Teletherapy for South Loop - Chicago, IL

Are you looking to make a change in your life but feel overwhelmed or unsure where to begin? I support my clients through navigating the journey of personal growth and transformation, which can often feel confusing, difficult, and scary. As your therapist, I work to understand your struggles and strengths, so that we may walk step-by-step through your discomfort and toward your goals.

The decision to pursue therapy requires vulnerability and risk. Choosing a therapist who understands this reality is important. Like most adults, you may be seeking therapy to explore why your relationships are unsatisfying or why you feel unfulfilled. You may hope to understand how painful emotions like shame, sadness, and anger have affected you. Many adults seek solutions on their own, only to feel stuck in repetitive cycles of behavior that produce momentary relief.

People are able to make positive changes in their lives. Do you find yourself unhappy, depressed or anxious? Does it feel that no matter what you have tried, nothing changes? I help clients in positively addressing unhelpful patterns and to become unstuck from negative emotions and life situations.

If you are feeling stuck and uncertain how to make changes therapy can help. I work with adults and adolescents to overcome doubt, change unhealthy patterns, improve relationships, and find healthy ways to cope. For some that means approaching the things they avoid, taking down emotional walls, changing their substance use, gaming/internet use, or other unhealthy behaviors. I specialize in anxiety and mood issues, substance use, addictive behaviors, and men's issues. The practice website provides additional info about my experience and approach. If you would like to connect to help determine fit, I offer a free phone consultation .

NOW Accepting New Clients! We are here to support you. Life Aligned Counseling offers individual and couples counseling services. Our team of therapists has experience in a wide variety of issues including anxiety, depression, trauma recovery, loss and grief, relationship issues, self-esteem and self-concept, family conflict, stress management, spirituality, significant life transitions, lgbtqia+ concerns, women's issues, men's issues, etc.

There are times in life where we all feel overwhelmed. Whether the day to day grind is wearing you down or overwhelming anxiety is making it difficult for you to leave the house, I am here to be on your side. I am a big believer that effective therapy is a collaborative effort between the client and the therapist and that healing is achieved by working together. I take an integrative approach to therapy, where I tailor the therapy to fit the needs of the client. I am also trained in EMDR therapy for trauma treatment and Gottman level 3 certified for couples work.

Accepting NEW clients. Wendy Galyen & the counseling TEAM at Thrive for Life offer VIDEO &PHONE-based counseling. Online counseling services are great for busy professionals, college students, stay-at-home moms, retirees, or other clients who do not have time for traditional in-person sessions but who would benefit from counseling support in their daily lives. Free consultation available to determine if this type of counseling can meet your unique needs. Some insurances accepted or private pay from $75-$150/session. IL team includes: Wendy Galyen, Marilyn Verbiscer (couples), Emma Flores, & Lindsey Welch (life coach).

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."

Are you done struggling with anxiety, depression, and relationships? Are you ready to feel fully yourself and alive again? Are you ready to build the life you want to live? My first goal when meeting with you is to establish a genuine & collaborative connection. This'll serve as the foundation for the work necessary to deal with daily feelings, understand experiences & make positive changes to your life. We'll work together to help you feel whole, peaceful, and connected. When you're done with therapy, you'll feel empowered and ready to face whatever challenges life throws at you. I can help you live your passion, purpose & truth.

Could you use a safe space to process a major life transition? Are you looking for guidance on improving your relationships? I see therapy as a valuable tool to reflect on life, unpack how you're feeling, and discover what changes you can make to be more satisfied. My therapeutic style tends to be a good fit for clients who identify as perfectionists, struggle with anxiety and uncertainty, or who are experiencing stress from significant phase of life changes like a new job, marriage, or having kids. I am a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and Certified in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C).

My philosophy of care is grounded in the notion that every person has a gift within themselves. People do not need to be fixed; they need support to be able to return to their core self. I am here to support you whether you are going through a transition, dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges. Please consider reaching out if you want to make meaning of your life, use difficulty as an opportunity to grow, and/or you are someone deeply committed to improving society. I am here to provide a place to process, balance, and develop.

I am delighted you found me here on Psychology Today. My ideal client comes from many different walks of life - children, adolescents, adults, couples and families. My ideal client is looking for change and a therapist that is going to "shoot straight" with them and do more than just nod their head in agreement. My ideal client is looking for direction and change in their lives and wants a partner in change. I work with my ideal client on anxiety, major depression, trauma, couples counseling, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional-defiant disorder (ODD), and substance abuse, and LGBTQIA+ issues.

Many of us lead busy lives with little space to breathe, think, and make choices with clarity. We hold ourselves to unsustainable standards in our careers, relationships and as individuals. We move from day to day with anxious thoughts, or float numbly with disconnection and over-scheduling as a way to avoid pain. Often our expectations, goals and circumstances come at the expense of our own healthy well being.

Are you drowning in a whirlwind of worry, heart racing, mind buzzing with thoughts that won't quit? Maybe you're caught in a storm of distraction, snapping at loved ones, feeling lost in the chaos. The quest for peace feels like chasing a mirage, leaving you drained and disconnected. But what if there's a lifeline, a new path to clarity and calm? Imagine a therapist who rolls up their sleeves alongside you, not just talking but diving deep, handing out strategies, and standing by your side in the battle for serenity. Ready to break free from the cycle? Let's tackle this together.

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.

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.

I get it, adulting is HARD! Sometimes, it can feel impossible to manage everything life throws at you, like work, school, dating, friendships, finances, and so much more. Therapy can make it easier. I specialize in counseling young adults, ages 18-35, helping them adjust to this new phase of life. If you're looking to learn how to manage stress and anxiety, develop your career, make new friends, build healthy romantic relationships, establish boundaries with family, moderate substance use, or improve your relationship with food and your body, we may be the perfect fit.

I use a collaborative model, where sessions feel like two people having a conversation in my living room, versus a stereotypical doctor/patient interaction. I don't view your issues as coming from an abnormal psychopathology, but instead as a reaction to living in a stressful, complex, and contradictory world. I seek to understand your issues in the context of your unique experience rather than viewing you as having something wrong or being broken. My focus is on what you need from me....I take my lead from you.

Northwestern and Rush University adjunct faculty member. Specializing in the treatment of eating disorders, depression and anxiety disorders. In addition, I frequently work with patients struggling with relationship issues, pregnancy, infertility and trauma.