Emotionally Focused Therapists in Chicago, IL
See all therapists in Chicago
Katie Bell Catalano
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I have worked with individuals of all ages who are experiencing various stressors such as adults experiencing depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, trauma, relationship issues, career discernment, struggles with identity and substance abuse problems. I have also worked with teenagers and adolescents who are having difficulties with school, peer pressure, and/or a history of trauma. I enjoy working with couples and families, as well. I am also interested in the intersection between physical health and mental health as I believe in a holistic therapeutic approach.

Anthony Borchardt
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LCSW, PMH-C
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
Are you looking to make a change in your life but feel overwhelmed or unsure where to begin? I support my clients through navigating the journey of personal growth and transformation, which can often feel confusing, difficult, and scary. As your therapist, I work to understand your struggles and strengths, so that we may walk step-by-step through your discomfort and toward your goals.

Yue Li
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
With couples and families, I employ
emotionally focused
therapy and am active in offering feedback.
It takes great courage to live out our authentic selves, find wisdom underneath our emotions, and repair and transform relationships that are close to heart. I admire your strength and humanity. As a counseling psychologist, researcher, and professor, I received doctoral and postdoctoral training in individual, couple, family, and group psychotherapy. As an immigrant, I witness life and culture in its nuances and complexities. I believe (and research shows) that, built upon a safe and trusting relationship, therapy can effectively support people to find clarity, authenticity, and resolution through the richness of our life journeys.
Chicago, IL 60601
& Online

Andrea Gargano, Counseling & Therapeutic Services
Counselor, LCPC, RYT
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
My therapeutic approach consists of EMDR, CBT, Emotion Focused Therapy (
EFT
), psychodynamic theory, attachment theory, mindfulness, and principles of yoga.
I strive to help my clients heal, rebuild their lives, and increase resiliency. I guide my clients to not only pay attention to what is showing up cognitively and emotionally but also within their body. Utilizing the wisdom of the body can help to release thoughts and emotions that leave people feeling stuck.
Waitlist for new clients

Emily Gordon Relationship And Sex Therapist
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, MEd, LCSW, CST
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
I also have extensive training in
Emotionally Focused
Therapy and PREPARE/ENRICH for couples.
As a relationship and sex therapist, I am dedicated to creating a safe, warm and positive space for processing to occur. I strive to enhance your strengths while guiding you to grow, heal and accept aspects of yourself. I believe the therapeutic journey is a collaborative process and I focus my interventions to meet your needs. Please do not hesitate to reach out for general mental health concerns if you think we would be a good fit despite my specialty. I welcome all genders, races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations and relationship configurations.
Waitlist for new clients

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.

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.

Mialauni Griggs
Marriage & Family Therapist, MS, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
It is not always easy to reach out to a stranger for help, yet you know you are ready to make a change in your life. My focus is on helping clients by understanding systemic or external factors that may impact your relationship with yourself and others. With that understanding we then work together to use that understanding to influence how we treat ourselves and engage the world around us.

Lucas Byron Swenink
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, CADC
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
Lucas has advanced clinical training in working with trauma survivors, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), and Emotion Focused Couples Therapy (
EFT
).
Lucas specializes in working with individuals and couples who identify as part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer population. Within the LGBTQ population, he has further expertise in working with those who wish to address the implications of their trauma history, HIV/AIDS-related health and wellness, Depression, Anxiety, issues related to Aging and Substance Abuse and Dependance related disorders.

