Somatic Therapists in Naperville, IL

Are you an adult who is trying to manage a traumatic experience, process grief or anxiety/depression at this time in your life? Are you a parent that is looking for an experienced clinician to support you and your child to navigate overwhelming emotions both at home and in school? I am here for you! I am passionate about journeying alongside you with compassion, creating a safe place where you can discover your creative self, and focused upon supporting you as you work towards your unique treatment goals.

I have a passion for working with overwhelm as it manifests through anxiety, depression, self-injury, suicidality, and disordered eating. I utilize my training in Somatic Experiencing, Jungian Psychology, and small group dynamics to empower adolescents and adults to create and lead their ideal lives.

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Are suffering from anxiety, depression or PTSD? Are you ready to make a positive change in your life? What change would you like to see happen in yourself and your life and how would you feel different as a result? Life can sometimes feel overwhelming and counseling can help. We can discover long-standing patterns that may be holding you back from experiencing a more meaningful life. Whether you are looking for extra support and guidance through a difficult situation or you are just ready to move to a new direction in life, I look forward to working with you.

I am passionate about working with you to develop freedom and resilience to deal with past childhood trauma and everyday stress of life. So often life experiences have been traumatic and contribute to struggles with depression, anxiety and inability to function. I work from a somatic and body centered and psycho-dynamic approaches that meets the needs of teens and women with childhood trauma, addictions, anxiety and eating disorders. My focus is to engage the whole person: mind, body, will, spirit and emotions. My intention is to bring hope, resilience and grace into all difficult life experiences.

I specialize in treating Trauma (single event, long-term and attachment) with experiential therapies, including EMDR & Somatic Experiencing. These interventions recognize the need to go beyond changing your thoughts and focus on helping people regulate the body sensations and emotions that continue to be experienced. For example: a person may know that a traumatic event is over and yet continue to feel the emotion of anxiety and the body sensation of muscle tension (never truly relaxing or feeling safe). This can activate an impulse to run away from situations, become angry/defensive or shut down (depressed/ avoidant/dissociative)

I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Registered Art Therapist, Certified EMDR Therapist, Embodied Yoga Teacher, and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. I specialize in working with individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, and performance anxiety. I also work with women in transition facing the quandary of what to do next in their lives. I look forward to helping you travel through what is overwhelming to a place in which you are able to experience the spaciousness, grace and joy of life.

I am a psychotherapist and body centered therapist in private practice with over 20 years experience in the Chicagoland area. I remain curious and open to exploring how your energy field, psychology and nervous system interrelate and move toward wholeness. I provide individual, group and family therapy to adults, adolescents and children to build innate resiliency and re-regulate the nervous system relevant to issues of Developmental Trauma, Complex PTSD, Prenatal / Birth Trauma, Accidents, and Pre/Post Op Medical Procedures.

Accepting NEW Telehealth Clients! I know that it takes courage to ask for help and face issues that feel overwhelming. But this is the purpose of therapy—to offer you support and insight as you explore your path from hurting to wholeness. I have 20 years of experience helping adults overcome depression, anxiety, grief and helping them navigate life transitions from a faith-based perspective. I have training in psychology, theology, and somatic psychology. I recently relocated to Florida to be closer to family—and I look forward to serving you. I hold licenses to practice in both Florida (LMHC) and Illinois (LCPC).

Certified Sexual Addiction Specialist, and Certified Clinical Partner Specialist.The model practiced is multidimensional, treating the addict, partner, coupleship. All three dimensions of the attachment injury are traumatized. The aftermath of discovery/disclosure induces symptoms that impact psysiological responses to the mind, body.The treatment protocol for sexual addiction induced trauma I practice is EMDR, as well as 2 day Intensives. Practicing SEP,we are able to get to wounds of how the body holds the trauma/ attachment injury, using an integrative trauma model.Emotionally Focused Therapy allows helping couples to get to their deepest needs/hurt/rejection/ and betrayal.

How We Treat One Another Matters: For better and for worse, across our whole lives, we operate in relationships. Our views of our "self" and how we relate to others develop from how we have been treated in relationships. Our capacities to love, to learn, to become our best, all emerge optimally within healthy relationships. Likewise, wounds of heart and soul emerge from ways we have been treated and/or choices we have made which have hurt us, sometimes very deeply. Persons who have experienced relational trauma and/or overwhelming life stressors are ideal candidates for clinical services at Gateway.

