Female Therapists in River North, Chicago, IL

As the Founder & CEO of Chicago Black Therapist Directory, I have become a catalyst and advocate for Black mental health in Chicago's community. My life purpose is to be the bridge for generational healing of marginalized communities, so I seek to decolonize mental health by providing you with a safe, accessible and validating therapy experience. I am a registered yoga teacher and certified in trauma sensitive yoga, and understand the healing and holistic benefits of physical and mental health. I am client centered, collaborative, and trauma informed; and LGBTQIA+, sex worker, kink, and poly affirming.

Welcome! My practice is based on the belief that life brings us many challenges and at times we can get stuck. Feeling stuck can cause us to feel uncomfortable symptoms - anxiety, depression, anger, etc. I believe that therapy is a process where you can gain tools to address those challenges, determine what needs to be changed, work towards making those changes while navigating all the thoughts, feelings and emotions that may come up in the process. I strive to provide a compassionate and non-judgmental environment where clients can work towards living a value-driven, meaningful life.

I work with clients who are seeking to better understand themselves and live authentic, rewarding lives. My specialties include anxiety, depression, life transitions, dating/relationships, self-esteem, and career development. Many of my clients desire clarity in their romantic and/or family relationships, and want to increase supportive, caring connections in all aspects of their lives. I support my clients in increasing their self-worth and self-knowledge to reach these goals. I have a passion for working with women , BIPOC, and queer individuals and I am committed to learning and practicing anti-oppression therapy.

I know what it is like scrolling through multiple profiles saying the same thing. So I hope these paragraphs will give you insight into what makes me different. My passion is to see Black and brown communities well. As a Black woman who grew up in urban contexts, I aim to help people thrive, especially those from marginalized communities. I have worked extensively with teens, young adults, and adults from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. With experience ranging from violence prevention services and school-based therapy to IOP and PHP hospital settings, I am confident I can hold whatever you bring to the session.

One of the pillars of a fulfilling life is the ability to be our authentic selves. Sometimes obstacles, hardships, and missteps cause us to forgo authenticity to survive. As a result, we may feel stuck, lost, or alone in our struggles. As a therapist, I see myself as a partner to my clients in their journey toward healing and growth. My approach is holistic - I consider the whole person and their context in everything I do, and I work collaboratively to ensure that each session feels personalized and effective. I provide a safe space to process where you are and begin to make progress toward where you'd like to be.

You have been where you are for a while and now you are finally ready to make a change for you. Unresolved hurt, doubt, struggles with self worth, imposter syndrome, fighting for everyone but you, feeling stuck, overwhelmed and the list goes on. You need someone to help you process the past that is hindering you from living healed and whole in your present. As a licensed therapist it has been my life’s work to help people just like you go from wounded to healed. It's time to make you a priority and give yourself space to focus on you. It's your time to grow, process, explore and heal from the inside out.

Do you constantly feel on edge, overwhelmed or anticipate future events with worry and dread? Do racing, ruminating thoughts impact your ability to concentrate on tasks, manage stress or engage socially? Living with anxiety can be a distressing, frustrating and sometimes frightening experience. You may be preoccupied by "what if" questions about the future that you can't control, causing your thoughts to spiral and fuel more distressing emotions and physical symptoms. The ongoing, looping cycle of anxiety can impact all aspects of your life, including work performance and your relationships.

I AM NOW OFFERING SECURE TELEPHONIC COUNSELING DURING THIS CRISIS. I provide positive and action oriented, directive therapy to help you through depression, anxiety, relationship,and school and work issues. Treatment is focused on achieving goals-emotional, spiritual and physical to live an abundant life. Life does not have to be hard! I am an advocate of positive psychology and the Law of Attraction--there is no upside to negativity, I help my clients get back on a positive path.

Reduced rates are available according to need. - - I currently work full-time in a setting where all my clients are men, transgender women , or individuals who are gender-fluid. I have worked in residential facilities, have experience treating substance abuse and personality disorders, and am familiar with LGBTQ+ issues. I believe wholeheartedly in the treatment of each individual from a holistic perspective: looking at generational issues, medical concerns, issues which are manifesting as mental health concerns, and any other relevant (but possibly overlooked) aspects.

