Therapists in Oak Park, IL

Welcome! You are taking a courageous step by looking for a therapist. I specialize in evidence-based practice and find it important to meet the individualized needs of each client. I work primarily with individuals who experience anxiety, depression, and mood disorders. My clients tend to come to me to work on relationships, coping skills, and building insight.

Are you, your child, or your family having difficulty managing emotions, thoughts, or navigating interactions? I can help. With my warm and dedicated style, you will be heard, supported, and empowered. I specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other scientifically-proven therapies. With 14+ yrs of experience, I have worked with adults, youth, and families in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and university counseling and community mental health centers. I completed my residency at Harvard Medical School/Boston Children's Hospital and a post-doctoral fellowship at Northwestern University/The Family Institute.

You Don’t Have to Go Through Life’s Struggles Alone Often in life, our journey towards growth and happiness becomes obstructed by our past experiences. Additionally, current experiences, stressors, and traumas, can impact our mental health and well-being. Our unmanaged fear, trauma, anxiety, and depression can leave us feeling like we are not worthy of happiness or positive relationships. These underlying thoughts impact our actions and emotions and can impact our quality of life and mental health. However, you do not have to face these challenges alone.

Congratulations on taking the difficult, but brave, step to research options for support! I am here to act as a GPS on your journey to self actualization - whether you currently find yourself in the packing stage, are determining your destination, or you're looking to discover "how did I end up here?' My passion and my training work to aid you in defining your truths and walking boldly in them. Wellness is achieved when you can look at your worn-out shoes and esteem them for getting you this far instead of forever cursing the road that damaged them. Be well.

I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Board Certified Art Therapist. I have 10 years of professional experience in providing individual and family therapy services to children, adolescents, and adults. My experience is in out-patient services working with depressive and mood disorders, anxiety, self-esteem, parenting, and life transitions.

Thank you for clicking here and taking a moment to learn about those available to help and support your own mental health. To tell you a little bit about myself, I have spent the past 20 years working with children, adolescents, families and older adults. I've specialized in helping people work through trauma, unexpected life changes and the challenges that day to day life presents. I've worked with people having difficulties with Depression, Anxiety and other mood disorders. I've been in practice as a social worker since 2007 and in private practice since 2011 .

I view therapy as a collaborative process where we work together to disempower the challenges you are facing. Our conversations will help you clarify your hopes and identify the tools needed to overcome the problems you are up against. I bring sensitivity and curiosity to foster a therapeutic space that feels safe and productive. I work with couples to strengthen communication, build trust, heal hurt, and break undesired habits. I support mothers, families and teens. I view this work as a privilege as I share in your experience of moving towards personal and relational fulfillment.

Therapy can be an enriching, comforting, transformative experience. However, it may also feel intimidating, vulnerable, and exhausting. As a psychotherapist, I am here to support you through all of these complex feelings. Therapy is not one-size-fits-all. I believe that effective psychotherapy must be client-centered and adapted to honor each client’s needs, identities, and comfort levels. I believe in meeting clients where they are at, while also supporting them in developing and accomplishing goals.

Breaking unhealthy habits, getting "unstuck", or working through life’s challenges requires creativity. But when we are feeling depressed, anxious, or overwhelmed, our brains tend to follow rigid patterns of thinking, feeling, and reacting. And that makes creativity difficult to access. As a therapist, my goal is to develop a fully creative process with each client and provide a comfortable space to explore and discuss different perspectives and self-care strategies.

My work with clients focuses on their individual needs and goals, to understand and support their

If you’re struggling to cope with past traumas, I can help you identify how this is showing up in your present and offer the tools that will create the path to your desired future. Trauma impedes our natural ability as humans to be able to identify and reach goals, and connect and form relationships with others. I know that this can all be worked through with a positive therapeutic relationship and guidance to rediscovering the inner knowing you possess about what you truly need to thrive. My personal approach to therapy is what allows for others to connect with me- I am laid-back, direct, funny, caring, and non-judgement.

"What we cannot hold, we cannot process. What we cannot process, we cannot transform. What we cannot transform haunts us. It takes another mind to help us heal ours. It takes other minds and hearts to help us grow and re-grow the capacities we need to transform suffering." Joseph Bobrow. Whatever your suffering, whether it's the legacy of trauma, or the challenges of our modern world, it can be held, processed and transformed.

Dennis holds a B.S in Psychology, B.A in Spanish in the Professions from Saint Xavier University, and a M.A in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from North Park University. Dennis practices from a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) lens, which focuses on challenging and reconstruction of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Dennis is very passionate about introducing, and advocating counseling services to the Latinx/Hispanic community in both English and Spanish. She has 2 years of experience working with children with autism through ABA services. Therefore, she is also passionate about counseling those in the spectrum, and develo

I use an integrative approach to therapy with adult clients to help them explore and address sources of distress in their lives.

Mercedes Moreira Mayo is a bilingual (Spanish) psychotherapist.

I'm a seasoned psychotherapist with more than 30 years' experience. I offer a safe and non-judgmental space in which you can freely explore whatever has felt dissatisfying, obsolete, self-defeating or even toxic in your life. Maybe you’re seeking to improve the way you've responded to transitions or traumas, whether recently or many years ago. Maybe you want to figure out how to “jettison” habits, relationships or lifestyles that no longer work for you. Or maybe you want to break free from repeating cycles or patterns that haven’t served you successfully in the past.

Working with clients to build their sense of self-worth, enhance self-efficacy, and reframe negative thought patterns are a few of my areas of interest. I am passionate about working with individuals ranging in age from adolescent through adulthood. Other areas of focus are helping clients to identify moods and symptoms of disorders associated with moods, helping clients transition between roles in their life, helping to strengthen the mind body connection, and helping clients to find healthy balance in their life.

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.

I am a psychotherapist and owner of VMA Psychotherapy practice. We believe that the most important trait in connecting with a therapist is comfort. As a whole, the clinicians at VMA Psychotherapy share the common mindset of developing authentic connections, utilizing innovative approaches, and asking the questions of what is each individual seeking in their lives and how can they get there. The foundations at VMA Psychotherapy involve psychodynamic theory, art/creativity and the development of one's own life philosophy. The pathway through adolescence and adulthood is much easier with a guide to offer support along the way.