Domestic Abuse Therapists in Chicago, IL
Miren Itziar Guereca
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, MA, LCPC
2 Endorsed
Chicago, IL 60602
The weight of your daily responsibilities and tasks can be overbearing. You may feel as if you have no control and fear is starting to set in. At times your past comes to haunt you and guilt and shame can rear its ugly head. Perhaps you find yourself in limbo, trapped between two cultures. Your family riddles your waking life with obligations and expectations from the motherland. And yet your innermost desires cater more to a modern “American life”. Living between two worlds can at times be a difficult balancing act and you feel as if you do not fit anywhere.
The weight of your daily responsibilities and tasks can be overbearing. You may feel as if you have no control and fear is starting to set in. At times your past comes to haunt you and guilt and shame can rear its ugly head. Perhaps you find yourself in limbo, trapped between two cultures. Your family riddles your waking life with obligations and expectations from the motherland. And yet your innermost desires cater more to a modern “American life”. Living between two worlds can at times be a difficult balancing act and you feel as if you do not fit anywhere.
¡Hola! Before anything else, I want to acknowledge the strength it takes to reach out for support. Caring for your mental health isn’t always easy—especially in our Latinx community, where seeking help can still carry stigma. As a fellow Latina, I understand how heavy that can feel. But there is truly nothing to be ashamed of. We all deserve support, and we all need it from time to time. Most importantly, you don’t have to navigate any of this on your own. I’m here to walk alongside you.
¡Hola! Before anything else, I want to acknowledge the strength it takes to reach out for support. Caring for your mental health isn’t always easy—especially in our Latinx community, where seeking help can still carry stigma. As a fellow Latina, I understand how heavy that can feel. But there is truly nothing to be ashamed of. We all deserve support, and we all need it from time to time. Most importantly, you don’t have to navigate any of this on your own. I’m here to walk alongside you.
Additionally, I previously served as a nonprofit attorney specializing in gender-based violence, which deepened my understanding of trauma and resilience.
Guided by a strengths-based and client-centered philosophy, I believe in the inherent capacity of every individual to navigate their life journey with resilience and empowerment. My therapeutic style is marked by its accepting, directive, humorous, and empowering nature. My passion lies in working with both couples and individuals, as I recognize that cultivating healthy relationships, in all aspects of life, is a cornerstone of personal well-being. As a South Asian therapist, I am also driven to normalize therapy within my community, advocating for the power of open communication and shared experiences.
Additionally, I previously served as a nonprofit attorney specializing in gender-based violence, which deepened my understanding of trauma and resilience.
Guided by a strengths-based and client-centered philosophy, I believe in the inherent capacity of every individual to navigate their life journey with resilience and empowerment. My therapeutic style is marked by its accepting, directive, humorous, and empowering nature. My passion lies in working with both couples and individuals, as I recognize that cultivating healthy relationships, in all aspects of life, is a cornerstone of personal well-being. As a South Asian therapist, I am also driven to normalize therapy within my community, advocating for the power of open communication and shared experiences.
Kathryn Chapman
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, MA, LCPC, NCC
2 Endorsed
Chicago, IL 60618
Waitlist for new clients
Trauma shows up in our lives in many ways including reactions that are bigger than expected to small situations, fear and avoidance, overeating/emotional eating, substance abuse, trouble with relationships, feelings of emptiness, helplessness and hopelessness.
I collaborate with my clients to create a safe space for self-exploration, integration of past traumas and finding a path to healing. I believe that you are the expert on yourself and encourage you to take an active role in your own healing journey, helping you identify your values, needs and wants and advocate for them for yourself.
Trauma shows up in our lives in many ways including reactions that are bigger than expected to small situations, fear and avoidance, overeating/emotional eating, substance abuse, trouble with relationships, feelings of emptiness, helplessness and hopelessness.
I collaborate with my clients to create a safe space for self-exploration, integration of past traumas and finding a path to healing. I believe that you are the expert on yourself and encourage you to take an active role in your own healing journey, helping you identify your values, needs and wants and advocate for them for yourself.
In addition to divorce counseling, my areas of specialization include relationship and peer issues, self-esteem, life transitions, domestic abuse, sexual abuse, trauma and PTSD.
