Therapists in Chicago, IL

What would it feel like to give yourself the space to sit and explore emotions, memories, and thoughts and to believe that you can handle them instead of avoiding or changing them? It is okay if your answer is “scary” or “gross”. While acknowledging that I cannot determine whether a space is safe or not, I strive to offer a space of non-judgement, validation, compassion and growth where you can get to know yourself more, build insight and acknowledgement of your strengths, and talk about whatever you need to for an hour.

Through research, education and clinical services, The Family Institute at Northwestern University is one of the nation's leading relationship-based behavioral health organizations committed to strengthening and healing the whole family system by bringing together the right partners to support children, adults, couples and families across the lifespan. As researchers, educators and therapists, we work with our clients and PARTNER TO SEE CHANGE. By weaving together 175 therapists and therapists-in-training, we create a high quality, collaborative system of behavioral health care. One that gets results.

Are you feeling stuck or unsure of yourself? Are you struggling with anxiety, depression, work/life balance, relationship concerns, or how to achieve what you really want? We can help you find your authentic voice, connect to your inner strengths, discover new perspectives, and effectively assert yourself to make the positive changes you need. We will help you manage your self-critical voices and gain meaningful insights into your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. We specialize in helping young and not so young adults who are struggling with self-confidence, relationships, trauma, life transitions, and issues of identity.

Do you struggle with intrusive thoughts or memories? Have you been told to mask yourself for other people’s comfort? Do you hold yourself to a higher standard than the one to which you hold others? Have you had difficulty finding a therapist with an intersectional understanding of systemic oppression and all the harm it brings? I work with adults of all ages who want to expand their skills for communication, emotional self-regulation, and radical self-love. I use anti-oppressive practices to help empower my clients to live authentically, joyfully, and with as much safety as possible in a marginalizing society.

I work with clients who are seeking to better understand themselves and live authentic, rewarding lives. My specialties include anxiety, depression, life transitions, dating/relationships, self-esteem, and career development. Many of my clients desire clarity in their romantic and/or family relationships, and want to increase supportive, caring connections in all aspects of their lives. I support my clients in increasing their self-worth and self-knowledge to reach these goals. I have a passion for working with women, BIPOC, and queer individuals and I am committed to learning and practicing anti-oppression therapy.

I believe in the importance of building a therapeutic relationship and comfortable environment and therefore believe in being authentic and realistic with clients. I find this to be especially important in working with adolescents, young adults, families, and those who hav experienced trauma. I enjoy getting to understand their prospective and being able to advocate for them as well as to teach them to advocate for themselves and learn the skills that they need to communicate more effectively with others. I also believe that working with families and parents creates more success for everyone and therefore facilitate more change.

Life can be really difficult to navigate at times. Different spaces in life require different tools and skills. Maybe, you are finding that the tools that worked in a previous space in time, are no longer useful; leaving you feeling stuck and overwhelmed. Maybe, you are tired of the same feelings of guilt, hurt, and shame from your past and you are ready to heal. Maybe you are feeling the intensity of the current time and world we live in, and you need a space to process it all. Whatever the case, it is my passion assisting teen and adult women as they discover themselves and develop what they need to live the lives they desire.

I am client-focused when working with individuals and families, providing space for them to openly discuss the impact family building has had on their mental health. I encourage clients to actively participate in their treatment and collaboratively work with each client to identify their therapeutic goals. I use a mixture of modalities, from cognitive-behavioral techniques to holistic and integrative approaches. I always strive to bring culture and identity into the therapy space as I believe one’s lived experiences are often shaped by their personal identities.

It can be intimidating to seek out and start meeting with someone to talk about your thoughts, feelings, life stresses, relationships, past experiences, anxieties, concerns, etc. I am aware of this, and therefore my priority is to create a non-judgmental space for my clients in which they feel safe and supported. My approach to therapy is collaborative in which we work together to process some of the obstacles, whether past or present, that might be preventing you from living a fuller and more present life.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and EMDR trained therapist with 15 years of experience. I am passionate about supporting clients in developing the skills they need to overcome emotional wounds and trauma so they can live healthy, fulfilling lives. I specialize in working with depression, anxiety, trauma, family/relationship issues, and grief.

I am a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in working with children, adolescents, and young adults. I follow a relationship-focused approach, developing a strong, trusting, nonjudgmental and empathetic connection between myself and my clients. I incorporate a range of clinical tools, including narrative therapy, play therapy, and motivational interviewing. I know that starting therapy can feel intimidating, and that's why we will work collaboratively to ensure that we are working towards achieving the goals that are most important to you.

My clinical focus lies with eating disorders and body image issues. I have worked in the eating disorder treatment community for 6+ years in a variety of capacities including inpatient, residential, and crisis stabilization programs. I am passionate about eating disorder recovery and collaborating with patients to find balance in their lives. I am anti-diet and HAES aligned. Therapy provides a safe space to be yourself in a supportive environment, helping to meet you where you’re at and work towards creating lasting change.

Hi, I'm Diane she/her My work as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker includes over 12 years of supporting adolescents and adults of all orientations and expressions. Creating collaborative relationships, engaging in continuous training and using evidence-based approaches to treatment are the foundations of my practice. My approach to the therapeutic process is client-centered and begins with meeting my clients within the context of their everyday lives.

I have been working with clients since 1991. Over the course of my training and experience, my style of therapy has evolved to an integrative approach combining humanistic, feminist, and psychodynamic theories of personality development with an approach that emphasizes the adaptive development of identity across the lifespan within broad interpersonal, social, and cultural contexts. I seek to find what is working well for you, help you understand the experiences that brought you to this place in your life, and use your strengths to help you grow and develop insight as well as create behavioral change.

My work focuses on adolescents and young adults, parents and caregivers, and individuals impacted by anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma, life transitions and life stressors, and identity development. My background is with community based services for people facing mental health concerns, trauma, and disability. I bring my full self as a social worker, a partner in a biracial family, and a parent to children who are LGBTQ and disabled. I am committed to an anti-racist and culturally humble practice. I am trauma informed, bilingual in English/ Spanish, LGBTQ+ affirming, and neurodiversity and disability pride oriented.

Connection to ourselves and others makes life noteworthy. To make those connections deeper, it is vital to find and maintain healthy relationships that enrich our lives. If you're like most people who struggle with relationships from time to time, let me help you by giving you the skills to make this happen. As a therapist, I feel honored that people share their stories with me. Whether you're stressed with dating or changes in intimacy in your long-term relationship, I can teach you approaches you can use to achieve your goals and break bad cycles.