Compassion Focused Therapists in Lower West Side, Chicago, IL

As a Mexican-American therapist I want to provide a safe space and cultural competency for all. My background currently consists of working with survivors of Domestic Violence/IPV. Through my work with these clients I have also helped them work on the following: Improving self-esteem, understanding how to set boundaries in relationships, creating support systems that cater to a better sense of self, learning and establishing a sense of identity, and intergenerational trauma. My goal is to help individuals who want to better define who they are and heal from the impacts of external factors in order to live a more fulfilled life.

I help people achieve healing and wellness in their lives by focusing on positivity and internal strengths. I believe the mind and the body connect and affect one another. This is why I believe therapy can help people who are feeling overwhelmed with big emotions, having difficulties with life transitions, struggling with past traumas, feeling anxieties over the future, repair or create healthy connections or relationships with others and obtain inner peace.

This a group practice that employs clinicans of various ethnicities and backgrounds. People come to therapy due to feeling excessive stress at work, at home, or in their relationships. They find the pressures of everyday life have exceeded their abilities, overwhelmed their senses, and left them with an inability to cope. They are often having problems with school, completing tasks, getting along with others at work, and finding activities enjoyable. We believe in the resiliency of the human spirit, and that therapy is a process of exploring and getting to know oneself.

I have over ten years of clinical experience. I have worked in community agencies, corrections, hospitals, higher education, and private practice. I am a bilingual and bicultural therapist that is passionate about providing culturally sensitive and trauma informed mental health services.

Feeling gaslighted or manipulated? Anxious about how emotional abuse affects your relationships? I can help! I specialize in helping couples and individuals navigate complex emotions, heal from manipulation, and build stronger connections. Together, we'll untangle confusion and develop healthy coping mechanisms. Don't let challenges define you. Invest in your well-being and create a happier, healthier future. Couples therapy, individual counseling – I'm here to support you.

In my therapy practice, I specialize in creating an empathic and supportive environment. I will work to empower and guide you to develop healthy coping strategies, deeper more satisfying relationships, and the skills and space to process your emotions and move forward. I approach therapy through a humanistic, strength-based, trauma-sensitive lens. With compassion, and humor, I have counseled individuals through a variety of life’s challenges, including but not limited to; grief, relationship struggles, domestic violence/abuse, family trauma, sexual abuse, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and severe mental illness.

Do you feel lost, disconnected, or out of touch from yourself or the energy you once had? It’s been a rough year that has impacted people’s relationships, careers, and motivation. Are you feeling empowered or anxious as we move towards “normal” life?

Seeking therapy is often a difficult process for many individuals of diverse backgrounds due to cultural stigmas and stereotypes around mental health. Trying to then find the "right" therapist can feel impossible whether it's your first time exploring or the umpteenth attempt following another not-so-great experience. I believe a safe therapeutic relationship can create unique opportunities for minority populations who are seeking to better understand and cope with their mental health, especially when approached with multicultural and feminist perspectives that allow for a level of empathy that is often unavailable in other spaces.

Accepting new clients! I help clients with their journey to become one's ideal self. I am an experienced Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing psychotherapy. My expertise is treating adults who struggle with anxiety/depression and are seeking to find a more meaningful life. I also enjoy working with new moms (as I too am a newer mom to a little one) and college students, faced with anxiety due to their life transition(s) which can bring on stress, depression, and/or anxiety with the many questions centering around, “What am I going to do next in my life?" "How do I navigate my new identity as a mother?"

As complex beings, we are created to synergistically function in wholeness in our spirit, soul, and body. When our souls are wounded by negative life experiences, we begin to believe lies about ourselves, the world around us, and God. This leads to the compounding of various negative symptomatic behaviors and thoughts, fueled by a corrupted belief system. It is in the uprooting of these lies through the Spirit of Truth that we find freedom and wholeness, while discovering our created value and purpose this side of Heaven.

