Psychoanalytic Therapists in Chicago, IL
See all therapists in ChicagoWaitlist for new clients

Christopher Sloan Rigling
Psychologist, PsyD, MBA
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
My goal as a clinical psychologist is to be the catalyst for change in the lives of the people that I have the privilege to work with. Change is constant in life, and is the focus of my work. I specialize in psychotherapy based upon existential and
psychoanalytic
theory, and I provide consultation services for individuals striving to improve the quality of their lives, their life's work, and their living. I practice formal psychoanalysis with a portion of my patients that are interested and appropriate for long-term in-depth psychoanalysis.

Rose Elias
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I approach my work from a psychodynamic/
psychoanalytic
, existential and interpersonal base of understanding.
***Please note: I do not currently have openings for new clients and I do not anticipate availability within the next few months. Please feel free to contact me if you would like assistance with referrals or if you would like me to contact you when I have availability. Thank you.***

Ramya B Iyer
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, AM, LCSW
Verified
4 Endorsed
Verified
4 Endorsed
In recent years I've trained as a psychoanalyst at The Chicago
Psychoanalytic
Institute and am currently on faculty.
Starting therapy shows great courage and hope. I will collaborate with you to explore and reduce overwhelming feelings of worry and sadness while helping you better manage relationships in your life. I am guided by the belief that human relationships can be healing and aim to develop an authentic connection with my patients.

Tim Sawyier
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, MA, LCPC
Verified
Verified
I am a graduate of Chicago
Psychoanalytic
Institute and on the Clinical Register of the International Neuropsychoanalysis Society.
Psychotherapy relieves emotional distress by restoring and cultivating its participants' inborn capacities for thought and growth. We all engage the world in idiosyncratic ways developed over the course of our lives, and emotional suffering results when such adaptive measures go awry or no longer serve their original purpose. Repetitive unsatisfying relationships, low self esteem, anxiety, and other psychological symptoms can be alleviated when their origins are understood and reworked in the context of an ongoing therapeutic conversation.

Michele Christine Gaspar
Counselor, MA, LCPC
Verified
Verified
I listen and use the richness of
psychoanalytic
theory to help clients understand themselves and develop self awareness.
Our unhappiness is often due to repeating patterns, the "whys" of which can be puzzling to ourselves and others. These patterns prevent us from experiencing joy and contentment, enjoying healthy intimacy with others and living a meaningful life. I am committed to offering therapy that allows you the space in which we can look with honesty and self-compassion at your unique history, patterns and circumstances with curiosity and openness. I see my role as facilitating and accompanying you on a journey of self-discovery. My goal for you is to "be who (you) are and be that well."

Robert R Dunevant
Counselor, MA, LCPC
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
My training is in the
psychoanalytic
tradition, meaning that special attention is paid to unconscious factors that may be influencing your experience of yourself and your relationships.
I work with people who want to overcome personal obstacles that seem to recur again and again. While it is sometimes possible to face such issues alone, you may reach the point where another set of eyes and ears is necessary. Difficulties such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, trust, and anger issues, can be more complex than they first appear. Together, we will pay close attention to the way you experience yourself and others. Over time, you may begin to see and do things differently and with a greater sense of freedom and authenticity.
Not accepting new clients

Eliza Wangerin
Counselor, MA , LCPC
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
My work is
psychoanalytic
, giving the unconscious a hearing, through dreams, imagination, images and symbols grounded in ones life today.
The word psychotherapy comes from the ancient Greek word “psyche” and “therapeia”. Psyche means soul, and therapeia means healing. I look at psychotherapy as a process of soul healing. One may be facing a break down in relationships, a faith crisis, a sense of disorientation with nowhere to go, a life without meaning. It could be a loss of self worth. Or there may be old wounds that continue to bleed and require tending. Together we can listen to the deeper calling of soul, and work towards healing. We will go deep within to find answers, to piece the fragments together and work towards Wholeness.

