Therapists in Evanston, IL

My approach involves helping children, adolescents, and young adults harness their strengths to create lasting and meaningful change in their lives. I use cognitive behavioral strategies to enhance coping skills and help people grow. Through a collaborative relationship, I help people define their goals, discover what strategies work for them, and work towards the next phase of their life. Plus, I think everyone needs to have a sense of humor and I bring this attitude to my work.

I respect that coming to therapy is a choice a client makes to do something good for themselves, and that it can be challenging to choose you, or to open up to someone new. Social work strongly believes in the autonomy of the client, and I believe people are the experts on themselves. As a therapist, I'm present to meet you where you are at and to help with what is most important to you. My personality is laid back, and as a therapist I feel I'm open minded, easy to talk to, and accepting. I enjoy supporting people in defining goals and taking steps to achieve them.

All of us -- women and men, young and old, poor, middle class and upscale folks, minorities and majorities -- have to deal with complexity. As a therapist I help heal hurts from the past, assist clients in managing present challenges, and work collaboratively to create more satisfying future lives. The people who see me for individual, couples and family therapy represent a culturally diverse group. Their difficulties range from anxiety and depression, to stress disorders, OCD/OCPD, relationship problems, employment issues, and bereavement. Many of these women and men report quick progress in better managing their personal, family, academic, and work lives.

I enjoy working with clients who are looking for support in taking the next steps towards achieving the lives they want. My clinical experience includes working with clients experiencing depression, trauma/PTSD, self-esteem issues, attachment issues, and relationship challenges. I work collaboratively with clients, making it a priority to take clients where they are and assist them in identifying where they want to be and what holds them back from getting there. I use a feminist relational, trauma informed, and client centered approach to explore with clients how their history may be impacting their current functioning.

My passion is to help people explore their challenges, work toward their life goals, and find peace. I use empathetic listening and a compassionate approach to help people process trauma, childhood abuse and neglect, women's issues, grief, depression, relationship challenges and life transitions. Through a variety of interventions, including EMDR therapy, I can help you work through a sense of being stuck, find your strength and grow into your best self.

Through individualized care and a strong therapeutic relationship, I believe clients can better understand their unique strengths and feel empowered in their lives. Using trauma-informed care and harm reduction strategies, I want clients to feel safe, affirmed, and well-informed when making the best choices for themselves.

My practice is based on the theory of Analytical Psychology founded by Carl Jung. What this means to me that therapy is not about "fixing" but about "growing" by becoming aware of what is unconscious. Loss, trauma, anxiety, depression. These things happen to all of us sooner or later & like a force of nature, they need to be understood in order to be withstood. My goal is to help people become more conscious to better understand themselves & figure out their personal path through pain and towards individuation. I provide coaching & symptom management for immediate problems while nurturing seismic shifts for lasting change.

As a Latinx woman, I appreciate the complexities of identity and intersectionality. I am committed to my clients, with attention to advocacy and an anti-racist lens, and I am an active ally in helping clients navigate the reality of oppressive systems that impact mental health. I am trained and experienced in working with people from diverse backgrounds and am skilled at providing therapy for all clients. Other specialty areas are working with postpartum, perinatal parents, trauma, LGBTQ+, young adults, and people in life transitions.

Sometime we all feel unhappy, stressed, confused, or "stuck." Talking to an empathic and experienced therapist may be your first step toward developing new insights about positive change. My therapeutic approach is to encourage you to talk about your concerns openly in a confidential and safe environment where you will not be judged. A major benefit of therapy is to provide you with a second point-of-view on your personal material--a perspective other than your own. This process provides you with new ways to think about your choices and behaviors, and frees you to achieve your goals.

I believe that problems are best understood in the context of relationships - with loved ones, with intimate partners, and with oneself. Perhaps you are noticing room for improvement in one or in multiple relationships, or perhaps you have a strong desire for increased understanding of yourself and others. It takes a great deal of insight and strength to even begin this journey towards greater harmony. My hope as a clinician is to help foster within you a sense of renewed curiosity, compassion, and hope as you undertake this journey.

As a senior hospital-trained psychologist, I enjoy providing insight-oriented care to individuals and families who are curious about how they contribute to their own difficulties in living. I also enjoy consulting on psycholegal matters and mentoring colleagues. I work with many successful people who are struggling in a particular area such as work or marriage. I enjoy working with people to find more meaning in their careers. I also have a subspecialization in addictions. I also use my behavior change expertise to address our addiction to oil and the preservation of our planet for future generations.

My primary goal for my clients is to achieve healing on the deepest level. As an Adlerian trained therapist, I utilize psychodynamic as well as alternative modalities to explore, transform and heal those perceptions and beliefs that may be negatively impacting their lives. Whether it's one on one, couples, or group therapy, I am actively participating, encouraging, and guiding my clients so they feel safe and supported to examine and process their deepest emotional wounds.

If you have been struggling to create a meaningful change in your life because of your unhealthy patterns or your own judgmental thoughts, then you might want to dive in the process to clarify what is actually going on. We are more than our thoughts and yes we are driven by our habits. My work with clients is collaborative. I hope to empower, engage and provide you support to promote healing and positive change. I believe that we are unique in many ways & that we are capable of overcoming our personal struggles. Therapy is a safe space to discover yourself, & have a better perspective about your life experiences that impact you.

I am an experienced psychotherapist. I work best with persons serious about their desire to make their lives more meaningful and themselves more free. I enjoy being a part of the process of change that occurs in those who choose to make such a commitment. I work with individuals across the life span, including work with infants and caregivers, with adolescents and with adults. By experience and by inclination, I believe that, in choosing psychotherapy, one gives oneself a great gift.

Going through changes? Some are easier to navigate than others. Often experiences and patterns can limit your response to challenges and keep you stuck in unsatisfying relationships and situations. Together, in a safe and supportive environment, we can examine what has been working well for you and how your life might change by responding differently. We can work together to make the next stage of your life more fulfilling, empowering, and satisfying.

It is common to feel like the wheels have fallen off after life hands you the unexpected. It is my passion to help adults who have been contending with stressful, often traumatizing, life experiences to heal, restore and transform. I look forward to providing you with a safe place to explore, find solutions and move forward.

Eric J. Proescher, PsyD, MPH, is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Professor with over 20 years of experience. He completed his training at Loyola University in Maryland, the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago (National Louis University), and University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).

I work with women struggling with stigma, impact of trauma, mood disorders, and disorders relating to psychosis. If you feel like you have lost your voice, you self esteem, your inner strengths and feel overwhelmed, worried, and exhausted; art therapy can help you rediscover and expand your self worth.

Preston has clinical experience working with adolescents and adults in college settings, outpatient mental health clinics, and private practice. His clinical interests include working with underserved communities, mood disorders, substance use, relationship and family challenges, trauma, and systemic challenges related to diversity and inclusion.