LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapists in Palos Park, IL
Impactful Therapy - Deana L. Fisher
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, MBA, LCPC
1 Endorsed
Palos Park, IL 60464
Impactful Therapy is opening a new location in Palos Hills, IL on March 1, 2026. We are a practice of clinicians who provide a positive approach to emotional and behavioral healing for clients 4 years old and up. Our services are custom tailored to address the unique challenges faced by individuals navigating many different life circumstances. We provide compassionate guidance and practical strategies to help clients achieve personal growth and resilience. When working with children and teens, we pair useful coping strategies with a creative activity to reinforce learning and skill retention.
Impactful Therapy is opening a new location in Palos Hills, IL on March 1, 2026. We are a practice of clinicians who provide a positive approach to emotional and behavioral healing for clients 4 years old and up. Our services are custom tailored to address the unique challenges faced by individuals navigating many different life circumstances. We provide compassionate guidance and practical strategies to help clients achieve personal growth and resilience. When working with children and teens, we pair useful coping strategies with a creative activity to reinforce learning and skill retention.
My ideal client is someone who is motivated to change and wants to better themselves, however they define that. I love to work with all ages and am looking forward especially to working with adolescents and children and helping them express their emotions in a healthy way. Our practice works with all ages and has offered social skills groups for teens.
My ideal client is someone who is motivated to change and wants to better themselves, however they define that. I love to work with all ages and am looking forward especially to working with adolescents and children and helping them express their emotions in a healthy way. Our practice works with all ages and has offered social skills groups for teens.
We all tend to feel down at times and the negative thoughts that come with these instances send us into a downward spiral. This can contribute to depressed mood, feelings of worthlessness, anxiety, or a lack of motivation. Let me help you reshape the way you think, bring positivity and light back into the way you feel, and create productive goal-achieving behavior. Sometimes tackling life's problems alone can feel daunting and impossible. Come hike with me, invite me onto your team so we can knock out these problems together, and learn to laugh again!
We all tend to feel down at times and the negative thoughts that come with these instances send us into a downward spiral. This can contribute to depressed mood, feelings of worthlessness, anxiety, or a lack of motivation. Let me help you reshape the way you think, bring positivity and light back into the way you feel, and create productive goal-achieving behavior. Sometimes tackling life's problems alone can feel daunting and impossible. Come hike with me, invite me onto your team so we can knock out these problems together, and learn to laugh again!
I am LGBT friendly.
My approach to providing therapy is collaborative and based on the client's existing strengths. I believe in the client's inherent ability to find his/her own solutions to life's challenges, and see my role as a guide in helping to unearth those solutions. I have a warm and open demeanor, which helps to put clients at ease. My style in practicing therapy is active and vocal. With compassion and respect, I will always offer my perspective on any given problem a client may face.
I am LGBT friendly.
My approach to providing therapy is collaborative and based on the client's existing strengths. I believe in the client's inherent ability to find his/her own solutions to life's challenges, and see my role as a guide in helping to unearth those solutions. I have a warm and open demeanor, which helps to put clients at ease. My style in practicing therapy is active and vocal. With compassion and respect, I will always offer my perspective on any given problem a client may face.
All people go through struggles, but not everyone reaches out for help. One of the hardest things to do is reach out and ask for support. I believe with the right therapist, you can express yourself freely without fear of judgement or bias. I believe that no two people are alike and therefore each person deserves an individualized approach, at any age in your life. I strive to provide a therapeutic experience of connection and relatedness that supports each individual’s unique development of self-awareness, insight, and ability to change.
All people go through struggles, but not everyone reaches out for help. One of the hardest things to do is reach out and ask for support. I believe with the right therapist, you can express yourself freely without fear of judgement or bias. I believe that no two people are alike and therefore each person deserves an individualized approach, at any age in your life. I strive to provide a therapeutic experience of connection and relatedness that supports each individual’s unique development of self-awareness, insight, and ability to change.
More Therapists Nearby
Jasper (he/him) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 5 years of experience in providing mental health services. He specializes in working with children and adolescents ages 5 to 18. He takes a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach to mental health therapy and is also neurodiverse-affirming and LGBTQIA+ affirming in his practice. Jasper is working towards becoming a registered play therapist, and he is passionate about connecting with children and teens in play such as video and board games, movies and tv shows, pop culture, and anything nerdy.
Jasper (he/him) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 5 years of experience in providing mental health services. He specializes in working with children and adolescents ages 5 to 18. He takes a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach to mental health therapy and is also neurodiverse-affirming and LGBTQIA+ affirming in his practice. Jasper is working towards becoming a registered play therapist, and he is passionate about connecting with children and teens in play such as video and board games, movies and tv shows, pop culture, and anything nerdy.
I’m a radically silly, queer/nb, sentimental, and curious artist, musician, and therapist.
