Emotionally Focused Therapists in Chicago, IL
Welcome! It is so nice to meet you. My name is Rafy, and I am a marriage and family therapist, dedicated to using the inherent strength in human connection to build lifelong health. In my practice, I work with individuals and relational systems (i.e. parent-child, partnerships, co-parents, families, etc.). I also have a particular focus on supporting clients through developmental transitions (i.e. navigating childhood & adolescence, emerging adulthood, parenthood, evolving familial or romantic relationship dynamics, bridging intergenerational and multicultural gaps, etc.)
Welcome! It is so nice to meet you. My name is Rafy, and I am a marriage and family therapist, dedicated to using the inherent strength in human connection to build lifelong health. In my practice, I work with individuals and relational systems (i.e. parent-child, partnerships, co-parents, families, etc.). I also have a particular focus on supporting clients through developmental transitions (i.e. navigating childhood & adolescence, emerging adulthood, parenthood, evolving familial or romantic relationship dynamics, bridging intergenerational and multicultural gaps, etc.)
I’m Danica Malo, a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University Chicago. Since 2021, I’ve been supporting adults and older adults as they navigate anxiety, OCD, depression, life transitions, and relationship challenges. I’m passionate about helping people gain insight into themselves, build practical tools, and feel more confident and grounded as they face life’s ups and downs .
I’m Danica Malo, a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University Chicago. Since 2021, I’ve been supporting adults and older adults as they navigate anxiety, OCD, depression, life transitions, and relationship challenges. I’m passionate about helping people gain insight into themselves, build practical tools, and feel more confident and grounded as they face life’s ups and downs .
My style of therapy is best suited towards clients who hope to develop a meaningful therapeutic relationship that can be used to better understand and address uncomfortable feelings and problematic relational patterns. By helping clients talk about disappointing and hurtful relationships throughout their lives, I have been amazed to see how well clients can make sense of what once seemed confusing and disorienting, ultimately moving forward with greater confidence. Additionally, I have a deep respect for the healing process that ensues when people can express their feelings and thoughts free of fear or inhibition.
My style of therapy is best suited towards clients who hope to develop a meaningful therapeutic relationship that can be used to better understand and address uncomfortable feelings and problematic relational patterns. By helping clients talk about disappointing and hurtful relationships throughout their lives, I have been amazed to see how well clients can make sense of what once seemed confusing and disorienting, ultimately moving forward with greater confidence. Additionally, I have a deep respect for the healing process that ensues when people can express their feelings and thoughts free of fear or inhibition.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience working with codependency, relationship issues, substance use, shame, grief/loss, and disordered eating. I am specifically passionate about working with adults in the LGBTQ+ community. I utilize a strengths-based, solution-focused perspective and offer therapeutic interventions with warmth, humor, and directness.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience working with codependency, relationship issues, substance use, shame, grief/loss, and disordered eating. I am specifically passionate about working with adults in the LGBTQ+ community. I utilize a strengths-based, solution-focused perspective and offer therapeutic interventions with warmth, humor, and directness.
At times we may feel we are barely treading water in a storm. When life is this difficult, finding ways to cope and gain solid footing can often feel strenuous. You deserve space to slow down and have your story seen, heard, and understood. I would like to support your journal and collaborate with you in creating space to cultivate authentic curiosity in your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
I enjoy working with folks who express a deep curiosity to better understand themselves, the patterns that no longer service them, and are committed to learn how to heal their hearts, minds, & mind body connection.
At times we may feel we are barely treading water in a storm. When life is this difficult, finding ways to cope and gain solid footing can often feel strenuous. You deserve space to slow down and have your story seen, heard, and understood. I would like to support your journal and collaborate with you in creating space to cultivate authentic curiosity in your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
I enjoy working with folks who express a deep curiosity to better understand themselves, the patterns that no longer service them, and are committed to learn how to heal their hearts, minds, & mind body connection.
You may be the person everyone else depends on while quietly feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or disconnected yourself. Do you replay conversations after they've ended or find it easier to care for everyone else than yourself? Maybe you can't quiet your mind even when everything seems "fine." Whether you're adjusting to a new city, starting your career, navigating changing relationships, or facing a major life transition, you don't have to go through it alone. Together, we can explore what's keeping you stuck and create meaningful, lasting change.
You may be the person everyone else depends on while quietly feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or disconnected yourself. Do you replay conversations after they've ended or find it easier to care for everyone else than yourself? Maybe you can't quiet your mind even when everything seems "fine." Whether you're adjusting to a new city, starting your career, navigating changing relationships, or facing a major life transition, you don't have to go through it alone. Together, we can explore what's keeping you stuck and create meaningful, lasting change.
