Therapists in Lake View, Chicago, IL

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.

An exciting moment happens in therapy when a personal challenge is examined from a renewed perspective. In that moment, what once seemed difficult can take on new meaning. It has the potential to become a defining moment that inspires continued change, growth, and healing. Furthering this process is the potential realization that these ideas were already innate and just awaiting connection.

Hi, my name is Michele Clark and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over twenty years of experience working in diverse settings such as schools, hospitals, private practices, and community programs. I have been a School Social Worker for 18 years and provide individual and group social work services to students in general education and special education program. I specialize in anxiety and depressive disorders and I assist my clients with managing life stressors that can cause emotional distress. I have a special interest in women’s issues and working with teenage girls.

To say that life is always smooth sailing would be the furthest thing from honest, but working to develop, explore, and establish yourself can help provide greater ease on your life's journey. Exploring your holistic identity, my treatment approach uses mindfulness practices and art making to connect you to your mind and body. I have experience working across the lifespan with individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, life transitions, self-esteem, trauma, self-identity, and learning disabilities. Our minds and our bodies are intertwined to create a unique whole being.

I work with individuals learning to cope with symptoms of anxiety, depression, interpersonal relationships, and life transitions. I emphasize my work addressing underlying causes of distress and incorporating mindfulness and self-care into therapy. With a deep understanding of the mind-body connection, I aim to help clients achieve growth, self-discovery, and meaningful change. Together, we create a safe, collaborative environment where we get to explore past experiences, thoughts, and emotions.

I view therapy as a place for healing, growth, and exploration. Perhaps you are feeling a bit hesitant about seeking therapy, or perhaps you are feeling determined as you take this step towards wellbeing—no matter where you are in your therapy journey, I am here to walk alongside you. I recognize the courage it takes to seek support, and I am proud of you for taking this step. I approach therapy through a relational lens, and forming a strong therapeutic relationship is foundational to my work. I seek to create a safe and non-judgmental space where you feel welcomed, understood, and empowered as you work towards healing.

Hello! I’m Mary Gende, and I specialize in working with kids, adolescents and families. I have worked in an elementary school setting for several years helping students address emotional regulation, social skills, anxiety management, grief management, depression, suicidal thoughts, and more. I am passionate about helping people of all ages gain the necessary tools to cope with life’s ups and downs, because I believe that with time and support, we are all capable of managing stress and distress, along with any other emotions we may encounter.

It is normal, on occasion, for everyone to experience some anxiety dealing with life. But lately those feelings have become overwhelming. Over time, it feels like you are anxious about everything, and nothing. The worry is starting to creep into every aspect of your life- work, family, relationships,... even going to get out of bed feels overwhelming some days! You are not going crazy, and you are not alone- anxiety is one of the most common reasons people reach out to for help. Therapy can help get things back to normal.

I believe that long- lasting, meaningful growth thrives in self-compassion, honoring shame, and creating purpose. Inherited and experienced trauma can remain in the body and inform our choices, so one of my goals is to offer a guiding hand in disentangling negative core beliefs from the body and sense of self. My therapeutic practice is filtered through a strengths-based and feminist lens, and as a queer therapist, I aim to foster an LGBTQIA+ affirming space, challenge racist systems, dismantle diet culture, encourage body empowerment at every size, and promote sex- and kink- positivity.

I believe that healing can occur within the context of a trusted relationship. I work with adults and families to help people better understand the things that are getting in the way of living a full, productive, and satisfying life. That could be a child’s struggle with emotional regulation, a parent’s difficulty with triggering behaviors or understanding how to manage challenging moments, or an adult who struggles to develop and sustain intimate relationships. I

I offer therapeutic interventions with warmth and compassion, focusing on strengths to help identify opportunities for change and actualization. My primary areas of experience include depression/anxiety and other mental health concerns, substance use/recovery, and concerns related to gender or sexuality. I see therapy as a journey aiming to get deeper understanding of oneself, relationships, and the world around us.

Making changes in our lives can feel impossible at times, even when our habits and thinking patterns no longer serve us. In the therapy room, I practice radical acceptance with the ups and downs of growth with humor, patience, and curiosity. Grounded in the DBT tradition, I prioritize nonjudgment and dialectical thinking: we can accept difficult realities and still lead a life worth living.

Individuals come to me experiencing anxiety or depression, feeling that they have not been able to feel better or make progress on their own. They may be questioning decisions they make in their relationships, careers or family life. Many feel that they need to make a change but are unsure where to start or how to be the most effective. In therapy I can help you in explore and understand the unknown parts of yourself to help reveal and ultimately repair the inner road blocks you may experience.

I am the owner of InnerBloom Therapy Practice. I work with young adults, children, and teens. I also work with parents to help them learn how to support their child and facilitate change at home by implementing strategies worked on during sessions. I help clients who experience stress and anxiety, life transitions, loss, mood disorders, problems at school, behavior issues, and difficulty regulating their emotions and developing connections with others. My fifteen years of experience as a school social worker have provided me with an understanding of the daily stressors and mental health needs of children and teens.

Life is full of never ending change and unexpected challenges leaving us all confused and at times afraid. I view therapy as a unique space to explore painful feelings, relationships, and what might not be working so well for you anymore. I value helping my clients establish a deeper understanding about what brings them in, their needs/desires, and early life experiences. I may incorporate mindfulness to help deal with stress, and enhance self-care. My style is compassionate and views you as the expert in your own life possessing many strengths that will help guide this process.

My clinical interests include depression and anxiety, trauma recovery, grief and loss, neurodivergence, and issues related to life transitions, relationships, and parenting. I used to teach at the Davidson Academy of Nevada, which serves profoundly gifted students, and have a special passion for working with gifted/2E folks and their families. I'm also a graduate of PDA North America's certification program in the PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) profile of autism.

I am passionate about working with individuals, couples, and families looking to strengthen relationships with themselves and each other. I work with clients struggling with anxiety, life transitions, and communication issues. I have experience working with diverse populations with a variety of concerns including relational conflict, identity exploration, trauma, and working with couples who have intimacy related concerns. I aim to help clients identify their strengths and gain insight while looking for patterns that no longer serve them to make room for new experiences.

Now Accepting New Clients! I aim to build a safe and supportive space for growth, handling difficult emotions and strengthening self-compassion. I strive to help clients understand and increase their own ability to navigate life's obstacles. I am a very open-minded practitioner and integrate a range of approaches into my practice to fit what works best for you. You are the expert on you and my job is to support you in your experience, you are not alone. If this sounds like it might be a good fit for you, please do not hesitate to reach out. I look forward to working with you!

My name is Susie Wilhelm and I am an LCSW located in Illinois. My approach to therapy is warm, empathetic, non-judgmental, and client-centered. I believe in the process of building rapport and trust during the beginning phases of therapy so that my clients feel comfortable before sharing their concerns or struggles. I let my clients take the lead during our sessions, and I take an empathetic and non-judgmental stance while I listen and support. I commonly use therapeutic interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT).