Interpersonal Therapists in Lake View, Chicago, IL

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.

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS: Asking for help takes great courage and strength. By even looking at this paragraph, you are displaying that very strength and resilience that will help you to heal what ails you and achieve your goals. As a therapist, I am here to recognize the strength in you that you might have forgotten or even struggle to see. Some may think their problem is insignificant, but reaching out to speak to someone no matter how big or small, is a step. It is my hope that you will allow me the chance to be your partner in that journey.

I believe our mental health is deeply impacted by our collective narratives, particularly in the context of our environment(s), our access to resources, and our experiences of privilege & oppression. Therefore our work together will be centered in your wholeness, examining and holding how all of these positions & experiences have shaped, and continue to shape, your life story & lived experience. What are the stories you tell yourself about who you are? What stories have been assigned to you w/out your consent? How might your life be different if you reclaimed & rewrote these stories?

Are you feeling lost? Confused? Facing difficulties in your relationships or in understanding yourself? I know that therapy can help. Together we will work to unearth the problems that have been causing difficulties in your relationships or ability to navigate challenges. I can help you to think through problems, discover solutions, and deepen your relationships with others and yourself. I seek to empower and understand you, knowing that you come to therapy with numerous strengths to draw on.

If you're here, you're probably looking for a change. Whether it's in your relationships, patterns, thoughts, feelings, or something else that's important to you. Life is full of challenges, but I firmly believe that people have fundamental inner-strengths that can help them cope. As a therapist, I warmly accept my clients as they are, and work alongside them to explore who they would like to become. I believe in the power of human connection, and strive to use that connection to help empower my clients to access their strengths; to ultimately bring about meaningful change, healing, growth, and understanding.

Feeling stuck? Hit a wall? In a "what if" rabbit hole that is always catastrophic? Is it hard to tell your truth? As a pragmatic integrationist, there is no One Size Fits All in our healing process. Our lives are complex and layered. All of us have a story and many of those stories keep us paralyzed because of our fear and anxiety. We often carry things that are not ours. What would it like to be free? Getting uncomfortable is how we get better. Releasing toxic patterns of thinking or behavior creates room for growth and helps us be present for ourselves and the people in our lives that matter.

It is my true honor to walk with my clients in their journeys of growth and healing. In our work together, we’ll build a customized plan that will help you best reach your goals. This plan will include working together in session as well as home practice. I enjoy working with individuals and couples on a wide variety of concerns including trauma, impacts of discrimination, emotion dysregulation, depression, anxiety, panic, adjustment, relationship concerns, as well as various other life challenges. It is important to me to take into consideration my client's contexts, experiences, and identities as they shape our values and world.

Thank you for showing up for yourself and I'm glad our paths have crossed. I believe everyone has the power to heal themselves and deserves a safe place to feel seen, heard, and accepted. It would be an honor and privilege to walk alongside you in your personal healing journey. Through a collaborative therapeutic approach, we work together to explore the experiences or areas in your life that you would like to further understand or change.

I appreciate the long and difficult journey one can sometimes experience prior to making the decision to seek out the support of a therapist. Therapy can offer a hopeful means of prevention and intervention and facilitate a healthy way of responding to challenging behaviors and complex developmental issues. With specialized training working with children, adolescents, and families, I am committed to collaborating with you throughout the therapy process in order to work towards the desired progress and growth for you and your family.

You deserve to get more out of life and your relationships than just surviving each day. Making the decision to seek support from a professional is the first and most important step toward positive growth. With careful consideration of your own needs, and a therapists experience and expertise; you can begin to evolve. As a clinician, I believe that each person has the answers that they seek and as your counselor my role is to help support self-discovery, facilitate increased personal insight and work together with you to accomplish your goals, whatever they may be.

Making the decision to begin therapy can oftentimes feel like an overwhelming task. Navigating this process in a world full of endless google searches and profile options; it can make seeking out identity affirming care an arduous and stressful process. I’m glad you’ve found me, and welcome: You are the expert of your own life and experiences here. I will honor your intersecting identities and the influence they have on how you understand yourself and navigate the world.

I believe that you are the expert of what it is like to be YOU. Because of this, I aim to understand and treat the whole individual, incorporating one’s mental health, physical health/somatic practices, sexuality, sleep habits, spirituality and more into my time with clients. For a star to be born there is one thing that must happen: a gaseous nebula must collapse. So collapse. Crumble. This is not your destruction, This is your birth.

I work with individual adults coping with anxiety & mood disorders, life transitions, relationship struggles, stress, family of origin issues, parenting challenges, self-esteem, and more. My approach to counseling is largely direct, and I take an active role in helping you identify the things that are preventing you from living the life you want. It’s important to me that I’m transparent, open and honest with my clients, and I believe this is an essential component of a strong therapeutic relationship. Being authentic is the only way I know how to truly connect with others. This is something I value in myself, as well as my clients.

Change can be hard and sometimes we need extra support to get through trying times. Oftentimes when adjusting to new life circumstances, it can take time to accept and acclimate to the changes taking place. Whether you are starting college, changed your relationship status, became a parent, or started a new job, it takes time to adapt. New experiences may feel overwhelming and exciting at times too. Therapy is a great place to process and explore what is going on in your life and how it is impacting you. Overcoming challenges is not easy, but with the right skills and support you can successfully navigate the transition.

I believe life and relationships are full of challenging, yet rewarding transitions. These transitions provide us with valuable opportunities to understand ourselves more deeply, and to strengthen our relationships. By recognizing our patterns of behavior and understanding why we have them, we are then able to decide if, and how, we want to change those patterns. I strive to help couples and individuals reach this place of understanding by drawing on their strengths and fostering compassion.

Were happy to help with complex differential diagnoses associated with development in early childhood, adolescent and adults. We assist with understanding the complexity to guide medication management and future treatment in regards to developmental factors, traumatic brain injuries, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder and Asperger's disorder. An appropriate evaluation can help decrease stress in one's life, and will help an individual meet future goals by understanding personal strength and weaknesses.

I work with individuals, couples & families who are looking to create meaningful change in their lives. I am passionate about helping clients work on issues related to life transitions, trust and communication, intimacy, anxiety, depression, negative self-talk, stress management, identity and self-acceptance, premarital counseling, and the perinatal/postpartum period. My training is geared specifically towards relational wellness—and this applies to relationships of all kinds. I combine this focus with empathy, clarity, and the belief that we all have the power to rewrite our stories, which helps us rewrite our lived experiences.

I emphasize diversity, creativity, and inclusion in my practice. I recognize the effects of the larger societal and cultural environment in which identity and relationships around sexual orientation and class are shaped. It is my goal to promote the process of healing by creating a safe and affirming space for clients to cultivate an understanding within themselves that can help unveil the deeper meaning their struggle is pointing towards.

Melanie is a licensed social worker (LSW) that works with individuals, relationships, and families experiencing a wide range of issues. Her clinical interests include identity development, life transitions, mood disorders, trauma, and self-esteem issues. She also has a particular interest in working with LGBTQ+ populations and individuals in close, personal relationships with identified members of these populations. Melanie engages with clients through a culturally-informed lens and actively works to understand the specific context they experience in their daily lives. Her therapeutic approach is grounded in genuine curiosity and