I began my career as a practicing attorney representing women in abusive relationships in order of protection and divorce proceedings. As a therapist, I use my legal and therapeutic background to provide individual counseling prior to, during, and after divorce. Divorce is a traumatic life event that can have a ripple effect on nearly every aspect of one's life. I offer clients both concrete help to better understand the legal system and what they can expect from the process, while also working to gain deeper insight into what happened in the relationship and starting to heal from the experience.
In addition to divorce counseling, my areas of specialization include relationship and peer issues, self-esteem, life transitions, domestic abuse, sexual abuse, trauma and PTSD.
I began my career as a practicing attorney representing women in abusive relationships in order of protection and divorce proceedings. As a therapist, I use my legal and therapeutic background to provide individual counseling prior to, during, and after divorce. Divorce is a traumatic life event that can have a ripple effect on nearly every aspect of one's life. I offer clients both concrete help to better understand the legal system and what they can expect from the process, while also working to gain deeper insight into what happened in the relationship and starting to heal from the experience.
I offer you a safe zone with empathy in which you will get a good listening. Get the empathy - and empathic listening - you need to succeed - in relationships, career, and life. Within this safe zone, we work shifting you from stuckness to flourishing. My credentials: professor at Ross Medical University, author of 3 books on empathy, offer cognitive behavioral (CBT), dialectical behavioral (DBT), and psychodynamic existential humanistic therapy. Will give you a good listening with empathy. No need to for a Holiday Special: my rates are flexible in all seasons. Tell me what you can pay. Call for a complimentary consultation.
I offer you a safe zone with empathy in which you will get a good listening. Get the empathy - and empathic listening - you need to succeed - in relationships, career, and life. Within this safe zone, we work shifting you from stuckness to flourishing. My credentials: professor at Ross Medical University, author of 3 books on empathy, offer cognitive behavioral (CBT), dialectical behavioral (DBT), and psychodynamic existential humanistic therapy. Will give you a good listening with empathy. No need to for a Holiday Special: my rates are flexible in all seasons. Tell me what you can pay. Call for a complimentary consultation.
I believe the relationship you develop with yourself is the foundation for the relationships you create in the world around you. A strong foundation requires that you remain openminded and are prepared to challenge your assumptions. Since beginning my therapy practice I have had the opportunity to work with clients contending with a wide variety of issues to include but not limited to: trauma and post traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, resource insecurity, gender and sexuality validation, chronic pain, and loss.
I believe the relationship you develop with yourself is the foundation for the relationships you create in the world around you. A strong foundation requires that you remain openminded and are prepared to challenge your assumptions. Since beginning my therapy practice I have had the opportunity to work with clients contending with a wide variety of issues to include but not limited to: trauma and post traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, resource insecurity, gender and sexuality validation, chronic pain, and loss.
I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a Certified Domestic Violence Professional.
Currently accepting Telehealth clients. In a world of constant transitions, it can be challenging to feel settled with change. Therapy provides an outlet to explore and change aspects of life causing distress. It offers a supportive, non-judgmental space to talk through feelings and engage strengths to cope with change. I provide action-oriented, supportive, feminist, and person-centered psychotherapy. I am a bilingual (Spanish-speaking), bicultural therapist who understands cultural influences. I also provide comprehensive mental health evaluations for asylum, VAWA, U Visa, extreme hardship, or T Visa.
I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a Certified Domestic Violence Professional.
Currently accepting Telehealth clients. In a world of constant transitions, it can be challenging to feel settled with change. Therapy provides an outlet to explore and change aspects of life causing distress. It offers a supportive, non-judgmental space to talk through feelings and engage strengths to cope with change. I provide action-oriented, supportive, feminist, and person-centered psychotherapy. I am a bilingual (Spanish-speaking), bicultural therapist who understands cultural influences. I also provide comprehensive mental health evaluations for asylum, VAWA, U Visa, extreme hardship, or T Visa.
