Veterans Therapists in Chicago, IL

Even without a crisis, one can still be troubled: "I know what to do to make my life better. But it's hard for me to move on things. . . I always felt that I loved everyone I live with. But now I'm not so sure. . . I am trying to stay in my job until I get Social Security. But I don't know if I can bear eight more years of misery." Thoughts like the above are common. Sometimes, we can confine them to a few moments. Beyond that, they can drain us. Unfortunately, there are risks in confiding these thoughts to those we care about. The risks in disclosing them to a therapist are less. Afterall, they will not benefit from your choices.

I utilize an integrated eclectic approach that tailors to the needs of each client. I support clients seeking to learn skills to develop inner strength, find self-awareness, and improve mindfulness. We will collaborate on techniques and treatment goals that allow you the freedom to begin the healing process of the body, mind, spirit, and recovery. As a veteran, I also provide support to veterans and first responders. In my experience with addiction, trauma, PTSD, and eating disorders, I find that encompassing acceptance, compassion, and autonomy brings healing and improves the quality of life.

Does stress, anxiety, or trauma have you feeling overwhelmed? Are you tired of pretending to have it all together and dragging feelings of anger, loneliness, and worthlessness around in your head? Do you wonder if you will find a therapist that can relate to your race, gender, and share your perspectives? Maybe you're mentally or emotionally overloaded; your peace and joy is drowning. Are you needing someone to help you navigate some life challenges and seek balance in your life? Sound familiar? If you answered yes to any of these questions, welcome to Elements of Wellness Counseling, a safe and culturally sensitive space.

In order to improve our lives, we need to improve our perspectives. This means stepping out of our comfort zones and adding new beneficial experiences and learning better ways to navigate the ever changing world around us. It is courageous to want to confront our current mode of thinking, and as a therapist, I am genuinely excited to provide a safe and welcoming environment to help guide those choosing to do so.

Taking steps to improve your quality of life may begin with reaching out to a therapist. I welcome you to give me a call! I have built my therapeutic practice upon the guiding principles of support and collaboration. We will work towards determining challenges and obstacles in your life and create a plan that is individualized to your needs. I take a functional approach to healing and help clients determine underlying challenges to health and wellness. I truly enjoy providing a space to help clients gain insight and understanding in order to move towards balance with improved quality of life.

Providing clients with non-judgmental, caring, and compassionate treatment is my passion. Empowerment, validation, and client-centered therapy are what help my clients overcome obstacles they encounter, along with a therapist who believes in being an advocate. My mission is to help clients become the best version of themselves, whatever that may be. Treatment is not a “cookie-cutter” approach and must be tailored and individualized to each person. Each client will have unique challenges. I have a Master in Social Work w/ specialties in Addictions and Healthcare and a Master in Business Administration w/ a specialty in Leadership.

Sierria Coleman is a practicing Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Chicago. providing individual and couples psychotherapy. Sierria strives to create a warm and inviting space for her clients. My personal mission is to help people take a journey of self-discovery, to find balance and contentment in life. Self-compassion and honest self-reflection are the first steps in avoiding the “happiness trap” and finding true peace and joy.

I am a CBT and ACT-informed therapist who wants to help adults of any age to live a more fulfilling life. I enjoy working with people who are struggling with things like stress, sadness or worrying and are curious to find another way to tackle those issues. I want to work with each client to find specific, tailored goals and then use the time in therapy to help clients achieve them. I am eager to help clients examine their values and make changes in their life. Aligning actions with values can make life so much more meaningful. I hope you find me to be a friendly, knowledgeable, and caring professional.

I collaborate with participants to plan creative solutions and positive coping behaviors in order to address a wide variety of experiences, including: anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationships, self-esteem and self-worth, stress, symptoms related to post-traumatic stress, vicarious trauma, being in relationship with a trauma survivor, substance use/ abuse, self-care, and addressing negative coping behaviors. I have worked extensively with survivors of sexual violence, people who have experienced domestic violence, combat Veterans , and other survivors of complex trauma.

I treat my clients as whole people, not as a set of symptoms. I help my clients build on their strengths, to create a better sense of wellbeing. I look at my clients as already complete human beings. You are more than your problems, and not as simple as a textbook. Whatever challenges you are facing, whatever difficulties you are having, I assure you that you are worth being heard. You are worth being treated with compassion, in a nonjudgmental setting. I am here to help you find healing and wholeness.

I have been in private practice for over 20 years and have treated thousands of clients including individuals, families, children and adults. People often come in seeking relief from a range of struggles including depression, anxiety, ADHD, and family conflicts. Through my work with many families I began to also address issues of parenting and family dynamics as well as children and adolescents facing a variety of disorders, self-esteem issues, and acting out behaviors. Over the span of my career I have also treated substance abuse, bipolar, psychotic and personality disorders.

Michelle Maddalozzo is an LCSW in private practice in Illinois, North Carolina and Virginia. She holds a Masters in Social Work from the University of Chicago and will complete her Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Tennessee in June 2022. Michelle has been working with mood disorders, depression, anxiety, and trauma for over the past ten years while specializing in military mental health. She incorporates different treatment modalities (CBT, DBT, CPT, PE, solution focused) into her work, with an emphasis on body-oriented techniques. Michelle sees adults and adolescents for individual therapy.

**I have daytime availability Monday-Friday and morning availability on Fridays.** I practice in an integrative fashion, combining aspects of psychodynamic, relational, cognitive-behavioral and existential perspectives. I view therapy as a collaborative process and work with my clients to help create and maintain a safe space to explore and interact with one's thoughts and feelings. I seek to help my clients live fully and authentically and see therapy as an opportunity to learn new ways of walking in the world that bring happiness and fulfillment.