Therapists in Chicago, IL

Are you functional, even successful on the outside but deal with insecurities and worry that your problems are interfering with your happiness, work or relationships? You might have lingering impacts from things that happened in childhood or in toxic relationships. Most of my clients are women who are overthinkers and people- pleasers and suffer from being very self-critical. I think of our work as "recovery from everything." A lot of what is happening is the fears we have about things that are uncertain in life. The positive coping skills we work on are quite similar no matter what has caused you such high levels of anxiety.

Dr. Nakisher offers a practical approach in a supportive, yet challenging atmosphere to help clients gain insight, make lasting changes in life and get out your own way. He works particularly well with people who have previously experienced therapy as unhelpful. Dr. Nakisher also works a business consultant to major corporations, improving business through human capital.

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.

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.

For over 30 years, I have accompanied others on their journey towards greater self-awareness, more fulfilling relationships, and exploring the needs and challenges of maintaining sound emotional, physical and spiritual health. My experience is particularly helpful when working on self-esteem issues, depression, grief and loss, relationship struggles, and faith and spiritual development. My clinical work draws upon skills developed while working as a hospital chaplain, pastoral counselor, bereavement counselor, youth counselor and a mental health therapist in a social service agency.

As a psychotherapist, I recognize that each course of treatment is subjective and unique. I work closely with each client in determining his or her treatment goals and respect each individuals right to self determination. Enhanced self esteem, improved coping skills, and a more confident decision making process are the foundation for a more joyful, less conflicted life. Together we will work to achieve these results.

As a psychologist, my goal is to help you uncover your true potential and help you find ways to be your best self. While we can't change difficult situations of the past, we can use them to better understand and resolve the current challenges in your life. By working collaboratively, we will work to adjust behavior patterns or negative perceptions that may be holding you back from experiencing a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

For more than 35 years, Center on Halsted has helped Chicago's LGBTQ community and caring allies meet their behavioral health needs. Our team of therapists offer individual therapy, group therapy, and letters of support for gender affirming surgeries. Our Behavioral Health phone line operates as a bank of information about our services (including scheduling an initial screening), community resources, and possible referrals. These services are offered both in English and Spanish.

You are resilient, capable, and unwilling to settle for the status quo. Your reluctance to fit the mold may complicate things, but it’s worth it. However, sometimes, the space between who we are and who we want to be can feel vast, and life can overwhelm our capacity to cope - in those moments, it takes bravery to reach out for support. Together we will celebrate your uniqueness, investigate the barriers to your progress, increase feelings of self-worth and efficacy and expand upon your existing strengths to cultivate an authentic future full of possibilities.

I strongly believe in every individual's ability to bring about meaningful changes through self-awareness. A trusting relationship between a client and therapist offers a safe space to reflect on our experiences, our histories that we carry with us, and the way in which these histories impact our present experiences. I understand that every client's personal journey is unique; therefore, my approach is tailored to fit the specific needs of each client.

Change is constant. Whether it’s the tumult of growing up or the twists and turns of adulthood, life is constantly shifting and rearranging under our feet. In this context, getting to know yourself—your emotions, your grief, your needs and your gifts—may be overwhelming. I honor the part of you that is seeking therapy for your particular journey. In my practice, I work with adults, teenagers, and children, specializing in therapy for queer and LGBTQIA+ youth and adults.

So, you've already done the scariest part of this whole process, which is deciding that you want support and taking action. That takes incredible strength and humility, even if you may not feel that way right now. From here, it's my job to work together with you to find ways to channel that strength towards the goals you have and help reframe the way you're approaching challenges through support, humor, and compassion.

Are you struggling with emotions, career, relationships, or chronic pain, but not sure how to move forward? As we've all experienced through the pandemic to certain degrees; life events can be unexpected, overwhelming, and traumatic. You deserve space to process what brings you to therapy with a professional who can validate your experiences and commit to working with you, at your pace, to develop solutions. I work from a culturally-aware, trauma-informed perspective to ensure that you feel seen and heard, and offer Art Therapy. Non-judgmental by nature, I collaborate with clients by building on strengths to overcome challenges.

I'm here to offer support using various evidence-based practices and frameworks, especially in addressing issues that affect Black, Indigenous, and other persons of color, as well as the LGBTQIA+ community. I work with individuals, families, couples, and groups aged 6-80. However, there may be times when I might not have the specific knowledge and resources needed to provide you with the best care. If you're currently dealing with issues related to Eating Disorders, Religion, Family/Domestic Violence, or Anger, I encourage you to explore other options for assistance.

We live in a stressful, complex, and contradictory world. And though you do your best to cope with the chaos around you, sometimes it gets overwhelming. The chaos can make you question your decisions - sometimes it can even make you question who and how you are. Why are there so many obstacles to the life and relationships you want? Shouldn’t there be a clearer path? It can be so hard to navigate through the noise. Craving to connect more fully but end up feeling needy and more alone. Wanting to feel safe, but unease grows and bleeds through. Striving to be authentic, but there is so much noise it is hard to hear your true self.

Issues of self-esteem and self-worth are core to my practice. I also focus on identity work, trauma, and relationship with self and others. My work includes the exploration of my clients’ values and what is truly important to them, which leads to a meaningful and satisfying life. While warm and empathic, my therapeutic style also includes direct feedback and guidance to give you practical tools that will empower you to face the world despite your struggles.

Even our closest and most valuable relationships are, at times, fraught with tension and confusion. I've spent my career helping people navigate their way through those times. With more than a decade of experience, I can help untangle and strengthen all types of relationships, including friendships, family marriages, and partnerships, both personal and professional.

I specialize in working with those who've experienced religious or spiritual trauma, complex traumas, and childhood or developmental trauma. I believe in the power of integration- that ALL parts of you deserve love and compassion. Together, we will address feelings, needs, beliefs, and the body's own wisdom, while also seeing issues in the context of the systems in which you exist. I work best with those wanting to be challenged through outside insight, and who want to learn how to feel and process their emotions. I do my best to help clients experience safety in the therapeutic relationship to begin to access their whole selves.

Understanding that the journey toward healing isn’t always glamorous and sometimes scary, I aim to provide clients with an emotionally safe environment to overcome the difficulties that plague them. I understand that choosing to start therapy isn't always an easy decision due to life’s demands and sociocultural stigma around seeking mental health care. I strive to create therapeutic relationships that are nonjudgmental, authentic, transparent, warm and collaborative. I provides a collaborative and objective platform to explore concerns, unlearn & replace thoughts or behaviors that no longer serve my clients.