I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, with 40 years of experience helping individuals, couples, families, and groups work through life’s challenges. Over the course of my career, I have supported clients facing depression, grief and loss, anxiety, trauma, addiction, codependency, relationship concerns, identity exploration, and life transitions. My extensive background also includes career development, employee assistance program services, crisis intervention, and critical incident debriefing.
I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, with 40 years of experience helping individuals, couples, families, and groups work through life’s challenges. Over the course of my career, I have supported clients facing depression, grief and loss, anxiety, trauma, addiction, codependency, relationship concerns, identity exploration, and life transitions. My extensive background also includes career development, employee assistance program services, crisis intervention, and critical incident debriefing.
My areas of interest include working with adolescents, young adults, and families/couples. In addition, as a South Asian immigrant, I am passionate about working with the BIPOC and immigrant communities to help normalize therapy. I know that these populations often experience struggles specifically relating to their identity and culture and thus I am always working through a culturally competent lens and learning how intersectionality affects one’s mental health. Overall, I help guide those I work with through life challenges, the difficulties of interpersonal relationships, the complex reactions of trauma, and anxiety/stress.
My areas of interest include working with adolescents, young adults, and families/couples. In addition, as a South Asian immigrant, I am passionate about working with the BIPOC and immigrant communities to help normalize therapy. I know that these populations often experience struggles specifically relating to their identity and culture and thus I am always working through a culturally competent lens and learning how intersectionality affects one’s mental health. Overall, I help guide those I work with through life challenges, the difficulties of interpersonal relationships, the complex reactions of trauma, and anxiety/stress.
If you’re struggling with problematic sexual behavior, pornography use, infidelity, emotional affairs, or toxic relationship patterns, you may feel stuck in cycles of shame, secrecy, and emotional exhaustion. Many clients long for clarity, emotional safety, healthy intimacy, and stable connection but feel trapped by behaviors or relationships they can’t seem to change. You may be seeking freedom from depression, anxiety, isolation, broken trust, and repeated heartbreak, while wanting healthier sexuality, deeper emotional connection, and lasting relational change.
If you’re struggling with problematic sexual behavior, pornography use, infidelity, emotional affairs, or toxic relationship patterns, you may feel stuck in cycles of shame, secrecy, and emotional exhaustion. Many clients long for clarity, emotional safety, healthy intimacy, and stable connection but feel trapped by behaviors or relationships they can’t seem to change. You may be seeking freedom from depression, anxiety, isolation, broken trust, and repeated heartbreak, while wanting healthier sexuality, deeper emotional connection, and lasting relational change.
Lesley is also a board member for an organization whose focus is to protect victims, prevent violence and empower survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking.
Valor Wellness was born out of a need to create a safe & confidential place for first responders & their families to get help. Civilians working within public safety are welcome as well. Founder, Lesley Lawson is an experienced, culturally competent life coach within law enforcement, the fire service, dispatch & corrections with over seven years of experience in those areas. While Valor Wellness specializes in first responders, Lesley has significant experience working with children & adolescents. Lesley is also very passionate about women’s issues and coaching women through leaving and healing from toxic/abusive relationships.
Lesley is also a board member for an organization whose focus is to protect victims, prevent violence and empower survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking.
Valor Wellness was born out of a need to create a safe & confidential place for first responders & their families to get help. Civilians working within public safety are welcome as well. Founder, Lesley Lawson is an experienced, culturally competent life coach within law enforcement, the fire service, dispatch & corrections with over seven years of experience in those areas. While Valor Wellness specializes in first responders, Lesley has significant experience working with children & adolescents. Lesley is also very passionate about women’s issues and coaching women through leaving and healing from toxic/abusive relationships.
When life has been difficult for a long time, it’s easy to lose sight of yourself. You may be carrying anxiety, grief, relationship struggles, trauma, or the pressure of trying to keep everything together while feeling disconnected on the inside. I work with teens and adults across Chicago, including Lincoln Park and Lakeview, who want to better understand themselves and find relief from patterns that no longer serve them. Greater peace often begins with making sense of your experiences and approaching yourself with curiosity instead of criticism. Together, we can create space for healing, self-understanding, and growth.