Building resiliency isn't always about overcoming the mountain sized obstacles. Sometimes, its about overcoming the desire to stay in bed all day, or have popcorn for dinner the fifth day in a row, or have just one more drink at the end of the day. Trauma, and its positive counter-part- Healing, is within each of us. Cultivating a positive support system and partnership is all about accessing the natural power you hold within yourself. Within each individual, and couple, embracing healing is possible. I believe in empowering people to build a relationship with themselves in such a way that they develop internal trust and reliance.

I'm a Taiwanese/Chinese second-generation immigrant who grew up in the Midwest. Born to first-generation immigrants, I've witnessed the ways my parents’ migration experiences and has worked to understand and break cycles of generational trauma. I've dealt with the forces of assimilation, gendered and racialized identity formation, and the need to establish a sense of belonging within an immigrant family surrounded by predominantly Christian, white communities. I've worked with individuals/couples that are challenged by anxiety, trauma, depression, stress, family/relationship conflicts, racial/sexual identities, LGBTQ+ issues, etc.

We're a trauma-informed, culturally-sensitive mental health counseling group for multicultural, Asian, BIPOC, immigrants, LGBTQIA+, and other marginalized communities. We're passionate about working with individuals, couples and families from different cultural backgrounds, exploring how complex identities and unique personal experiences have shaped us into who we are. We specialize in healing from anxiety, complex trauma, relationship issues, perinatal issues, ADHD, adoption, OCD, stress, cultural identity, cultural/intergenerational conflicts, family conflicts, grief, and other issues.

Wanting to build confidence & resilience? Are you in college, experiencing life-transitions, or a student-athlete? Struggling with symptoms of anxiety/depression, healthy lifestyle, setting boundaries, life balance? Learn skills for all of these while being your authentic self. Learn to self-regulate and self-care. As a Licensed Counselor specialized in Sports & Performance Psych, I can help you have a more fulfilling life. I counsel using mindfulness, positive self-talk, effective communication, visualization, and emotional intelligence to name a few. Learn skills to feel happier enhance daily performance, and be more confident.

I often work with people who are facing a major life transition and/or who are feeling "stuck." Whether that is a career change, divorce, having a child, or a major illness (just to name a few), therapy can be incredibly helpful in finding the ground beneath your feet by figuring out what your goals are and how to get there. I also work with a lot of individuals who have survived some type of trauma, including major medical illness. I find that the big "why are we here?" questions can often be important to address after traumatic experiences.

I am interested in working with clients with all different needs, backgrounds and experiences. I am passionate about working with clients who are ready to have a safe, consistent and effective space to process their therapeutic needs. As an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist, I am enthusiastic to implement this highly effective technique for various matters such as depression, anxiety, trauma/PTSD, and more.

What is common to every one of us are experiences of hardship followed by the emotional unraveling of our lives. In these moments, we are called to acknowledge the reality of our struggle, to honor our emotions through expression within the safe spaces they deserve, and to experience healing, strength and the confidence to meaningfully move forward. Therapy is a process of discovery wherein we may explore and discuss comparative self-criticism based on anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and major life changes. I believe that healing through meaning-making is possible through self-compassion.

Due to my upcoming relocation during Summer 2024, all new clients should be prepared to transition to virtual counseling and self pay as I am transitioning out of network. I have over ten years of experience and have expertise in complex and simple PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder, dissociation, attachment issues and boundary setting. I will help you gain a better understanding of yourself and the problems you are experiencing while assisting you with building a strong set of skills to be able to cope adaptively and heal. Clients who will be the best fit for working with me will be open to incorporating EMDR into treatment.

*ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS FOR IN-PERSON SESSIONS*. I am passionate about helping children, teens and young adults. Is your child struggling to self-regulate through big emotions? Is your teen isolating or needs help to form a healthy identity? Are you a young adult struggling to build relationships and cope with life’s challenges? Are you a parent that needs support navigating the challenges of parenting or co-parenting? Counseling can provide the support and guidance needed to work through those tough times. I provide a safe and welcoming space for individuals and families.