Mollye Levy
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
I am a candidate in the
Psychoanalytic
Education Program at the Chicago
Psychoanalytic
Institute, where I previously completed the two-year Adult Psychotherapy Program focusing on
psychoanalytic
theory and practice.
I help individuals with various concerns who are looking to improve their lives. For some, this means overcoming anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship challenges, or low self-esteem. Others may feel vaguely empty, unfulfilled, or stuck. I believe that the path to meaningful change begins with a deep understanding of how one thinks about and relates to oneself, others, and the world. Like the individual, each therapeutic relationship and process is unique.
Not accepting new clients

Joseph Reed
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
My therapeutic approach is
psychoanalytic
/psychodynamic.
Much of the work of any talk therapy is trying to do things differently. Which is hard work! And often long-term work. I specialize in treating young and middle-aged adults with longstanding difficulties, including depression and anxiety, unstable self-esteem, and loneliness. The people I work with often struggle in their interpersonal relationships and many have histories of trauma.

Rene Berlind
Counselor, MA, LCPC, MBA
Verified
Verified
In addition to the education and training I received at Northwestern, I have completed both a fellowship and a 3 year course of study in Adult
Psychoanalytic
Psychotherapy at the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis.
Whether you're dealing with a new crisis, or have been struggling for a very long time, therapy provides insight and self awareness which can help lead to a healthier and more satisfying life. I provide therapy for adults and adolescents wanting to explore a variety of concerns and issues including anxiety disorders, OCD, depression, trauma, panic disorder, and grief and loss. I am passionate about my work and consider it a privilege to be of help.

Dr. Jennifer Tolleson
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, PhD, LCSW
Verified
Verified
My work is
psychoanalytic
, which means I attend to feelings/beliefs that emerge from one's lived experience/history and that interfere with living fully, creatively, and freely in the present. I believe that psychotherapy, at its best, is a deeply transforming experience that emerges within an intimate and private space in which you are listened to, understood, and responded to with intelligence and compassion.

Beatriz Medina
Pre-Licensed Professional
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I like to take a gentle, but direct approach with my patients and employ a variety of evidenced based practices such as client centered, family systems,
psychoanalytic
and trauma informed approaches to help meet my patients where they are at and to best help them.
I have had the honor and privilege of working with adults who are experiencing challenges with anxiety, depression, postpartum difficulties, parental conflict, life transitions, family dynamics, trauma, abuse, relationship dynamics, and other life challenges. I am eager to help and support you on your journey to becoming the best version of yourself. As a POC who also speaks Spanish I also strive to consider the systems that impact our ability to achieve what we want in life.

Bryan Russo, LMFT
Marriage & Family Therapist, MS, PhD
Verified
Verified
I have formal post-graduate training in DBT Skills Training, Mindful Awareness, Relational
Psychoanalytic
Psychotherapy, and Archetypal Analysis.
Too often psychotherapy focuses on causality, pathology and cures. However, rather than being "sick" or 'broken", often we are just lost inside ourselves or relationships. Everyone is a unique person with their own story, experience and perspective. The goal of therapy is to achieve a deeper awareness of where we are, to discover internal meaning for our many experiences, and to experience a life worth living. While working towards that awareness, I feel that it's also important to teach healthier coping skills to assist in dealing with the anxiety and day to day stressors that bring individuals to therapy.
Not accepting new clients

Ida Roldan
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, PhD, LCSW
Verified
Verified
I have over 35 years of clinical experience in psychodynamic
psychoanalytic
therapy. I have particular experience in working with adults who are experiencing relational difficulties as well as suffering from anxiety and depressive disorders.

Amanda El Khoury
Pre-Licensed Professional, MA
Verified
Verified
Psychoanalytic
therapy is unique because it takes up the question of the individual — your particular history, your singular experience, and importantly, what you have to say about it all. We live inside, as well as outside, of the systems that give our lives shape — cultural, family, language systems. I center my listening on your particular experience within these systems. In this way,
psychoanalytic
work is especially suited to address causes of suffering.

