Narcissistic Personality (NPD) Therapists in Chicago, IL

Hi, my name is Kay and I specialize in Women and Families healing from Narcissistic Abuse and Domestic Violence. I have over 14 years of therapy experience and 20 years of healthcare experience. I work with clients from adolescence into adulthood through many life cycles. My secondary interests include perinatal and reproductive mood disorders, eating disorders in adolescents and young adults, and women's mental health related to menopause, parenting, significant others, work stress, etc.

I utilize Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) to help clients identify and dispute problematic beliefs, and reframe them into productive patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. With REBT, you can learn to reduce and manage your anger, anxiety, depression, guilt, rage, shame, and/or addictive behaviors. We work together to identify, dispute, and reframe your rigid demands and/or dire needs into strong, healthy preferences, and your catastrophic thinking into proportionate appraisals of activating events.

Do you have a toxic relationship in your life that is causing you stress? It could be a parent, spouse, child, sibling, teacher, coach, boss, co-worker, friend, neighbor, or significant other. Does this person trigger you to over-eat/under eat, use alcohol/drugs, or feel anxious or depressed? Do you have symptoms of C-PTSD? I am a holistic therapist specializing in empath/highly sensitive person (HSP), and narcissistic abuse recovery. I will help you build the inner resources to aid in healing the whole person; mind, body, and soul.

At some point in our lives we all experience the full force of life’s challenges. Sometimes the distress, pain, alienation or isolation is too intense for us to traverse life’s path alone. Yet, for many of us, asking for help or inviting others into our private world is equally difficult. I hope to convince you that therapy can help us understand conflicts underlying these challenges. Through insight, self-empowerment and enhanced emotional regulation, we can become more adaptive and begin to heal and grow in the face of challenges or transitions. Therapy can also help to cultivate a greater sense of meaning and purpose in our live.

I know finding a therapist can be overwhelming, so I welcome you on this journey! My approach is client centered which combines treatment methods of Humanism, CBT, Mindfulness, Attachment Theory, and other interpersonal theories. During our work together, I will focus on understanding your story, values, and goals to help you in finding coping strategies that promote self-awareness, self-compassion, and overall, an improved quality of life.

I work with individuals, couples and families who want to feel more fulfilled and connected. During the therapeutic process, I primarily help adults and older adolescents with challenges associated with anxiety, depression, trauma, relational stress, life transitions, boundary issues, shame and perfectionism.

What's holding you back? I work with driven professionals to work through obstacles and get you back on track to the life you want. Whether it's a diagnosable disorder like depression, something from your past you'd like to sort out, an addiction or consistent compulsion, or a relational issue, it's my privilege to offer my training and experience in service of your goals. I find a lot of our experience comes down to patterns. Our brains quickly assess a situation, choose from a list of pre-formed thoughts and behaviors, and push "GO."

Why do I feel so stuck? Why are my emotions taking over my life? Why can’t I do anything right? If you are asking these questions, you are not alone! From here on, I am with you! I know what you are going through is not easy, but you are more resilient than you think! Together, we will channel your strengths and get you to a place of well-being. Right now, it may seem hard or even impossible to visualize a change, but I am committed to helping you work through any obstacles.

I specialize in working with individuals struggling with trauma, mood dysregulation, overwhelming anxiety, stress-induced somatic symptoms, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, complex grief, substance misuse, and maladaptive interpersonal behaviors. I also work with couples seeking help with relational well-being, communication, and conflict resolution.

My approach to therapy is informed by mindfulness practices, focused on assisting my clients in "opening up" to the present moment while connecting to their values to strive toward their "Best Self!" I focus on assisting clients in attending to their relational concerns, which allows for them to overcome the emotional distress associated with a history of difficult and painful relationships. I find that it is my duty to establish a safe space where clients feel truly understood. In doing so, I feel honored to be able to "BE" with my clients, as they strive toward growth and empowerment.

I discover objectively what is the challenge and apply the best treatment for abuse, aging, alcohol/substance use, anger, anxiety, attention deficit, autism spectrum disorders career consultation, coping, criminal charges, custody, delinquency, dementia, depression, divorce, DUI, dyslexia, hyperactivity, hypnosis, individualized education plans, insomnia, job loss, learning disability, lower productivity, neuropsychological exams, panic attacks, parenting, personal injury, personality tests, post automobile accident, relationship challenges, stress reduction, trauma, underachievement, vocational guidance, & workers compensation,

The most important thing I want potential clients to know is that I truly love working with people. My therapeutic style is rooted in mutual respect and understanding; believing that with a safe and nonjudgmental environment, a more satisfying life can be achieved. With compassion, understanding and humor, we address thought patterns, emotions, and behaviors to promote meaningful growth. I specialize in the treatment of depression, anxiety, trauma, mood disorders, life transitions, grief and couples.

I am a license-eligible psychologist practicing in the Chicagoland area, working primarily with individuals and couples in non-traditional, ethically non-monogamous, intercultural, and/or interracial relationships. I specialized in traumatic stress psychology during my clinical training and education, which provided the framework for the compassion-based and holistic approach I take when working with clients who have experienced difficult and stressful events in their lives. I also hold a certification in Primary Care Psychology, adding insight and knowledge about the way in which our bodies and minds interact in reaction to stress.

Thank you for your interest in my services. Choosing an appropriate therapist is often experienced as a daunting task. I appreciate how difficult initiating the psychotherapy process can be. I am committed to establishing an open and collaborative therapeutic relationship with you, and offer a safe, nonjudgmental, supportive environment for growth and change. I work with individuals and couples to find solutions to a wide range of life challenges and to change the pattern that no longer works. As a psychotherapist, I recognize that each course of treatment is subjective and unique.

I approach the therapeutic relationship with compassion, affirmation, and support. I believe in identifying and uplifting each client’s unique strengths by creating an individualized counseling experience while holistically taking into account the systems, communities, and identities that impact each person. As a queer-identifying and Asian American therapist, I strongly advocate for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities. I hope to collaborate with folks to establish a sense of openness and safety while walking with you on your journey towards healing.

My approach to individual, family and couples therapy is rooted in honesty and acceptance. I begin this process by providing a safe space and answering questions about the therapeutic process. I will collaborate with you to make treatment goals and we will discuss how to reach positive outcomes. Throughout this process, I will continuously get feedback from you to ensure you feel safe and invested in the process. I use mindfulness, emotion focused therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I have training and certifications in Gottman-Method Level I, Functional Family Therapy, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, and Trauma Focused-CBT.