Eating Disorders Therapists in Chicago, IL

I am a licensed clinical psychologist that works with individuals & families struggling with eating disorders & comorbid issues, including, depression, anxiety, dual diagnosis, relationship issues & life transitions. From a systemic, psycho-dynamic foundation, I focus on past & present relationships and how behavioral patterns evolve over time. I believe the therapeutic relationship provides a safe space for the client to explore, uncover, and discover emotions. This allows the client to build trust, to take emotional risks, to challenge maladaptive coping in order to create new, more effective ways of managing painful emotions.

Are you feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or just plain stuck?? Each person has characteristic ways of regulating their emotional reactions to their unique life challenges. The focus of my work is on identifying, strengthening, and modifying these coping tools to optimize interpersonal effectiveness and personal satisfaction in important relationships. I work with a combination of methods tailored to your needs and personal goals. Generally, I combine the exploration of developmental issues and their impact on current functioning (a psychodynamic perspective) with the utilization of aspects of cognitive-behavioral therapy to bring about more effective ways of managing your current feelings and stressors.

I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and National Certified Counselor (NCC) with particular experience providing services to individuals – children, adolescents, adults, couples and families. I believe an authentic therapeutic relationship provides the foundation for lasting healing. As a queer clinician who is LGBTQ+ aware and affirming, I seek to attend to diverse intersectional identities throughout the healing process. My therapeutic approach remains compassionate, curious, and direct as I support clients discover, shift, and heal their relationships with their minds, bodies, and loved ones.

Life and its transitions can be complicated and can often feel quite overwhelming. Whether it’s navigating relationships, finances, career, friendships, or even overall values, goals, and boundaries, it can feel confusing to sort through all of the competing messages out there. You may have been influenced by your childhood experiences, past relationships, or even past trauma. You may have even created core negative beliefs about yourself such as “I’m not good enough”, “I have to be responsible for everything” or “I have to be in control” through which you filter information and experiences.

I am a queer-identified, first generation immigrant, and multiculturally informed psychotherapist. I have experience working with adults who struggle with eating disorders , anxiety, depression, bipolar disorders, and PTSD. I specialize in working with individuals who are recovering from eating disorders and have body image disturbance, as well as survivors of trauma. I strive to be a fat-positive, anti-diet, HAES informed clinician.

I believe that everyone is capable, whole, unique, and deserving of finding meaning in their own lives. Because of this, I tailor my practice to fit each individual’s specific needs. I would be honored to walk alongside you in navigating life’s challenges and in learning skills to improve communication, self-esteem, and self-awareness. My education in Art Therapy has equipped me with knowledge in utilizing expressive therapies with those that struggle with verbal communication. I recognize the importance of healing through mind, body, and soul.

Are you struggling with disordered eating or poor body image? Maybe you also have challenges with trauma, anxiety/OCD, or depression. This may be your first time seeking help or you may be looking for the next step in your journey. I'm here to walk with you on that journey. My approach is grounded in a Health At Every Size (HAES) philosophy that emphasizes body neutrality, intuitive eating, and self-acceptance. Everyone deserves a healthy relationship with food and their body and I can hep you move toward this. Together, we can work to release internalized food rules and learn to respect and trust your body.

Welcome! What areas in your life are you avoiding? Are you feeling stuck in life and in your relationships? My passion lies in working with individuals desiring to achieve more autonomy, working through feelings, addressing areas of guilt/shame and avoidance, establishing strong boundaries for themselves, and strengthening relationships. It takes courage to seek help and desire to work through your issues.

Feeling unheard and dismissed is too common an experience. Whether that invalidation is coming from within or the people around you, it can be difficult to know who to listen to or which direction to go. In therapy, we will compassionately confront the parts of you that hinder your authentic voice from guiding your way forward. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, ADHD, identity, body image, battling recovery in your eating disorder; I can help you see and care for yourself in ways that may have felt impossible in the past.

