LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapists in Chicago, IL

I believe in a holistic approach to counseling and therapy and provide full-spectrum and client-specific treatment in a warm and non-judgmental setting. Most of us lead complicated and stressful lives and often find ourselves unable to cope with the many challenges facing us on a daily basis. I am both a yoga teacher and therapist and utilize an eclectic approach to therapy. I draw from various therapeutic approaches to address the unique needs of each client. I also incorporate mindfulness, breathing, and meditation into sessions when it is appropriate for dealing with stress, anxiety, and related issues.

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.

I work with children & adolescents, adults, couples and families. I have been in the field of Mental Health & Law for over 20 years. I utilize a variety of treatment approaches to treat depression, PTSD, adjustment disorders, culture conflicts, LGBTQ issues and life transitions. I received my MS degree from Mississippi State University and my MJ degree from Loyola University Chicago, School of Law. I've had a solo practice for 8 years on the North Shore of Chicago. I have held several Mental Health Supervisor and Director positions in the Chicagoland area.

In my 8 years of practice as a psychotherapist, I have worked with people facing many struggles, including surviving past trauma and abuse, feeling suicidal, and severe/chronic mental illness. As a member of the LGBTQ community, I have worked with many people who identify as lesbian , gay , bisexual , queer , nonbinary, and gender fluid, and have supported people through gender transition and accessing gender affirming health care. As a white therapist, when working with BIPOC clients, I use the frameworks of anti-racism and cultural humility, and strive to make space for talking about racism and racial differences.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), I work with adults, either individually or as couples. I use an interactive approach, grounded in Gestalt Therapy with a focus on the mind/body connection. I specialize in grief and loss and navigating life’s major transitions, in recovery from past trauma, and gay / lesbian issues.

I am currently interning at Flourishing Affinity as a part of Roosevelt University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program with the intention of graduating in Spring 2022. A large focus of my graduate studies has been LGBTQIA + issues. As a member of the queer community, I understand the importance of compassionate healthcare and I am passionate about providing identity affirming treatment. I also specialize in anxiety disorders, and depressive and mood disorders.

I specialize in working with the queer population and have a focus in areas of sexual issues from performance to intimacy, young adult life transition, sexual trauma, personal conflict, executive functioning and sexual/gender identity. My goal is for my clients to gain an understanding of their lived experience and present circumstance and learn to synthesize these two parts of themselves. I like to explore past trauma wounds when it comes to early attachments, whether from their childhood or adult life. Healing these attachment wounds will provide my clients with a healthier outlook and framework to their current circumstances.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with expertise in clinical interventions for depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis, and challenges related to sexuality and gender. My personal experiences of coming out as queer and having family members who struggle with severe mental illness have developed my passion for mental health and social justice. I love being able to connect with LGBTQ + individuals and members of other groups facing obstacles related to systemic oppression. I also have a background in sexual health education and enjoy supporting clients through issues around relationships and sex.

As a board-certified, licensed counselor, I specialize in LGBTQ + issues, working with individuals and couples, teens through seniors. I seek to create a personal and healing space to promote insight and growth. I strive to empower my clients, and look beyond symptoms to treat the whole person.

I believe that the rich stories we tell about ourselves are full of possibility. However, when we experience circumstances that make us feel disconnected, stressed, or depleted, it can become difficult to recall our own strengths and the ways we continue to persevere. I listen closely to your story to help you rediscover your own strengths while also creating opportunity to develop new ways of relating to yourself and your relationships. In our work together, you will find me intentionally curious, often encouraging exploration of all parts of you--the emotional, intellectual, physical, spiritual, and playful aspects of your life.

Are you LGBTQIA + and struggling with a difficult time in life? Does anxiety and depression challenge you daily? If you want someone to collaboratively work with, i'm your person. Lets dig in and find how to best support your desired change with developing coping skills for the present and mending the past for a better future. Sometimes finding support can be a critical part of healing or becoming who you want to be. I want to connect with you to find your strengths to navigate through this time in your life and live as the authentic person you want to be.

