Depression Therapists in Chicago, IL
See all therapists in Chicago
Chandan R. Bhagia
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
13 Endorsed
Verified
13 Endorsed
I also have an interest in working with adults struggling with significant life transitions as well as anxiety and
depression
.
My approach to therapy is informed by mindfulness practices, focused on assisting my clients in "opening up" to the present moment while connecting to their values to strive toward their "Best Self!" I focus on assisting clients in attending to their relational concerns, which allows for them to overcome the emotional distress associated with a history of difficult and painful relationships. I find that it is my duty to establish a safe space where clients feel truly understood. In doing so, I feel honored to be able to "BE" with my clients, as they strive toward growth and empowerment.

Erin Trainor
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC
Verified
Verified
We all have moments in life that overwhelm our ability to cope! When that happens, everyday life can become way more challenging. If you have experienced trauma, are struggling with identity, or dealing with anxiety or
depression
, you know what hard work it is to get through the day and feel ok!

Robert J. Portsche, Jr
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
With 20 years of experience in residential, inpatient, and outpatient settings, my primary focus is helping individuals of all ages better deal with emotional regulation. This includes a range of mental health conditions, including ADHD,
depression
, anxiety, autism spectrum, obsessions, anger management, and interpersonal conflicts. I work with children, adolescents, and adults who have experienced significant life stressors and are looking for positive ways of coping. I provide both short- and long-term therapy for individuals seeking healthier methods of understanding and dealing with a variety of life issues.

Robert Méndez
Counselor, LCPC
Verified
Verified
I specialize in helping people suffering with anxiety,
depression
, PTSD, and difficulties with self-compassion. Our work together will begin by getting to know one another and building a strong foundation for our work together. I am a warm, compassionate, and patient person and strive to utilize these traits to help others grow and know themselves on a deeper level. I believe the relationship between therapist and patient is the driving force in creating significant and long-lasting change. We will examine the various identities that you hold and the impact they have on you as an individual and your relationships.

Cheryl Neuman Meltzer
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, MSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
In addition, I also have a wealth of experience and enjoy working with adolescents and young adults dealing with
depression
, anxiety, separation and transitional life issues.
In my practice I see adolescents and adults. I view therapy as a place where you can more fully understand yourself and your relationships and therefore be empowered to make better choices in your life. My style is informed by dynamically oriented and relational therapy. Regardless of theory, the most important part of the process is building a relationship built on trust and safety. Through this safe and supportive environment we will help you build on your strengths and problem solving skills as well as deepen your self awareness and self understanding.
Not accepting new clients

Jacqueline Hamilton
Counselor, MA, LPC, LCPC
Verified
Verified
I work with individuals to improve symptoms of
depression
, anxiety, emotional regulation, self-esteem, mood disorders, and life stressors.
There are many factors in life that can affect our emotional well-being and functioning. This can leave us feeling overwhelmed, powerless, or just not our best self. Through a collaborative approach, I aim to help you manage whatever unwanted feelings and symptoms you may be experiencing. No matter how big or small you feel your challenges may be, I believe we can all benefit from taking time out of the busyness of life to focus on ourselves. I am here to support you and empower you during this process.
Waitlist for new clients

Brittany Levy
Counselor, LCPC
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
I specialize in anxiety,
depression
, trauma, and life transitions.
Currently I have a Waitlist for services. If we begin to work together, you will find me to be compassionate, nonjudgmental, and exploratory; creating safety in therapy by using humor, understanding and experience. Suffering is a part of human nature, but I want to work with you to find new ways to manage your world. I view people as the expert in their lives, therapy can be used as an agent of change or growth. I excel in recognizing patterns, addressing barriers or obstacles, and finding alternative ways to make decisions in your life. I utilize action, feedback and honesty, asking the same of my clients.

Betsy Nettleton
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
I help people who feel stuck and unhappy. Maybe you feel
depressed
or anxious; maybe you are lonely; maybe you feel uncertain about relationships or work. Perhaps your problems are new; perhaps you have been struggling for years. I am here to listen and help. I know it can be difficult to talk. I know it takes courage to share painful feelings, especially when you might be weighed down with shame, fear, guilt, sadness or anger. Together, we will work to sort through your current struggles and also explore the deeper, underlying patterns that keep you unfulfilled and trapped.

