Sports Performance Therapists in Chicago, IL

As a sports psychologist, I have a unique practice in that I specialize in working with athletes who have the desire to take their game to the next level. Being a competitive athlete helps me relate to other competitive people in sports or business. My primary focus is on confidence building and the elimination of performance anxiety. I use a 3 tiered approach to training: Perspective Training, Mental Skills Training, and Applied Settings (if applicable at a sporting location). I am the only professional to offer that kind of travel service. We also offer Coaching Certification Programs for those who are interested in teaching.

An athlete's life is different from other people. Does the stress of being an athlete sometimes makes you feel overwhelmed and alone? Are you expected to be almost perfect and fear you won't measure up and will get ridiculed? Are you afraid of not being "good enough" and coaches losing confidence in you? Does worrying about your performance leave you feeling overanxious? Do you have moments of overwhelming sadness but are afraid to let anyone know because you're an athlete and athletes can't show any signs of weakness, all the while feeling stressed out with no one to go to?

As a therapist, I believe in the importance of a holistic, culturally sensitive, and collaborative approach to therapy. I work with individuals on areas such as trauma, life transitions, personal stressors, anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, grief, relationship issues, and sports performance .

Do you feel anxious or have doubts that hold you back from achieving more in life? Perhaps you feel like a failure for not having met high expectations, those of yourself or of others. Maybe you have met those expectations and and are doing all the "right" things, but still feel unfulfilled. Or you've accomplished a goal - e.g., weight, graduation, promotion, competition, relationship - and don't know what to do next, as if the accomplishments aren't enough..

Offering a client-focused practice style that emphasizes the well-being and autonomy of patients in the areas of anxiety, depression and trauma. Offering Individual, group, and couples sessions, members of the BIPOC and Queer communities. Specializing in sport-focused performance interventions and life transition. As a therapist and mental health professional, I am dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and welcoming space for clients as I work with treating issues related to trauma, sports performance anxiety, crisis care, and family dysfunction that encompasses healing in the mind, body, and spirit.

**Limited, expedited openings currently available for professional athletes** I’m a big believer that therapy doesn’t have to be buttoned-up or artificial. It should be comfortable and real. I prefer to facilitate a casual, collaborative, & affirming environment where we can openly discuss anything that’s on your mind and empower you to explore who you are and how you relate to others. I specialize in working working with athletes (professional and amateur), e- sports athletes, musicians, poly relationships and fellow therapists in individual, relationship, and family contexts.

I offer an integration of psychotherapy and Yoga Therapy in tandem sessions. I am both a licensed health psychologist and a certified yoga therapist. My clients tend to be high functioning adults seeking private holistic therapy and pain relief. I assist with relationships, stress, back pain, neck pain, sports injuries, physical disabilities and medical conditions. Supported yoga postures, proper alignment, and longer holds facilitate deeper feeling, fuller opening, greater release. Yoga Therapy enhances rehabilitation of injuries naturally using gravity, tensegrity and breath to improve circulation and create more space in tight joints, relieving tension and fatigue, facilitating clarity and insight.

If you made it to this page, I'm already so proud of you! Taking the next steps to seek out therapy can be a scary thing, whether you're a therapist finding guru or it's your first time. But no matter the reason you're looking for therapy or how you came across my page, I am here to make that process easier and less scary for you. If you're ready to work on tackling challenges that are holding you back, improving all aspects of your life, and taking more control of your destiny, then you've come to the right therapist.

I approach therapy with positivity, mindfulness, humor and goals. I am a certified substance abuse counselor and an EMDR trained clinician. I also incorporate spirituality to holistically treat my clients mind, body and soul. My clinical skills are rooted in CBT, DBT, Psycho-dynamic and Motivational Interviewing.

I am licensed in Illinois with 10+ years of professional work experience in medical and school settings. I was also a volleyball coach/trainer (ages 14–18) for 10 years. I have experience in helping children, adolescents, young adults, and families with stress, anxiety, depression, LGBTQIA+ related issues, school-related issues, sports performance , and chronic illness. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I also believe that you are the expert of your story therefore you will be the driver in the work we do together.

