Psychodynamic Therapists in Naperville, IL
See all therapists in Naperville
Adam S Ratner
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, MA, MBA
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I utilize a variety of therapeutic methods including Cognitive Behavior Therapy, ACT,
Psychodynamic
.
Individuals/Families Experiencing Challenges with: Depression, Anxiety, Interpersonal Relationships, Behavioral Issues, Professional/Career Challenges, the Family System and Life Transitions. Ages: Adolescent, Young Adult, Adult. Clients consistently find Adam to be very down to earth, accepting and tremendously easy to talk to. Each quickly learns that Adam always strives to over deliver on the care and services he provides. For more information please visit: https://www.growwellnessgroup.com

David C Clinton
Counselor, MA, LCPC
I also draw from several therapeutic approaches in order to provide the tools and perspectives that will best serve the individuals I am working with, including the
psychodynamic
and family systems modalities.
I have been in private practice for 14 years, during which I have worked with adolescents and adults sorting through a wide range of issues including depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, relationship issues and spiritual struggles related to mental health.

Jennifer Curtin
Counselor, MS, LCPC
Verified
6 Endorsed
Verified
6 Endorsed
I work from a family systems base and my preferred interventions are Cognitive Behavioral, Attachment and
Psychodynamic
therapies.
Are you tired of explaining your identity to your therapist? Are you looking to be affirmed and counseled based upon your needs (not the therapists)? I am taking new appointments! I am a gender therapist who is WPATH trained and focuses on working with the LGBTQIA population. approach is realistic, yet nurturing, and rooted in neuropsychology and the mind-body connection. I use an empathetic, warm style and infuse humor where I can. I work with clients in the present moment, drawing on past experiences and relationships to build personal insight. I am trained to write gender confirming letters of support.

Miranda Meadows
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
However, I primarily work from a trauma-informed lens, utilizing relational
psychodynamic
and family systems perspectives.
I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Naperville, IL. I work primarily with individuals of any age, and I am especially fond of working with young adults. My specific interests include trauma, family of origin issues, identity development, shame, and relationship issues. I also value walking alongside clients who are in transitional seasons of life, as I believe these are often the seasons when our identity is challenged the most.

Julie A. Nelson-Kuna, PhD, LLC
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
My specialized training includes use of CBT, DBT, ACT, Mindfulness,
Psychodynamic
and Family-Based therapies.
I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, trained in a research-based PhD program, with many years of experience working with adolescents, emerging adults, adults, and families in both outpatient and inpatient settings. I specialize in working with individuals and families facing school-related pressures including high achievement issues, poor executive functioning, and perfectionism. Also, I have extensive training and experience working with addictive behaviors, including disordered eating, substance abuse, internet/porn abuse. Finally, I have strong interests and clinical experience in working with women struggling with self-esteem, depression, and anxiety.

Brittany Nelson
Psychologist, PsyD, PMH-C
Verified
Verified
I primarily use interpersonal
psychodynamic
and strengths-based approaches adapted to each client’s needs.
I believe in creating a safe, nonjudgmental environment to foster therapeutic change. My extensive background includes treating people of all ages in areas of trauma, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, LGTBQIA+, behavioral issues, disordered eating, phase of life issues, attachment issues, personality disorders, and sexual health. I am currently seeking additional training in women’s health issues, including pregnancy, prenatal, postpartum, and fertility concerns. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola University Chicago in 2012 and my Doctorate of Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2018.

Nicole Steen
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
My style is warm, honest and nonjudgmental, and my practice draws from
psychodynamic
psychotherapy, mindfulness, EMDR and attachment-based neuroscience.
Everyone hits a bump in the road from time to time. Maybe you're going through a difficult transition, such as the loss of a job or loved one. Maybe you worry too much...but can't seem to stop. Maybe you struggle with difficult relationships--or spend so much time caring for others that you've neglected yourself. Sometimes we just get stuck, and we aren't sure why. Sharing our concerns with a caring professional can help us find solutions, improve our sense of self and our relationships, provide safety and warmth, and help us find more meaning in our lives.

Lala Khan
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
In my work, I specialize in the
psychodynamic
approach.
I earned my Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University. I am a skilled, compassionate, and empathetic professional who enjoys working with a wide range of behavioral health issues including depression, anxiety, career and work-related stress, grief/loss, and life transitions.

Angela Pezza Conway
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I conceptualize cases from a
psychodynamic
perspective and incorporate specialized treatments such as Sensorimotor PsychoTherapy, Mindfulness, Trauma and Attachment, and Play Therapy.
I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who has over 10 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults and families, in a variety of mental health settings including: hospitals, private practice, therapeutic day schools, and community mental health. I specialize in the treatment of Mood, Personality, Trauma and Attachment disorder. My special interests include Reactive Attachment Disorder, ADHD, Issues regarding Divorce, Adoption Issues, At-Risk Youth as well as Parent Education/Training, Post-Partum Depression and Transgender issues.

Tao Liu
Psychologist, MS, MA, PhD
Verified
Verified
I utilize a variety of theories and techniques from emotion focused therapy,
psychodynamic
therapy, CBT, DBT, ACT, etc.
If you are struggling with the aftermath of trauma, or navigating a depressive episode, or feeling anxious about socializing with others, or coping with a major life change, or trying to figure where to land on your identity, you are at an important intersection of life. You may be at the edge of losing hope for change, but as Anais Nin put it, “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” A crisis is also an opportunity for making a transformation with the help of an experienced mental health professional.

Leanne Bergey
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, ABD, LPC, NCC
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I specialize in the use of
Psychodynamic
theory, while incorporating pieces of DBT, mindfulness, positive psychology, movement, and prevention-based tools.
Your mind, body, and spirit are richly weaved together to create the unique person you are, and I'm here to help you be authentically, unapologetically, you in a world that is not always kind. The goal is not to be perfect, but instead, present. You deserve to feel seen and heard, and I'd be honored to walk this journey to discover what an authentic life for you looks like alongside you.
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Not accepting new clients

Lauren Smith
Pre-Licensed Professional, PsyD
Verified
6 Endorsed
Verified
6 Endorsed
I primarily work from a relational
psychodynamic
framework, and am trained in ARC and Non-directive play therapy.
As a therapist, I strive to never take for granted the trust it requires to allow someone else to participate in the journey of healing. There are many reasons one might find themselves seeking a therapist, including the experience of anxiety, depression, painful memories, and relational difficulties, and no two individuals experiences any one of these in the same way. Each of us are uniquely influenced by past experiences and traumas, biology, and broader societal systems.

Joy Johnson
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
Utilizing
Psychodynamic
Therapy, Person- Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy I’ve developed an eclectic approach to therapy because no individual is like another.
I believe everyone needs and deserves a safe space to address barriers preventing them from navigating through life the way they desire, thus I seek to foster safe and comfortable environments for those oppressed and marginalized. Living in unprecedented times, it is especially important to have support, awareness, and knowledge of effective coping skills to manage life's stressors. I believe it’s also important to process the lives we’ve already experienced and explore how this cultivates our current worldview.

Jonathan Weinberg
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
I bring an empathic, intuitive approach to my practice of adult psychotherapy, working with my clients to identify both their immediate and long-standing internal obstacles. My goal is to help each client reach a greater, more nuanced clarity about themselves, without oversimplification or rigid categorization. Incorporating perspectives and influences from
Psychodynamic
, Experiential and Existential schools of psychotherapy, I have been told that my warm and engaging yet thoughtful style helps clients to more fully and authentically experience their own emotional richness. I also have extensive experience and advanced training in working with adults who were sexually abused as children.

Ra'eesa Sadat
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, MSW, MPH
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Ra’eesa uses multiple treatment modalities including Interpersonal psychotherapy,
Psychodynamic
therapy, Motivational interviewing and Solutions-focused.
Previously, Ra’eesa provided physical, emotional and educational support during pregnancy and labor and also she provided supportive counseling around adjustment to illness, hospitalization and outpatient care. She believes that therapy helps to remind people that their light continues to shine in the dark, and that the darkness has not overcome it.

Toyah T Wilson
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
I utilize EMDR,
psychodynamic
and cognitive behavioral approaches to therapy.
Have life changes overwhelmed you, leaving you feeling lost and confused? Are you a new mother struggling to adjust? Do you feel past experiences negatively impact your current relationships? Feeling as if nothing you do is ever good enough? If you answered yes to any of these questions, I can help you. I strongly believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to discover their voice and be heard. Therapy provides a unique opportunity to express yourself in a safe environment. Through our relationship you can begin to discover new skills, strengths, and a healthy self esteem to address your concerns.

