LGBTQ+ Therapists in South Loop, Chicago, IL

I have experience working with adults in areas such as anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, identity, 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 relationship concerns. 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-friendly. I am currently open to working with teenagers, adults, and couples.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), I work with adults, either individually or as couples. I use an interactive approach, grounded in Gestalt Therapy with a focus on the mind/body connection. I specialize in grief and loss and navigating life’s major transitions, in recovery from past trauma, and gay / lesbian issues.

My areas of specialization are working with individuals/couples/relationships who are in the LGBTQ + community who have experienced violence, such as sexual violence, childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, family system-based violence, spiritual abuse, and community-based violence. I work with many different relationship structures from cisgender heterosexual monogamous couples and folx with more expansive relationship structures. My areas of specialization in working with relationship clients are high-conflict relationships, sexual dysfunction/dysregulation, infidelity, trust, safety, and stability.

Are you a person of faith who also identifies as gay ( LGBTQ +) or same-sex attracted? Are you looking for a trauma therapist who's passionate about working with teens and young adults who have experienced trauma? My life's work is focused on teens and young adults who are exploring their faith and sexual identity and who are recovering from past trauma. Common symptoms are anxiety, depression, and PTSD. My goal is always to walk with my clients to find freedom, fulfillment, and an integrated identity. I love getting to know my clients - being entrusted with your story is an honor to me.

You are resilient, capable, and unwilling to settle for the status quo. Your reluctance to fit the mold may complicate things, but it’s worth it. However, sometimes, the space between who we are and who we want to be can feel vast, and life can overwhelm our capacity to cope - in those moments, it takes bravery to reach out for support. Together we will celebrate your uniqueness, investigate the barriers to your progress, increase feelings of self-worth and efficacy and expand upon your existing strengths to cultivate an authentic future full of possibilities.

My ideal client comes from many walks of life. They are children, teenagers, and adults and present with anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, relationship and family problems, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), school problems, and oppositional-defiant disorder. They all share a common need to be heard, empowered, and guided on the path of recovery. I provide evidence-based treatments tailored to the needs of my clients. I focus on strengths and capabilities rather than "illness."

As we grow and develop as humans, we often find ourselves confronted by issues from the past – issues we may have thought long-resolved. These issues can manifest in our relationship dynamics, our perceptions about ourselves, and our means of coping with our environment. My role is to join you in confronting these things so that you can integrate and learn the lessons these past experiences are meant to teach you. In our work together, you are the expert. You decide what your experiences mean and how they impact the person you are.

My therapeutic approach is shaped by three beliefs: (1) regardless of your past and current situation, you are worthy of love and respect, (2) you have inherent strengths, and (3) systemic oppression plays a role in way we think, feel, and behave; therefore, in therapy, it is important to consider the relationship among systemic oppression, mental health and the multiple identities we hold. As a Black and queer person, I believe showing up as your authentic self is brave and healthy. Together, we will create a safe and non-judgmental space as we work through your goals.

Do you struggle with your inner-critic? Have you faced rejection from loved ones and feel completely alone? Maybe you’ve experienced difficulty managing life transitions, career or school stress, relationship conflicts, bigotry or hate, loss of a loved one, sexual assault, abuse, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts. If so, when was the last time you had a space just for you? Coping with the stress in your life isn’t easy; neither is attempting to heal lasting emotional pain alone. Have you tried to avoid anxiety, depression, or traumatic memories, seeking some way out of a rollercoaster of emotions? If so, you’re in the right place.

Often we find ourselves in our life's journey seemingly finding that the right road has been lost. Have your dreams for yourself changed? Do you lack clarity for what your life could look like? Have you experienced past trauma that seems to return to your mind when you least expect it? Has your own view of spirituality changed or shifted over the years? Have you experienced trauma from religion due to who you are? Are you seemingly in a hamster wheel of actions looking for a change? If any of this resonates with you, I can help you re-create your own path through life.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and a Certified Addictions Counselor (CADC). I see therapy as a collaborative process of growth and change. My approach is flexible, warm and empathic. I have over 10 years of experience with individuals, couples and groups and utilize psychodynamics, CBT, Motivational Interviewing, family systems, relational, and relapse prevention strategies.

I work primarily with QTBIPOC folks navigating concerns around past trauma, (acute and complex), their racial identity and how it intersects with other identities, their relationship with their bodies, and connection to their community. In particular I work with biracial/multi-racial folks navigating their racial identity development. I work with folks who have eating disorder and body image concerns and use a HAES approach. I work with trans /non-binary folks around embodiment, and their relationships with their bodies, food, and body image.

I identify as a gender-nonconforming queer male. My work with all clients is informed by frameworks like antiracism, social justice, feminism, and anti-imperialism. I bring authenticity and genuine empathy to each client, pairing these with effective and approachable therapeutic interventions that research says work. I can help with micro-level goals like improving mood and reducing anxiety, on macro-level goals like recovering from trauma and coping with systemic oppression, and on relational goals like building intimacy. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are my personal and professional values. I believe that Black Lives Matter.

As a relational therapist, I focus on supporting and witnessing clients in finding healing, connection, and conflict resolution and repair to ultimately build a life and relationships that honor their values and imagination. Therapy is an opportunity for liberation from dominant social narratives that don’t work for us as individuals or in our relationships, and I recognize the intergenerational and ongoing trauma of struggling against those dominant narratives. All relationships can benefit from this lens – whether they're romantic, platonic, brand new, long-term, with others, or with parts of yourself.

My life’s work is strengthening the LGBTQ community from the inside out. I do this by working with gay men to live the lives they desire. What often holds us back are layers of expectations and belief systems that we take on from society, our families, and others. When these systemic messages conflict with our authentic selves, this creates a dissonance that often results in anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. This isn’t something that is broken or bad in us. Quite the opposite, it’s our authentic selves yearning to be expressed!

I am a relationship and sex therapist, and I believe that living authentically for self and community brings healing and joy. Such authenticity requires an exploration of sexual needs amidst robust boundary-making. I am a part of and love to work with folx in the LGBTQIA + community. My clinical interests include out-of-control sexual behavior, men's sexual health, and exploring the intersection of religion, spirituality, and sex. I also have a growing specialization in working with kink, BDSM, polyamory, and consensual non-monogamy.