Emotionally Focused Therapists in Chicago, IL
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Lindsay Ellch
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
I also treat couples and utilize
EFT
and the Gottman method in my work.
After training and working at universities across the country like Stanford, Emory, and Northwestern, I believe effective therapy requires a few essential components: a strong therapist-client relationship, a supportive yet challenging environment, and a combination of skill-based and insight-oriented work. I work from an anti-oppressive, feminist framework to create a safe environment for understanding a person within their context and cultivating opportunities for exploration, insight, and healing to occur.

Kim Vander Griend
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, AM, LCSW
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
My practice approach: Relational,
EFT
, Gottman Informed, Collaborative partnership, Strengths-based approach, Empirically validated interventions, Client-Driven, Insight Oriented, Custom-tailored and Individualized, Motivational interviewing.
The decision to seek therapy can be difficult, as it's hard to reach out for help. My goal is to make therapy feel less overwhelming through a collaborative partnership where together we identify your challenges and develop healthy coping skills. My style, rooted in warmth and humor, utilizes the therapeutic relationship to explore positive change and growth. Customized feedback and a range of strategies are provided drawing from evidenced based research and years of clinical expertise. I specialize in individual and couples therapy uniquely focusing on enhancing relationships, healing from the past, and thriving individually.
Waitlist for new clients

Sarah Vassileff
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC
Verified
Verified
I practice from a bottom-up approach while looking through a psychodynamic, trauma-based, attachment, and
emotionally focused
lens and incorporate EMDR, polyvagal, somatic, and parts work to help best heal relational wounds and work toward safety within the Self.
As your therapist, one of my priorities is to walk alongside you as you grow into the most integrated version of yourself, embracing your autonomy and strengths. It can be difficult to balance your sense of internal safety and the external commotion of the world. A sense of disillusionment occurs when our external wants do not meet our internal needs. I focus on your concept of Self as it relates to emotional disturbance, fragmentation of the self, maladaptive thinking patterns, and dissociation. Working collaboratively to assist you in reaching your best emotional, mental, and spiritual alignment is the focus of my practice.

Denise K Netko
Marriage & Family Therapist, MS, LMFT
Verified
10 Endorsed
Verified
10 Endorsed
Additionally, I am a Level 2 Trained Gottman Therapist and have completed the 4-day
EFT
Externship with Dr.
In our modern world, many of us recognize the need to take time to slow down and get in tune with ourselves and our relationships. I actively engage with clients in a reflective process to explore current life stressors, challenges, & behavioral patterns. A relational framework is utilized to help guide clients through an exploration of how current and past relationships influence their lives. Within the context of a safe and trusting therapeutic environment, I help clients to identify the steps needed to overcome challenges and promote positive change.
Not accepting new clients

Claudia Angel
Licensed Professional Counselor, LCPC, ATR
Verified
Verified
Psychodynamic, DBT, ACT,
EFT
, BSF, Mindfulness, and trauma informed are other approaches I use.
I provide a therapy service that supports exploring and developing alternative ways of thinking and acting to generate a greater sense of agency, confidence and overall wellness. I believe in a collaborative approach in which shared efforts to elaborate insight and problem solve promote change and deeper alignment with personal purposes and values. If you are struggling with anxiety and depression, severe or mild, we are likely to be a good match.

Rick Calabrese
Counselor, LCPC, NCC
Verified
Verified
As my client, you will experience my psychodynamic and interpersonal process approach, and my practical application of ACT, IFS, and
EFT
therapy models.
I wonder if your life’s journey feels filled with twists and turns that manifest in countless ways. Perhaps you find yourself asking questions like, “Well, what now? Where to? How did I/we get here? How do I/we get there instead?”. Maybe your paths can seem never-ending, you experience unanticipated steep cliffs, and/or you revisit familiar, unfulfilling destinations. It's in these moments of struggle and feeling stuck that I ask clients to welcome me to support them. Where you have questions about the paths you experience and have not taken. When you are either upset or self-reflective. Let me help you figure out the next steps.

Devon Migues
Counselor, LCPC, NBCC
Verified
Verified
I specialize in identity development & life transition work, harm reduction for individuals with substance use issues, relationship issues, mood & anxiety challenges, and supporting individuals who have endured trauma. I am a kink and poly aware therapist who enjoys working with relationships. I relying on an
Emotionally Focused
Therapy (
EFT
) lens when working with relationship struggles. I am dedicated to serving Chicagoland’s LGBTQIA+ community and have a deep background in advocacy and direct service. I am especially dedicated to supporting TGNC individuals in the unique aspects of their journeys.

Renata N Zielinska
Pre-Licensed Professional, MA, LPC
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I am certified in CBT for Anxiety and OCD and am trained in ACT, Trauma-Focused CBT,
EFT
, Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Mindfulness and Psychodynamic.
I invite clients to bring their whole, authentic selves into counseling and take non-judgmental, integrated practice to help clients foster self-awareness, deeper understanding and gain insight into their thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and interpersonal difficulties. My therapeutic approach is warm and engaging to provide you with a safe space to come to therapy as you are. I see individuals and couples, and am trained in various empirically supported and holistic treatment modalities.

Christine Aiello
Marriage & Family Therapist, MS, LMFT, CST
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I support individuals and couples with relationship conflict, sexual concerns, and adjustment to life transitions. Clients come to therapy with some common relationship issues: feeling disconnected, having the same argument on repeat, discomfort or awkwardness talking about sex and intimacy, a sexless marriage, mismatched desire, painful intercourse, questions about sexual functioning, and more. With advanced clinical training in relationship and sex therapy, I’ll help you to better understand your needs and goals, build empathy and emotional intimacy, and cultivate more connection and trust in your relationships.

