Therapists in East Rogers Park, Chicago, IL

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, with 15 years of extensive clinical experience providing support to children, adults and families in Spanish and English. I have worked with a diverse client population experiencing a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, grief and loss, sexual abuse, physical abuse, domestic violence, chronic illness and medical trauma. Do you need emotional support while healing from past traumas? Is anxiety or depression limiting your potential to live a full life? I am here to support you in your journey towards healing and feeling good about you!

I was born and raised in Chicago, IL and completed my Master’s in Counseling Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Having worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings, I have aided children, teens, young adults, and their families through a plethora of life events. Through my work, I have grown to recognize the challenges that come when individuals or those close to them are struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, and substance abuse. I believe that positive change can occur through a trusting therapeutic relationship and aim to provide exactly that to my clients.

Hello, I am a licensed clinical professional counselor with over ten years of experience in the mental health field. I have worked with a wide range of clients in various settings. I focus on issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, women's issues, and life transitions. I use multiple modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Strength-Based, Trauma Focused, Person-Centered, and Mindfulness-Based (MBCT). I focus on my client's goals, working on what they want to get out of therapy and what direction they want their life to take.

My therapeutic approach is client-centered, strengths-based, creative and collaborative, one in which I often incorporate meditation and somatic work, informed by Internal Family Systems (IFS) theory. I seek to create a therapeutic environment where you will feel heard, validated and understood. We live in a society where we often feel we should weather stress alone but sometimes having someone truly hear you and see you makes all the difference.

Therapy is a way of approaching those life challenges that sometimes appear overwhelming or confusing. By putting words to those feelings, you can begin to unravel patterns of behavior, relationship dynamics and decision making processes, thus allowing for meaningful change. Therapy takes place in a supportive, non-judgmental space where you are able to reflect on your concerns by exploring the thoughts and feelings you are experiencing. Treatment is based on your singular circumstances, utiliziing a psychodynamic, trauma informed approach.

Welcome! Following my 20-year career in Human Resources, I am filled with joy to be in the mental health field helping others find their path to improved mental health. I deeply believe that through positive human connection & service, we can help ourselves and each other heal, repair ruptures in our relationships, & rebuild our communities. My ability to connect with clients, establish a foundation of trust, & engage them in meaningful work early in the therapeutic process is a gift & privilege that I don’t take lightly. I’m known for being honest, direct, welcoming, affirming, creative, & infusing fun into therapy!

I approach my work through an integration of trauma-responsive, anti-oppressive, and mindfulness-based practices and lenses. I view therapy as a collaborative process where we work together to build trust and grow insight to support you in developing a deeper understanding of your relationship to yourself, to others, and to the world around you. I consider individuals to be the experts of their experience and see my role in the therapeutic relationship as one of creating a space that is welcoming, affirming, reflective, non-judgmental, curious, and compassionate. I work with both teenagers and adults in individual therapy.

I am a queer South Asian 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.

As we walk through life, experiences are constantly being added to our “backpacks.” Our backpacks, at times, feel particularly heavy & uncomfortable, subsequently making daily experiences feel burdensome. I see therapy as a space to take off your backpack - a time to empty its parts and explore them with curiosity & self-compassion, hopefully putting them back inside feeling a little lighter. I aim to hold space for all parts of your backpack, carrying them with you in ways that are collaborative, warm, and affirming.

We are a niche therapy practice specializing in PTSD and trauma, adoption and attachment issues, complex family issues and dynamics, and culturally responsive therapy. We see couples, families, and individuals. Our clients feel distressed due to family and attachment issues, trauma and PTSD, and are seeking recovery and relief from trauma, anxiety, and other symptoms. We understand how issues in childhood, issues in our relationships, and conflict within our family dynamics can contribute to depression, anxiety and PTSD. We are neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ affirming and provide therapy in English, Spanish and French.

I hold a shame-free space for you and your relationship partner(s) to understand and reshape patterns that cause distress and distance. Part of my role as a therapist is to gently guide you beyond “who-said-what” so we can understand and honor the emotional roots of conflict. I aim to honor your life stories so far, while also empowering you to create the kind of relationship you want for the future. In addition to relationship partners, I also work with individual clients on gender and sexual identity exploration, trauma, and life transitions.

Whether you wish to gain clarity about a life challenge or seek to resolve a deeper change from within, our work together will present an opportunity to rework the patterns that may be disrupting your relationships or preventing you from fulfilling your life goals. I have advanced training in psychodynamic psychotherapy, viewing our therapeutic relationship as central to the change process while helping you understand how past conflicts affect how you feel in the present. I approach our work together from a genuine, empathetic stance with openness, humor, and curiosity. It is important that we are partners in your healing process.

Often what brings people to therapy is the desire to change a pattern of behavior that no longer works in your best interest. Changing the way we handle certain areas of our lives can be a difficult process. Finding the right therapist for you is essential in making this change happen. Together we will explore what change you would like to move towards, and understand how your patterns developed over time. What once were effective coping skills may no longer be necessary or useful, but letting go and finding another way is the work we can do together.

May 2024 update: We have openings for new clients for telehealth and office! Are you stressed out, depressed and wanting to live your life with more ease? Imagine your life with more calm, peace, and trust in yourself and your ability to handle whatever may come your way. Imagine feeling more fulfilled in your work and your relationships! The guidance and support of an experienced licensed therapist can help you navigate the more trying times. Seeing one of our therapists can help you feel more content and purposeful as you navigate life, whether it is through a life transition or dealing with serious mental health symptoms.

Are you having difficulties in your relationships? Are you experiencing stress from work or school that you cannot manage? Are you just feeling that you are stuck in life? I can help you find the answers to these problems in therapy. When I work with my clients, I focus on increasing their personal strengths and work toward discovering solutions to their life issues. My goals are simple- to help my clients make meaningful life changes and gain mastery and stability in their lives.

I utilize a supportive and warm approach that is integrative of mindfulness and dialectical-behavioral principles. I work from the perspective that the client-therapist relationship is paramount to progress, and believe that it is the stepping stone to growth and change. Clients set their own pace and can process each step of their journey. I believe in gentle challenging to move through patterns that are not serving anymore and provide practical skill-use in and out of the office.

As a trauma informed therapist, I aim provide culturally sensitive and empowerment focused therapy when working with individuals, couples, and families. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Earlham College and Master of Arts in Counseling from Illinois School of Professional Psychology. I utilizes empathic listening and supportive techniques to help explore concerns and goals.

Whether this is your first time considering therapy, or you've been here before, I invite you to take a chance and make a positive change in your life. All deserve to be treated with dignity and respect while opening up to someone new. My practice approach is centered on creating a space where you can be vulnerable without judgment, unsure while being supported, and develop skills to make life more vibrant. Central to my work is a passion for working with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and lived experiences.

Are you ready to feel better? Change can be hard, and possible and rewarding. I provide a safe, non-judgmental place to learn about yourself and the changes you'd like to make. I focus on the mind-body connection, specifically in understanding its role in learning to cope with stress, trauma, and relationship issues. I use talk therapy, EMDR, and humor to help you make positive changes, overcome obstacles, and learn how to change unhelpful thinking patterns, all the while improving self esteem and relationships.