Relational Therapists in Loop, Chicago, IL

Change is constant. Whether it’s the tumult of growing up or the twists and turns of adulthood, life is constantly shifting and rearranging under our feet. In this context, getting to know yourself—your emotions, your grief, your needs and your gifts—may be overwhelming. I honor the part of you that is seeking therapy for your particular journey. In my practice, I work with adults, teenagers, and children, specializing in therapy for queer and LGBTQIA+ youth and adults.

I believe that everyone deserves to have a sanctioned space where they can prioritize their needs and goals, in order to process past and present experiences. In a society where we may not be taught or allowed to experience a full range of emotions, I want to ensure that my clients will feel affirmed in their feelings, while simultaneously challenging them to analyze their roots. My primary goal is to support clients in healing from the inside out and tailor the therapeutic relationship to each individual's need, while simultaneously emphasizing the importance of community, connection, and collaboration to achieve liberation.

My areas of specialization are working with individuals/couples/relationships who are in the LGBTQ+ community who have experienced violence, such as sexual violence, childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, family system-based violence, spiritual abuse, and community-based violence. I work with many different relationship structures from cisgender heterosexual monogamous couples and folx with more expansive relationship structures. My areas of specialization in working with relationship clients are high-conflict relationships, sexual dysfunction/dysregulation, infidelity, trust, safety, and stability.

I believe psychotherapy should be simple and accessible; theories are important yet your own experience is the best teacher. Similarly, connecting with my clients on a deeply relational level and developing an understanding of who you are is as integral to the process as the clinical training which informs my therapeutic approach. I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who emphasizes existential concerns at the heart of the issues that bring people into therapy. Some examples include creating a more meaningful existence, exercising personal freedom/choice, and developing a greater sense of responsibility for one's growth.

Has life been overwhelming lately, and you need a safe space to process it? Are you seeking self-understanding and acceptance? Together we can work through the difficulties and bring some clarity and relief to your life. I offer a safe and non-judgmental space where you can effectively work on the needs you have at the present moment.

Healthy relationships are an essential ingredient to living your best life possible. No matter your relationship status, it’s important to have support as you navigate relational stressors within different life stages. I respect the vulnerability in reaching out for help. Perhaps you’re feeling stuck and disconnected from your partner. Or having a hard time understanding your relationship patterns. Maybe it’s difficult to express or manage your emotions. Learning who you are in relationships is a lifelong process! My therapeutic approach is direct, emotion-focused, and client-centered so we can walk through that process together.

A positive, trusting relationship is the foundation of effective therapy. My goal is to help you discover your strengths, cope with stress, improve relationships, heal past trauma, and attain a happier, more fulfilled life. As a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience, I am dedicated to offering compassionate, solution-focused therapy, and helping you make positive, lasting life changes. I have helped individuals and families to resolve a range of problems including depression, anxiety, relationship problems, parenting and other family issues, grief and loss, substance abuse, and the effects of sexual abuse and other traumas.

There can be such a range of feelings, thoughts, and experiences in the search for a therapist… and, nonetheless, you've made it here. I deeply believe that an authentic, collaborative relationship is key to building and maintaining an empowered therapy space, which, to me, means that bringing "human-ness" into session is so important. I see therapy as somewhere to get curious and explore where we may feel stuck, rather than a space where we work to be "fixed." Relational in my approach with clients, I feel passionate in walking alongside folks in their journey through trauma, relationships, life transitions, and anxiety.

Seeking, entering into, and staying in therapy take a lot of courage. I believe therapy helps us reconnect more deeply with who we are and who we are becoming. Therapy gives us opportunities to explore what matters in our lives, how we affect one another individually or collectively, how we serve or support one another in our multi-layered environments, and how to cultivate meaningful relationships with people whom we encounter. Therapy offers opportunities to learn where we may be stuck emotionally and spiritually. In this process, we can find a “home” or a “safe and sacred” place within ourselves.

I help people make their thoughts and feelings more conscious, alive, and manageable. Maybe you are coming to therapy or mediation to make life changing decisions or take urgent action. In my experience, people are best equipped to accomplish those goals when they cultivate enough self-awareness and trust to handle the outcomes of their choices. I work with individual adults, couples, families, and groups from a relational and psychodynamic perspective that incorporates Black diasporic and feminist thought, respect for the body’s role in processing trauma, and family systems theory.