Madelyn Greenberger
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MS, LCSW
Verified
Verified
I have advanced
psychoanalytic
training with adults, adolescents and children.
Psychodynamic therapy focuses on providing a safe environment from which a therapeutic relationship can grow. Through this experience, feelings and thoughts outside our everyday awareness come alive and can be used for self-understanding and growth. As a result, change tends to occur. I assist clients with a range of life situations and emotional concerns, and am interested in working with individuals who have difficulties in relationships, with anxiety, depression, and self-esteem, and who have experienced parental loss and trauma.
Katherine Uphoff
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
I have received extensive training in
psychoanalytic
theory, child and adult development and technique from the American Institute of Psychoanalysis.
People who seek psychotherapy feel stuck and stressed. Psychotherapy is an emotional learning process which takes place between a therapist and a client. Within this joint endeavor, the therapist's role is to actively listen and offer interpretations/suggestions. The client's role is to be as open as possible about his/her feelings and life situation and to engage with the therapist in a productive dialogue. The mutual goal is to facilitate the individual's self knowledge and arrive at a new understanding about the presenting problem, thereby freeing up the person to resolve the difficulty and become happier.

Nathan Dougal
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, BCD
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
~
I completed a 3 year advanced training program in
Psychoanalytic
Psychotherapy at the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis.
During the lifespan people can experience suffering or emotional pain. Some are in need of relief from the manifestations, or even symptoms, of emotional pain. Others are curious to understand the source(s) of the suffering. Exploring emotional pain and its origins can lead to knowing oneself more deeply (including talents and other positive qualities). Some considering therapy are seeking to enhance their abilities to relate to significant people in their life. Any of these are good reasons to consult a well-trained and experienced therapist. I am available for such consultation, which can lead to a collaborative plan tailored to you in order to explore and ease any of the above impedances to leading a more satisfying and meaningful life.
Waitlist for new clients

Juliet C Bond
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
My approach to therapy combines humor and warmth with Humanistic,
Psychoanalytic
, Behavioral, and Cognitive theories to address each challenge holistically.
We all struggle to manage challenges. Sometimes, we don't feel like enough. That's when we need help. I strive to bring authenticity and empathy to each session with couples, adults, and young adults. I provide support through evidence-based therapeutic models and interventions to offer insight and to build the relational intelligence each of us needs to improve our day to day experiences.

Philip Cooke
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
I am a
psychoanalytic
candidate at the Chicago
Psychoanalytic
Institute and offer psychoanalysis at a reduced rate.
It takes courage to change, especially if you’re unsure what needs to change or how to change it. Psychotherapy can help you better understand what you want to change in your life and how to pursue those changes. In psychotherapy, we work together to develop a better understanding of you and the psychological problems bringing you to therapy. I see therapy as an opportunity to clarify what you want from life, better understand the unconscious emotional and relationship patterns keeping you stuck, and discover more fulfilling ways to relate to yourself and others.
See more therapy options for Chicago
Psychoanalytic Therapists
Does psychoanalytic therapy work?
Psychoanalytic therapy derives from the work of Sigmund Freud. In this type of therapy, discovering buried thoughts and emotions from the unconscious will help a person work through their difficulties and negative behaviors. Research shows that psychoanalytic therapy can be highly effective, with patients reporting improvement in mood, quality of life, and overall well-being.
How long are people typically in psychoanalytic therapy?
Traditional psychoanalysis is in-depth and is conducted in five sessions every week. Today, modern psychoanalytic therapy is less intense and normally incorporates as few as one or two sessions a week. In some cases, positive change can occur quickly. However, if the condition, difficulty, or behavior is deep-seated, improvement may require many months or years of therapy.
Is psychoanalytic therapy suitable for young people?
Children and adolescents can benefit from this type of therapy. Many kids and teens are often unable to form and communicate their thoughts and emotions. Psychoanalytic therapy uses specific techniques such as dream analysis, symbolism, and free association or word association; all of which can be useful tools for less-communicative young people. Through this therapy, a patient will hopefully make connections between what they feel inside and how the world works outside.
Can psychoanalytic therapy be done online?
Modern-day psychoanalytic therapy is very different from traditional psychoanalysis. While an individual can sit face-to-face with the psychoanalyst for multiple sessions a week, they do not have to. Today, psychoanalytic therapy can be effectively conducted online or by phone. The key is that the individual confronts what is repressed and avoided, and this can be done whether in person or over online video.