Julia Howard
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, PMH-C, CYT
10 Endorsed
Chicago, IL 60657
Waitlist for new clients
With that being said, I tend to pull from a variety of modalities including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), emotionally focused, and Relational Psychodynamic.
My areas of focus include late identified neurodivergence (e.g ADHD, Autism, AuDHD, OCD), chronic illness & pain (e.g. POTS, hEDS, MCAS), perinatal mental health, relationship challenges, & career/burnout difficulties. Some folks I work with also might describe themselves as sensitive, deep thinkers/feelers. As a neurodivergent woman with chronic illnesses, I feel passionate about working with clients who need support in these areas. Overall, I often support clients in growing self-compassion, living more aligned with their values, & in creating a life that feels sustainable & meaningful. I work with clients in IL, FL, KY, VA, & VT.
With that being said, I tend to pull from a variety of modalities including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), emotionally focused, and Relational Psychodynamic.
My areas of focus include late identified neurodivergence (e.g ADHD, Autism, AuDHD, OCD), chronic illness & pain (e.g. POTS, hEDS, MCAS), perinatal mental health, relationship challenges, & career/burnout difficulties. Some folks I work with also might describe themselves as sensitive, deep thinkers/feelers. As a neurodivergent woman with chronic illnesses, I feel passionate about working with clients who need support in these areas. Overall, I often support clients in growing self-compassion, living more aligned with their values, & in creating a life that feels sustainable & meaningful. I work with clients in IL, FL, KY, VA, & VT.
I believe therapy works best when it feels collaborative, grounded, and focused on what matters to you. I prioritize creating a non-judgmental space where you can show up as you are, feel understood, and work through what feels stuck or overwhelming. Sessions focus on gaining clarity, building practical tools, and identifying ways of moving forward that feel sustainable and more balanced. I work with clients navigating life transitions, family dynamics, boundary setting, communication challenges, and relationship concerns.
I believe therapy works best when it feels collaborative, grounded, and focused on what matters to you. I prioritize creating a non-judgmental space where you can show up as you are, feel understood, and work through what feels stuck or overwhelming. Sessions focus on gaining clarity, building practical tools, and identifying ways of moving forward that feel sustainable and more balanced. I work with clients navigating life transitions, family dynamics, boundary setting, communication challenges, and relationship concerns.
If you’ve spent years trying to understand yourself, reading, researching, maybe even trying therapy, and you still feel stuck, you’re not broken. You may be living with the effects of complex trauma, dissociation, and/or parts of yourself that learned to protect you in ways that no longer serve you.
If you’ve spent years trying to understand yourself, reading, researching, maybe even trying therapy, and you still feel stuck, you’re not broken. You may be living with the effects of complex trauma, dissociation, and/or parts of yourself that learned to protect you in ways that no longer serve you.
As a relational, psychodynamic therapist, I believe that healing happens through authentic connection and a deep understanding of early childhood experiences, which set the stage for adult life. I work with individuals, couples, and families across the lifespan, offering support through the unique challenges of each life stage. I know that starting therapy can feel intimidating or uncertain, and I’m here to offer a space where you feel genuinely seen, heard, and supported, while also challenging you to stay true to your goals.
As a relational, psychodynamic therapist, I believe that healing happens through authentic connection and a deep understanding of early childhood experiences, which set the stage for adult life. I work with individuals, couples, and families across the lifespan, offering support through the unique challenges of each life stage. I know that starting therapy can feel intimidating or uncertain, and I’m here to offer a space where you feel genuinely seen, heard, and supported, while also challenging you to stay true to your goals.
Johanna Winter Harper
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, LPC, NCC, MFA
5 Endorsed
Chicago, IL 60642
Would you like to find new patterns of living and loving? Are you or your partner struggling to communicate in constructive and loving ways? Have you lost faith and hope that life will ever hold joy and love? Do you struggle with self-criticism and extending compassion to yourself or others? I practice from a systemic, experiential, and emotion-focused lens. I am LGBTQIA+ and neurodiversity-affirming, and am open to working with individuals of all ages, relationships of all configurations, and families of all varieties.
Would you like to find new patterns of living and loving? Are you or your partner struggling to communicate in constructive and loving ways? Have you lost faith and hope that life will ever hold joy and love? Do you struggle with self-criticism and extending compassion to yourself or others? I practice from a systemic, experiential, and emotion-focused lens. I am LGBTQIA+ and neurodiversity-affirming, and am open to working with individuals of all ages, relationships of all configurations, and families of all varieties.
By utilizing an Emotionally Focused and somatic lens, I will help you safely understand your body's responses, heal deep wounds, and create lasting relational intimacy.
