Therapists in Chicago, IL

At times a crisis, trauma, or series of compounding stressors can overwhelm one’s normal resilience and ability to cope. Professional therapy provides help in navigating through these difficult times, and the process can create lasting insight leading to a richer, more satisfying life. I believe as a clinical therapist, my responsibility is to provide a space where clients feel safe, valued and heard. I appreciate the uniqueness of each of my clients, and see the therapy process as a collaboration, where patterns of thinking and behavior are explored in an effort to bring about change.

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.

I help my clients to find their way through challenging times and feelings so that they can have warmer, richer lives with more satisfying relationships. You may be feeling hopeless, angry, confused, overwhelmed, anxious or depressed; perhaps, you are going through major life-changes such as loss, new beginnings or relationship difficulties. From a strengths-based and collaborative approach, we can explore meaning and significance in your life and endeavor to help you achieve what you you wish to attain while dissolving obstacles Perhaps, you are stuck creatively or simply want to live more soulfully.

Phoenix Rising Counseling and Guidance, LLC is a holistic practice built on the premise of helping individuals like you to recognize your strengths and potential and rise up from the ashes that have negatively impacted your life. We strive to combine the treatment of mental health with mindfulness and spirituality. We believe that everyone has the tools and the innate ability to change their external world by working through the blockages, thought perceptions and cloud of their internal world.

By co-creating a warm and safe and therapeutic environment, I hope to facilitate a sense of self-empowerment and connectedness to both your emotional and physical selves. I view you as the expert of your own experiences, possessing innate resources for healing. By partnering your inherent capacity for growth with my therapeutic approach, you can expand your self-awareness, develop coping tools, and heal through difficult life events and/or trauma. As a queer & non-binary identifying clinician myself, I am also particularly impassioned about providing responsible care to LGBTQ+ adolescents and adults.

As trauma-informed clinical practitioner with over 25 years of experience, I am committed to helping children, teens and adults on their healing journey. I work with clients who have mood/anxiety disorders, OCD, addiction, self-esteem, grief, relationship issues, SA, DV, life transitions, sexuality, trauma and C-PTSD, adjustment challenges and identity exploration. I work with people therapeutically to make desired changes or simply improve well-being and sense of self. My experience includes people from all racial/cultural backgrounds, sexual preferences and gender identifications.

I have experience working with diverse populations including individuals with anxiety, depression, addiction, chronic mental illness, trauma, survivors of human trafficking, relational issues, first generation and immigrant families. I have worked in different environments such as community mental health, faith based programs, and intensive care. I work through a trauma- informed lens that will help with mindfulness, awareness and self compassion. I am passionate about providing a holistic approach to help my clients understand how our physical, spiritual, mental and emotional wellbeing plays a role in our life satisfaction.

As a member of the LGBTQ community, I understand how important it is to find a therapist with whom one can identify and feel comfortable sharing the very personal reasons that bring individuals to counseling. As such, I provide a safe, non-judgmental space in which to explore the needs of my clients. For me, finding meaning and purpose is paramount to maintaining one's mental health. As such I work in collaboration with my clients to help find those things that make one feel whole and connected.

Do you find yourself needing a listening ear as you try your best to get through life's ups and downs? Or maybe you would like to revisit your past in a safe and calming space that makes you feel secure. Whatever the reason, everyone deserves to experience peace as they move forward in life. With time, genuine connection, and the hope that things can and will get better, transformation can begin. Welcome!

I use both talk therapy and art therapy to assist clients in building insight into thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, as well as developing skills to cope with difficult life stressors. I strongly believe that practicing kindness and self-compassion does not contradict with personal growth and self-improvement. I view the client as the expert in their own life when identifying areas to work on and setting goals, and I see myself as a "fellow traveler" who, through non-judgemental collaboration and support, can help guide the client towards living a life that feels in line with their personal values.

If you are struggling with feelings of self-worth, identity formation and feeling understood, then it makes sense why it can be hard to ask for help. Reaching out is a scary step, and you have already made a brave move by being here. So, take a moment to celebrate yourself, maybe take a deep breath, and recognize the strength it took to show up. You deserve a space to process emotional challenges and connect with a happy and empowered version of yourself.

It's hard to know what someone will be like by simply reading a few paragraphs on a screen. Finding the right therapist is frustrating, so I will try my best to tell you who I am and how I can help. With a direct yet empathetic approach, we will address difficult topics using clinically proven treatment interventions. I will challenge and push you during sessions while saving room for humor because I believe that with this combination, we can find strength, resilience, and connection that help motivate us toward a more empowered future.

As a therapist, I am dedicated to creating a safe and calming space for people to explore their needs on a journey to healing and wellness. I have a relational style of therapy that looks to your goals, experiences and strengths in order to meet your unique needs. I work individually with adults and couples who are struggling with loss, anxiety, depression, life transitions and trauma. I will meet you where you are with empathy and intuition. I have experience working with clients across gender, ethnic, generational and religious differences and incorporate spirituality into the therapeutic process when desired by clients.

Our life's work is helping clients achieve a better sense of self and happiness...more recently we've recognized that without good mental health providers, finding this balance in life can be more difficult and stressful. As a result, we tend toward an Integrative approach and help our clients transform into the people they want to be. We see each client as an individual with many parts to their identity. Utilizing a holistic and systemic approach we help clients reintegrate the parts of themselves to function better as individuals and within their systems. Our focus tends toward a systems based approach using behavior methods.

If you are struggling with feelings of self-worth, identity formation and feeling understood, then it makes sense why it can be hard to ask for help. Reaching out is a scary step, and you have already made a brave move by being here. So, take a moment to celebrate yourself, maybe take a deep breath, and recognize the strength it took to show up. You deserve a space to process emotional challenges and connect with a happy and empowered version of yourself.

I specialize in working with folk who are queer, neurodivergent, and/or going through major life transitions. I recognize that beginning a journey toward greater self-discovery can be daunting. To be successful in this endeavor, it is crucial to feel understood and valued along the way. To this end, I approach the therapeutic relationship in a collaborative way and provide a person-centered, feminist therapeutic relationship characterized by radical validation and unconditional positive regard, focusing on your strengths, helping you to deepen agency and self-awareness, and emphasizing compassion and empathy throughout treatment.

I work with adults of all ages, adolescents, and couples. My clinical experience includes working with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, life transitions, trauma, relationship concerns, and identity development. I’m especially interested in and passionate about helping my clients navigate the impact trauma can have on various facets of their life. Understanding these influences can help with developing awareness and skills to integrate our past, present and hopes for our future in an intentional and empowering way. I also enjoy working with couples to achieve better communication and connection.

I work with life transitions, grief, and spirituality. Maybe your sense of purpose or meaning has gone missing - maybe someone you know is no longer here, or perhaps something you thought was a certainty in your life - a job, a relationship, a friend, a pet, a community, your health or very life - is not so certain anymore. You don't know why or maybe even how. That's okay. We'll start there. We'll hold space together as we work collaboratively to build awareness, cultivate compassion toward your self no matter how your self shows up, and act toward your values and desires.

Are you someone experiencing anxiety, struggling to set boundaries, coping with an adjustment, and/or dealing with complex trauma? It can be hard to move forward from feeling like you are alone. I am here to support individuals wanting to achieve their goals and feel empowered. I cultivate a non-judgmental environment where you can feel like you can be yourself and feel safe. I work from a collaborative approach where we will work together to find the best individualized path for you and what you would like to achieve.