Daily stressors are inevitable, and it is essential to build coping strategies for how to manage stress and combat negative thinking patterns. Creating behavior changes is a focal point of psychotherapy and beneficial in wanting a sense of structure and consistency in one's relationships and overall life. My overall goal for each client is to work on obtaining balance within their own healthy lifestyle. Through obtaining balance one's past and present symptoms can lessen and each individual and/or couple can focus on the positive attributes of their life and move forward towards reaching their goals and the life worth living.

Dawn Kenner provides comprehensive psychotherapy services to adults, children, and families struggling with emotional and psychological problems. She offers multiple treatment modalities to assist with the unique needs of clients and their concerns. Her approach is warm, genuine, and collaborative, creating a safe and supportive environment to assist an individual with their needs and treatment goals. Treatment goals are created to offer you guidance and support as you identify and resolve problems, improve relationships, and gain an increased feeling of empowerment.

Are you going through a life transition and finding it difficult to cope with all the change? Change can be hard. Are you or your child preparing for the next phase of life? Did you just move, graduate, start a new job, or are you having a hard time with social connections? Do you have negative body image or have negative thoughts towards yourself often, maybe even daily? If you need assistance in exploring these answers or other difficult questions/issues in your life, I would be honored to lead you on this journey.

I am a trauma-informed, weight-inclusive, licensed Clinical Psychologist offering connection and support for clients hoping to reconnect with themselves and others. I will work with you and your supporters to create positive and lasting change. I have extensive training and expertise in supporting individuals in recovery from disordered eating (including anorexia , bulimia , binge eating, obesity and body image concerns) as well as co-occurring mood disorders . I am also available to support you as you move through significant life transitions and symptoms of anxiety .

Are you feeling a sense of increased anxiety and obsessive thinking? Are you struggling with self-doubt and inner conflict? Does your anxiety and panic show up in a sense of disorganization, disordered eating, or social anxiety? These are all common symptoms of anxiety, stress, and obsessive thinking. When we face these challenges there are proven solutions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness based therapies, and values based behavior changes. How we get there is through connection to your provider, courage to assess what is not working, and committing and engaging in a new plan.

I am passionate about helping people find balance and peace through therapy. It is my belief that everyone deserves an empathetic therapist that can help them feel empowered to overcome whatever obstacles they may be facing. I am confident that therapy can be an opportunity to strengthen problem-solving skills and take steps towards making meaningful change. I am dedicated to creating a non-judgmental and compassionate therapeutic environment to best help my clients overcome whatever challenge or goal they seek to achieve.

I consider it a privilege to work with clients as they navigate through times of pain, sorrow, and self-exploration. I appreciate learning from clients their goals for the therapy process and how they hope to change. I assist clients in understanding possible triggers to uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, or behaviors, while also identifying ways in which they may find themselves stuck. Together, we will identify healthy coping skills for managing and ultimately moving past the distress, leading to a healthier and lighter way of being.

I believe change and growth occur through a collaborative, supportive therapeutic relationship. The therapeutic alliance can be a catalyst for increased self-awareness, gained insight, and positive change. In a safe and non-judgmental environment, we will work together to address and process unresolved issues, as well as learn healthier, more effective ways to cope. I strive to assist clients with learning effective tools to achieve their identified goals, as well as find meaningful change, self-understanding, and acceptance. My areas of specialty are Eating Disorders , Trauma and PTSD, Relationship Issues, and Anxiety Management

From time to time we all get trapped in patterns and ways of thinking and feeling that don't feel good to us. Therapy provides a safe, warm, and nonjudgmental connection that allows you to better understand yourself: your feelings, thought patterns, and relationships with others. While the primary goal of therapy is to find relief from your immediate distress, the self-knowledge you will gain in therapy will help you cope with problems that arise long after therapy is over. I view therapy as a unique, collaborative process in which you work toward discovering your own truths, great and small.

Taking steps to improve your quality of life may begin with reaching out to a therapist. I welcome you to give me a call! I have built my therapeutic practice upon the guiding principles of support and collaboration. We will work towards determining challenges and obstacles in your life and create a plan that is individualized to your needs. I take a functional approach to healing and help clients determine underlying challenges to health and wellness. I truly enjoy providing a space to help clients gain insight and understanding in order to move towards balance with improved quality of life.