LGBTQ+ Therapists in River North, Chicago, IL
See all therapists in River North, Chicago
Steven Nakisher
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
He also specializes in working with the
LGBTQIA
+ community.
Dr. Steven Nakisher offers a practical approach in a supportive, yet challenging atmosphere to help clients gain insight, make lasting changes in life and "get out your own way". With over 25 years of experience, he works particularly well with people who have previously experienced therapy as unhelpful. Dr. Nakisher also works a business consultant to major corporations, improving business through human capital.
Hali Garber
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC, NCC
Verified
Verified
Hali is a Postgraduate Fellow at Lakeview Center for Psychotherapy. She holds a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University. Hali specializes in working with anxiety, depression, and perfectionism. She also works with
queer
and
trans
clients. She is committed to incorporating social justice into her therapeutic approach, and promotes vulnerability in therapy so clients can feel accepted and understood. Hali provides psychoanalytic and integrative psychotherapy for adults, couples and adolescents.
Susan Pagels
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, LCPC
Verified
Verified
I welcome diversity and am experienced servicing the
LGBTQ
community.
We all struggle with obstacles that seem insurmountable but I believe everyone has the power within themselves to reach for the stars. Sometimes it takes baby steps and often we need someone we can trust to lend a helping hand.
Ashlee Taylor
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
My specialties include
LGBTQ
+, gender identity, sexuality, ADHD, Anxiety, Neurodevelopmental and behavioral emotional disorders, and parent management training.
Finding the right therapist can be a daunting and vulnerable task, whether you're new to the process or a seasoned pro. As you're scrolling through endless profiles and bios, you may ask yourself "Do I belong here?". I became a therapist to give people the safe space, supportive relationship and perspective that they may not get in other aspects of their lives. I also hope to challenge the stigma that may have discouraged them from engaging in the therapy process.
Alex Bond
Pre-Licensed Professional, MA
Verified
Verified
I am a
queer
, neurodivergent clinician committed to creating a warm and welcoming environment free of judgment or pretense, where you may feel empowered to voice thoughts, express feelings, and be curious about yourself in a way you may not have elsewhere. I believe that each person has the ability to create their own meaning in life, and I am passionate about helping my clients uncover their unique purpose and potential. Together, we will work to address any limiting beliefs or patterns, as well as examine how past experiences and cultural factors have shaped your worldview and prevented you from living a more fulfilling life.
Breann Gray
Counselor, LCPC
Verified
Verified
I am culturally responsive,
LGBTQIA
+ affirming, and will use your strengths to help you in your healing journey.
I enjoy working with clients who are motivated for change. Do you struggle with low self esteem, depression, anxiety, life changes/transitions, racism based trauma, difficulty setting boundaries or relationship stress? I seek to provide a space for growth and healing where you can safely share vulnerable parts of your life.
Suz Cuellar
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
I am a
trans
and
queer
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and artist with 13 years of experience in community mental health. The approach I take to therapy is that all people deserve to have the opportunity to experience a safe, kind, and welcoming space to explore their mental health, and that as a therapist, it is my job to nurture that. I am driven to create therapeutic opportunities for all people who want and need them and specialize in working with the LGBTQ2IA+ community. I am open to working with all clients that find themselves in need of an understanding, compassionate, and community-oriented therapist who will help .
Minh Dong
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC
Verified
Verified
Choosing therapy can be a daunting task, but when you do, it shows that you have incredible strength and a strong desire to invest in yourself. Whether you are coming in to understand parts of yourself, navigating difficult interpersonal relationships, or striving to have a more authentic self, it is my pleasure to assist you along the way. I am a
queer
-identifying Asian Therapist who is a strong advocate for
LGBTQIA
+ and BIPOC communities who deals with everyday struggles and issues. I utilize a strength-based and client centered approach to foster a safe and supporting environment.
