Eclectic Therapists in Oak Park, IL

I believe that we each have divine destinies, but too often there are obstacles such as shame and feelings of unworthiness that hinder us from seeing our purpose and possibilities. I would like to partner with you to help you regain or enhance a sense of wholeness, peace, and joy. Without these things the world can seem a scary and overwhelming place.

Everyone goes through times of struggle and needs someone to listen, reflect and help them move forward. We specialize in working with persons who have experienced trauma, abuse or neglect. Trauma can lead to many life issues & symptoms that we can help you manage & alleviate. Using trauma-informed attachment focused psychotherapy we provide parents with therapeutic skills to help their children heal. I have worked with families, kids, & adults for 25 of years who have various mental illnesses and emotional challenges. Everyone deserves happiness & we can help you through the healing process to restore your mind, body & spirit.

I help individuals and couples develop clear strategies to reduce feelings of anxiety, depression and loneliness. Those coping with marital or relationship difficulties, career transitions and parenting issues find my gentle directness helpful in improving the quality of their lives. In a calm, neutral environment, I offer clients the opportunity to understand themselves in a manner that leads to more satisfying family, marital and work relationships. I utilize family systems and cognitive behavioral therapy to help individuals and couples improve their communication skills and navigate the uncertain waters of change.

Life can be challenging and overwhelming for everyone. As we attempt to navigate in these uncertain times, therapy can be a great benefit in helping us cope with the stressors of everyday life. In me you will find an honest, non-judgmental and experienced therapist dedicated to helping you unlock and reach your potential. Whether you have been experiencing depression, anxiety, traumatic stress or or you just need someone to listen, I will be there to help guide you in meeting your goals.

Through more than 20 years of experience, I have worked extensively with individuals, couples and multi-generational families providing treatment for a wide range of conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior. I grew up in a large & humble home; learning and understanding the complexities of dealing with different types of personalities, sometimes in difficult circumstances at an early age. My goal is to see clients do amazing work in treatment by strengthening their coping skills, removing limiting beliefs, resolving conflicts, and lifestyle changes through a positive way of thinking, feeling, and behaving.

Does your life seem to be less fulfilling and you do not know why? Look no further. Your best life is waiting. I work to provide a safe space and collaborate with clients on finding their inner strengths to utilize them in building resiliency. I work to guide children ages four and older, adolescents, adults, couples, and first responders to reach their goals and experience a happier life. Given my experience working in emergency rooms, outpatient, residential and schools, I understand how the impact of these challenges can often leave people feeling unable to participate in life roles that lead to life satisfaction.

Our life's work is helping clients achieve a better sense of self and happiness...more recently we've recognized that without good mental health providers, finding this balance in life can be more difficult and stressful. As a result, we tend toward an Integrative approach and help our clients transform into the people they want to be. We see each client as an individual with many parts to their identity. Utilizing a holistic and systemic approach we help clients reintegrate the parts of themselves to function better as individuals and within their systems. Our focus tenhers and fathers navigating prenatal/postpartum depression.

I work extensively with tweens, adolescents, young adults, and adults in seeking relief from anxiety and related disorders, depression, ADHD, gender and sexual identity issues, developmental & relational trauma, self-esteem, and healing from attachment and childhood trauma where individuals have navigated a history of unmet needs and frustrating attempts to get them met. I also have a strong interest in working with adolescents in their transition to high school and/or college, stress management, emotional development and maturity, rejection from peers, family conflict, and friendship/interpersonal relationship issues

Feeling stuck? A Chicago Social Worker of the Year (National Association of Social Workers). Published, award-winning author in the field. 25+ yrs experience. English, Spanish. AAMFT clinical member/supervisor. Respectful, skilled, organized, friendly, approachable. Model based approach. LGBTQIA. Goal based, non-pathologizing strength-based model. Highly recommended as humanistic, safe, therapist, trainer and consultant. Popular TEDx Talk: Secrets of a Couples Counselor: 3 steps to Happier Relationships available to watch on Youtube, through my website or google Susan Adler TEDx. www.susanLadler.com