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.
Not accepting new clients

Kevin Newhall
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
I am experienced in the use of expressive arts, mindfulness, DBT, and
Emotionally Focused
Couples Therapy (EFCT) to help individuals and couples discover more effective ways to utilize emotions and be in relationship with others.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker offering individual and couples therapy. I have several years of experience in treating mood disorders, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, grief, and relationship issues. My approach is tailored according to the needs and strengths of my clients, combining psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral theories. I provide an attentive, honest, and non-judgmental therapeutic environment where you can increase insight and explore desired change.
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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.
Chicago, IL 60603
& Online
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.
Not accepting new clients

Robert Ballantyne
Psychologist, PsyD, CYT-200
Verified
11 Endorsed
Verified
11 Endorsed
I have advanced training in
EFT
, one of the most effective couples approaches validated by research.
For the past 15+ years, I have had the pleasure of helping individuals and couples find relief from life's stressors. I work with a wide range of concerns and am especially effective with life transitions, depression, anxiety, relationship, LGBTQ, grief, and family stressors. I aim to provide a safe, supportive, confidential space to help you deepen your self-understanding, change problematic patterns, and enhance self-esteem. As a feminist and multicultural psychologist, I am also sensitive to the ways oppression and marginalization affect psychological wellbeing, and I welcome clients from diverse backgrounds and identities.

Kate Hargadon
Marriage & Family Therapist Intern, BS
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
I am certified in Levels 1 and 2 of Gottman Method Training and utilize an
EFT
approach when working with partnerships.
I see humans as multifaceted, expansive, and resilient; I am often in awe of the power of connection to heal and strengthen. I guide my clients to discover, explore, and rewrite the stories they may hold. I prioritize compassionate listening, humor, and insight to help my clients feel more confident, connected, and safe in their relationships/life. Additionally, I believe human experiences are best understood within the context of our social identities and offer an exploration of how intersectionality affects us and our relationships.
Not accepting new clients

Lauren Baldwin - Not Accepting New Clients
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, CST
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
I have advanced training in
Emotionally Focused
Therapy (
EFT
) and spent two years at the Training and Research Institute for
EFT
in California.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by work, relationships, or health issues? Perhaps it feels impossible to keep up with the daily demands of life, and you're not sure where to turn. My name is Lauren Baldwin and I graduated with an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from the California School of Professional Psychology, AIU - San Diego. I work with individuals and couples from a systemic, attachment-based approach and more specifically,
Emotionally Focused
Therapy (
EFT
). I specialize in women's health/sexual health/chronic health issues, highly sensitive people (HSP) and empaths.

Sophia Turner
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MS, ALMFT
Verified
Verified
My clinical work is informed by
Emotionally Focused
Therapy which is an evidence-based model that is rooted in attachment theory and sees human beings as biologically wired for intimate bonding with others.
I am passionate about relational and sexual wellness, and I believe that our most intimate relationships reflect the overall quality of our lives. I work with clients who are entering parenthood; struggling with infertility; navigating mismatched desires; rebuilding intimacy; recovering from infidelity, healing sexual shame; coping with painful sex; grappling with conflict and communication issues. My therapeutic style is warm, authentic, collaborative, and finely attuned to your unique & personal goals. Through a curious and compassionate lens, I aim to help you reimagine what is possible for yourself and your relationships.

Eleanor D Laser
Counselor, PhD
Verified
Verified
I am a psychotherapist with extensive experience in using Hypnosis, NLP, EMDR and
EFT
for medical procedures, weight loss, anxiety reduction, essential tremor, and other issues. Through hypnosis, I can help you shift into a new way of thinking and being by deleting old messages and old programmed behaviors. We can replace old behaviors that no longer serve you with new thoughts and actions and that will improve the quality of your life and give you the peace and comfort. I am a coauthor of Patient Sedation Without Medication.

Sabra Maurice
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, LCPC, CCH, RM
Verified
Verified
I incorporate a wide variety of holistic counseling techniques into traditional therapy including yet not limited to hypnotherapy, energy psychology, Reiki energy healing, sound healing, oracle readings, essential oils, crystals, and
EFT
.
You may want to make changes, yet feel beaten down by worry. A part of you may be aware that difficult experiences you’ve faced throughout your life could be connected to your current struggles. As an intuitive holistic counselor I believe we can change by healing from the inside out. What shows up in our outer life through negative thoughts, unwanted behaviors, body discomfort or difficult feelings can be a signal or sign we are ready for change. I believe the present symptoms or conditions give us clues to what is going on inside, possibly connected to past difficult experiences that need attention, understanding and healing.

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.
See more therapy options for
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.