Therapists in Chicago, IL

If you are struggling with this thing called life;I can help! Whether it is the day to day challenges of your relationships (spouse, children,parents,siblings, friends,boss or co-workers), or how you feel about yourself (physically, emotionally, spiritually); if you are ready to make changes or improvements in any area in your life, I welcome the opportunity to work with you! Also, if you are going through some of life's more serious challenges: divorce, domestic abuse, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, eating disorders,sexual abuse trauma, or death of a loved one; please contact me.

Welcome! I am a compassionate therapist who is motivated to help you feel relief from your mental health challenges. I currently have immediate availability for in person and virtual sessions.

Life experiences and the thoughts and feelings we have about them can be overwhelming to figure out and make sense of alone. I believe that the therapeutic relationship fostered with clients is a safe space where you can truly be seen, heard, and feel comfortable being your authentic self. I help clients make sense, make meaning, and manage the difficult challenges and symptoms experienced throughout your daily lives (and past). I'm LGBTQ affirming, and I practice as an integrative, intersectional-feminist relational trauma therapist who operates from an anti-racist/anti-oppressive lens.

I am passionate about working to ensure that underserved and underrepresented individuals, couples and families, have the support and resources necessary to live emotionally healthy and productive lives. I have found that through therapy, I can inspire people to deal with life as they find it and equip them with skills to make it better. I am passionate about helping people and identify their areas of opportunity for growth and guiding them to a place of understanding and action. I am able to encourage, inspire and help people move beyond the current circumstances, to a place of peace and resolve so that they may be successful.

I am a licensed professional counselor working with adolescents and adults who struggle with depression, anxiety, grief (pet loss grief), trauma, body image, identity, life transition and LGBTQ+ issues. My goal is to guide you to a deeper self understanding, self acceptance and healing while providing a safe and compassionate space. I strive to listen with curiosity and make meaning of what is going on. Life is hard and you don't have to do it alone. Let's understand together what is getting in the way of a more fulfilling life and relationships.

I'm a big fan of being human and in my office, I try to empower you to embrace all the messy yet beautiful emotions and experiences that come with being human. Many of life's events such as the diagnosis of a chronic illness, divorce, work or school issues, relationship issues, and life transitions can feel overwhelming with a roller-coaster of emotions. I can offer you a safe, engaging, and non-judgmental space to help you through all the challenges that life brings. I specialize in working with individuals (adolescents ages 5+, young adults, adults) to better manage daily stressors and any expected & unexpected life transitions.

Dr. Payne's experience in a variety of settings (community mental health, therapeutic day school, and corrections settings) has provided them with the opportunities to work with a wide variety of clients including children, adolescents, adults, and families. Dr. Payne’s specialties include working with a variety of symptoms and presentations including but not limited to: depression and other mood disorders, anxiety symptoms, relational difficulties, Autistic or otherwise neurodiverse clients, people who identify as LGBTQIAA2S+, and those who have experienced trauma.

Treatment is about promoting change, and this change must come from within. I ask a great deal from clients when I ask them to change; this journey requires both the client and myself to work collaboratively and deeply. While my therapeutic approach is greatly influenced by psychoanalysis and relational therapy, I also employ aspects of Dialectical Behavior Therapy, specifically, the principle of radical genuineness to build rapport with my clients. I aim to provide my clients the space to explore underlying feelings, thought processes and behaviors, and the support needed to engage with the therapy process.

It seems you are ready to take the next step if you have made it this far in your search. I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor here to help you and/or your loved ones process your issues, make a change, or simply help you decide what you need. I provide counseling to people of all ages and backgrounds. I have experience in a variety of settings from private practice to emergency room services, so I am here to help with whatever needs you may have. I strongly believe that we all have different starting points and my job is to meet you wherever that is and start your journey there.

I specialize in working with people who have experienced trauma. Trauma can leave a person feeling numb, disconnected as if your life has been turned upside down. I would like to assist you with your healing journey. My focus is a Holistic approach to helping people recover and heal after a traumatic event and learn new ways of coping and managing their traumatic responses. When someone does not heal from a traumatic event, they can develop Post Traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD) depression, and/or anxiety.

Do you know what you need to do or think, but still can't do it? Do you understand how to move forward but find yourself stuck nonetheless? Maybe you have medically unexplained health problems, or doctors telling you it's in your head? These are some of the reasons people seek psychoanalytic psychotherapy. I have been practicing psychotherapy for over 20 years in various settings including a university student counseling center and public mental health clinics for the seriously mentally ill and have effectively worked with clients struggling with conditions ranging from adjustment disorders (reactions to stress) to schizophrenia.

Clients frequently come to me when they are at a “fork in the road.” They are searching for direction after having experienced and/or overcome significant personal challenges. Unfortunately, they now find that their historical coping mechanisms are no longer serving them. They seek a greater understanding of their emotions, thoughts, and behavioral patterns in order to move forward with their lives.

I enjoy working with a wide range of clients in terms of age, background, gender, and sexual orientation. I have several years of experience working with adolescents and those who have experienced complex trauma. I am interested in working with members of the vast LGBTQ population, as well as adult children of alcoholics, and those on the autism spectrum. I am passionate about exploring various aspects of identity and how the intersections of those identities impact our experiences in the world.

My main focus has been to empower clients to reach a higher level of self-sufficiency and healing through supportive practices. Understanding that the world in which we live, how we function, and the resources available to us determines the perspective and navigation in which one has. I approach things through a holistic( mind, body, soul) lens as people cannot function as their best self in fragmented pieces. I am looking to serve individuals who have difficulty with coping through life stressors, while being open to the possibilities of transformative solutions.

I fundamentally believe that healing happens in relationships where we feel safe, supported, and seen. To this end, I strive to cultivate a warm, collaborative, and non-judgemental relationship with my clients. Therapy will look different for everyone, but I will seek to partner with you to explore difficult past experiences and current challenges in living as a way to better understand what's working and what's not. I will work to help you slow down and tune into the present moment to increase your ability to cope, while also making sense of the ways your developmental context as well as systems of oppression may have impacted you.

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.

My primary area of focus is with children and adolescents (both neurodivergent and neurotypical), as well as their family systems. I believe that regardless of or area of concern, we all need strong and supportive relationships in our lives, which I utilize when approaching behavioral concerns, mood conditions, and challenging family dynamics.

The way you feel today, no matter how bad, is just this day in time. Yet, times of crisis and struggle are powerful opportunities for change. We are here to help you through the difficult phases of your life. We strive to empower you to identify and use your strengths, and to manifest inner and outer changes resulting in greater happiness, self-assurance, and choices in your life. We are committed to support and help you achieve meaningful and lasting positive transformation tailored uniquely to you.

When you are feeling depressed or overwhelmed, you may feel that you have few options. You may feel even worse if you are drinking more than usual or engaged in other compulsive behaviors. I will help you see that you have choices and that you can start acting and thinking in ways that make your vision of a satisfying life a reality. I am solution-focused and although I believe psychotherapy is a process, I am comfortable working with a short-term model as well as in a more ongoing way. I believe in being direct while remaining empathic.