Out of Network Therapists in Chicago, IL

I am queer identified and love helping the QUEER community find authenticity, have better relationships, and aim higher in life. I've helped hundreds of people build better lives, and I’ve done the work for myself. I bring my education, expertise, and life experience to our sessions.

Now Accepting New Clients! I aim to build a safe and supportive space for growth, handling difficult emotions and strengthening self-compassion. I strive to help clients understand and increase their own ability to navigate life's obstacles. I am a very open-minded practitioner and integrate a range of approaches into my practice to fit what works best for you. You are the expert on you and my job is to support you in your experience, you are not alone. If this sounds like it might be a good fit for you, please do not hesitate to reach out. I look forward to working with you!

We are all in a perpetual state of changing and growing throughout our lives; it is my belief that we may as well pay attention and guide our growth in a purposeful way. I truly believe that psychotherapy changes lives by creating opportunities for people to become who they should have been all along. By illuminating and examining your viewpoint in a very genuine and thoughtful manner, new perspectives arise naturally through the psychotherapeutic process. It is our job in therapy to together seize upon a new understanding and incorporate it into who you are becoming.

I am the Director of Compass Health Center's Trauma Program (Chicago), where I offer specialty care and supervise a team of psychologists, professional counselors, and clinical social workers. I strive for more than patient “functioning” as an end goal; I support my patients toward self-actualization and greater inner connection. If you feel stuck, consider a depth psychological approach. Many patients have only experienced supportive or solution-focused therapies, not realizing how these approaches inadvertently maintained their unhelpful patterns. Together, we will strive to find the right answer, not just the quick one.

I look forward to working with you! As a therapist that specializes in treating trauma, I am passionate about helping clients strengthen resilience & improve relationships. My aim is to help clients better handle difficult emotions and feel more self-compassion and self-acceptance. I enjoy helping couples and individuals with relationship issues (ineffective patterns of communicating & intimacy/attachment issues, invalidation) to heal and grow. I integrate wellness, interpersonal neurobiology, somatic psychology, cognitive behavioral therapy and attachment theory in my work.

I enjoy collaborating with clients ranging from older children (9 and up), adolescents, adults, and families, who present with a wide range of concerns such as depression, anxiety, LGBT issues, behavioral difficulties, and parent-child relationship problems.I also work with men who are at a cross-road in their lives and struggling with how to be better men, husbands, partners, and fathers.

In working with my clients, we explore what holds meaning, what patterns/habits work and no longer work in their life as well as who/what helps them create balance and motivation. When clients find that some of their reactions and emotional responses are no longer having the same effect, we work together to allow their authentic self to take initiative and risks as they engage in relationships with a more healthy, centered, and intentional stance. I value and welcome my clients’ spiritual journey and faith background and the variety of practices that aid in healing and restoring integration and connection in our work together.

It is my intention that through the therapeutic relationship we can work collaboratively to create meaningful change in your life. I believe that this process involves recognizing and drawing upon your strengths and inner resources, including your history, identity, and lived experiences. Together, we will unravel and reconstruct the narratives in the fabric of your life, hold space for any and all of your emotions, and address patterns and behaviors that may no longer serve you. It is my hope that this process offers you the agency and insight that will empower you in your healing journey to make choices that affirm who you are.

As a modern therapist, I provide culturally sensitive and thoughtful therapy to help individuals and couples. I understand how hard it can be to find a therapist that seems relatable or trustworthy. I work particularly well with individuals navigating trauma, relationships, and identity looking for a therapist that "gets it". This may be an overwhelming point in your life, but pursuing psychotherapy can be one of the most transformative experiences you can take to heal & grow.

In one moment, your life can change forever. These turning points in life often lead to us question everything we have known. As we try to pick up the pieces of our life, we can get lost along the way. We are here to help you to find your way and overall become healthier.

Trust. Acceptance. Safety. Room to grow. Encouragement. Hope. Compassion. Respect. Are you feeling lost, overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed? Looking for someone who can help you understand yourself better, like and trust yourself more, or be more confident in your decisions? Facing the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a job, a sense of normalcy in the pandemic? Plagued by worries, fears, or negative thoughts about yourself or others? Looking for a therapist is a courageous step. Being willing to make a change when things are not working out for you is a sign of strength.

I practice what I like to call relationship therapy. This means I work best with people who are psychologically-minded and want to develop a therapeutic relationship with me. Together (key word!) we seek to understand (another key word) the roots of your emotional distress. My belief is that these roots may be hidden or disguised, but never totally beyond one's grasp. Change is always possible.

One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is the time and space for healing and growth. In therapy, my goal is to help you find and nurture your authentic nature, and to honor the wisdom gained from your lived experiences. Our work will consider the various intersecting aspects of your identity and the social, professional, and other cultural contexts in which you exist. I believe that as you experience yourself holistically, on your own and with guidance, you can naturally open yourself to more opportunities for healing, connection, growth, and other meaningful change.

I am a facilitator, home cook, therapist, and founder of A Crowded Table where I offer individual therapy, groups, and workshops in Chicago. To do this work, I completed a Masters Degree in clinical social work at the University of Chicago, studied as a fellow in contextual behavior therapy (DBT, ACT), rely on an internal family systems lens, worked as a mental health professional for ten years, and cooked my way through many stellar books (shoutout to Carla Hall and Leah Koenig).

Growth is hard, but you don't have to do it alone. I love working with each client as they discover their unique strengths and move toward hope, healing, and growth. I work primarily with young adults and couples navigating life adjustments and identity development who are hoping to increase self-awareness and wholistic health, discover and regulate their emotions, and establish healthy relationships with self and others.

I work extensively with tweens, adolescents, young adults, and adults in seeking relief from anxiety and related disorders, depression, ADHD, gender and sexual identity issues, developmental & relational trauma, self-esteem, and healing from attachment and childhood trauma where individuals have navigated a history of unmet needs and frustrating attempts to get them met. I also have a strong interest in working with adolescents in their transition to high school and/or college, stress management, emotional development and maturity, rejection from peers, family conflict, and friendship/interpersonal relationship issues

Therapy is a unique opportunity to focus on yourself and begin down the path to a healthy, more fulfilling life. Working collaboratively with a therapist can help you to explore patterns, relationships and ways of functioning that no longer serve your best interest. This exploration can lead to the strength and confidence necessary to make changes and regain focus in your life. Therapy is an emotionally safe place that will allow you to heal as you address difficult issues, gain clarity, and become reacquainted with your authentic self.

I am dedicated to helping individuals achieve insight, growth, and healing through fostering an open, non-judgmental, and compassionate environment. My approach can be described as integrative, collaborative, strengths-based, and authentic. I prioritize creating a strong therapeutic relationship with clients and work alongside the client in their journey of wellness and healing. I really enjoy working with adolescents and adults. I am committed to empowering clients to achieve wellness and healthier lives.