Therapists in Chicago, IL

You may be experiencing a period of mental unrest and uncertainty. When you have the space and willingness to reflect on past traumas and experiences to understand their impact on your current circumstances, you gain a new awareness that often leads to powerful insights. As a licensed clinical psychologist who understands the need for inner healing first, it is my goal to support you in identifying core sources of pain, confusion, fear, and stress in order to get to the root cause of the issue. By working with you to form a deeper sense of clarity, I am able to guide you in taking the next steps along your journey of healing.

I'm a Mental Health Clinician with over 20yrs experience, and also a Certified Sex Therapist. I work with LGBTQ+ and heterosexual people on a variety of relational and mental health issues, as well as sexual and intimacy concerns. I approach my work from a sexual health model and values driven perspective. I work with clients on consensual non-monogamy/polyam, kink, BDSM, as well as sexual health challenges such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, desire discrepancies, etc. I continue to work with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, as well as navigating life!

You want a therapist who is more than just a good listener. Therapy should be a supportive but challenging and dynamic space that opens up new ways of relating to the world. I aim to build a relationship based on trust and honesty to help you develop new skills and uncover opportunities for agency and growth. Clients appreciate the frankness, humor, and authenticity I bring to the therapy space. I see value in deep exploration, but will balance it with attention to opportunities for action you can take now in your daily life. I see clients not as people who are "sick", but rather "stuck." I want to help you get unstuck.

My focus is working with couples and individuals looking to improve the quality of their relationships. I am passionate about sex positivity and working to unlearn shame and embarrassment that may be ingrained from past experiences. I aim to facilitate open communication between couples to ensure both parties are getting their needs met. When working with individual clients, I can help guide you in advocating for what you need in your relationships with others. I am a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, and specialize in working with queer individuals and couples. I am kink, poly, and sex-worker affirming.

I am a Licensed Social Worker, a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and a Sex Therapist. My clinical experience is focused on working with individuals, couples, adolescents, and families on issues including addiction, alcoholism, substance abuse, relationship/marital conflicts, codependency, divorce, infidelity, PTSD, childhood trauma, emotional abuse, anxiety, social anxiety, depression, life transition, LGBTQ+ issues, sexual health concerns, non-monogamy/polyamory, kink/BDSM, and intimacy injuries.

You are the one that lives your worries, fears, shame, and desires. You are the expert or emerging expert on your own life. Sure, it may not feel that way because this world is confusing and overwhelming (and a bit devastating). My aim is to help you become more aware of your emotions, relationship patterns, and unhelpful thoughts, and become more responsive to your needs, desires, and values in authentic ways. My hope is that we can help you begin to feel more comfortable and confidant with who you are, who you want to be, and how to get there.

I actively work to make the process relevant and helpful for you. I have been a therapist for 30+ years so I have had thousands of conversations with clients and extensive advanced training. I know change can be challenging so I try to make the process as efficient and painless as possible. I am motivated to help you meet YOUR goals. I always offer you the insights gained from my years of experience as well as my knowledge about what helps us lead a good life. I am practical and down to earth in my approach.

You may feel your true, joyful self is hidden under layers of depression, anxiety, guilt, or shame. Maybe you’re trying to figure out how to achieve your dreams of living the life you were meant to live. Maybe you’re trying to deal with being alone for the first time, or again. Or maybe you’re trying to manage a relationship that has gotten very tense, or is long distance. You may have had a negative experience with therapy in the past. I'm a solution focused therapist working with an incredible team and if I can't help there'll be someone on my team who can.

If you're here, you're probably looking for a change. Whether it's in your relationships, patterns, thoughts, feelings, or something else that's important to you. Life is full of challenges, but I firmly believe that people have fundamental inner-strengths that can help them cope. As a therapist, I warmly accept my clients as they are, and work alongside them to explore who they would like to become. I believe in the power of human connection, and strive to use that connection to help empower my clients to access their strengths; to ultimately bring about meaningful change, healing, growth, and understanding.