Kelly Griffin
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LCSW
Verified
Verified
I integrate many therapeutic approaches based on the individualized needs of each client, such as IFS, CI,
EFT
, psychodynamic, as well as CBT and ACT.
Finding the right therapist can be difficult, so let's jump right in: I am trained to treat a variety of anxiety and depressive disorders in adults and have specialized interest and training working with individuals who have complex trauma stemming from childhood. Depression, anxiety, panic, anger, shame, or difficulty trusting others are all normal responses to adverse childhood situations, and I believe nobody should have to process and understand these experiences alone. I value the opportunity to accompany clients through their memories and experiences to help them envision a safer, and more hopeful, future for themselves.

Stephen Heintz
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
I also have training in multiple research-supported therapeutic modalities, including Client-Centered, Gottman, Emotion-Focused (
EFT
), and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT).
If you're here, you're probably looking for a change--whether it's in your relationships, patterns, thoughts, feelings, or something else that's important to you. Life is full of challenges, but I firmly believe that people have fundamental inner-strengths that can help them cope. As a therapist, I warmly accept my clients as they are, and work alongside them to explore who they would like to become. I believe in the power of human connection, and strive to use that connection to help my clients access their strengths; to ultimately bring about meaningful change, healing, growth, and understanding.

Celina Deal
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC
Verified
Verified
However, I enjoy incorporating attachment styles with
emotionally focused
therapy.
It is incredibly important for an individual's emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical components to work well together. I intend to approach every client from a holistic, person-centered, and
emotionally focused
framework to reach their goals. I enjoy walking alongside individuals and couples as they navigate trauma, relationship challenges, transitions, anxiety, and depression.

Amy Markley
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LSW, JD
Verified
Verified
Emotionally focused
couple therapy can help you heal your relationship.
When your relationship is suffering, you're suffering. Oftentimes, terribly so. Maybe the partner you used to feel so close to now seems more like a distant stranger. Maybe a betrayal has left you outraged and alone. Maybe all the fighting and miscommunication makes you wonder at times what you ever saw in this person at all.

According To Sykes, LLC
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LCSW
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
Services are
emotionally focused
and culturally affirming with a strengths-based perspective.
Here at According to Sykes, assistance and guidance is offered through Individual, Family and Group therapy as well as Professional Development and Training Opportunities. We recognize and understand the complicated and complex ways that trauma influences all parts of someone’s life, body, and brain, and make treatment decisions based on that framework. We realize that most people have lived through some type of trauma because trauma is so common and understand treatment through that lens.

Hiba Moinuddin
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I strive to provide excellent care catered toward an individual's specific needs by leading with a compassionate, flexible, and goal-oriented approach. I have received specialized clinical training in the areas of: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), acceptance & commitment therapy (ACT), emotionally-focused therapy (
EFT
), psychodynamic approaches, and trauma-informed frameworks. Through my work at Northwestern's Family Institute, Eating Recovery Center, and multiple private practice settings, my consistent aim has been to advocate for the well-being of my clients.
Waitlist for new clients

Kelsey Baldwin
Pre-Licensed Professional, BS, MFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I work with individuals and couples impacted by anxiety, depression, attachment trauma, relationship conflict and disconnect, communication issues, identity issues, life cycle transitions, infidelity, consensual non-monogamy, addiction, perinatal mental health, codependency, self-esteem and self-confidence, nurturing your authentic "self" and inner child healing. As a therapist I hope to enable healing, create clarity into your inner world, and drive intimacy and connection in your relationships.
Not accepting new clients

Michael Purcell
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
In my couples work, I utilize an evidence-based approach,
Emotionally Focused
Therapy, that helps partners to identify and interrupt negative patterns and find positive ways to feel more connected.
We all naturally strive towards happiness, growth, and development. Sometimes, however, there are obstacles along the way: depression, anxiety, loss, financial strain, illness, relationship turmoil, addiction, or the impacts of prejudice and inequality. I will partner with you, get to know and understand who you are, where you come from. Together, we will explore solutions to get you back on track, to help you overcome suffering, to help you live more fully, more intentionally, and more effectively.

Maggie Collins
Pre-Licensed Professional, MA
Verified
Verified
I utilize CBT for behavior change, relational-cultural therapy to foster meaningful relationships, CPT or NET for trauma recovery, and
EFT
for couples.
Welcome! I am an advanced therapy extern at CCBH and a fourth-year clinical psychology doctoral student. I believe seeking therapy is the ultimate gift to oneself, in that it is a space just for you. It opens possibilities for self-exploration, problem-solving, and meaning-making. I am honored to help adolescents, adults, and couples from all walks of life. My strengths lie in helping folx with histories of complex trauma, sexual trauma, illness (pain, cancer, reproductive, or sexual health issues), grief, and relationship issues.

Aalanah Peoples
Pre-Licensed Professional, MSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
As your therapist, I explore what suits your goals, your identity, and your personality. My clinical approach is inclusive of your visible and invisible identities. My specialties and experiences include depression, anxiety, trauma, attachment, substance use, self-esteem, life transitions, relapse prevention, and relationship issues. I primarily utilize Emotion Focused Therapy (
EFT
), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), the Gottman Method, and Motivational Interviewing.

Ashley Ofosu
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I also utilize CBT, DBT,
EFT
, ET SFBT, & Gottman.
Mediocracy is not enough when it comes to providing care for those with mental health disorders and relationship challenges. I believe in the importance of every person having access to quality mental health care regardless of their background. I strive to help my clients develop and implement the skills needed for them to improve themselves as a whole. I believe that everyone has the capacity to grow and be resilient with the proper tools and support. Helping to guide my clients through their personal life journey with confidence and courage is my ultimate goal.
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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.