can use this space to discover how to bring fulfillment back into your life, as it is possible!

I view therapy as a place for healing, growth, and exploration. Whether you are feeling hesitant about seeking therapy or determined as you take this step towards wellbeing, I am here to walk alongside you no matter where you are in your therapy journey. We will work together to understand the root of your suffering so that you can make lasting changes towards a more fulfilling future. I seek to create a safe and non-judgmental space where you feel welcomed, understood, and empowered, so we may work especially well together if you are coming to therapy for the first time or have had unfulfilling therapy experiences in the past.

I believe in a therapeutic relationship that is nurturing, supportive, and energetic, where folks are free to question, grow, and change. As a queer therapist with lived mental health experience, honoring your story is important to me. As such, I am always looking for new ways and perspectives to approach the intersections of identity, history, and values. I often look for patterns and adaptations you might not see, and seek to bring them into the room respectfully and with the utmost sensitivity to your needs.

As we move through our life, we may come across challenges, barriers, or new experiences within our relationships, families, and our communities. Maybe you are feelings stuck, anxious, discouraged, or stressed due to a life transition. Having the therapeutic space to process and explore can bring self-awareness, clarity, and healing. When we have the support in uncovering inner core elements, we can then have a better idea of what next steps we want to take in our life.

I specialize in identity development & life transition work, harm reduction for individuals with substance use issues, relationship issues, mood & anxiety challenges, and supporting individuals who have endured trauma. I am a kink and poly aware therapist who enjoys working with relationships. I relying on an Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) lens when working with relationship struggles. I am dedicated to serving Chicagoland’s LGBTQIA+ community and have a deep background in advocacy and direct service. I am especially dedicated to supporting TGNC individuals in the unique aspects of their journeys.

I am a South Asian queer therapist who is focused on creating an authentic space for you to heal and grow.  As a second-generation immigrant, I understand the stigma and trepidation that comes with getting mental healthcare. I strive to create a space where you can be seen and heard without judgment. We will work together to identify challenges related to trauma, cultural background, depression, anxiety, and lack of fulfillment in life.

Thank you for your interest in my services. Choosing an appropriate therapist is often experienced as a daunting task. I appreciate how difficult initiating the psychotherapy process can be. I am committed to establishing an open and collaborative therapeutic relationship with you, and offer a safe, nonjudgmental, supportive environment for growth and change. I work with individuals and couples to find solutions to a wide range of life challenges and to change the pattern that no longer works. As a psychotherapist, I recognize that each course of treatment is subjective and unique.

For so many of us, things feel heavier or harder to make sense of lately. There’s a lot going on, and it’s a lot to carry. Maybe you're feeling down, or more stressed than usual, or maybe you’re feeling disconnected from friends and loved ones who are usually your anchors. You might be struggling with a life transition or a difficult decision. Maybe you’re coping with the overwhelm by “numbing out” and have lost touch with some of the things that used to bring you joy. You might have noticed some distressing patterns in your life and you’re ready to take control and learn the tools and skills you need to make healthy changes.

So, you’re contemplating seeking out therapy. Congratulations, it takes a lot of courage to recognize that there are things you may want to explore, change, and/or better understand about yourself, the way you see others, and/or your environment. Finding a therapist you feel comfortable with and trust can be difficult. Painful life experiences, past trauma and current situations can lead you to feel stuck, depressed and anxious. I believe that we all have areas of our life that warrant closer examination. As your therapist, I aim to create an empathic judgement-free space where we can work together to achieve your goals.

We live in a hectic, high-pressured world. It can be hard to stay connected to one's true self when managing the stress and expectations of our nonstop culture - especially when life doesn't go according to plan. I provide a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment to help you gain perspective, process past experiences, clarify your values, and experience healing and deeper fulfillment. Together we will use sessions to set goals, identify barriers to growth, increase coping skills, and build on your existing strengths.

Some moments in life feel like wading through the muck—which may be anxiety and self-doubt, or trouble communicating, or the impacts of systemic oppression. Perhaps you’re just stuck and unsure of how to move forward. My goal as a therapist is to don my rubber boots, meet you out there, and together walk with you towards solid ground. My approach is rooted in empathy and positive regard. I bring my authentic self with the goal of providing a space where you can bring yours.