I believe you’re the expert on your own life – your fears, hopes, and desires. It may not feel that way because life is often overwhelming. My goal is to help you become more aware of and responsive to your emotions and relationships so that your life can feel more manageable. I’d like to help you embrace your authentic self by becoming more comfortable and confidant with where you’re at in life and who you are or want to be. As a generalist and a pluralist clinician, I adapt my approach to your unique needs and experiences. As a pragmatist, I want our work together to be productive and practical.

we heal in relationship. we heal in community. activating our personal and collective healing is the core of realizing our capacity for change. through a collaborative therapeutic process, we work together to explore your emotional landscape, experiences, family and community dynamics, social and economic systems that impact this, and identify practices that support your embodied adaptation and healing. together, we hold space for intentional change that grows our "capacity to embody the liberated and just worlds we long for." we engage in healing through a liberatory and embodied practice-- 100% virtual/telehealth.

Therapy doesn’t have to be the front-facing camera of how we see ourselves. By showing up and being honest, we can reposition the lens, adjust undesirable angles and tweak the lighting to help illuminate your happiest, most grounded self. My approach to the therapeutic relationship is YOU-centered. You deserve to feel confident and comfortable in our relationship. I have an expansive view of the human spirit, relate to the pitfalls of human experience and possess a profound understanding of the disconnect which can occur between the stories we tell ourselves, and the realities we actually face.

I believe positive change is achieved through exploration of the origins of difficulties, gaining insight and self-awareness, and learning new patterns of relating to oneself and others. My intention in my therapeutic work is to assist clients in identifying and evaluating patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior that lead to difficulties in one's life and relationships. With increased awareness into underlying motivations, clients are positioned to make changes in their thoughts and resulting emotions, behaviors, and relationships. Each client's treatment is tailored to specifically address their unique difficulties.

My life’s work is strengthening the LGBTQ community from the inside out. I do this by working with gay men to live the lives they desire. What often holds us back are layers of expectations and belief systems that we take on from society, our families, and others. When these systemic messages conflict with our authentic selves, this creates a dissonance that often results in anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. This isn’t something that is broken or bad in us. Quite the opposite, it’s our authentic selves yearning to be expressed!

Feeling stuck? Struggling with meaningful change in your life? Do you want to improve the quality of your intimate relationships? I provide empathetic and encouraging counseling to both individuals and couples. Actively collaborating with my clients, I ensure that each session moves you closer to your therapeutic and personal goals. Additionally, I specialize in affirmative treatment with LGBTQ + clients, and celebrate diverse expressions of sexuality, gender, and intimate relationships.

So, you’re contemplating seeking out therapy. Congratulations, it takes a lot of courage to recognize that there are things you may want to explore, change, and/or better understand about yourself, the way you see others, and/or your environment. Finding a therapist you feel comfortable with and trust can be difficult. Painful life experiences, past trauma and current situations can lead you to feel stuck, depressed and anxious. I believe that we all have areas of our life that warrant closer examination. As your therapist, I aim to create an empathic judgement-free space where we can work together to achieve your goals.

I collaborate with adults in individual and relationship counseling. Typical issues I support them with are depression, anxiety, grief, addictions, eating disorders, LGBT concerns, ACOA issues, stress, men's issues, and if it a specific client request - spirituality concerns. I offer Wednesday, Friday and Saturday appointments by telehealth exclusively. Due to the convenience and popularity of telehealth, I hold all meetings via telehealth and no longer offer in-person office sessions.

I have experience working with adults in areas such as anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, identity, sexual assault, life transitions, and self esteem. One of my primary areas of expertise is working with members of the LGBTQ + community in areas of positive sexual and/ or gender identity, coming out, transitioning, and relationship concerns. However, I work with people of all identities and backgrounds. I foster a therapeutic space that is identity-affirming, sex-positive, and polyamorous- and kink-friendly. I am currently open to working with teenagers, adults, and couples.