Trauma and PTSD Therapists in Chicago, IL
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Carey Rand
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master's in Social Work from New York University with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health. In my clinical training and work, I have experience providing psychosocial services and therapy within both the New York City Public School and Public Hospital systems as well as a residential treatment school at the University of Chicago. I have years of experience working with clients ranging from early childhood to seniors and with a wide range of presenting problems including depression, anxiety,
trauma
, and psychosis symptoms.

Margherita Porcella
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, MA, LCPC
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
5) While therapy has always been my calling, it has not always been my work, so I come with wide-ranging life and career experience; 6) I value diversity and welcome discomfort; 7)
Trauma
is a major interest of mine and I have done advanced training in it, including completing Level 1 training in Internal Family Systems.
To help simplify the search you’re doing right now, here is me in brief: 1) I see adults individually and in couples; 2) My clients appreciate my warmth, kindness and humor; 3) I pay attention to you as a whole person—mind, body, emotions and spirit; 4) I believe you are completely acceptable as you are and also that change is possible.

Eve Haydt
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC, MEd
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Eve also has advanced training in CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy) for
Trauma
.
Eve Haydt (she/they) is a psychotherapist with experience working with clients across the lifespan and in a variety of clinical settings. She enjoys working with individuals with anxiety,
trauma
, depression, eating disorders, and body image concerns. Eve utilizes an integrative and collaborative approach to treatment with a focus on the client’s unique values and goals. She often combines CBT, DBT, and relational approaches. Eve also enjoys integrating systemic and cultural perspectives in her work with clients.

Ana Diaz
Counselor, LCPC
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
My therapeutic focus will always include the cultural context of your identity/ies and I work from a
trauma
-informed perspective.
Are you stuck? Are you "the strong one" or the person who "has got it all together" but is really suffering at the moment? Do you wonder if it is you or if it is them (or your environment)?Feeling unlike your normal self or feeling like you don't even know yourself are two very painful states to experience. I work with individuals with a wide variety of concerns. You can feel comfortable being yourself and expect me to engage in LGBTQIA+ affirmative/celebratory therapy and also work affirmatively with individuals in all expressions of romantic/sexual relationships.

Alixandra Zoe Rosenbaum
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC, NCC
Verified
Verified
Furthermore, incorporating movement, breath work, and grounding practices into my sessions with clients assists with releasing stored
trauma
in the body.
The first step to making a change is identifying that there is a problem. Each person is so vastly different, there is no one-size fits all approach to therapy. When working with clients, I integrate tenants from various therapeutic approaches to fit the individuals needs that day. Whether it’s anxiety, depression, a significant life-event or change, the right therapist can make all the difference.

Dr. Michael Gold
Licensed Social Worker, PsyD, MA, LSW
Verified
Verified
Personal transitions: aging, coping with illness, questioning your identity, coping after a
trauma
.
I help adult individuals and couples through major life transitions for themselves, their relationships and their work. In therapy I help you understand what you are feeling, so you can come up with ways to better cope and problem-solve during challenging times, develop a stronger sense of identity, develop and exercise self-compassion, and develop insight into unhelpful patterns. In doing so, you can improve your psychological well-being, achieve your goals, and live a more fulfilling life. I believe you are the only expert in your own life, so my role is to help you discover the best way for you to navigate this transition.

Mara L Hundrieser-Acosta
Pre-Licensed Professional, BA
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
Experiencing
trauma
at any point in life can hinder someone of their best self, even if the
trauma
was one that was passed down to them unknowingly. Working with people who want to heal their
trauma
or intergenerational
trauma
is what I invite us to explore together. I would love to work with you and explore deeper inside, while it might sound scary. I would like to help alleviate your feelings around
trauma
, triggers, health challenges, and help you connect more to your body, mind and soul so you can live in a more harmonious way, live a meaningful life where there is an integration of wellness, mindfulness, and healing.

Heather Miller
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
My approach to therapy is integrative, drawing from cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, anti-oppressive,
trauma
-informed, and systems theories.
Seeking therapy is an important decision that shows personal strength and motivation. Therapy can be a reflective, confidential space to explore issues that are important to you, and to pursue goals you have for yourself and your life. I have a deep respect for the strengths you bring to the therapeutic work, and my approach to therapy involves building on these strengths to support you in reaching your goals. I believe strongly in a non-judgmental approach to therapy, and I strive to build emotional safety in our time together to allow space for you to explore important life issues in an authentic way.