Kyle Tacia
Pre-Licensed Professional, LPC
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
My number one priority, above everything else, is to making therapy an approachable and enjoyable endeavor. I am open to working with adult clients of all genders and sexual orietations. I regulary work with anxiety, stress, relationship issues, as well as life transitions. I am experienced in working with
LGBTQIA
individuals and use an affirming approach. I also enjoy working specifically with men stuggling with sexual functioning, intimacy issues, and anger management.
Nakisher Psychological Services
Psychologist
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Nakisher's creative style helps him work well with people struggling with various issues including addictions, eating disorders, work and relationship problems as well as
gay
/
lesbian
issues.
Dr. Nakisher offers a practical approach in a supportive, yet challenging atmosphere to help clients gain insight, make lasting changes in life and get out your own way. He works particularly well with people who have previously experienced therapy as unhelpful. Dr. Nakisher also works a business consultant to major corporations, improving business through human capital.
Waitlist for new clients
Julleon Garrison
Licensed Social Worker
Verified
Verified
I am versed in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) in the treatments of most anxious, depressive, adjustment, ADHD,
Queer
and POC issues, and some behavioral concerns.
I don’t believe in an ideal client. I believe in that people are in need of professional mental health services that can be simple as getting brief interventions on ADHD struggles to extended sessions for complex experiences. I want to meet my clients where they are and assist them in progressing forward as a stable companion, true confidant, and therapeutic clinician on this journey to wellness.
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Jake Rose
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
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.
Alex Ngo
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I am honored to be able to help support
queer
and
trans
people, people of color, especially women of color and Asian Americans, children of immigrants, sex workers, and trauma survivors.
The clients who are the best fit for my clinical approach tend to be people who want to build a stronger sense of self, learn how to center their own needs and set boundaries, and are open to inner child healing. The clients I work with want to change their relationship with themselves to be more compassionate and nurturing. They are recovering people pleasers, people who want to learn how to be more assertive, often have unresolved trauma, and are ready to break cycles in order to establish new patterns. They seek support from me to discuss dating, relationships, sex, childhood traumas, identity, and healing from abuse and neglect.
Eli Zucker
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, LICSW
Verified
Verified
I work with all adult populations, specializing in working with adult men and
LGBTQ
+ folks.
I approach therapy believing that we need more than talk therapy to unlock our wellness and healing. We need to tune into our body! I use a combination of modalities to guide our work, namely tenets of somatic trauma healing and psychodynamic psychology. Together, we’ll work to deepen your understanding of self and the world around you by exploring your body as a shape, molded by a lifetime of your lived experiences. We’ll honor all parts of who you are, knowing that the "best" and "worst" versions of you both deserve dignity and care.
Erika Chavez
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Welcome, my name is Erika! My work focuses on providing culturally responsive, anti-oppressive, and affirming therapeutic services to BIPOC and
LGBTQ
+ folks experiencing anxiety, depression, generational trauma, immigrant struggles, and race/ethnic identity exploration. I work from a trauma-informed lens that explores childhood experiences, relational attachments, cultural environments, and how the brain/body is developmentally affected through traumatic experiences. I integrate somatic approaches such as EMDR, parts work, DBT, the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) and mindfulness to address and process trauma.
Sophia Ou
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC, NCC
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
As a
queer
southeast Asian person, I understand difficulty in finding folks who align.
I specialize in trauma recovery, racial/ethnic/cultural identity development, religious/spiritual abuse, intergenerational trauma, depression and anxiety. I have experience working with under-served populations and individuals experiencing complex trauma, depression, anxiety and relational difficulties. Growing up in a single-parent household with traumatized adults made me passionate about navigating the complexities of trauma, marginalization, mental health stigma, perfectionism, identity and belonging. I am driven to work with adult children of immigrants and BIPOC folx to hold a safe space for our intersectional identities.