Sometimes things just feel off—in your relationship, the bedroom, or how you move through the world. As a marriage and family therapist, I look at the whole picture. I specialize in where relational health, trauma, and sexual well-being meet—areas we rarely talk about honestly. Whether you are navigating mismatched desire, infidelity, sexual shame, identity, kink, or complex trauma, I provide a safe, non-judgmental space. Using a somatic and Gottman-informed lens, I support individuals and couples exactly as they are. If you’ve felt you had to leave parts of yourself at the door in therapy, know that’s not how I work.
By utilizing an Emotionally Focused and somatic lens, I will help you safely understand your body's responses, heal deep wounds, and create lasting relational intimacy.
Sometimes things just feel off—in your relationship, the bedroom, or how you move through the world. As a marriage and family therapist, I look at the whole picture. I specialize in where relational health, trauma, and sexual well-being meet—areas we rarely talk about honestly. Whether you are navigating mismatched desire, infidelity, sexual shame, identity, kink, or complex trauma, I provide a safe, non-judgmental space. Using a somatic and Gottman-informed lens, I support individuals and couples exactly as they are. If you’ve felt you had to leave parts of yourself at the door in therapy, know that’s not how I work.
Working from an integrated Solution Focused/Narrative Therapy framework, you can expect that I will adjust my approach to help you wade through and resolve conflicts, emotional paralysis, betrayal and other relational problems, with a newfound sense of agency, hope and courage. While the problems that bring couples in for therapy may seem daunting, perhaps even feeling insurmountable to some, my work builds on the notion that problems are given their greatest opportunity for resolution by cultivating safe, loving, and secure relational attachments.
Working from an integrated Solution Focused/Narrative Therapy framework, you can expect that I will adjust my approach to help you wade through and resolve conflicts, emotional paralysis, betrayal and other relational problems, with a newfound sense of agency, hope and courage. While the problems that bring couples in for therapy may seem daunting, perhaps even feeling insurmountable to some, my work builds on the notion that problems are given their greatest opportunity for resolution by cultivating safe, loving, and secure relational attachments.
Feeling stuck? Maybe you're exhausted from falling into the same relationship patterns, overwhelmed by anxiety spirals, or navigating a tough life transition. Or maybe you just want a space where you feel truly heard and seen. Therapy offers the chance to step out of patterns that no longer serve you and move toward more peace, balance, and relief.
Feeling stuck? Maybe you're exhausted from falling into the same relationship patterns, overwhelmed by anxiety spirals, or navigating a tough life transition. Or maybe you just want a space where you feel truly heard and seen. Therapy offers the chance to step out of patterns that no longer serve you and move toward more peace, balance, and relief.
Hi, I'm Darlene, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, founder of Inner Tides Counseling, PLLC, and your ally through life's ebbs and flows.
With over a decade of experience, I specialize in supporting adolescents and adults navigating trauma, grief, loss, relationships, parenting, life transitions, depression, and anxiety. My work is grounded in relational, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive frameworks rooted in feminist, attachment, and system theories.
Hi, I'm Darlene, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, founder of Inner Tides Counseling, PLLC, and your ally through life's ebbs and flows.
With over a decade of experience, I specialize in supporting adolescents and adults navigating trauma, grief, loss, relationships, parenting, life transitions, depression, and anxiety. My work is grounded in relational, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive frameworks rooted in feminist, attachment, and system theories.
With curiosity and compassion leading our work, my collaborative approach emphasizes your unique experiences and strengths. Together, we will focus on building essential skills, exploring authenticity, and enhancing your connection with others. My goal is to help you foster fulfilling relationships and achieve your personal goals in a supportive and understanding environment. I specialize in working with anxiety, depression, trauma, neurodiversity and those navigating non-traditional relationships. I am passionate about the process of unlearning and learning.
With curiosity and compassion leading our work, my collaborative approach emphasizes your unique experiences and strengths. Together, we will focus on building essential skills, exploring authenticity, and enhancing your connection with others. My goal is to help you foster fulfilling relationships and achieve your personal goals in a supportive and understanding environment. I specialize in working with anxiety, depression, trauma, neurodiversity and those navigating non-traditional relationships. I am passionate about the process of unlearning and learning.
I believe that problems are best understood in the context of relationships - with loved ones, with intimate partners, and with oneself. Perhaps you are noticing room for improvement in one or in multiple relationships, or perhaps you have a strong desire for increased understanding of yourself and others. It takes a great deal of insight and strength to even begin this journey towards greater harmony. My hope as a clinician is to help foster within you a sense of renewed curiosity, compassion, and hope as you undertake this journey.