Stephanie Mcsharry
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, CADC, GL-CMA, WPCC
Verified
Verified
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Whole Person Certified Coach (WPCC) and a Creative Arts Therapist. I have worked in several agencies around Chicago providing a range of therapeutic services as well as clinical supervision. I have done extensive work with individual and group therapy and find great joy in helping others. I utilize both verbal counseling and creative arts techniques when working with clients. My experience includes helping individuals deal with personal stress, anxiety,
depression
, substance abuse, low self-esteem, life adjustments and relationship issues.

Hannah M Conner
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC
Verified
Verified
I believe that the most important part of a therapeutic relationship is creating a safe space for you to grow and cultivate the changes you would like to make in your life through a collaborative process. I have worked with individuals from diverse populations with various backgrounds who have experienced a wide range of mental health issues such as; anxiety,
depression
, and emotional dysregulation. I also have worked with clients on mental performance specific concerns such as performance anxiety and mental skills training.

Madelyn Greenberger
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MS, LCSW
Verified
Verified
Psychodynamic therapy focuses on providing a safe environment from which a therapeutic relationship can grow. Through this experience, feelings and thoughts outside our everyday awareness come alive and can be used for self-understanding and growth. As a result, change tends to occur. I assist clients with a range of life situations and emotional concerns, and am interested in working with individuals who have difficulties in relationships, with anxiety,
depression
, and self-esteem, and who have experienced parental loss and trauma.

Delorth Stallworth
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LSW
Verified
Verified
Her areas of expertise include: stress, anxiety and
depression
, substance abuse, family/relationship issues and personal growth.
Delorth Stallworth, MSW, LSW is a licensed Social Worker with a Master's degree in Social Work from Chicago State University, Illinois, in direct practice. She completed her Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice with concentration in sociology at University of Illinois Delorth has experience working with children and families. She began her career working with children and families within the foster care. She went on to work with sex offenders at Emages, a counseling center for evaluating and assessing risk and needs that can contribute to deviant sexual behaviors, leading personal empowerment and providing individual counseling

Jenae D. Thompson
Counselor, PhD, LCPC, NCC
Verified
Verified
Hello! I may be the therapist for you if you are struggling with anxiety,
depression
, trauma, family changes and are looking for someone experienced in traditional and alternative approaches of support. I provide talk therapy based in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Relational Cultural Theory, and Intersectionality Theory. I also provide Reiki upon request and am a Reiki Master Teacher. In addition to Reiki, I provide other alternative supportive services outside of traditional therapy, if requested. I specialize in supporting racial minorities, the LGBT community, women, and children. I look forward to helping you on your journey!

Rachael Dobis
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, CYT
Verified
Verified
I specialize in the treatment of adults who are struggling with anxiety,
depression
, binge eating disorder and emotional eating, trauma, body image, relationship issues, and women’s issues.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck, you don’t have to manage everything alone, I’m here to help. I am a compassionate and non-judgmental therapist who can support you in exploring barriers, behaviors, and thought patterns that are keeping you feeling stuck. I work to create a warm and empathic space that allows you to feel heard and understood. I take a client centered and feminist approach. Together we can work to identify meaningful goals, build awareness of your strengths and capabilities, develop effective coping skills, and cultivate hope.

Rebecca Mach
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
I specialize in the following concerns:
depression
, anxiety, relationship dissatisfaction & codependency, becoming a new parent or parenting concerns throughout the developmental lifespan, and healthy transgender & non-binary identity development.
Choosing the right therapist is important. I am committed to assisting you confront old and new obstacles and make meaningful changes in your life. I have the highest respect for someone who comes through my door. Together, we create a path for personal healing and growth.

Jennifer D. Strobel
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MA, LCSW
Verified
Verified
I specialize in anxiety,
depression
, grief/loss, women's issues, self-esteem and relationships.
I believe that successful therapy begins with finding the right therapist - sometimes a daunting task. I understand that everyone is unique, and I am here to listen compassionately and non-judgmentally. I genuinely enjoy helping clients to identify changes they want to make and supporting them in taking effective steps toward those changes. Also, I bring to therapy a lens that acknowledges the impact of systems on the health and well-being of clients. My bi-cultural background and commitment to anti-racist practices allows for a therapy space that works toward equity and justice.

