Men's Issues Therapists in South Loop, Chicago, IL

NOW accepting new clients! Has life become overwhelming? Do you often feel defeated or unsure of your purpose? Please know that you are not alone in your experiences. It can be challenging to trust enough to talk about what you are going through. I provide a safe and sacred space to talk about your thoughts and feelings without judgment. My goal is to meet you where you are and support you in becoming the best version of yourself.

I believe in the transformative power of a compassionate and trusting therapeutic relationship. I value patience and kindness as I walk with my clients through their struggles. There are many paths to healing, and I invite my clients to collaborate with me on identifying their barriers and overcoming them with curiosity and creativity. Each person has innate strengths, and I work with clients on harnessing these tools. Together, we shine a light on old narratives to make way for change and transformation.

I believe everyone deserves to enjoy a meaningful, fulfilling life, but I know from experience how challenging that can be at times. Let me help you develop coping skills for various issues such as relationship challenges, depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, pre and postpartum issues, career-related issues, teen issues, and attachment and family issues.

Accomplishing the demands of life becomes more difficult when anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, addiction, burnout, or big life changes stand in your way. In my eyes, as long as you are breathing there is hope for positive change! If your goal is to rediscover a feeling or part of yourself that has been lost, or forge a life where your relationships feel healthy and satisfying, I may be a great fit for you. I use evidence-based theoretical models to guide our work together, and a strong sense of humor when appropriate. In fact, I think therapy should be as fun as it is challenging!

My clients want to make changes in their lives. They believe that healing is possible for both body and mind. When they feel safe enough, they bravely share the old stories about themselves and the no-longer-helpful ways of dealing with the world that kept them feeling sick or stuck. They keep showing up when the going gets rough, because they’ve seen for themselves that they can trust the process, and they’re willing to keep working it until it works, one day at a time.

As a relational therapist, my aim is to support clients in striving towards safety, security, and authenticity – whether it is individually, as a family, or in romantic relationships. A focus of mine is dyads, where I help dissolve distance or conflict while building a base of emotional closeness. I also grew up as a “third culture kid” and have interest in supporting 1st or 2nd generation immigrants explore cultural attunement with themselves or their communities. Happy to address these areas: relational conflicts, attachment losses or ruptures, depression, anxiety, complex trauma, stress management.

Each person I have the honor of working with allows me into their life in a unique way that I value and consistently strive to gain greater humility from. I think that being Seen & Heard without judgement, and feeling truly cared for, is essential for therapy to be healing. That is why I prioritize the establishment of a safe, affirming, and honestly inclusive space for exploring the psyche through the lens in which you view your sense of Self and lived experiences. From here, it is my intention to walk alongside you on a journey of continually discovering what being authentic in this expression of self means to you.

Psychological suffering can be debilitating to the point where people can become hopeless, but I believe psychoanalytic therapy presents a unique opportunity to deal with suffering. Through the process of therapy, clients can work toward lowering the intensity of their symptoms, find freedom and meaning within their trauma, and strive to live authentically.

Derek is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and respected expert in his field. He is also fully trained in EMDR Therapy. In addition to two bachelor degrees, one from Kalamazoo College and the other from University of Wisconsin-Madison, Derek also holds a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Roosevelt University. Derek has worked extensively with people suffering from all types of addictions as well as depression, anxiety and dual diagnosis. He believes in collaborating with his clients and "It all works out in the end. If it hasn't worked out, it's not the end"

I think I work best with clients whose goals are both large and realistic: working with depth enough for deep healing and growth, but with an eye to the practical, and with clear communication back and forth. Clients who need to tackle embarrassing, painful and difficult issues may appreciate my gently direct, understanding and non-judgmental approach. Those who have been frustrated with cookie-cutter approaches may appreciate my close listening, collaboration, and inventiveness based on extensive training and experience. I find I work well with a variety of symptoms and presenting problems in adults, children and relationships.

Throughout our lives we go through experiences that help us define who we are. These moments of connection and isolation, fulfillment and confusion are foundational events that make us, us. These can be life altering experiences; societal forces, traumatic events, difficult relationships, or a series of distressing events that we carry for the rest of our lives. Working through these experiences can be scary. Therapy can help us unpack these moments and lead more meaningful and fulfilling lives. In our sessions, we will explore who you are; your world, beliefs, and values.

Do you often feel exhausted and unmotivated? Do you experience a sense of emptiness or a yearning for something different, without knowing exactly what you're missing? Do you grapple with feelings of loneliness, anger, anxiety, or depression? If you wake up each day with a sense of dread, you're not alone. Many people come to me with similar issues. To address these complex challenges, I use a tailored approach that combines insight, curiosity, and dedication in my treatment plans. To book an appointment, you can visit my website and click on the 'Portal Tab' to self-schedule; make sure to select my name.

Sage Therapy Chicago was founded in October 2020 from a deep passion to create a supportive and reliable mental healthcare practice for all clients. We believe that everyone deserves access to quality therapy, regardless of their background or identity. We offer a comprehensive range of mental health services to clients of all ages, from kids and teens to adults of all identities. Our practitioners have experience working with a wide range of mental health concerns.

Life is a process of adapting to new circumstances. I became a therapist to assist people in navigating through life. As we evolve, we will be faced with various obstacles and having a safe place to process those emotions is important. My passion is for couples and teaching them how to communicate what their needs are in a relationship in a compassionate manner. I also, assist those dealing with grief, and helping to build the self esteem of men and women. My style of counseling is one of love, compassion and humor with a direct approach. I believe counseling can be as light or as heavy as you desire.

Common problems I help address: deciding who is the "right" person to marry; figuring out why you are single; working on your anxious or avoidant attachment style; managing different partner attachment styles; infidelity: figuring out why you cheated, healing from the infidelity, rebuilding trust and prevention; figuring out if you can make your relationship or marriage work; communication such as arguments that go nowhere; effective conflict resolution; feeling unappreciated/taken for granted; disconnection; healing from a break up. The information & tools I teach are proven to be effective in making relationships successful.

“Our daily lives can be challenging, but there are so many ways and opportunities for us to heal and grow. With an open mind and open heart, I seek to provide guidance to my clients as they navigate through the process of self-discovery and resolution.”I earned an undergraduate degree from Indiana University and an MSW from NYU. My experiences at NYU inspired many areas of interest, including trauma/crisis therapy for adolescents and adults. I am passionate about helping my clients on their healing journey and encouraging them to be their authentic selves, because I want to know the real you.

My approach combines my education, training, and own life experience to work with individuals collaboratively, with a focus on how to meaningfully and healthfully navigate life events. I start by developing a unique and genuine therapeutic relationship with my clients which facilitates healing and understanding. While trained as a generalist to provide treatment for a variety of mental health concerns across the lifespan, my clinical specialties include working with trauma, depression, anxiety, relationship/family distress, life transitions, grief/loss, stress mgmt, college students, young adults, and autism spectrum/Asperger's.

I enjoy supporting couples seeking to clarify shared goals, address conflicts and increase their sense of appreciation for one another. Couples seeking guidance around navigating non-traditional partnerships, long distance, the management of finances, family planning, building and maintaining intimacy and improving communication among a myriad of other topics, generally find my approach helpful. I also support individuals managing symptoms of anxiety, depression and various life transitions.

We deliver high-quality executive mental health and leadership development programs that drive business success. Unlock peak performance, elevate workplace mental health, and drive business growth. Led by a team of highly skilled corporate psychotherapists, executive performance coaches, and organizational psychologists, we support group and team relations, leadership, communication, high performance, and thriving for healthy, high-performing leaders and teams that drive business success.