When life has been difficult for a long time, it’s easy to lose sight of yourself. You may be carrying anxiety, grief, relationship struggles, trauma, or the pressure of trying to keep everything together while feeling disconnected on the inside. I work with teens and adults across Chicago, including Lincoln Park and Lakeview, who want to better understand themselves and find relief from patterns that no longer serve them. Greater peace often begins with making sense of your experiences and approaching yourself with curiosity instead of criticism. Together, we can create space for healing, self-understanding, and growth.
You're the one everyone relies on. You hold it together on the outside but feel exhausted, anxious, or disconnected inside. You want to break cycles, regulate your emotions, and stop doubting your worth. You’ve outgrown survival mode and you're ready for peace — the kind that’s internal, lasting, and yours. You want a therapist who gets it, sees you fully, and helps you navigate healing without judgment or fluff. You want clarity. You want results. You want to finally feel like you again.
You're the one everyone relies on. You hold it together on the outside but feel exhausted, anxious, or disconnected inside. You want to break cycles, regulate your emotions, and stop doubting your worth. You’ve outgrown survival mode and you're ready for peace — the kind that’s internal, lasting, and yours. You want a therapist who gets it, sees you fully, and helps you navigate healing without judgment or fluff. You want clarity. You want results. You want to finally feel like you again.
Would you like to find balance in your life, stop feeling overwhelmed by stress and anxiety, or feel more confident facing challenges that seem insurmountable? I'm here to heIp. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and have been working with children, families and adolescents in Chicago for the past 30 years. I am trained in EMDR and I specialize in helping individuals address and overcome issues surrounding mood and anxiety, loss, adjustment issues, trauma, family conflict and social difficulties. Areas of experience include provision of individual and family therapy as well as school advocacy and parental coaching and support.
Would you like to find balance in your life, stop feeling overwhelmed by stress and anxiety, or feel more confident facing challenges that seem insurmountable? I'm here to heIp. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and have been working with children, families and adolescents in Chicago for the past 30 years. I am trained in EMDR and I specialize in helping individuals address and overcome issues surrounding mood and anxiety, loss, adjustment issues, trauma, family conflict and social difficulties. Areas of experience include provision of individual and family therapy as well as school advocacy and parental coaching and support.
Often, people come to us looking to explore psychological concerns in a sophisticated way. If they had past therapy, they were at times disappointed that it did not go deeper, as it left the greater meaning (the "roots") of their symptoms unexplored. Psychodynamic therapy, however, offers a comprehensive way of seeing that maintains thoughtful attention to the subtle depths and intricacies of human experience, thus allowing for holistic change. In so doing, it can help to both resolve symptoms and impart meaning to your experiences, even those thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are often felt to be painful or meaningless.
Often, people come to us looking to explore psychological concerns in a sophisticated way. If they had past therapy, they were at times disappointed that it did not go deeper, as it left the greater meaning (the "roots") of their symptoms unexplored. Psychodynamic therapy, however, offers a comprehensive way of seeing that maintains thoughtful attention to the subtle depths and intricacies of human experience, thus allowing for holistic change. In so doing, it can help to both resolve symptoms and impart meaning to your experiences, even those thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are often felt to be painful or meaningless.
I work best with BIPOC and/or queer individuals who are coping with mood, trauma, and sociopolitical struggles. My primary approach focuses on empowering individuals of marginalized communities to externalize systemic and oppressive factors so that we can focus on treating any personal difficulties that are causing you pain and suffering. Whether we focus on the past or the present, healing one part of yourself can heal many other parts because you have a story to tell. And no matter how many times or how many ways that you tell it, it is your own personal story. Let's change your story to help you become the person you want to be.
I work best with BIPOC and/or queer individuals who are coping with mood, trauma, and sociopolitical struggles. My primary approach focuses on empowering individuals of marginalized communities to externalize systemic and oppressive factors so that we can focus on treating any personal difficulties that are causing you pain and suffering. Whether we focus on the past or the present, healing one part of yourself can heal many other parts because you have a story to tell. And no matter how many times or how many ways that you tell it, it is your own personal story. Let's change your story to help you become the person you want to be.
