Multicultural Therapists in Near Eastside, Chicago, IL

Maya Angelou – “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you.” I believe everyone has a story, and sometimes it is hard to know where to begin. The feeling of not being able to express oneself is difficult to endure. I consider therapy a safe and supportive space to share unspoken thoughts, ideas, opinions, and feelings that can be a source of life’s challenges. Therapy can instill hope with which your story begins to be seen and heard. I strive to cultivate a validating and non-judgmental space to empower you and your voice to live a fulfilling and meaningful life.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist and I work with young adults and adults across the lifespan. I am integrative in my approach working to ensure your therapy is practical, creative, and sensitive to your unique needs. My therapeutic style is warm, genuine, and compassionate, with a gentle dose of challenge. I work with individuals of multicultural and diverse backgrounds and experiences. I have extensive training and experience providing mindfulness-based interventions, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy and other evidence-based treatments.

Ashley’s therapeutic style is collaborative and person-centered, using a combination of art therapy, existential therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and Emotion Focused Family Therapy, through a multicultural and trauma informed lens. Ashley specializes in anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, ADD/ADHD, depression, general life stressors, and life transitions.

I work with singles, individuals, and couples and can help you with a variety of areas such as: communicating effectively, conflict resolution, understanding your attachment bond to your partner, managing your emotions, handling your anxiety and depression, and relationship and life stressors. These stressors include infidelity, deciding if you want to stay or leave your relationship, different attachment styles, cultural and religious differences, and general life unhappiness.

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.

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass but learning to dance in the rain. I have experience working with adults struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, career and life transitions, ADHD, Autism, identity, decision-making, and other life challenges for individuals, couples, and families. I hope that through our counseling process, we uncover your ability to access peace.

When feeling anxious, depressed, or having relational challenges we often feel stuck. Together we will connect the patterns in your life and use evidence-based tools to move you toward your best outcome. I will ensure you have a respectful, safe, and supportive environment in which you feel empowered. I value each person as a unique individual with distinct needs. My diverse experiences and my multicultural background facilitate my ability to relate to the challenges associated with the intersectionality of identity.

I work with clients who are feeling stuck, lost, and struggling to move forward with their life. Seeking help might be intimidating, but therapy can be a space to receive support with navigating the constant struggles of life, and it can be an empowering journey of finding meaning and thinking more thoughtfully about your relationship with yourself and others. This is why I value creating a strong therapeutic relationship to support your growth and empower you to create the change you desire. Through my work, I strive to create a warm environment where we can explore different topics and work towards your goals together.

I have experience working with children, youth, adults, families, and LGBTQ+. I am also passionate about working with Neurodivergent youth.

My areas of expertise: couples, premarital counseling, interracial relationships, multicultural families, teen pregnancy/parenthood, parenthood, infertility and pregnancy concerns, infidelity, divorce, remarriage and/or blending families, helping you and your partner if you have different attachment styles, and singles who are navigating dating, going through breakups or are unsure if they should stay or leave a relationship.

I work with individuals who have experienced or are experiencing any traumas, anxiety, life transitions, relationship concerns, and grief. In particular, I enjoy working with young adults and adolescents who want to work through trauma, anxiety, and/or are questioning their sexuality. I have experience in working with youth, adolescents, and adults of all ages; specifically targeting LGBTQIA+ issues, anxiety, depression, grief, complex trauma, and various life transitions. I also enjoy working with couples and families to feel connected, gain perspective and work on communication skills.

I have experience working with individual adults and partnerships in areas such as anxiety, depression, sex & intimate wellness, relationship conflict, sexual assault, life transitions, and self esteem. One of my primary areas of expertise is working with members of the LGBTQ+ community in areas of positive sexual and/ or gender identity, coming out, transitioning, and sexual health. However, I work with people of all identities and backgrounds. I foster a therapeutic space that is identity-affirming, sex-positive, and polyamorous- and kink-affirming.

I support clients in finding clarity, understanding themselves more deeply, and taking steps towards creating the kind of life they want to experience. My clients feel lost or overwhelmed and want something to change, but may not know where to start. Together, we work to understand how unprocessed emotions and past experiences are getting in the way of their wellbeing in the form of anxious thoughts, unhelpful relationship patterns, or negative self-talk. My clients want to build tools to become more self-aware, cope with challenges, and feel more satisfied in their personal relationships.

People enter into therapy for a variety of reasons such as; having experienced a recent or past trauma, struggling with anxiety, depression or a life altering event. Ultimately, we all want to feel better and live more productive lives. I believe that therapy is a collaborative endeavor which takes place in an open and non-judgmental environment. My role is to help clients gain a deeper understanding of themselves, what motivates their behaviors and how they can bring about the desired changes.

Hi, I’m Stephanie! I am a bilingual, bicultural therapist and second-generation Mexican-American. Growing up, I observed the stigmatized view of mental health issues and therapy. These moments inspired me to pursue a career in mental health, to create a safe space for voices to be heard, to break barriers and promote moments of vulnerability, and healing. I not only empathize with my clients but I am also committed to compassion therapy and mental health practices through healing and education.

I am a liberation-focused Latina EMDR therapist and I help to empower individuals on their journey toward inner healing, reclaiming their authentic power and a deeper sense of connection. While my practice centers BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ identities, I am affirming of neurodiversity and warmly welcome all seeking healing and self-discovery. If you feel burdened by expectations, feel unseen, disconnected, or lost, I’m here to listen and hold space for you. Together, we will venture beneath the surface of your experiences to explore the "why" behind your feelings and behaviors and uproot the limiting beliefs to bring you more inner peace.

I have special interest in working with clients who struggle with self-criticism and desire greater self-compassion and better understanding of themselves. When this self-criticism is related to body image, I work with clients from a Health At Every Size approach. One of my goals for all my clients is that they foster the same genuine compassion toward themselves that they so readily offer to their loved ones. Past clients have shared that our therapy work has felt consistently compassionate, warm, informal, and sensitive to various cultural identities. Some have remarked that therapy felt like confiding in a close friend!

Whether you are overwhelmed with current problems or your past experiences are interfering with your life today, I want to help you overcome all that is hindering your sense of fulfillment. As a clinical psychologist, I value developing insight into your emotions, past experiences, and your decisions and to empower you to feel more in control of your life, find the direction you want to take, and eventually live the life that you envision for yourself. Making decisions based on your hopes and not your fears is one of my favorite mottos.

Everyone feels lost at times and unsure what to do. I believe that reaching out for support creates an opportunity so that a new path can be discovered. I love people's stories and I see my role in the therapeutic relationship as a tremendous privilege. I strive to help you understand the behaviors and thought patterns that bring you to therapy and guide you in bringing harmony within your environment and empowerment within yourself.