Reshma Rampersad
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
I work with individuals from across the lifespan and lifestyles including traditional and non-traditional students,
LGBTQIA
+ community, first generation individuals, and individuals from diverse ethnicities.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist and I provide individual, couples, and group therapy as well as psychological testing. I believe in a holistic approach to therapy allowing for the balancing of mind, body, and spirit. I place an emphasis on mindfulness and acceptance in my therapeutic approach allowing you to evolve in a meaningful way. Navigating that evolution can be difficult and uncomfortable, my job is to help you through that process. To facilitate your transformation I utilize Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Interpersonal Therapy.
Vito Rizzi
Marriage & Family Therapist Intern
Verified
Verified
As a
queer
practitioner, I am committed to offering a safe space to all.
Let’s face it- relationships can be hard! Everyone deserves to feel loved, connected, and seen for what makes them unique, but navigating romantic relationships is not always easy. I believe that love is a resource we can all cultivate within ourselves. Our past experiences bleed into our relationships, laying the groundwork for patterns that might leave us feeling disconnected. By improving our relationship with ourselves, we can form more fulfilling ones with others. You already have many of the tools needed to cultivate change in your life. My job is to help you reconnect with them whenever you’re ready.
Shah'tavia Young
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LMSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I work with millennials,
LGBTQ
+, depression, anxiety, everyday life stressors and family/relationship dynamics.
I am accepting new clients. Hi! My name is Shah’Tavia Young and I am a Licensed Master Social Worker but, I’m also a millennial! Learning how to navigate the world and adulthood. I have been working in the mental health field since 2015 and have provided individual counseling as well group therapy and facilitated workshops.
Patrick Miranda
Licensed Professional Counselor, MS, LPC
Verified
Verified
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with over a decade of experience in the mental health and addiction fields. I have provided individual and family counseling and worked in a variety of residential outpatient settings, which has given me valuable insight into meeting each unique person where they are at on their journey. Experiences include working with adolescents, adults, and families facing a range of needs, including trauma, suicidality, mood disorders, and addiction. I also enjoy working with those in the
LGBTQ
+ community.
See more therapy options for ,
LGBTQ+ Therapists
Do LGBTQ-affirmative therapists receive special training?
Yes. Many therapists who practice LGBTQ-affirmative therapy have completed specialized training, either during their degree program or as continuing education, to learn the core principles of affirmative therapy and how to best support their LGBTQ clients; some have received certifications in LGBTQ-affirmative therapy. Prospective clients should inquire as to a clinician’s background and training to ensure a good fit.
Why might I want to see an LGBTQ-affirming or LGBTQ-friendly therapist?
Queer and gender-non-conforming individuals frequently experience bias and marginalization in day-to-day life. Working with a therapist who understands these unique challenges, as well as accepts and affirms their identity, can help LGBTQ clients feel safe and supported during therapy—allowing them to better navigate their relationships, mental health, and anything else that they wish to explore during therapy. It is important to note that many therapists can be effective in their work with LGBTQ+ individuals, even in the absence of specific training or background knowledge. The most important component in therapy is the alliance between therapist and client, and this alliance can exist between individuals with very different backgrounds.
How can I find an LGBTQ-friendly therapist?
You may wish to inquire about a therapist’s expertise with your specific challenges or concerns—depression, for example, or relationship strife—as well as their past experiences treating LGBTQ+ clients. Prospective clients may also ask whether a therapist has obtained additional training and/or certification in LGBTQ-affirmative techniques.
How can I inquire about a therapist’s experience with LGBTQ issues?
Prospective clients should feel empowered to directly ask therapists whether they have received training or been certified in LGBTQ-affirming therapy; competent therapists will be happy to explain their educational background and preferred approach(es) to help a client find the best match for them. Clients may also wish to ask how a therapist has treated clients with their particular challenges in the past and what they expect treatment to look like.
Are all the therapists listed in the LGBTQ directory themselves members of the LGBTQ community?
While therapists may choose to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity in their profiles, the LGBTQ directory features not only those who have shared this information but also those who assert specialized training or experience in providing support to queer individuals, couples or families.