These facets of my identity and personality inevitably color how I show up in the therapy, but we don’t need to share these identities to do incredible work. My areas of clinical strength include anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, non-monogamy, identity development, personality disorders, PTSD, and complex trauma.
I’m a radically silly, queer/nb, sentimental, and curious artist, musician, and therapist.
These facets of my identity and personality inevitably color how I show up in the therapy, but we don’t need to share these identities to do incredible work. My areas of clinical strength include anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, non-monogamy, identity development, personality disorders, PTSD, and complex trauma.
I have a passion for working with the LGBTQ+ and trans community as a LGBTQ+ therapist.
I have experience with PTSD, anxiety disorders, grief, gender dysphoria and LGBTQ+ clients, clients on the autism spectrum, depression, and self esteem issues. I would love to use my skills, experience, and personal approach to help you begin the exciting process of therapy.
I have a passion for working with the LGBTQ+ and trans community as a LGBTQ+ therapist.
I have experience with PTSD, anxiety disorders, grief, gender dysphoria and LGBTQ+ clients, clients on the autism spectrum, depression, and self esteem issues. I would love to use my skills, experience, and personal approach to help you begin the exciting process of therapy.
I have experience working with adolescents and adults within the LGBTQIA+ community who are experiencing complex trauma, depression, anxiety, dissociation, and gender dysphoria.
Our authentic connections to one another sustain us as human beings. Often past harms and invalidation make us further disconnected from ourselves and each other. By moving beyond binaries created and sustained by capitalism and other constructs of oppression, I pathologize systems and not people. I work to create an environment that affirms a person’s complex humanity with a sense of compassion that is free from judgment or imposed expectations. When we establish secure, honest, and affirming relationships, we have the ability to embrace our full selves and the numerous possibilities of transformation.
I have experience working with adolescents and adults within the LGBTQIA+ community who are experiencing complex trauma, depression, anxiety, dissociation, and gender dysphoria.
Our authentic connections to one another sustain us as human beings. Often past harms and invalidation make us further disconnected from ourselves and each other. By moving beyond binaries created and sustained by capitalism and other constructs of oppression, I pathologize systems and not people. I work to create an environment that affirms a person’s complex humanity with a sense of compassion that is free from judgment or imposed expectations. When we establish secure, honest, and affirming relationships, we have the ability to embrace our full selves and the numerous possibilities of transformation.
My priority is helping clients understand both their areas of strength and aspects where they have room to grow, and help them to develop their innate capacities to find more calm and fulfillment in their lives. I have a great respect and curiosity for how people's early family experiences affect how they move through the world, as well as how those patterns transcend generations.
My priority is helping clients understand both their areas of strength and aspects where they have room to grow, and help them to develop their innate capacities to find more calm and fulfillment in their lives. I have a great respect and curiosity for how people's early family experiences affect how they move through the world, as well as how those patterns transcend generations.
I am non-binary and well-versed in working with LGBTQ clients.
The most important elements I bring to therapy are a strong curiosity, warmth, and motivation to support you. I think it is important to view myself less as an expert and more as a collaborator. We can work together to figure out what would be most helpful to you, whether that means making changes in your life, building skills, or shifting your perspective.
I am non-binary and well-versed in working with LGBTQ clients.
The most important elements I bring to therapy are a strong curiosity, warmth, and motivation to support you. I think it is important to view myself less as an expert and more as a collaborator. We can work together to figure out what would be most helpful to you, whether that means making changes in your life, building skills, or shifting your perspective.
Licensed in CA, IL, & MO. You've survived. You've coped. You’ve done healing ceremonies & sat in therapy, built real integrity into your values - maybe even built a good life from the outside. But something still feels off: disconnected, unsure, lonely in a way you can't quite name. I will guide you on how to navigate those surges of anxiety at 3 a.m., when the real you is waiting to be heard. I work at the intersection of modern trauma science & ancient contemplative wisdom, using a theory I call Dynamic Trauma Integration to help you move from surviving into truly being present - at home with your true nature.
Licensed in CA, IL, & MO. You've survived. You've coped. You’ve done healing ceremonies & sat in therapy, built real integrity into your values - maybe even built a good life from the outside. But something still feels off: disconnected, unsure, lonely in a way you can't quite name. I will guide you on how to navigate those surges of anxiety at 3 a.m., when the real you is waiting to be heard. I work at the intersection of modern trauma science & ancient contemplative wisdom, using a theory I call Dynamic Trauma Integration to help you move from surviving into truly being present - at home with your true nature.
As a queer and trans therapist, I believe that therapy can be a powerful tool in our path towards collective liberation.
