Therapists in Chicago, IL

Hi, I'm Dr. Greg. Helping clients cope with depression, anxiety, trauma, and relationship issues is the focus of my practice. I try to maintain a balanced approach using an individual blend of theory and insight, practical applications, and humor. This can include discussions of physical, emotional, mental, and metaphysical wellbeing. Anger, work stress, frustration, loss, trauma and life's unexpected complications can get in between us and a peaceful experience of living. Assisting people in overcoming these challenges is my life's work. Please reach out to someone if it seems your life is being directed by negative emotions.

You're grappling with anxiety and depression, seeking help to navigate these overwhelming emotions. You're in search of effective strategies to manage these conditions, and you yearn for a path that leads to a happier and more fulfilling life. I'm here to help and accompany on your journey to better health.

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.

Challenges are an undeniable aspect of life's journey. I am confident that you have already discovered ways to make your challenges easier to deal with, and I am here to provide a harm-reductive approach to refine these solutions to your benefit. I firmly believe that, regardless of the time we spend together, you will always be the foremost expert on yourself. Our work will rely on this expertise, serving as a guiding tool to carve your path toward living a more empowered and meaningful life—whatever that may mean to you.

I specialize in working with men, especially those who identify as gay, bi or queer. Common issues I work with clients on include relationship/intimacy struggles, isolation, depression, shame, career issues, anger/rage, anxiety, sexual issues, feelings of numbness and addiction. I can assure you a level of comfort and understanding as well as specialized training when dealing with these issues. In addition, I take a sex positive approach and am attuned to the needs of poly, non-monogamous, kink and BDSM clients.

You are not alone dealing with anxiety, depression, loss, anger, trauma, or relationship difficulties. I understand the pain and complications of these issues and have successfully helped individuals, like yourself, find peace and happiness for over 20 years. In a relaxed, supportive environment, I will help you explore and process difficult feelings and challenge underlying counterproductive thoughts and behaviors. You will achieve a greater sense of relief and awareness, and develop tools that foster better continued health. I will also help you acquire a more balanced lifestyle achieved through exercise, diet, sleep hygiene, work/life balance and maintaining healthy relationships.

Our life has seasons, and sometimes we feel connected, vibrant, and on a path that feels designed for us. Other times we can feel unmoored, stuck, and unsure we are moving in the right direction. Depression, anxiety, and disconnection can complicate our efforts to fully engage in what life has offered us. I believe the people I work with are experts on their own experience, and have an innate sense of when things aren’t where they want them to be. In therapy we can explore and deepen your understanding of yourself and what you want out of life.

People are able to make positive changes in their lives. Do you find yourself unhappy, depressed or anxious? Does it feel that no matter what you have tried, nothing changes? I help clients in positively addressing unhelpful patterns and to become unstuck from negative emotions and life situations.

I see therapy as a collaborative journey where clients can identify the strengths and skills they already possess. As a therapist, I focus on guiding clients to develop their full potential through self exploration and hands-on processing. Since each individual is unique, I firmly believe that therapy needs to be flexible enough to fit the needs of those seeking healing and support. By creating a non-judgmental environment, I enjoy assisting my clients in achieving their goals whilst learning to value who they truly are.

Life is hard. There is no way around it. The question is - what are we going to do about it? How will we handle the challenges of our lives, whether it be the loss of a loved one, debt, a sense of meaninglessness, our own health conditions, or the struggles of raising children? Each of us has our own burdens to face and often the answers are hard to come by. Sometimes we need a little extra support to get through. Whether you need to be heard, to be seen, to cry, to find answers, to understand, or to make meaning out of your life, there is help.

Do you often feel exhausted and unmotivated? Do you experience a sense of emptiness or a yearning for something different, without knowing exactly what you're missing? Do you grapple with feelings of loneliness, anger, anxiety, or depression? If you wake up each day with a sense of dread, you're not alone. Many people come to me with similar issues. To address these complex challenges, I use a tailored approach that combines insight, curiosity, and dedication in my treatment plans. To book an appointment, you can visit my website and click on the 'Portal Tab' to self-schedule; make sure to select my name.

I specialize in working with the queer and neurodivergent populations with a focus on and sexual issues from performance to intimacy, sexual trauma, sexual/gender identity exploration, neurodiversity adjustment (diagnosed or not), 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. Healing past trauma wounds will provide my clients with a healthier outlook and framework to their current circumstances.

You are unique and sometimes through the mirage of obstacles life throws at us, this gets lost and we find ourselves on a quest to find ourselves, heal ourselves and understand and make sense of our world. This can be cumbersome to do on your own. Life brings challenges of uncertainty, a loss or lack of self worth, self love, feelings of hopelessness, sadness, grief and trauma.

Here at According to Sykes, assistance and guidance is offered through individual, family and group therapy, couples therapy, as well as Professional Development and Training Opportunities. As a group of healing practitioners, 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. View our therapist profiles at www.accordingtosykes.com.

Currently sessions are conducted virtually- Dr. Waseberg is a psychotherapist and professor of counseling psychology. He helps individuals and couples struggling with relationships, trauma, depression, anxiety, PTSD, eating disorders, grief, alcohol/drugs, abandonment, anger, OCD, social anxiety, phobia, bipolar/borderline and other psychological issues. He digs deep into the roots of your underlying issues in a safe non-judgmental space with empathy. He has rich experience providing counseling in private practice settings as well as Inpatient Residential Treatment, Partial Hospitalization-PHP, and Intensive Outpatient-IOP settings.

It's okay to talk about it. Life brings unexpected and difficult challenges that leave us feeling lost and unsure. Grief, trauma, relationship struggles, life transition, work-related issues, addiction, existential or spiritual doubts, and persistent feelings of guilt, shame, and inadequacy. These experiences can be demoralizing and defeating but also provide an immense opportunity for change and growth.

I enjoy meeting with people who are new to therapy and at the beginning stages of their journey. Understandably you may be unsure about therapy or possibly skeptical of how talking to a professional can be useful. For those who have experience with therapy, I am not a therapist that "just listens". I think it's more beneficial if I am engaged and communicating my assessment of your situation. The initial session typically focuses on current details and relevant back history. If you have experienced trauma or PTSD symptoms, my initial focus is to help you regulate your emotional responses before discussing the details of the trauma.

Do you struggle with your inner critic? Have you felt lonely or rejected? Maybe you've tried to avoid anxiety, depression, or traumatic memories, seeking a way out of a rollercoaster of emotions. Have you experienced difficulty with life transitions; career/school stress; relationship issues including polyamory and CNM; bigotry; grief; addiction; sex/drug linked behavior; sexual assault/abuse; self-harm, or suicidal thoughts? Are you somewhere on the LGBTQ+ spectrum and feel like no one in your life understands you? If you answered yes to any of these issues, when was the last time you had a space to talk that was just for you?

Being human is so beautiful, and can also be very difficult. Our bodies hold stories of great beauty, and also great shame. Often stories of pain, shame, and harm get minimized and not tended to. As a result, these stories are held in our bodies and can lead to addictions, anxiety, depression, loss of connection, anger, sadness, self-doubt, negative self-esteem, overwhelming emotions, and disorientation. If you can relate to this, you are not alone - I am here for you, and most importantly, there is hope!