Finding the right therapist can be a daunting task, especially if you are overwhelmed by depression or anxiety, struggle with disordered eating, have been hurt in previous relationships, or simply feel like no one gets it. However, you have taken the first step by stopping here. In addition to my extensive clinical and academic experience, my personal journey in therapy has deepened my ability to be empathetic, insightful and non-judgmental. Our relationship will be a collaborative partnership, one created to help you become a happier, more productive, healthier version of yourself.

I believe that you are coping with life in the best way you know how. If those ways aren't working for you anymore, I'm here to help. I provide an open therapeutic space for you to explore ways in which change is possible, and I provide concrete skills to help you get there. My holistic approach is compassionate and interactive, and I understand the mind/body connection. I have training in Cognitive Behavioral and Dialectical Behavioral therapies, and have a relational and trauma-informed perspective. Finally, I bring to therapy a lens that acknowledges the impact of systems on the health and well-being of my clients.

I am a licensed clinical social worker in Illinois with over 15 years of experience working with individuals, children and families. In my practice, I have successfully helped clients improve their family and interpersonal relationships, cope with grief and loss, find ways to address difficult situations, navigate life transitions and survive unexpected life events. I am committed to helping you work through the difficulties and celebrate the joyful moments in life. It takes courage to change, and I'm here to help free you from the problems you have been encountering.

My clinical practice focuses on individual therapy and psychological and psycho-educational testing with children, adolescents, and adults. My areas of expertise include trauma, mood and anxiety disorders, and life transitions. I use an insight-oriented, relational approach with an emphasis on collaboration, connection, and empowerment. The therapeutic relationship facilitates growth by identifying and exploring both past and present patterns that keep people feeling stuck. I see therapy as a collaborative effort that allows people observe and more deeply understand themselves, their relationship patterns, and their characteristic ways of thinking and feeling.

I am a thoughtful, warm, seasoned therapist who combines a relational approach to counseling with sound clinical judgement. I have had the privilege to work with clients who are courageous, hardworking, introspective, and some of the most wonderful people I have met. I am inspired by my clients daily. I greatly enjoy walking alongside individuals and partnering with them as they pursue wholeness. Most frequently, I see clients facing challenges with anxiety, trauma, and spiritual concerns.

We live in a culture that has specific ideas of who we should be, how we should look, how we should feel, and how we should behave. Deviating from this cultural standard (especially due to race, class, ability, gender, and sexual orientation) gives us messages that we are wrong, bad, or broken; we can become disconnected from our bodies, cultures, and loved ones, and end up feeling unsafe, anxious, and depressed. Therapy is a practice that works to heal this trauma by creating a safe space where you can reconnect to yourself, your community, and the world.

Sex, relationships, sexual connection, and intimacy are all topics that can feel isolating, and scary. But, with the right supportive partner, it can feel freeing. As a culturally sensitive Couple and Family Therapist, I can help you navigate these struggles, and support you through the process. I understand that embarking on a journey of therapy can seem daunting, which is why I am here to take the drive with you. During your therapy journey, you will have control of the steering wheel but will have the full support of myself in the passenger seat beside you. Together we can embark on a journey that can create a healthier you.

Welcome! I believe the path to growth and healing is unique to everyone, and that individuals are the ultimate experts on their lives. I am passionate about working collaboratively with clients struggling with a range of challenges such as depression, anxiety, trauma, peer/relational difficulties, life adjustment/transitions, work-life balance, and identity exploration. I am committed to building safe and trusting relationships, while providing an accepting environment for my clients to begin working towards positive change.

Dr. Rios works with a broad spectrum of clients and has experiences in working with clients with a range of problems including: depression, anxiety, trauma, school problems, and relationship difficulties. Dr. Rios specializes in individual, couples and family therapy with children, adolescents, and adults of diverse backgrounds. She enjoys learning and understanding the unique elements that all of her clients bring with them in therapy. Dr. Rios values her relationships with her clients and sees the therapy relationship as one of mutual respect and trust.