Psychoanalytic Therapists in Chicago, IL

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.

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.

I conceptualize therapy as a mutually created, deeply personal experience. No two therapies will ever be exactly alike given that we are all unique individuals shaped by the stories, desires, and expectations of ourselves and others. I start from a place of deep humility and honor, knowing that coming to therapy means turning to a professionalized stranger for help with what may be extremely difficult sufferings. In the beginning there may not be words for what is wrong, where it hurts, why things are the way they are. This is where we start. Together. Courageously.

You might look for individual therapy because you experience obstacles that happen again and again; you are trying to figure out who you are and what you want in life. You might be looking for couples therapy because you feel disconnected from your partner or have difficulty communicating; you fight or have difficulty with being intimate. You might be looking for family therapy because you don’t know how to connect with your kids; there is conflict in your family and you don’t know how to resolve it. You might be a person of color, immigrant or second generation and struggle with issues mentioned above.

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."

Are you struggling through your days or feel that your life and relationships could be more meaningful? Therapy could help you. I will work with you to manage distressing feelings and to understand the origin of your problems. Every patient enters therapy with a unique set of needs. I tailor treatment to address your needs and goals. By working in this way therapy opens you to a positive emotional experience which in turn transforms how you approach living your life. Therapy is an investment in your future and my commitment is to assist you to live a life of vitality.

In choosing psychotherapy, one opens to the pursuit of awareness and authenticity. While this journey is sometimes arduous, most experience a sense of fulfillment previously unknown. Those who choose to see me often wish to uncover barriers which prevent them from living creatively, peacefully, expressively, and authentically. I aim to provide a warm, nonjudgmental atmosphere where individuals feel comfortable exploring all aspects of their being, including hidden dreams and desires. Such exploration is often accompanied with reductions in anxiety, depression, impulsivity, or inhibition.

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.

Most people who come to therapy are looking to make a change for the better in their lives. My patients have found that the therapy relationship is a powerful and profound forum for understanding themselves and their experiences more deeply, and that this leads to making positive changes that last. Whether you are struggling with making a relationship work, dealing with the effects of depression or anxiety, or overwhelmed trying to navigate the "real world" after leaving school, we can work together to find your most fulfilling path. I work in a group of like-minded therapists who share my vision for helping others.

Feelings of depression and anxiety, or family and work conflicts can become overwhelming. Talking about your thoughts, feelings, dreams and experiences during the therapy hour helps relieve emotional suffering and increases your capacity to tolerate and manage difficult feelings such as anger, panic, grief and a sense of isolation.

Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis are opportunities for children and adults to work through the challenges of anxiety and depression, as well as traumas such as loss or abuse, and the defeating patterns of human interaction that result in problems in interpersonal relationships. Both modes of treatment provide opportunities for children and adults to experience improvement in their abilities to consolidate their talents and skills and to work more effectively toward their life goals. Thetis Cromie earned a doctorate from the Divinity School of the University of Chicago and holds master's degrees from the Divinity School and the School of Social Service.

With over thirty years in practice as a psychotherapist, including advanced study in psychoanalytic theory and technique, I bring a wealth of experience into the clinical setting treating symptoms of PTSD, anxiety and depression as well as working with relationship issues and self growth. I treat adult individuals and couples. With every client, a unique relationship is developed. Within the context of this therapeutic relationship evolves an understanding of what is meaningful for personalized growth. My practice emphasizes working with you the individual wherever you are in life's journey.

Today we live in conditions not only of the rapid pace of life, but also in times of great migrations. And it is often quite difficult to cope with this alone. For many in these circumstances a number of very important and vital questions are being actualized. Referrals to specialists in the language of the country of emigration often do not bring the desired result, and it is quite difficult to find therapists who speak their native language in a new country. It is in such cases that I offer online therapy for Ukrainian and Russian speaking clients who need psychological support around the world.

I provide therapy for individuals and couples, specializing in relationship difficulties. My particular interest and expertise is working with people suffering from anxiety, depression and trauma. I use a psychoanalytic approach with an emphasis on genuine connection and empowerment. This is helpful to bring understanding and insight to past experiences, that may be impacting one's behavior, feelings and patterns, allowing them to remain stuck. I believe in the power of the therapeutic relationship and am deeply committed to a strong working alliance with each of my clients, resulting in effective treatment and authentic change.

I have over 25 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.

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.

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.

I enjoy working primarily with individuals who have a history of interpersonal violence. I especially feel honored to journey with those navigating their relationships as they work through their trauma history. I recognize how one's racial, cultural, and faith background impact recovery and welcome integrating these components in therapy. I also take time to explore how childhood experiences shape the individual and current relationships. My hope is that, through our time together, you will gain greater insight into yourself, which will contribute to your flourishing and the flourishing of your relationships.

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.

I specialize in helping people suffering with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and difficulties with self-compassion. Our work together will begin by getting to know one another and building a strong foundation for our work together. I am a warm, compassionate, and patient person and strive to utilize these traits to help others grow and know themselves on a deeper level. I believe the relationship between therapist and patient is the driving force in creating significant and long-lasting change. We will examine the various identities that you hold and the impact they have on you as an individual and your relationships.