Maria Fernanda de Alba Sanchez Losada
LPC, MA
1 Endorsed
1 Endorsed
I have recently joined the staff at SpringSource Psychological Center and have immediate openings for new clients. My practice is based in understanding, unconditional support and positive feedback that impact interpersonal relationships, relational patterns and past experiences towards the creation of a more conscious, healthy self. Trauma work heals symptoms of
depression
, anxiety, eating disorders, negative interactions and PTSD, helping the client gain and practice a new set of skills.

Elizabeth Elliott
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
My name is Liz. I am an experienced mental health practitioner with extensive expertise in helping adults cope with anxiety,
depression
, personal crisis, and substance abuse issues. I am a practical, compassionate therapist who understands that the decision to seek professional help is rarely an easy one. I am committed to the belief that even short term therapy can be immensely valuable. We can work together to develop strategies and solutions that will help you feel more effective, relaxed and mindful.

Todd M Nelson
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
I work with people experiencing anxiety,
depression
, grief, trauma, and going through life transitions.
You are a whole person, not a simple set of symptoms. As such, I treat my clients as whole people. I help my clients build on their strengths, to create a better wellbeing. We are all more than our problems, and not as simple as a textbook. I look at my clients as already complete human beings. Whatever challenges you are facing, whatever difficulties you are having, I assure you that you are worth being heard. You are worth being treated with compassion, in a nonjudgmental setting. I am here to help you find healing and wholeness.

Jessica Emelia
Counselor, MA, LCPC
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Anxiety and
depression
impact your work, relationships, and personal goals. But with support, it is completely possible to feel better and manage these often-debilitating symptoms. I specialize in assisting adults with anxiety/
depression
to manage their symptoms and reduce the impact they have on their lives. This includes women who suffer from cyclical anxiety,
depression
, or anger in relation to their menstrual cycles (aka PMS/PMDD.)
See more therapy options for
Depression Therapists
What is the goal of therapy for depression?
Therapy for depression has several major goals. One is to relieve the mental pain of depression, which distorts feeling and thinking so that sufferers cannot see beyond their current state of mind or envision feeling better. Another is to give people the mental tools to recognize and correct the kinds of distorted thinking that turn a problem into a catastrophe and lead to despair. Therapy also teaches people how to process negative emotions in constructive ways, so they have more control over their own emotional reactivity. And it helps people regain the ability to see themselves positively, the motivation to do things, and the capacity for pleasure.
What happens in therapy for depression?
Perhaps most important, no matter the type of therapy, patients form an alliance with the therapist; that connection is therapeutic in itself, plus it becomes an instrument of change. Patients learn to identify and to challenge their own erroneous beliefs and thoughts that amplify the effects of negative experiences. They learn to identify situations in which they are especially vulnerable. And they learn new patterns of thinking and behaving. They may be given “homework” assignments in which they practice their developing skills. In addition, good therapists regularly monitor patients to assess whether and how much the condition is improving.
What therapy types help with depression?
Several types of short-term therapy have been found effective, each targeting one or more areas of dysfunction. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps clients challenge their negative thoughts and beliefs, learn new behavioral strategies, and curb reactivity to distressing situations. Behavioral activation (BA) is a form of therapy often used in conjunction with CBT; it focuses on engagement in rewarding activity as a pathway to changing negative feelings and disturbed mood. Another widely used approach is interpersonal therapy (IPT), which targets the social difficulties that both give rise to and get exacerbated by depression. Therapists may combine approaches as needed.
Can therapy for depression be done online?
Studies have found that online therapy can be highly effective for treating depression, although it may be more challenging to build a good therapist-patient alliance on screen than in person—at least at first. However, online therapy can offer considerable advantages. Accessibility and convenience are tops among them. Some people actually find it easier to talk about problems online than in person. While online therapy typically limits visibility of facial expression and body gestures that give important nonverbal cues to a patient’s state of mind, it can give therapists a glimpse into a patient’s world and life, providing information that can be highly useful in guiding therapy.
How effective is therapy for depression?
Many studies show that therapy is highly effective provided that patients complete the prescribed course of therapy, commonly 16 to 20 sessions. Over the long term, it is more effective than medication and the effects are more enduring. As a result, psychotherapy has the power not just to relieve current suffering but to prevent future episodes of the disorder. Therapy reverses the dysfunction in neural circuitry that disposes individuals to a negative view of themselves, the world, and their future and they acquire coping techniques, problem-solving skills, and understanding of their own vulnerabilities that are useful over the course of a lifetime.