Brandi Binder
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
Hello! I am Brandi. Are you struggling with stress?
Trauma
? Depression? Anxiety? Relationship issues? Figuring out your balancing act with all things in your day to day? All of the above? I can help. Let’s work together to find you some relief. Let me help you work towards inner peace and happiness. Let me help you learn to communicate so that you feel heard in those relationships.

Taylor Leisher
Counselor, MA, LCPC
Verified
Verified
While I gladly and earnestly welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences, I offer particular expertise and experience in helping survivors of sexual
trauma
, survivors of complex
trauma
, people struggling with problematic sexual behaviors, and Asian American, Pacific Islander, Native American, mixed-race, and LGBTQ+ peoples.
It is my belief that the therapeutic relationship, and the sharing of a safe, warm, and empathic space, is the catalyst for healing and growth. By being curious and inquisitive, we will explore the points of tension in your life that are bringing you into therapy. And through this exploration, we will work to find and grow new ways of engaging with the world. I take a gentle but honest approach and recognize the importance of the therapeutic process in creating meaningful and sustainable change.

Louise Sherman
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCPC, CCTP, MEd
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Louise is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Clinical
Trauma
Professional, who specializes in
trauma
recovery.
Louise is dedicated to renewing lives and supporting the recovery of those struggling with chronic stress, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, low self-worth and
trauma
. Louise strives to enhance an individual's quality of life and relationship with self, understanding that when met with adequate support, we can all find healing and fulfillment in life. Louise utilizes an integrative therapeutic approach, including Insight Oriented Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Attachment-Based Theory, Experiential Therapy, Mindfulness, Somatic Experiencing, Psycho-Education and EMDR Therapy.

Kiernan Josiah Wright
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LSW
Verified
Verified
Are you struggling with unwanted or distressing thoughts, feelings, or urges? This might present as anxiety, be the result of past
trauma
, or it might be something else. Either way, it's likely that therapy can help. Instead of attempting to avoid painful content, we use awareness-raising, mindfulness, and other strategies to change how we interact with our thoughts and feelings, which ultimately increases our ability to tolerate emotional pain and focus on living a meaningful life.

Stephanie Brown
Pre-Licensed Professional
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I have extensive training working with individuals who struggle with a range of anxiety symptoms, and diagnoses especially
trauma
. In my years of practice, I have noticed that many clients lack trust in themselves and the ability to find a positive sense of self. People just want to understand themselves and become more comfortable with how they handle daily life stressors and others. To achieve this goal individuals need support with recognizing triggers and utilizing appropriate coping skills to reduce the negative responses to those triggers.

Rachael Miller
Counselor, LCPC, NCC, EMDR-C, EAC
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
I specialize in the clinical practice of wellbeing, performance, and
trauma
recovery.
Hello! I work with individuals looking to improve their lives by overcoming current and early life traumas, processing daily stressors, and meeting performance goals. Clients who work with me report feeling more confident, resilient, and empowered. My work with individuals, families, and corporations has been featured internationally through one-on-one services, workshops, and organizational trainings. If you’ve landed on this page, you’ve already taken the first step. You’re not alone and there is help available!

Jacqueline Herrera
Pre-Licensed Professional, MSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I have worked with clients who experience anger, anxiety, depression,
trauma
and other relationship issues.
I am a bicultural, bilingual, and Latinx therapist. My goal is to create and provide a safe space for clients to feel supported through this therapeutic journey. Building a trusting and collaborative therapeutic relationship is the foundation of my work. I am committed to support my clients to discover their ability to stand in their own authenticity, value their personal growth and empowerment. During my professional experiences I have worked with school age children, adolescents, adults, and families. I value the ideology of supporting clients to build skills that will support them in their everyday lives.