In my 34 years of experience as a licensed clinical psychologist, I have come to understand the healing power of the therapeutic relationship. I strongly believe that it is through this alliance and partnership that real growth and change occurs. I am committed to tailoring therapy to meet the needs and goals of each patient using a combination of psychodynamic and interpersonal approaches as well as cognitive behavioral techniques. When appropriate, I integrate a unique blend of mind, body, energy and nutritional aspects into the treatment to help move someone forward toward a healthier, more fulfilled self.
In my 34 years of experience as a licensed clinical psychologist, I have come to understand the healing power of the therapeutic relationship. I strongly believe that it is through this alliance and partnership that real growth and change occurs. I am committed to tailoring therapy to meet the needs and goals of each patient using a combination of psychodynamic and interpersonal approaches as well as cognitive behavioral techniques. When appropriate, I integrate a unique blend of mind, body, energy and nutritional aspects into the treatment to help move someone forward toward a healthier, more fulfilled self.
Have you ever wondered how your childhood trauma/sexual abuse has affected you as an adult?
I use a psychodynamic approach to help you understand your trauma and how it is showing up consciously or unconsciously in your day to day life. Psychodynamic therapy is considered long term because, healing takes time. It places an emphasis on building a therapeutic alliance, trust, and safety.
Have you ever wondered how your childhood trauma/sexual abuse has affected you as an adult?
I use a psychodynamic approach to help you understand your trauma and how it is showing up consciously or unconsciously in your day to day life. Psychodynamic therapy is considered long term because, healing takes time. It places an emphasis on building a therapeutic alliance, trust, and safety.
You’re the one tracking your mom’s medications, sitting through doctor appointments, and lying awake wondering if you’re doing enough. Or you’re growing older yourself and asking who you are now, in this chapter of life. Either way, you may be carrying more than your share. I work with older adults, caregivers, and adult children navigating chronic illness, grief, aging, trauma, disability, and major life transitions. With 18+ years supporting older adults and family caregivers, I understand the emotional weight behind the logistics.
You’re the one tracking your mom’s medications, sitting through doctor appointments, and lying awake wondering if you’re doing enough. Or you’re growing older yourself and asking who you are now, in this chapter of life. Either way, you may be carrying more than your share. I work with older adults, caregivers, and adult children navigating chronic illness, grief, aging, trauma, disability, and major life transitions. With 18+ years supporting older adults and family caregivers, I understand the emotional weight behind the logistics.
See more therapy options for Chicago
Nearby Domestic Abuse Therapists Searches for Chicago
- Berwyn
- Brookfield
- Cicero
- Elmwood Park
- Forest Park
- Lakeview
- Lincoln Park
- Lincolnwood
- North Riverside
- Oak Lawn
- Oak Park
- River Forest
Domestic Abuse Therapists
What are the most effective ways to recover from domestic abuse?
Leaving an abusive relationship requires tremendous courage, so survivors in treatment should recognize that they have already completed the most important step. Still, the trauma of physical or emotional abuse can be difficult to process and overcome. Therapy can help survivors process trauma, grief, and difficult emotions, treat relevant mental health symptoms, and create a new framework for boundaries and relationships in the future. For some, support groups can also be an invaluable outlet for healing.
When should an individual seek help for domestic abuse?
Victims of intimate partner violence should seek help immediately. It can take substantial time, planning, energy, and courage to leave an abusive relationship, but starting the process—by seeking therapy, calling the domestic violence hotline, or simply confiding in a loved one—will help them get there. Those who have left abusive relationships but haven’t sought treatment can also greatly benefit from therapy to process and heal from the experience.
What are the consequences of staying in an abusive relationship?
Remaining in an abusive relationship has serious repercussions. In addition to the ongoing threat of physical danger and emotional abuse, research shows that intimate partner violence is associated with a range of mental health disorders including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and substance abuse. Therefore it’s important for individuals in an abusive relationship to seek help as soon as possible.
How can you get domestic abuse treatment for someone else?
It can be very complicated to identify and leave an abusive relationship; barriers include the threat of violence, financial instability, and family pressures. Those concerned about a loved one in an abusive relationship should talk to them about the situation, provide them with resources such as the domestic violence hotline, and introduce the idea of seeing a therapist due to their concern for the person’s safety and well-being.