I believe that problems are best understood in the context of relationships - with loved ones, with intimate partners, and with oneself. Perhaps you are noticing room for improvement in one or in multiple relationships, or perhaps you have a strong desire for increased understanding of yourself and others. It takes a great deal of insight and strength to even begin this journey towards greater harmony. My hope as a clinician is to help foster within you a sense of renewed curiosity, compassion, and hope as you undertake this journey.
Throughout her education and clinical training, she has worked in private practices, schools, and community mental health settings. Much of her experience has involved working with children and adolescents between the ages of 18 months and 18 years old, providing individual, parent-child, family, and trauma-focused therapy. Catherine believes that meaningful change begins with a trusting, respectful, and collaborative therapeutic relationship. She strives to create a warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel safe, heard, understood, and supported.
Throughout her education and clinical training, she has worked in private practices, schools, and community mental health settings. Much of her experience has involved working with children and adolescents between the ages of 18 months and 18 years old, providing individual, parent-child, family, and trauma-focused therapy. Catherine believes that meaningful change begins with a trusting, respectful, and collaborative therapeutic relationship. She strives to create a warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel safe, heard, understood, and supported.
Hi, I’m Keri. I am a psychotherapist who works with individuals and children. Prior to obtaining my Masters in Social Work, I dedicated my career as a public interest attorney: a zealous advocate for the underserved. I was the former legal director of a non profit organization that provided free legal services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. I have walked with victims through their darkest of traumas as they transformed into survivors. I remained by their side until they found the light..
Hi, I’m Keri. I am a psychotherapist who works with individuals and children. Prior to obtaining my Masters in Social Work, I dedicated my career as a public interest attorney: a zealous advocate for the underserved. I was the former legal director of a non profit organization that provided free legal services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. I have walked with victims through their darkest of traumas as they transformed into survivors. I remained by their side until they found the light..
Biana Mavasheva
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Rev, LCPC, QMHP
Online Only
Waitlist for new clients
I’m grateful to have this opportunity to connect with you. The therapeutic process is a sacred journey. Here we can share in a safe, non-judgmental place. If we have suffered addiction, anxiety, depression or trauma we can uncover the aspects of ourselves that need healing. The quality of our lives is directly connected to the quality of our relationships - with ourselves and with others. When our relationships are suffering, everything is impacted. For that reason, in our therapy sessions we explore whatever is unfolding in your relationships and we discover how to bring awareness and skill to these crucial connections.
I’m grateful to have this opportunity to connect with you. The therapeutic process is a sacred journey. Here we can share in a safe, non-judgmental place. If we have suffered addiction, anxiety, depression or trauma we can uncover the aspects of ourselves that need healing. The quality of our lives is directly connected to the quality of our relationships - with ourselves and with others. When our relationships are suffering, everything is impacted. For that reason, in our therapy sessions we explore whatever is unfolding in your relationships and we discover how to bring awareness and skill to these crucial connections.
See more therapy options for Chicago
Nearby Emotionally Focused Therapists Searches for Chicago
- Berwyn
- Brookfield
- Cicero
- Elmwood Park
- Forest Park
- Lakeview
- Lincoln Park
- Lyons
- Norridge
- Oak Park
- River Forest
- Riverside
Emotionally Focused Therapists
Who is emotionally focused therapy for?
Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) is for couples who are emotionally distressed, stuck in an unsatisfying relationship pattern or feeling deeply alienated. They may even believe the relationship is beyond repair. Very often, the partners display intense anger, fear, grief, loss of trust, or a sense of betrayal in the relationship. In addition, EFT is helpful to couples and individuals who have difficulty expressing emotions and those who have trouble regulating emotions.
Why do people need emotionally focused therapy?
People need emotionally focused therapy because the need for others is built into the brain, but the pressures of daily life can erode feelings of love, and couples often do not have the skills to find their way back to the comfort of each other. Instead, they may be stuck in repetitive patterns of anger, fear, grief, loss of trust, or a sense of betrayal. Emotionally focused therapy regards such strong negative feelings as expressions of protest over the loss of connection and turns them into pathways of reconnection.
What happens in emotionally focused therapy?
Over the course of eight to 20 weekly sessions, couples de-escalate their negative emotional reactivity to one another so that they can listen to each other and be responsive to each other’s needs. Then the deep emotional and physical bond is restored, giving partners a sense of comfort and security, which they can use to solve whatever problems come their way. The therapist plays an active role, helping partners understand how anger and withdrawal are actually misguided cries for connection.
What problems does emotionally focused therapy treat?
EFT is designed to help couples stuck in dysfunctional relationship patterns regain closeness and rebuild their relationship. Typically, such couples experience considerable distress, with partners feeling alienated and distrustful of one another, not certain their relationship can survive. EFT is also helpful to individuals experiencing attachment-related fears of loss; it helps them learn to use their fears as a way of eliciting the closeness they desire.