Codependency Therapists in Lake View, Chicago, IL

Welcome! I am accepting new clients! I offer some evidence based tools to foster behavioral change. There is a place for talk, yet there is a need sometimes for actionable steps, suggestions and even challenges in a safe and respectful way. If you're ready to take action and take responsibility for your life, give me a call. I specialize in treating clients for trauma, addiction, mood disorders, low self esteem, eating disorders and codependency.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience working with substance use, codependency, relationship issues, shame, grief/loss, and disordered eating. I am specifically passionate about working with adults in the LGBTQ+ community. I utilize a strengths-based, solution-focused perspective and offer therapeutic interventions with warmth, humor, and directness.

On the outside, you’re holding it all together. But on the inside, you’re questioning whether you're good enough to live the life you truly want. You feel anxious, insecure, and lonely, and your relationships often leave you feeling drained. You’re sick of finding yourself in old patterns (like people-pleasing, perfectionism, or codependency) that keep you stuck in the status quo. And even though you know you aren't happy, you wonder if there’s anything better out there and if you can actually achieve it.

Living in a city as big as Chicago offers many opportunities yet it can sometimes feel overwhelming, lonely, and even isolating. Are you hiding certain pieces of yourself from your friends or family to avoid conflict or to fit in? You might feel like no one knows the real you. You’ve noticed a shift in how you deal with stress. Maybe it’s coming out as increased drinking, binging or restricting food, or turning to other coping behaviors. Or maybe you’re in recovery but other parts of your life continue to feel unmanageable which feels frustrating. You no longer need to feel trapped. Change is possible and hope can be found.

I currently have one slot open for Thursdays at 2pm. Taking the first step in finding a therapist can be overwhelming, but finding someone you feel comfortable with can make all the difference! Although I am not currently accepting new clients, I am supervising other clinicians in holistic and skills based approaches. I specialize in therapy with working professionals and adults. Although I am comfortable working with many concerns, I am most passionate about providing therapy in areas related to anxiety, depression, codependency, addiction, life transitions, grief/loss, and relationships.

I am currently accepting new clients and couples for 2023! With a deep love for all people and an understanding of just how challenging it is to be human, I am prepared to create a warm and inviting space for you to explore and process complex feelings and heal painful wounds. My goal is to truly see you for who you are and ensure that you’re not alone in the process of self-discovery and healing. Through collaborative relationship building and strengths-based counseling, I will support you through life’s highs and lows and empower you to live life meaningfully, intentionally, and lovingly.

Whether you are considering making changes for the first time or looking to maintain long-term growth, my goal is to walk alongside you on that path for continued self-discovery. The goal of therapy is to promote biopsychosocial-spiritual wellness built on your values and boundaries. Therapy works best when it is collaborative so my intention is to provide the space for you to express yourself freely and get to know yourself on a deeper level as we work towards a collective goal. I like to draw from a background of CBT skills, shame-resilience, and positive psychology to empower the people I work with.

I believe in your innate capacity for change and growth. With warmth and empathy, I'll guide you in understanding patterns that may hinder your life. I offer tailored support for sexual concerns and relationship issues. Together, we'll address challenges and empower your journey to a more fulfilling life. Your potential for transformation starts here. Contact me to begin.

Have you been through the spin cycle one too many times in your relationship or marriage? Asking yourself, "How did I get here?" Coming out of divorce or contemplating divorce or separation? Do you think your partner is a narcissist? Or are they avoiding issues that you know are relevant? Do they blame you for everything? Have you or your partner experienced childhood trauma and it is wreaking havoc on your relationship? Maybe you have just had enough and you need to sort out your feelings and get grounded. The fact is that relationships, both past and present, lie at the core of all of our problems.

In you, there is both the raging warrior who fights with unbreakable honor, and the healer who brings together those things torn apart. – Rumi I am a strengths-focused, trauma-informed therapist. I believe that you are the expert on your own identities and experiences. My job as a therapist is to walk alongside you as you gain the skills you need to change your own life. My office is a judgment-free zone for us to grow, process, learn, and even laugh together.

Cheri DeMoss is founder & director of Empowering OptionsTM Counseling Innovations. For the past 29 years, Cheri's approach is distinctive in its effectiveness. She provides key information; clear insights & innovative techniques to use immediately. By teaming new information with fresh ways to look at long-standing beliefs, reactions, & behavior patterns you can create the changes you want. Whether you want to improve your relationship, alleviate depression, or be more pro-active in your life - the things we struggle with come from not having relevant knowledge that we can turn into action.

I am passionate about assisting adolescents and adults in their pursuit of self-discovery, authentic living, and navigating life’s challenges. Are you seeking to uncover your true values, break free from stagnation, and embrace self-compassion? If you resonate with feelings of being “stuck,” battling low self-esteem, or experiencing guilt in moments of relaxation, know you’re not alone. These emotions are intricate and deeply personal, and my commitment lies in creating a safe and stable environment to help you transition toward a life brimming with purpose and fulfillment.

Hope is better when it's combined with a plan. If you're having too many fights without resolution, I can help you. I help couples figure out how to resolve stuff once and for all. Even when you're successful in most areas of life, It's hard to be happy when problems are chronically unresolved. It's even worse when the past hangs over the relationship, or you feel like room-mates. If your relationship problems are weighing down your otherwise great life, then counseling can make a big difference.

Many people struggle with feeling lost and directionless or anxious about their ability to cope with life on life’s terms. For some people, these feelings can linger and become the painful lens through which you see yourself and the world. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With care and support, you can become more confident and loving toward yourself. You might even wake up one day and realize that instead of needing to read the instructional manual for life, you are ready to write your own. However, you might need some rough drafts and edits first. That is where therapy comes in.

I am a relational therapist and owner of Life Transitions Counseling, PLLC. We specialize in helping individuals and couples who are having relational issues in their lives. Sometimes these issues are repetitive like continuing to attract the wrong partners or friends, and sometimes they are time limited like going through a divorce and it’s aftermath. Often, it’s a matter of looking at the communication style as well as our attachment style we are familiar with and how that effects our relationships with others. We offer a warm, interactive environment to explore client’s need to have more satisfying relationships in their lives.

I hope to work with people open to exploring their assumptions and expectations of themselves and others around them. My ideal clients may feel stuck in place or just find themselves in a rut, looking for possible options for change and improvement. I enjoy working with clients seeking more personal control and more authentic connection to others – pointing themselves toward more fulfilling tomorrows.

Are you stuck in a loop with your partner, friends, family, coworker, yourself? You find yourself repeating the same self-destructive behaviors only to find yourself feeling shame, pain, and confusion. This cycle can impact the way you interact with others, the way you perceive yourself, and the way you manage your life. What if you could break this pattern?

I enjoy working with adult professionals who are feeling burnt out, tired of striving for perfection, and stuck reaching for coping skills that no longer serve them. As a therapist, I believe that everything is relational. The most important relationship we have is the one we nourish with ourselves. I empower my clients to refine, deepen, and strengthen their communication, foster emotional intimacy with themselves and others, and address cyclical relational patterns that feel difficult to end.

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.