Leah spent 12 years with the Eating Recovery Center (ERC) treating individuals in outpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, and residential treatment settings. During this time she specialized in eating disorders, mood, and anxiety disorders. Leah facilitated both group and individual therapy. Most recently, Leah served as a supervisor on the admissions team, determining appropriate levels of care for individuals seeking eating disorder treatment.

Are you an accomplished corporate woman who’s worked hard to build a successful career? While you’re proud of your hard work and accomplishments, the demands of your work life leave you feeling anxious, stressed and overwhelmed. You’ve mastered the art of holding it all together, but the weight of all your responsibilities is crushing. Few people know you’re struggling because you’re always in performance mode and make sure everything always looks good even when you don’t feel good. You need a safe space to be vulnerable, honest, and focus on taking care of yourself.

My work is psychoanalytic, which means I attend to feelings/beliefs that emerge from one's lived experience/history and that interfere with living fully, creatively, and freely in the present. I believe that psychotherapy, at its best, is a deeply transforming experience that emerges within an intimate and private space in which you are listened to, understood, and responded to with intelligence and compassion.

Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we’ll ever do – Brenè Brown. My name is Malarie Edwards and I am a National Certified Counselor. I work with clients across a range of specialties, but I am particularly experienced in helping clients with anxiety, intergenerational trauma, identity development, dating and intimate relationships and sleep issues. My practice is centered around serving adults ages 18-50 within BIPOC communities. I believe in social justice and strengthening communities of color within the therapy space.

Teletherapy Offered...People are not their diagnoses even though these labels can sometimes be informative. I prefer to get to know you. Specifically, what do you want out of therapy? What is currently working for you, not working? What brings you in to see me in this moment? I believe that therapy is not only about reducing our suffering, but also finding meaning and fulfillment in our lives. It is about getting to know ourselves, parts that we love, parts that we are afraid of, parts that we don't yet understand. People are also not things that need to be "fixed", instead, this is a place for healing, self-compassion, and growth.

I have a passion for creating therapeutic spaces for support and growth. My practice experience includes work with adults, children, adolescents, and families who are presently suffering with trauma, grief, relationship issues, divorce, parenting challenges, life transitions, depression, anxiety disorders and a wide array of life circumstances. As a seasoned psychotherapist, I blend compassion, intellectual insights, and current research to address you or your loved ones unique needs and create a space in which empowerment and hope may flourish. I welcome working with diverse clients collaboratively towards their goals.

Having lived in different countries (China, England, and the U.S.) and lived the life of both a “majority” and a “minority”, I am able to connect with people in their diverse life experiences. I see therapy as a relationship between two people committed to face the deeper truths of our lives. I am here to understand your unique personal story, and support you in sorting out complex emotional and relational concerns. The goal is for you to set yourself free from limiting barriers, build emotional resilience, and develop more fulfilling relationships with others.

My approach to therapy is empathic, strength-based and interactive. I believe that a safe, trusting therapeutic relationship while empowering the client is imperative for change. I have been providing therapy since 2000 for adults, couples, and children. My main approach to therapy is to utilize cognitive behavioral theory (CBT) in order to process thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that contribute to distorted thinking and behavior, therefore affecting emotional well-being. The goal is to challenge and reframe so that the client achieves their personal goals, to cope with life transitions and obstacles, and improve mental health

I value creating a collaborative relationship that fosters trust and safety by infusing warmth, curiosity, humor, and authenticity into how I relate to others. As I learn more about your experiences, we will work together to explore your concerns and identify techniques to better manage them. I listen for patterns to help you draw connections between current and past life events and how they are impacting you in the present. I hope to create a space for you to bravely reflect on changes you want to make in your life that will lead to a more fulfilling present and future.

As someone who identifies as an empath, I know how hard it can be to balance caring for others while prioritizing self-care. The art of balance is ever evolving, and you are the expert on yourself. You can expect a space for deep reflection to understand yourself, your behaviors and your relationships better. I specialize in helping people who long for confidence and peace but feel like anxiety, pressure, or shame are getting in the way. There is a reason you’re struggling now, and together we will explore and give voice to your whole self as a way for you to recognize your inherent worth.