LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapists in Chicago, IL

Who you are… straight, transgender , bisexual , lesbian , gay , queer , genderqueer, questioning… is an essential part of our work together. I welcome your whole self, supporting traditional and non-traditional families: blended, multiracial, multigenerational, foster, poly, leather, and members of kink communities.

I work with individuals and couples (straight, gay , lesbian , bisexual and trans ) who are dealing with a range of issues in their lives. A meaningful, authentic client-therapist relationship is of utmost importance to me, and I strive to create safe and welcoming spaces for all by fostering an environment of empathy, openness and honesty. Clients who see me receive compassionate care without negative judgment, creating opportunities to make meaning of the events of their lives.

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.

I'm Dr. Ian Bonner, and I specialize in anxiety, depression, LGBTQ issues, substance use, and relationships. As a counselor, I am challenging, collaborative, and compassionate in my approach to treatment. Clients who work with me understand from our first session that I work with more than just symptoms and problems; I treat the whole person. In sessions, I take great care to ensure that you feel understood, valued, and known and eagerly utilize your feedback about our work. I welcome you to contact me with any questions.

Whether you're looking for support in stressful times or recovering from trauma in your past, my priority is to help you develop long-lasting, effective skills to get you there. Your existing strengths, skills, and creativity are the most effective tools you have, and I want to help you access them to build an individualized plan that provides lifelong results you can feel proud of!

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.

NOT ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS: If you resonated with the information in my profile, please click on the website to review the profiles of my colleagues at Wellman Psychology & Associates. I am confident that we can serve you and your mental health needs. I work from a relational perspective that believes in the power of the therapeutic relationship as a vehicle for healing and achieving one's goals. You can receive therapy from (almost) anyone, but the sense of trust, warmth, and comfort you experience with a therapist can be the deciding factor between significant change and desired growth/change.

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.

Thanks for visiting! It’s not easy to find a safe, nonjudgmental, and compassionate space, particularly for those that identify themselves as part of the LGBTQ community. I believe having a therapist that is empathetic, shows unconditional positive regard, and is authentic is crucial to therapeutic growth. These factors are an integral part of how I practice therapy. My hope is that you leave your first session feeling supported, safe, and understood. I recognize that each client is unique, and therefore, your therapy needs to be tailored to the unique individual that you are.

I identify as a gender-nonconforming queer male. My work with all clients is informed by frameworks like antiracism, social justice, feminism, and anti-imperialism. I bring authenticity and genuine empathy to each client, pairing these with effective and approachable therapeutic interventions that research says work. I can help with micro-level goals like improving mood and reducing anxiety, on macro-level goals like recovering from trauma and coping with systemic oppression, and on relational goals like building intimacy. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are my personal and professional values. I believe that Black Lives Matter.

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.

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.

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.

My areas of specialization are working with individuals/couples/relationships who are in the LGBTQ + community who have experienced violence, such as sexual violence, childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, family system-based violence, spiritual abuse, and community-based violence. I work with many different relationship structures from cisgender heterosexual monogamous couples and folx with more expansive relationship structures. My areas of specialization in working with relationship clients are high-conflict relationships, sexual dysfunction/dysregulation, infidelity, trust, safety, and stability.

I strive to develop a non judgmental and collaborative environment with each client so they can feel safe and comfortable discussing what brought them to therapy, identify their goals, and take steps to building a meaningful and rich life. I am interactive in the therapy process and support clients with practical tools and strategies to challenge old patterns, while incorporating new skills that aim to improve the client's ability to live more intentionally and authentically. I employ elements of ACT, DBT, and CBT to respond to the unique needs of the individual.

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 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.

On the outside, you’re holding it all together. But on the inside, you’re questioning whether you're good enough to live the life you truly want. You feel anxious, insecure, and lonely, and your relationships often leave you feeling drained. You’re sick of finding yourself in old patterns (like people-pleasing, perfectionism, or codependency) that keep you stuck in the status quo. And even though you know you aren't happy, you wonder if there’s anything better out there and if you can actually achieve it.

All of us yearn for a sense of belonging, and it is human to feel lonely due to issues we may be facing in life. Feeling alone can have a detrimental impact not only to our mental/emotional health, but also physical health. I'm here to support you in your mental health journey and working towards a better quality of life. I strive for social justice and am attuned to the impacts and influences of society and culture. I approach therapy from a trauma-informed and harm reduction lens, meaning I’m sensitive to the past experiences that have shaped you into who you are today while working in a collaborative approach.

I have been honored to share and co-create space with folx of vastly different experiences and intersections of identity. I work with LGB, trans *, and gender-expansive folx; poly and kinky folx; HIV-impacted folx; young people, disabled folx; and individuals with histories of chronic homelessness, and/or issues related to substance use. I also have experience working with individuals impacted by anxiety, trauma, discomfort, depression, chronic and persistent mental illness, and a range of neurodiversity. The space we share is built of mutual regard and destruction of the "therapist is expert" paradigm.