My practice specializes in helping clients heal from the complicated effects of trauma. For many individuals, the ability to trust and feel safe in their relationships, can present significant challenges. My focus is helping individuals and couples overcome these roadblocks and move forward in their lives. I also work with clients to understand how they can interact with family and children to break the cycle of generational trauma, a concern for many individuals who have suffered trauma. In a collaborative environment, clients are able to learn multiple approaches to healing and overcoming the effects of traumatic experiences.

Seeking therapy is a courageous and important decision. As your therapist, I am honored to meet you in your current state. I am here to support you in creating meaningful change and growth in your personal wellbeing. I strive to create an environment of safety, warmth, and compassion, in order to empower you to optimize your potential and live a meaningful life. I am a licensed professional counselor, with extensive experience working with children, adolescents, couples, and families in addressing needs related to trauma, anxiety, depression, and adjustment.

You might be going through a challenging life transition, crippled by worry or a traumatic experience; you have decided it's time for a change and therapy is a great tool to get you there. We can work on finding your inner strengths and ultimately achieve your goals to improve your quality of life. We'll work together to enhance your (or your teen's) strengths to help you overcome the challenges you are currently experiencing as well as helping you develop tools for your future. I believe therapy is a collaborative process and will be dedicated in walking through your journey with you.

Psychotherapy has the potential to improve and even transform people's lives. If you're feeling like there's something missing in your life, psychotherapy can help. You deserve support if you’re experiencing anxiety, depression or the lingering effects of trauma and loss. If you're dealing with challenging life transitions or difficult personal and professional relationships, psychotherapy can be a valuable resource to help you navigate and cope more constructively.

Elena Vassallo has twenty-eight years of experience helping people with anxiety, depression, grief, phase of life transitions, low self-esteem, feelings of meaninglessness, relationship issues and more.

I am committed to creating a safe and healthy environment for clients to grow in self-awareness, curiosity, responsibility and authenticity. I use a variety of client-centered treatment modalities in my work depending on the individual client's needs, including Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Somatic Experiencing. I believe in the mind-body connection and work to incorporate the body's knowledge in treating a variety of presenting concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders and life transitions.

(She/Her/Hers) Over the years, I have built a practice devoted to improving the lives of people from a wide variety of backgrounds, struggling with a number of different issues. More recently, I have shifted my focus from clinical practice to the training of pre-licensed and early career therapists. I very much enjoy mentoring as it gives me the opportunity to share all that I have learned in my two decades of providing psychotherapy.

I love supporting my clients in discovering the brightest versions of themselves. I strive to be a grounding presence, offering strengths-based insight in a consistent, nurturing, and nourishing space where you can stretch, grow, and thrive. My trauma-informed clinical work also names the heavy impact of the systems at play in our lives - racism, white supremacy, colonization, capitalism, patriarchy, anti-queerness, anti-fatness and ableism must be acknowledged as complex and enduring influences on our institutions and therefore on our individual and collective healing.

At The Juniper Center you will find LGBTQ centered care. We are owned and directed by a therapist and a member of our community. Your name, your pronouns, your identity belong to you. Helping you heal belongs with us. You don't want to have to hide any of who you are. Whether your gender does not match your body, your identity does not match your gender, you love someone born the same sex as you or you love someone who is working their way through these issues, we are here to help. Perhaps you are a parent wanting to understand your child, or to help your child find a positive way through confusing issues.

I believe that most people, at some point in their lives, may face challenging issues, be it job or family stress, relationship issues, death, or illness. My philosophy as a practitioner is to help those dealing with such issues to find support and help in facilitating change where it is needed in order to relieve some of the strain and enhance life experiences. My style is compassionate and individualized. While therapy should always be a forward progress, the pace of each person's therapy should be suited to the individual.