Therapists in Oak Park, IL

I am continually amazed by the human capacity to grow, change, and flourish in the midst of personal and societal challenges. Particularly as we grapple with the developmental challenges that emerge throughout our lives. Circumstances such as new relationships, pregnancy and adoption, career changes, midlife shifts, retirement, and older age are all normal and create opportunities for growth. All of this can be stressful and we often need extra support in the midst of these experiences. In a counseling relationship with me, we will walk through this journey together, focusing our work on what brings joy and contentment to your life.

I'm a warm, experienced therapist specializing in treating anxiety, depression and relationship issues. Most of us experience these feelings at one time or another. We may even talk to friends or family members. When friends and family members aren't able to help, though, it makes sense to seek out a trained professional. I use evidence-based, best practices to help you find relief as quickly as possible. Each session consists of a dialogue in which both of us participate. When clients finish treatment, it's not uncommon for them to express feeling safe, connected, understood and supported as they review our work together.

Hello! My name is Michelle Wong (she/hers) and I’m a provisionally licensed therapist at Innovative Counseling Partners PLLC in Oak Park. I received my training and Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adler University. My approach to the therapeutic process is integrative and I create a non-judgmental, safe, fruitful, healthy, and fun relationship. I value empathic understanding, compassion, diversity, and creativity.

Smart Love Family Services is a team of experienced psychologists, social workers, and professional counselors providing supportive relationship-based psychotherapy. Our approach recognizes that all people are born with an innate potential and desire to be happy, to feel good about themselves, and to experience close, positive loving relationships, but often times learned self-sabotaging patterns can get in the way. We help people create the kind of life that they want for themselves by turning away from self-sabotaging behaviors, and turning towards self-caretaking and constructive coping choices for a more fulfilling life.

My clients include children, teens, adults and couples. They share a commitment to healing, development and personal growth. We work together to foster a strong therapeutic alliance built upon trust, mutual respect, communication, creativity and relational connection. They are diverse in age, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, and culture. Addressing trauma wounds, attachment issues, relationship conflicts, and eradication of maladaptive thought-patterns and beliefs are key tenants of our work. Collaboratively we move toward healing the personal, relational and transpersonal alike.

I work with people who are recovering from religious trauma, deconstructing their faith, or reintegrating spirituality into their lives, including those from the LGBTQIA+ community who have been harmed by religious groups. I am dedicated to an anti-oppression approach and love to learn and grow with clients seeking similar values. I value working with teenagers and young adults to empower them care for themselves and grow in confidence. I have expertise in working with adoptive families and birth parents. I am certified in Perinatal Mental Health to guide parents navigating the intense life changes of pregnancy and parenthood.

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist with more than two decades of experience treating children, adolescents, adults, couples, biological families, foster families and adoptive families. I provide home-based and in office therapeutic services. I have found that the home is a wonderful place to observe, diagnose and treat interpersonal dynamics and conflicts. Home-based therapy is also beneficial for individuals who feel more comfortable addressing personal issues in the comfort and privacy of a home setting, are homebound due to illness or disability, have limited transportation options or have young children at home.

Life is all about relationships--beginning with the one you have with yourself. My goal is to provide a safe place for you to explore your underlying feelings leading to a better understanding and acceptance of who you are and who you can be. I will provide you a supportive relationship as you re-gain control of your life. Changes within often change relationships with others and that can be challenging, even frightening, yet rewarding. We will work together to strengthen emotional bonds with loved ones, cope with grief and loss, deal with trauma, and maintain a sense of inner balance.

Are you looking for an experienced, local therapist for yourself or a family member? I have had extensive experience, both professionally and personally, in treating both adults and children. who have suffered loss, childhood abuse, depression and shame. I am currently offering clients a choice between teletherapy or being seen in my Oak Park office.

Very rarely in our lives are we given the opportunity and the space to truly look at ourselves, where we have been, and the person we are looking to become. At Kate Giandonato & Associates, we create an environment where you can safely look at yourself, relationships, and potential barriers to achieving your goals. Our relationship-based training in Social Work + Child Development has given us the background to notice and work through the conflicting messages, thoughts and emotions present not only in the parent-child relationship, but in every relationship. We work with our clients to better understand and negotiate these most important relationships.

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.

I work best with clients who are troubled by anxiety, depression, relationship issues, losses or trauma, and life transition issues. I provide individual and family therapy for children, adolescents, and adults. I use a variety of treatment techniques including cognitive, psychodynamic, and client-centered therapies as well as behavior management strategies. My research on coping with traumatic life events has prepared me well to work with clients who have experienced trauma and crisis. A life crisis can be debilitating at first, but can lead to a search for meaning and dramatic new growth. It is exciting for me to accompany clients in this process!

Psychotherapy and psychoanalysis are two well-established forms of talk therapy; they have been used for well over one-hundred years. These therapies help people explore their inner thoughts and feelings in the privacy of a professional relationship. These private conversations are different from talking with a friend or family member; they are confidential, nonjudgmental, and personal.

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.

Success in therapy is a result of the expertise of the therapist and the participation of the client. The therapist is responsible for helping the client to participate in a way that is comfortable and promotes growth and change. For more than 25 years, I have been training doctoral level clinical psychologists. To do so, I have had to remain current with advances in the field and have benefited from the input of new ideas and techniques. Techniques are not effective unless the therapist establishes a trusting relationship with his clients. This is my first goal.

I believe that emotional growth is best achieved within a non judgmental, compassionate and safe therapeutic relationship. I recognize that each person is the expert on his or her life and we work collaboratively to identify areas clients would like to address. The client and I work together to examine thoughts, feelings and behaviors; we identify patterns, develop tools, and find ways to respond differently. Understanding and strengthening relationships is also a crucial part of my work with clients. Ultimately, I focus on clients' strengths and work to empower them to promote positive change, growth, and healing in their lives.

People seek out a counselor who can guide them--or their child--past their struggles to a better life. They want to get better sooner and stay better longer. For over 20 years, I have had the privilege of helping hundreds of adults, children and adolescents move past problems and achieve their goals --and to make those improvements stick. Some clients face coping with frustration, depression, anxiety, or relationship and family problems. For others, it's dealing with transitions such as divorce, loss and grief, school or relationship challenges, medical problems or job loss. And clients deserve great service.

In my 31 years of experience as a licensed clinical psychologist, I have come to understand the healing power of the therapeutic relationship. I strongly believe that it is through this alliance and partnership that real growth and change occurs. I am committed to tailoring therapy to meet the needs and goals of each patient using a combination of psychodynamic and interpersonal approaches as well as cognitive behavioral techniques. When appropriate, I integrate a unique blend of mind, body, energy and nutritional aspects into the treatment to help move someone forward toward a healthier, more fulfilled self.

I welcome clients who see themselves aligned with values in my profile, especially those who seeking a better therapy experience grounded in emotional connection, social justice, and authenticity. Therapy has the potential to be incredibly healing, but also comes from a history of harm, having othered people on the basis of age, race, gender, sexuality, spirituality, and disability. I offer a trauma-responsive relationship through which we can explore narrative healing of your authentic self, commitments to anti-oppressive and anti-racist living, anti-adultist parenting support, and supportive community and relationship building.