I am a licensed clinical professional counselor from Chicago IL. I have 14 years of experience providing therapy to an array of clients such as caregivers of people living with Alzheimer's disease, as well as women, people of color and the LGBTQIA+ community. I have experience in working with people attempting to cope with many concerns such as depression, anxiety, stress, grief, relational issues, career & work situations, self-esteem and caregiver stress.

I work with a range of individuals including adults, teens, and children. I have worked with clients with challenges including depression, anxiety, trauma, family conflict, low self-esteem, and gender dysphoria. I am passionate about working with the LGBTQIA+ community, folks with diagnosed or self-identified Autism/ADHD, and those navigating pregnancy/postpartum. Therapy with me is an affirming space for those in the kink and poly communities. I enjoy working with individuals who wish to deepen their understanding of their identity, are undergoing a life transition, or who want to understand how their past informs their present.

Making the decision to come to therapy takes tremendous courage and strength. It can be very difficult to know where to start or how to sort things out on your own. Despite these feelings, maybe you feel like there's a possibility that things could be different. I'm here to tell you that there is and reconnecting to a meaningful life is not as far away as it may seem. If you're ready to get back to yourself, I am here, ready to help guide you there. I got into this field because I wanted to change the world. While I may not be able to do this alone, I will do all that I can to support my clients and help them to change theirs.

I provide non judgemental and subjective feedback to clients who may have emotional, behavioral and mental health disorders. My keen understanding of diverse backgrounds allows me to be highly responsive to a client's individual needs and circumstances. I am also very passionate about staying current with the latest evidence-based research and techniques which may be able to benefit my clients. Building a strong rapport with my clients is of the utmost importance, allowing me to accurately assess and treat my client's emotional/mental health needs.

I value collaboration within the therapeutic space in efforts to overcome adversity. I bring a sense of curiosity, empathy, and authenticity into my sessions in effort to let clients know that I am invested in what they have to say. I understand the importance of social and racial justice within therapy and I make sure my clients feel supported. Taking a client's culture, family background, and inter-generational patterns and trauma into account is a vital part of my approach. The act of opening yourself up to the therapeutic process can be scary and vulnerable. I strive to create a sense of safety within that vulnerability.

As humans, we can struggle with the demands of our jobs, relationships, parenting, trauma, loss, living solo, finances, and the juggling act of it all. We might feel angry, sad, lonely, worried, or plain exhausted from the spiraling stress. Our health is impacted, along with our self-esteem, our mental health, our work, our relationships, and our vision of what we want our lives to be. You’ve already come far by becoming aware of this and a need to address it. II am here to partner with you to help you find balance and ease through insight, skill building, and meaningful action in the direction of your best life.

I offer mental health therapy in a safe space to focus on your growth and needs. Treatment focuses on coping skills, emotion management, self-esteem, & wellness. You are a client ready to put in the work and effort to learn, grow and plan to move forward with your life and meet your needs. You may want to work on your communication skills to improve your relationships, you may want to process changes in your life, you could just want to learn how to cope with your emotions and self regulate in a different way, but you are someone that is determined to make positive changes in your life to be a healthier version of you.

I joined mental health work to help. I am a blingual (Spanish) therapist who provides therapy online. I have been through very hard and humbling moments, and I am glad someone was there to help me. If you are feeling sad, anxious and angry and you feel that you can't take anymore, there is hope. We all need help at some points to get out of a dark place. Stigmas sometimes prevent us from seeking help, but I can assure you that it is okay to seek it. Life can be very hard and overwhelming, but it does not have to stay that way. My job will be to help you find answers and to find love for yourself and happiness.

Change can be uncomfortable and scary, especially when it is necessary for personal development and growth. It can feel as if you’re going through the waves alone, but everyone deserves to be heard, seen, and supported. While I believe that these emotions deserve a safe space to be expressed, I also believe that this process should be worked on collaboratively. The therapeutic relationship is a crucial component in my work as a mental health provider, and I recognize the privilege I have of holding your trust with honor.