As a queer transgender therapist, I believe there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to living our lives. The same goes for therapy - there isn't a "right way" to do it. In my practice, I am committed to helping individuals tap into their personal strengths and uncover a path that is meaningful and fulfilling. I trust that my clients are the experts on their own lives and have the skills and tools they need to navigate their problems. However, I'm here to provide support and guidance when they need it.

Your decision to seek therapy is a sign of strength, courage, and respect for your personal well-being. I welcome people facing a variety of challenges including depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use challenges, LBGTQ+ identities, relationship issues, and the general "stuck" feeling. My therapeutic style is caring, encouraging and individualized in order to help each person learn skills to work with their emotions, see situations without judgment and recognize solutions that fit personal values. I also have a strong emphasis on diversity and social justice and incorporate it into my practice.

I am a relationship and sex therapist, and I believe that living authentically for self and community brings healing and joy. Such authenticity requires an exploration of sexual needs amidst robust boundary-making. I am a part of and love to work with folx in the LGBTQIA+ community. My clinical interests include out-of-control sexual behavior, men's sexual health, and exploring the intersection of religion, spirituality, and sex. I also have a growing specialization in working with kink, BDSM, polyamory, and consensual non-monogamy.

I work with many types of clients, but specialize in working with queer and trans people, couples, and other forms of relationships (triads, polycules, open, polygamous, etc.). I deal primarily with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, family conflict, grief and loss, transitions, stress management, trauma, sex-related issues and traumas, kink and BDSM, behavioral and substance addictions, and chronic pain and chronic illness. I tend to work with adults. I love working with clients that bring their whole self to therapy as I do too. I always encourage feedback to ensure the therapeutic process feels affirming and healing.

Do other therapists seem judgmental? Don't understand? Won't listen to you? If you need to talk about anything and everything, clients tell me I have a strong capacity for compassion, empathy, and care. At the same time, I’m forthright and candid. I see you and hear you—a whole person (body, mind, spirit) living in an interactive and interconnected world. I believe you're the expert in you - even if you're not yet aware of it. My role is to help you find that, and bring my own holistic vision, experience, training, expertise, and tools to the table, so you can work to be the best possible version of you. I am a trauma specialist.

Building trust comes from telling your story in a safe space. Together we can create a therapeutic alliance that is conducive towards self discovery, growth, and fulfilling your potential. I see my role as your therapist to provide a space of care and concern coupled with providing real insights that can help you grow and face challenges.

Do you struggle with your inner critic? Have you felt lonely or rejected? Maybe you've tried to avoid anxiety, depression, or traumatic memories, seeking a way out of a rollercoaster of emotions. Have you experienced difficulty with life transitions; career/school stress; relationship issues including polyamory and CNM; bigotry; grief; addiction; sex/drug linked behavior; sexual assault/abuse; self-harm, or suicidal thoughts? Are you somewhere on the LGBTQ+ spectrum and feel like no one in your life understands you? If you answered yes to any of these issues, when was the last time you had a space to talk that was just for you?

It would be ideal for us to be motivated to improve our lives when things are going well. More often than not, we only make changes to our lives during times of darkness. In our work together, we can focus on finding the beauty, joy, and peace in your life. We can step into the darkness together with curiosity.

There are numerous reasons why an individual makes a decision to seek therapy. From my perspective, the key factor in being able to examine your individual reasons is based upon the relationship between yourself and your therapist. I offer a safe, supportive, non-judgmental environment in order to explore your individual needs with a commitment to placing the highest priority on your care. We will work collaboratively to identify and address your concerns in order to foster meaningful change in your life. My clinical experience has included working not only with individuals but couples, families and groups.

I work with individuals and couples (straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans) who are dealing with a range of issues in their lives. A meaningful, authentic client-therapist relationship is of utmost importance to me, and I strive to create safe and welcoming spaces for all by fostering an environment of empathy, openness and honesty. Clients who see me receive compassionate care without negative judgment, creating opportunities to make meaning of the events of their lives.