Existing in the world right now may feel overwhelming and reaching out for support may be even more daunting. Maybe you've struggled to feel safe enough in your body to tend to your own needs. Or maybe you've felt disconnected from yourself and adrift in your relationships. However lost or stuck you may be feeling, you deserve an inclusive space to feel valued and held. Building on the inner resilience you already hold, together we can practice slowing down, invite curiosity and compassion into your life, and expand your comfort zones to make life more manageable and meaningful.
As a queer and trans therapist, I believe that therapy can be a powerful tool in our path towards collective liberation.
Existing in the world right now may feel overwhelming and reaching out for support may be even more daunting. Maybe you've struggled to feel safe enough in your body to tend to your own needs. Or maybe you've felt disconnected from yourself and adrift in your relationships. However lost or stuck you may be feeling, you deserve an inclusive space to feel valued and held. Building on the inner resilience you already hold, together we can practice slowing down, invite curiosity and compassion into your life, and expand your comfort zones to make life more manageable and meaningful.
Other tenants of my practice include trauma-responsive interventions, neurodivergent affirming care, Queer, Kink, and Poly-aware practice, identity development work, and a systemic perspective on mental health care.
I believe it is essential to understand the self within a larger context to discover the sources of personal stressors. Hand in hand with identity, I also adopt a values driven, Existential approach paired with skill building and exploration to specifically target areas that we identify and adjust throughout our time together.
Other tenants of my practice include trauma-responsive interventions, neurodivergent affirming care, Queer, Kink, and Poly-aware practice, identity development work, and a systemic perspective on mental health care.
I believe it is essential to understand the self within a larger context to discover the sources of personal stressors. Hand in hand with identity, I also adopt a values driven, Existential approach paired with skill building and exploration to specifically target areas that we identify and adjust throughout our time together.
As a trans-female, I work with the LGBTQ and Polyamorous community as well.
I believe that you are not broken because you’re not a person that needs to be fixed in the first place. You only needed to be respected and understood. I uphold that a nervous system implies the existence of a loving system. People often think I’m helping them overcome anguish when really I’m helping them experience how to love again despite their pain. Some days we will talk, vibe, and think out loud. Which is great! On other days we will establish what being “done” with therapy looks like and how you want to get there.
My usual clientele include adults, couples, male, female, non-binary, weirdos, normies, lovers, and haters.
As a trans-female, I work with the LGBTQ and Polyamorous community as well.
I believe that you are not broken because you’re not a person that needs to be fixed in the first place. You only needed to be respected and understood. I uphold that a nervous system implies the existence of a loving system. People often think I’m helping them overcome anguish when really I’m helping them experience how to love again despite their pain. Some days we will talk, vibe, and think out loud. Which is great! On other days we will establish what being “done” with therapy looks like and how you want to get there.
My usual clientele include adults, couples, male, female, non-binary, weirdos, normies, lovers, and haters.
I'm Albe (she/her/ella), also known as Miss Albe, a bilingual (English/Spanish) art therapist working with individuals and groups among Chicago’s various LGBTQIA+ and Spanish-speaking communities.
I combine expressive arts with psychodynamic, client-centered, and Positive CBT to promote a trauma-informed environment for growth. I specialize in harm reduction practices for substance use & compulsive behavior; support for survivors of colonial, gender-based & systemic violence; & identifying the impacts of trauma on various dimensions of life.
I'm Albe (she/her/ella), also known as Miss Albe, a bilingual (English/Spanish) art therapist working with individuals and groups among Chicago’s various LGBTQIA+ and Spanish-speaking communities.
I combine expressive arts with psychodynamic, client-centered, and Positive CBT to promote a trauma-informed environment for growth. I specialize in harm reduction practices for substance use & compulsive behavior; support for survivors of colonial, gender-based & systemic violence; & identifying the impacts of trauma on various dimensions of life.
If you've felt lost, frustrated or feel no one quite "gets you", you are welcome here. As a trauma informed and DBT focused therapist, I believe in the power shame reduction can have in peoples lives, alongside building concrete skills, and unlearning narratives that no longer serve us. I often see clients who may feel at odds with themselves and want to adapt or grow their ability to handle distress. Although change can be uncomfortable, I work alongside clients to rediscover personal strengths and help find a "core" or "root" that may have felt lost or distant. I commend you for stepping into vulnerability.
If you've felt lost, frustrated or feel no one quite "gets you", you are welcome here. As a trauma informed and DBT focused therapist, I believe in the power shame reduction can have in peoples lives, alongside building concrete skills, and unlearning narratives that no longer serve us. I often see clients who may feel at odds with themselves and want to adapt or grow their ability to handle distress. Although change can be uncomfortable, I work alongside clients to rediscover personal strengths and help find a "core" or "root" that may have felt lost or distant. I commend you for stepping into vulnerability.
I have an interest working with clients dealing with trauma, clients from the LGBTQ population (in particular the transgender and transgender non-binary experience) and couples.
