Multicultural Therapists in Near North Side, Chicago, IL

I believe therapy is an opportunity to help people discover their authentic selves and guide them on their journey of growth. Through the therapeutic experience, we learn how to accept all parts of ourselves, allowing us to build a deeper sense of compassion, curiosity, and confidence. My clinical style is built on mutual trust. I focus on building connections through empathy, warmth and humor. I strive to help you identify and build upon the strengths you already have in order to create the change you’re seeking.

I've seen, heard and personally experienced the difficulty of finding a therapist when you hold marginalized identities. It's an honor for me to be able to provide a unique space for folks like us! I believe that understanding how our culture, gender, society, family, etc. inform our identities allows people to ditch the concepts or social expectations that don’t fit and pursue the ones that feel truly authentic. Let's show up as we are and get some solid work done!

Hello. All of us experience challenges and hardships in our lives. These challenges could make you feel disconnected from people around you, sad, overwhelmed, or alone. You may be reacting to hardships that are happening in your current life or in the past. Whether the issues are current or past, it affects your emotional well-being today. I believe therapy helps us understand our emotions, especially how these emotional struggles happen at the particular time in our lives.

Perhaps you have been having difficulty trying to manage your symptoms. Maybe you struggle with depressed or anxious feelings and troubling thoughts. You may at times feel overwhelmed or paralyzed by what you are experiencing. You might even have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep because your mind has once again been hijacked by troubling thoughts. Try as you might, you have not been able to obtain much relief from these symptoms and feel it is time to call a professional to help.

At our best we are connected. We are connected with ourselves. We believe that the best is in us and that we can live that authentically. We are connected with our families, friends, communities, and societies. There is congruence. I believe that we experience the deepest sorrows and difficulties when there is disconnection. When we are out of sorts, or disconnected, with a part of ourselves, family, friends, communities, or society, there is incongruence. My belief is that by identifying salient disconnections and working towards reconnection that one is on the path towards healing.

According to my mother, my first word was "why." Why is the sky blue? Why can't I have a cookie for breakfast? Why are people hurting? This curiosity is integral to my work as a therapist, as I strive to understand my client's worldview and the problems they are facing. Whether you are reliving past trauma, plagued by worrisome thoughts, concerned about your relationship or substance use, or feeling generally dissatisfied in life, I will provide an empathic ear, support, and guidance to help you meet these challenges and make the life changes you desire.

*Now offering in person and virtual sessions* Walking through life we all face challenges and questions that require an answer, and at times, this can feel overwhelming. Together we can build an authentic relationship where you feel safe, validated, and empowered to explore and confront those challenges. I help adults, couples, and families to find healthier ways to cope, as well as, promote holistic wellness: emotionally, physically and spiritually. Therapy is a collaborative process where you have an active role.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience working with substance use, codependency, relationship issues, shame, grief/loss, and disordered eating. I am specifically passionate about working with adults in the LGBTQ+ community. I utilize a strengths-based, solution-focused perspective and offer therapeutic interventions with warmth, humor, and directness.

Welcome! I'm Carlos Echevarria, a dedicated and compassionate licensed clinical social worker practicing in Chicago, IL. As a Latinx therapist, my practice focuses on providing support and guidance to individuals facing various mental health challenges, including substance use disorders, depression, and anxiety.

In so many areas of our lives, finding affirming care can be a difficult and exhausting process. For those of us who exist outside of normative understandings of gender, race, sexuality, and other identities, feeling fully seen and held in all of our multifaceted and interconnected expressions of self is a rare experience. As an individual, relationship, and sex therapist I strive to create a space where you can show up as your whole complex self. I focus on challenging narratives of what it means to be successful, worthy, valuable, and desirable and on making room for what feels good and true for you.

Originally from Belgium, I value bringing culture and life experiences into the therapy space. I want to create a safe and empowering environment that fosters change and growth from a strengths-based perspective to explore life’s challenges and to meet your goals. I describe myself as an eclectic therapist meaning I like to find the best approaches that fit and support your needs in the therapy room. This can range from a psychodynamic approach to using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills to practicing Mindfulness techniques.

You are not alone dealing with anxiety, depression, loss, anger, trauma, or relationship difficulties. I understand the pain and complications of these issues and have successfully helped individuals, like yourself, find peace and happiness for over 20 years. In a relaxed, supportive environment, I will help you explore and process difficult feelings and challenge underlying counterproductive thoughts and behaviors. You will achieve a greater sense of relief and awareness, and develop tools that foster better continued health. I will also help you acquire a more balanced lifestyle achieved through exercise, diet, sleep hygiene, work/life balance and maintaining healthy relationships.

I graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with a Bachelor’s in social work in 2005 and from Dominican University with a Masters in Social Work in 2006. I am a skilled therapist with experience working with individuals, couples, families, and groups. I utilize a variety of approaches including strength based, solution focused, motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy. I have experienced working with addiction, anxiety, depression, grief, and other behavioral challenges. I provide a relaxed atmosphere where individuals feel safe to express themselves fully.

“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space, we have the power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom” by Victor E. Frankl. If you find yourself in between and need that space - making sense of different experiences you have had, the story you hold, and navigating life transitions, then I am here to provide that space for you. It may sound daunting for some and inviting for others, and everything in between for a few. Wherever you find yourself on the spectrum, I applaud you for taking the first step in seeking therapy - I see a great advocate for yourself in YOU.

Make substantial change expeditiously! My aim is to help clients (adults, teens) find comfort with emotional vulnerability and healing through introspection of thoughts, behaviors, and values which prompts new action. My ideal client is one who is interested in processing emotions, gaining insight, and using existing/untapped internal and external resources. I am a thoughtful, compassionate, collaborative, and patient professional with 15 years of experience. Can definitely assist with trauma, addiction, depression, anxiety, relationship issues/divorce, shame, identity issues, and simply improving one's well-being.

I work with adults (18+) seeking a deeper understanding of themselves. I'm comfortable working with various issues such as relationship concerns, anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief and loss. It's effective to work with people who want to explore the underlying causes of their struggles and gain insights into their patterns. Typically, patients value a supportive space to express themselves without judgment. Loss and mourning are an area of expertise where I help individuals navigate grief and rebuild their lives. I aim to provide a compassionate environment where patients can discover themselves, grow, and find healing.

Life is all about relationships, beginning with the one you have with yourself. Together we can explore developing self-acceptance, ways to grow and healing. I can provide a safe, non judgmental space and an unbiased listening ear. I will provide you with my warm spirit as you reimagine your life and develop a plan to better manage your unique symptoms and life.

My goal is to decolonize and destigmatize mental health by dismantling power dynamics and opening the floor to voices that are often silenced or may fall upon deaf ears. Our commitment to rest and rejuvenation, care for self and community, and untying the connections between self-worth and labor production are acts of resistance. In my work with clients, I offer a space to honor their authentic voice. You will not have to filter and censor your true thoughts and emotions in our sessions, as you may have previously in other settings. Come as you are, and I will meet you there.

I have experience working with a variety of different age ranges and various presenting issues. I have extensive experience treating depressive disorders, anxiety, social anxiety, autism spectrum, anger, and personality disorders. Most people I have treated want to be able to manage their symptoms, realize their potential, and live their best lives. I believe that my job as a therapist is to provide them the tools they need in order to succeed in symptom management. I also believe in helping clients with empowerment and encouragement so that they can truly see how special they are and what purpose they serve by being in this world.