Christina Joly
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, LCPC
Verified
Verified
I have specialized training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) & IFS (Internal Family Systems) which are useful to address
trauma
& many other issues.
Sometimes the hardest part of therapy is making the choice to begin. If you are here, you’re ready or at least thinking about starting this journey. Welcome! My ideal client is curious! You don’t need to have answers when you come to therapy. You may not even know what the exact issues are. That’s okay. We will work in collaboration to find the path forward that benefits you most. I encourage clients to share with me when things are and are not working for them. There’s no “one size fits all” therapy so we may “try on” a few different things to see what works for you!
Not accepting new clients

Thomas Anderson
Psychologist, PhD, MS
Verified
Verified
I work with men and women around issues of health, anger, addiction,
trauma
, sexuality, mood, career and relationships. Typically, clients come to see me complaining about a lack of "joy" in their lives. They recognize repeating patterns of failed relationships at home, work or with others. While professionally successful many of my clients have difficulty feeling "healthy" in ways that are often difficult to fully articulate or understand. My clients are looking to understand why they feel and behave the way they do and how they can translate that understanding into feeling better and improved relationships within their lives.

Allison Jensen
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC
Verified
Verified
I am level 1 Gottman trained and specialize in multicultural relationships and
trauma
in relationships.
Allison is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC pending) with a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from North Park University. She works with individuals and couples to overcome life’s challenges. With a background in Linguistics, she believes in the power of communication and understanding of one’s internal motivations to navigate life’s challenges. She seeks to integrate one’s life experiences by identifying stressors and traumas to help clients find meaning in their day-to-day lives and relationships. She believes passionately in the healing that is available to individuals and loves to help them reach their potential.

Masuma Rasheed
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, PhD
Verified
8 Endorsed
Verified
8 Endorsed
I support adults facing anxiety, depression, disturbing memories, grief, break-ups, work-related stress, ADHD, and
trauma
. I focus on helping all adults, specifically marginalized individuals, to navigate through their life story to identify thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that no longer serve them. I assist clients who want to change these negative beliefs into beliefs that are more valid and useful. Examples include: “I should have done something” to “I did the best I could” or “I am not enough” to “I am okay as I am” or “I am not in control” to “I now have choices” or “I cannot trust anyone” to “I can choose whom to trust".
Not accepting new clients

Dr. Juan Barriga
PsyD
I serve populations who are experiencing: depression, anxiety,
trauma
, acculturation issues, familial conflict, parenting, life transitions and adjustments, loss and grief, men’s issues, identity development, and academic concerns. I have previously served children, adolescents, emerging adults, adults, and families at school settings, outpatient settings, inpatient settings, and community mental health settings. I am passionate serving populations who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, immigrants, and spiritual and/or religious.
Chicago, IL 60602
Not accepting new clients
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Trauma and PTSD Therapists
When should I seek treatment for trauma?
Not everyone who undergoes trauma needs therapy to heal, but many do. If, after experiencing a traumatic event, you find yourself struggling with symptoms such as nightmares, dissociation, irritability, or emotional numbness—especially if these symptoms last more than a month and are severe enough to interfere with your daily functioning—you may benefit from seeking out therapy with a trauma-informed provider.
How long does trauma therapy take?
Different types of therapy for trauma unfold on different timelines. Prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive processing therapy, for example, each take about three months, while trauma-informed CBT may last anywhere from 8 to 25 sessions. Other approaches, especially those that are less structured or that incorporate elements from multiple modalities, may be more open-ended, though many patients report feeling better within the first few months of treatment.
What happens if trauma is left untreated?
Unaddressed trauma can have serious—even devastating—effects on relationships, career, and day-to-day functioning. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can lead people to distrust or lash out at others, making it difficult to maintain intimate relationships; it can also trigger symptoms such as flashbacks or hyperreactivity that can interfere with a person’s ability to function effectively, personally and/or professionally. Some sufferers turn to drugs to find relief. Symptoms may lessen on their own with time, but there is no guarantee that PTSD will resolve on its own.
Can PTSD come back after treatment?
It is possible for PTSD symptoms to recur months or years after successful treatment. This is because, like most mental health disorders, it is not possible to “cure” PTSD, and stressful life events may cause symptoms to recur in even the most resilient individuals. There is no shame in re-experiencing PTSD symptoms nor in returning to therapy when such relapses occur; indeed, many forms of trauma therapy explicitly encourage periodic “maintenance sessions” to reinforce coping skills and ensure that symptoms stay manageable.