Heather L McRoberts
Psychologist, MA, PsyD
Verified
Verified
Depending on my client's needs, I incorporate
psychodynamic
, relational, narrative, mindfulness, CBT, sandtray, and play therapies.
If you are struggling with feeling overwhelmed, anxious, depressed or experiencing increased life stressors due to work, family or other responsibilities, psychotherapy can help. Strengthening your interpersonal, behavioral and relational strategies will bring you relief. Together, we will explore how the complex patterns of your experiences are affecting your current life challenges, emotions, and behaviors. Whether working with children, adolescents, teens or adults, my approach is to be compassionate and attuned to your unique set of needs, providing a space for you to feel understood, appreciated and learn self-acceptance, ultimately achieving more effective strategies for dealing with life's stressors.
Waitlist for new clients

Kurt M. Hanus
Counselor, PsyD
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
As a
psychodynamic
therapist, I am trained to recognize the underlying thoughts, feelings, and patterns that keep you from sustaining meaningful relationships and stuck in emotional pain.
How you feel about yourself, relate with others, and make your way in the world is significantly influenced by your earliest relationships. If your caregivers struggled with their own psychological health, their ability to connect with and be emotionally available to you may have been impaired. You may have felt invalidated, rejected, smothered or unwanted. Since you had no choice but to adapt and attach to the adults available to you, you may now find yourself in relationships that feel empty, end abruptly, or are riddled with conflict. Such disharmony only exacerbates feeling depressed and anxious.
Waitlist for new clients

Josette Nard
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, CGP, CRS
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
My style is non-blaming, eclectic and active incorporating cognitive, developmental, systemic and
psychodynamic
modalities.
Even after nearly 40 years as a therapist, each time I begin to work with people I feel as though I am walking on holy ground. Each person who comes to me willing to be vulnerable and open to the change necessary to bring about greater relational happiness and deeper personal awareness is treated with profound respect. Therapy takes courage to face that part of ourselves that may be limiting or sabotaging our relational and personal growth.

Chad Alcorn
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified
Verified
Im trained in
Psychodynamic
/Self psychology, EMDR, Individual/Adlerian psychology, and CBT.
With over 15 years experience as a licensed psychologist, I think of the therapeutic relationship as a method for understanding the self. To that end, behavior patterns can be explored, internal experience can shift with the movement towards change. Perhaps you are caught in the same cycle and feeling frustrated. You may be adjusting to a life or career transition. Stuff from the past is triggering and you might not understand why you feel the way you do. We can explore and understand the meanings in a safe and creative way.
See more therapy options for
Psychodynamic Therapists
Is psychodynamic therapy evidence-based?
Studies have found psychodynamic therapy to be effective in treating conditions like social anxiety, eating disorders, chronic pain, some personality disorders, and depression; indeed, some studies have found it to be just as effective as CBT or medication. What’s more, several studies have found that the benefits of psychodynamic therapy tend to endure—even grow—long after treatment has ended.
How long does psychodynamic therapy last?
Unlike CBT and other more structured forms of therapy, psychodynamic therapy tends to be open-ended and may not be limited to a set number of sessions. It is common for clients to be in therapy for a year or longer and to see their therapist one to three times a week, though the exact schedule and timeline may vary depending on a client’s challenges and progress. However, brief psychodynamic therapy is available, which tends to be more goal-oriented and typically unfolds over 16 to 30 sessions.
Does psychodynamic therapy work?
Research finds that psychodynamic therapy can help someone manage or reduce symptoms of diagnosable mental health conditions like depression or anxiety. The modality may also offer a range of benefits that are harder to measure but just as valuable—such as increased self-worth or healthier relationships. While no therapy type will work for everyone, research and anecdotal evidence suggest that psychodynamic therapy can be highly effective.
What are the limitations of psychodynamic therapy?
Some meta-analyses have concluded that there is little evidence to suggest that psychodynamic therapy can effectively treat certain mental health conditions such as PTSD, OCD, or psychosis, though it is sometimes used to do so. More broadly, the open-ended, free-association structure of psychodynamic therapy may be frustrating for clients who prefer a more structured, time-limited, or goal-oriented approach.