As a recent graduate I pull from a variety approaches including CBT, IFS, Psychodynamic, person-centered and existential therapies. Finding out what works best for your goals will be a collaborative and ongoing process where we can find out what works and what is ineffective.
I have an interest working with clients dealing with trauma, clients from the LGBTQ population (in particular the transgender and transgender non-binary experience) and couples.
As a recent graduate I pull from a variety approaches including CBT, IFS, Psychodynamic, person-centered and existential therapies. Finding out what works best for your goals will be a collaborative and ongoing process where we can find out what works and what is ineffective.
I primarily see LGBTQ+ adults and people who experience(d) anxiety, depression, OCD, sexual trauma, complex trauma/C-PTSD, and those impacted by systemic oppression.
The communal process of therapy is of the utmost importance to me, and I cater therapy to each individual’s unique needs focusing on consent, choice, and education. I am trained in EMDR therapy. I also use IFS, EFT, ACT, DBT, Somatic therapies, Narrative Therapy, and I-CBT, while always working through a trauma-informed lens.
I primarily see LGBTQ+ adults and people who experience(d) anxiety, depression, OCD, sexual trauma, complex trauma/C-PTSD, and those impacted by systemic oppression.
The communal process of therapy is of the utmost importance to me, and I cater therapy to each individual’s unique needs focusing on consent, choice, and education. I am trained in EMDR therapy. I also use IFS, EFT, ACT, DBT, Somatic therapies, Narrative Therapy, and I-CBT, while always working through a trauma-informed lens.
In the often confusing and painful sea of unwanted symptoms, something emerges from underneath that is often hard to make sense of. Dreams, slips of the tongue, and repeated relational patterns all point toward something moving within us that we did not know was there. When listening to you, I pay close attention to these unconscious messages, as well as to the reactions that arise within relationships, including our therapeutic one. I believe that only you can tell me what these signs mean to you and how they relate to your history. Together we can work to remember, make meaning of, and work through what's been forgotten.
In the often confusing and painful sea of unwanted symptoms, something emerges from underneath that is often hard to make sense of. Dreams, slips of the tongue, and repeated relational patterns all point toward something moving within us that we did not know was there. When listening to you, I pay close attention to these unconscious messages, as well as to the reactions that arise within relationships, including our therapeutic one. I believe that only you can tell me what these signs mean to you and how they relate to your history. Together we can work to remember, make meaning of, and work through what's been forgotten.
See more therapy options for Palos Park
Nearby LGBTQ+ Therapists Searches for Palos Park
- Alsip
- Bridgeview
- Chicago Ridge
- Midlothian
- Oak Forest
- Oak Lawn
- Orland Hills
- Orland Park
- Palos Heights
- Palos Hills
- Tinley Park
- Willow Springs
LGBTQ+ Therapists
Do LGBTQ-affirmative therapists receive special training?
Yes. Many therapists who practice LGBTQ-affirmative therapy have completed specialized training, either during their degree program or as continuing education, to learn the core principles of affirmative therapy and how to best support their LGBTQ clients; some have received certifications in LGBTQ-affirmative therapy. Prospective clients should inquire as to a clinician’s background and training to ensure a good fit.
Why might I want to see an LGBTQ-affirming or LGBTQ-friendly therapist?
Queer and gender-non-conforming individuals frequently experience bias and marginalization in day-to-day life. Working with a therapist who understands these unique challenges, as well as accepts and affirms their identity, can help LGBTQ clients feel safe and supported during therapy—allowing them to better navigate their relationships, mental health, and anything else that they wish to explore during therapy. It is important to note that many therapists can be effective in their work with LGBTQ+ individuals, even in the absence of specific training or background knowledge. The most important component in therapy is the alliance between therapist and client, and this alliance can exist between individuals with very different backgrounds.
How can I find an LGBTQ-friendly therapist?
You may wish to inquire about a therapist’s expertise with your specific challenges or concerns—depression, for example, or relationship strife—as well as their past experiences treating LGBTQ+ clients. Prospective clients may also ask whether a therapist has obtained additional training and/or certification in LGBTQ-affirmative techniques.
How can I inquire about a therapist’s experience with LGBTQ issues?
Prospective clients should feel empowered to directly ask therapists whether they have received training or been certified in LGBTQ-affirming therapy; competent therapists will be happy to explain their educational background and preferred approach(es) to help a client find the best match for them. Clients may also wish to ask how a therapist has treated clients with their particular challenges in the past and what they expect treatment to look like.
Are all the therapists listed in the LGBTQ directory themselves members of the LGBTQ community?
While therapists may choose to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity in their profiles, the LGBTQ directory features not only those who have shared this information but also those who assert specialized training or experience in providing support to queer individuals, couples or families.