Transgender Therapists in Oak Park, IL

Now accepting new clients. Trying to find a therapist can be overwhelming. I’m here to make this process easy and help you find relief. I believe in a person’s capacity for change and the ability of each of us to reach our life goals. I’ll work with you to identify and remove the obstacles you have been facing. With humor and creativity, we will create the supportive environment you need to achieve your goals. I am passionate about connecting with people, and helping them to gain new ways of coping with life’s stressors.Ready to feel like yourself again?

The focus and passion of our practice is multicultural counseling using a social justice lense. We work with people who are dealing with issues around sexual orientation, race, gender identity and neurodiversity. We support you in processing how being you in our society affects how you feel about yourself and ultimately your mental health. We want our clients to learn to appreciate the unique gifts that they bring as they process past experiences and achieve their goals.

I provide counseling for kids, adolescents, and adults. My clients often come in to reflect on trauma, relational stressors, depression, anxiety, attachment, and self esteem. Special areas of interest include working within the queer community and helping others gain access to gender affirming care. I also often work with clients who are exploring and managing personality traits, and/or children or partners of others with personality disorders. My approach is relational, trauma informed, and driven through non judgement. I recognize the multiple systems that effect your experiences and relationships.

I believe that therapy is a healing process. We find the parts of ourselves that need healing to get to who we want to be and how we want to live. I believe that everyone has the ability to create those changes. In therapy, I focus on providing a safe space and joining you in this work, because I believe that much of healing needs to happen in relationship. My approach is relational, person-centered, and trauma-informed. That means I think the therapeutic relationship is a means of healing, that I allow you to lead the process, and that I am aware of how much trauma can impact our lives. I practice from a social justice lens.

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 specialize in working with folk who are queer, neurodivergent, and/or going through major life transitions. I recognize that beginning a journey toward greater self-discovery can be daunting. To be successful in this endeavor, it is crucial to feel understood and valued along the way. To this end, I approach the therapeutic relationship in a collaborative way and provide a person-centered, feminist therapeutic relationship characterized by radical validation and unconditional positive regard, focusing on your strengths, helping you to deepen agency and self-awareness, and emphasizing compassion and empathy throughout treatment.

As the parent of a struggling child or teen, you may wonder what you can do to help them feel better. I’m here to provide you and your family the support and guidance that will help you gain a deeper understanding of your child, and feel more connected to them. I am passionate and experienced in helping children, teenagers, and their families overcome life's challenges. I have seen many children and teens struggle to express or articulate their emotions. That’s what I am here for. I find playful ways to help children express their inner world while guiding parents to also be curious to what is under their behavior.

I believe therapy is a collaborative space for folks to explore their biographies and learn to hold deeper relationships with their own self and others. Change happens when we feel safe to be curious and understanding of our patterns and choices. I invite clients to explore the intersections of their identities with me as we create a space that is brave and trusting. I see the connection between the external world and our internal experience as central to the therapy process. I'm mindful to social identities, dynamics in family systems, and the larger cultural landscape that impact a person's sense of self.

Pam is a graduate of Governors State University With a Masters in Community Counseling, Pamela has a diverse background in working with people in Mental Health and also holds a full time position with as a Therapist and group facilitator at Ingalls Hospital. Pam specializes in working with adolescents, teens, adults and couples providing evidence based treatment to help assist with challenges you may face. She understands that like adults children, teen and adolescents have many challenges in life. She also is Gottman trained to assist couples with challenges in their relationships and marriages,

I have experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families who are struggling with depression, anxiety, complex trauma, and difficult life transitions utilizing creative flexible interventions that best meet the client’s needs. I have also helped clients process larger systemic traumas related to race, gender, sexual orientation, and medical & occupational experiences.

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.

I Welcome being able to help you with the challenges that are causing stress and concerns for you. I work with individuals, couple, and children. I can help you improve your parenting tools to decrease conflict. I can assist with tools to decrease anviety aboiut life challenges and transitions. I counsel individuals and couples going through the challenges of infertility and family planning choices. I am dedicated to offering support and guidance to find hope during this journey . I conduct required psychological assessment for Intended Parents, egg donors, and surrogates.

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.

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 and Integrative approach and have 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 tends toward a systems-based approach using behavior methods.

Throughout life, there are times when we can feel overwhelmed, lost, isolated, and in need of extra support and guidance. Seeking the help of a therapist is a significant act of self-compassion, and connecting with the right therapist is essential. I provide a safe, inclusive space where all persons are welcomed and supported. I recognize and value each client’s unique lived experience. We explore these to uncover strengths and opportunities for growth and healing. I consider myself honored to walk with clients on their mental health journey, and grateful for the opportunity to help them achieve their favorite self!

The majority of my training and work experience has specifically focused on the assessment and treatment of psychological trauma. I believe my job is to walk alongside my clients as they unpack their traumatic experiences, while providing continued safety and validation, all at their own pace. I have extensive experience in evidence based treatments for PTSD and have been successful in treating a wide variety of individuals. I have also completed specialized training in maternal mental health. I treat women dealing with mental health issues that come up during and after pregnancy, such as anxiety, depression, and OCD. I also help women navigate pregnancy loss, infertility, and traumatic births. As a mother myself, I am passionate about working with other mothers struggling with mental health issues related to pregnancy or the postpartum period.

LifeSpan Counseling & Psychological Services offers services to children, adolescents, adults, couples and families. I believe that we all must weather challenges throughout life, and sometimes we need assistance to endure and make sense of these trials in a way that helps us to grow into the best versions of ourselves. My goal as a therapist is to assist children, adolescents, adults, and familes through these times by helping them achieve better understandings of personal choices, strengths, and resilience. In this way, clients come to see themselves as individuals that are capable of change in order to live fulfilling lives.