I am a psychotherapist with extensive experience in using Hypnosis, NLP, EMDR and EFT for medical procedures, weight loss, anxiety reduction, essential tremor, and other issues. Through hypnosis, I can help you shift into a new way of thinking and being by deleting old messages and old programmed behaviors. We can replace old behaviors that no longer serve you with new thoughts and actions and that will improve the quality of your life and give you the peace and comfort. I am a coauthor of Patient Sedation Without Medication.

It can be extremely difficult to find a sense of direction and peace within this fast-paced, overly stimulating and competitive world we live in. Various aspects of our society encourage and reward burnout and perfectionism, leading to high levels of stress, insecurity, and fears of failure or not being enough. This can become extremely overwhelming and harmful when we're not mindful and compassionate towards ourselves and others. I strive to empower my clients to build the self-awareness, self-love, and coping skills they need to manage life's challenges and to lead fulfilling lives, according to their own unique goals and values.

My overall goal for each client is to work on obtaining balance within a healthy lifestyle. Through obtaining balance one's symptoms can lessen and each individual and/or couple can focus on the positive attributes of their life and move forward towards reaching their goals. Daily stressors are inevitable and it is essential to build coping strategies for how to handle stress and combat negative thinking patterns. Creating behavior changes is another focal point of psychotherapy and beneficial in wanting to create a sense of structure and consistency in one's relationships and overall life.

Iter Counseling is currently providing therapeutic services to those in Illinois and Wisconsin. Iter aids in the journey one takes in the mutual problem-solving process towards wellness and balance. I founded Iter with the goal of assisting our adolescents, young adults, and adults to continually support and encourage them. I am here to help to successfully navigate the complexities of family life, social interactions, self-awareness, academic life, sports , independence and help find success. With the focus on positivity, I meet clients where they are, understand their experiences, and help them meet their goals without judgement.

Dr. Margret O'Reilly received a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Adler University-Chicago, (August, 2014), an APA accredited program. She earned her M.A. in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Art Therapy from Adler University in (August, 2009), and trained at The University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Primary Care Psychology Associates where she worked in collaboration with Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group Pediatrics, and Adult Internal Medicine in Chicago, IL.

Maor is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and soon to be Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC). Maor believes in the utilization of a client's current strengths to help them achieve their goals. He believes that by drawing out the client's thoughts and emotions, they can become more mindfully aware of what they feel, and in turn improve the way they manage life's circumstances.

Sarah (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and Mental Performance Consultant. As a health and wellness enthusiast, Sarah harnesses her passion to help each person reach their full potential in life. Sarah treats individuals with a wide variety of needs, including anxiety, life transitions, and performance concerns. She utilizes a non-judgmental perspective in both clinical and performance consulting. While exuding warmth and compassion, she helps clients persevere through adversities and celebrate triumphs.

Ashley works with and has a passion for providing services to individuals living with and battling mental health, learning, mood, and traumatic disorders from the ages of 12-years old and above. She specializes in athletic/performance psychology and enhancement, and addictions. Along with providing services, she has a dedication to being a light and a gatekeeper for the fields of mental health, counseling, and clinical supervision. It is her desire to see folks live in their purpose(s) and be the optimal versions of their true and authentic selves.

Are you ready to start making positive changes toward your overall health and wellness? If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, lack of motivation, or feelings of dissatisfaction, I can help. As your therapist, I will work with you to develop mental and behavioral skills for managing symptoms, increasing motivation and productivity, and achieving your goals.

Sarah is a therapist at Millennium Counseling Center and received her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University. As a former collegiate athlete, Sarah understands how the mind and body connection is crucial in its ability to manage & cope with life's stressors. Sarah’s theoretical orientation is grounded in a psychodynamic approach that promotes the exploration of how our past heavily influences our present. Sarah believes it’s imperative to meet the client where they’re at, creating a safe and therapeutically sound alliance.