Therapists in Illinois

My job, as I see it, is not to fix you, but to help you fix yourself. To do that, I help you find the tools you already have and remind you that - on some deep level - you already know how to use them. My approach is cognitive, because I believe the way we think about our lives helps create them.

I have over 20 years of clinical experience helping individuals with a variety of life challenges. Some of the issues that I specialize in are: anxiety, depression, addiction, substance abuse, life transitions, and grief and loss. I strive to work from a place of non-judgement, creating support and emotional safety within the therapeutic relationship. I believe that emotional wellness and change in therapy are only possible when people feel encouraged and safe. One of my primary goals is to help my patients find a deeper connection to their authentic selves.

My core belief that people are resilient and are capable of growth. The first step to making change in your life or to get “unstuck” can be difficult. With warmth, encouragement, acceptance and a little laughter, we will work together to find new ways of coping, identify patterns that no longer suit your needs, build and repair relationships, and create a positive therapeutic relationship while you explore your desires, goals, and motivations. My approach to therapy is trauma-informed, affirming, and client-centered. Through a social justice lens, I recognize the multiple systems that affect your experiences and relationships.

As a therapist specializing in career, relationships, internal struggles, and family conflicts, I bring a passion for evidence-based tools and a strength-based perspective to my practice. With a person-in-environment approach, I aim to understand my clients within the context of their unique circumstances and backgrounds. In addressing career concerns, I help individuals navigate challenges such as job dissatisfaction, career transitions, and work-life balance issues. By drawing on evidence-based techniques, I assist clients in identifying their strengths, values, and goals to create fulfilling career paths.

Telehealth sessions available; I currently have openings. With our everyday stressors, life will leave you feeling as if you are unreachable & helpless. I'm honored to work with ALL people that are looking for support & desire a change in their life. I support clients who are dealing with anxiety, depression, OCD, eating disorders (including binge eating disorder) to reconnect my clients with their lives & to get unstuck, this I'm committed to. There are many struggles that often contribute greatly to our anxiety & make it challenging for us to focus on the here & now. I offer credit counseling. My You Tube Channel: bit.ly/3MOGd2D

My practice works with a diverse population. I specialize in addiction, both Sex Addiction and a range of other addictions. I run groups for sex addicts and for the partners of sex addicts. I also specialize in trauma and work with adolescent and adult trauma survivors, both male and female. The practice also works with the LGBTQ community.

Authenticity, compassion, and empathy are qualities that I try to embody in both my personal and professional lives. As a therapist I aim to help you examine challenging parts of your experience (internal and external) and decide what you would like to do about them. No matter what you are going through, therapy can help you live a more fulfilling and purposeful life (as defined by you).

My clients tell me that I really listen to them, am a down-to-earth person, and am able to help them through very difficult times of their lives. I am an energetic and positive person, yet can calmly help clients find creative solutions to tough problems and areas where they feel stuck somewhere in their lives.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I earned a Masters of Social Work from University of Illinois Chicago Jane Addams College of Social Work and has a BA in sociology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. My clinical skill set includes: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness practice, relational-cultural therapy, solution focused therapy, and trauma focused therapy. I view presenting problems in a multifaceted manner, allowing me to develop a positive therapeutic relationship and understanding with my clients.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked in the addiction and mental health field for over a decade. I offer Counseling and Coaching Services to individuals and couples who are interested in personal growth. I believe in treating the whole person, because integrating the mind, the body and the community are essential in optimizing a person's quality of life. From complex trauma, addiction to learning everyday life skills, I try to help individuals find strength and acceptance to overcome painful emotions. I strive for each client to leave sessions feeling empowered and confident in their abilities.

Here at LifeThrive Counseling we believe you can unlock your full potential. We believe in focusing on the whole person, not just the person's symptoms. We believe sometimes we need need to look outside of the box at more advanced treatments. When adding these treatments, true change can occur in disorders that are often thought of as permanent or treatment resistant. Some of the disorders we have worked with and seen positive change in include: ADHD, anxiety, dysthymia, major depressive disorder, autism spectrum disorders, attachment disorders, OCD, personality disorders, and more.

My personal approach to therapy and assessment utilizes a compassionate, non-judgmental, encouraging style. I work with clients to clarify their values, goals, and the meanings they create in their lives with a focus on how they address the five tasks of life: love, work, friendship, self-care, and spirituality. Treatment planning consists of developing strategies and skills to master these life tasks. Assessment includes Fitness, Sanity, and Mitigation Evaluations, Damages Assessment, USCIS N-648 evaluations and more.

While a person can feel better after a good talk with a friend or relative, for moderate or severe emotional distress, this relief is only temporary. Talking with a trained listener helps alleviate emotional distress for good. The doctors in our practice are trained to listen and interact in a way that helps you get to the very root of your emotional concerns.

An inclusive team of experts working - in tandem with you - to understand and celebrate all of who you are! Trained and faculty affiliated at Harvard, Johns Hopkins, University of Chicago, Northwestern, and the University of Virginia, we are ready to support you. Our staff believe that relationships are at the core of effective therapy. We work to create an affirming, open, and empathic environment that values partnership with you to explore fresh understandings and underlying feelings. Using research-tested approaches and synchronized collaboration, we facilitate enhanced self-awareness, skill building, and effective coping that empower you to change the patterns that keep you stuck. We specialize in LGBT+ affirming therapy, anxiety, trauma, depression, low self esteem, grief, and relationships issues for people of all ages and across the spectrum of gender, sexuality, class, and race.

ACCEPTING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WITHIN ONE WEEK! Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, Autism, School and Work Accommodations, Difficulty sleeping, Addictions & Medication. Evening appointments are available. Care provided by me, a Physician, a Double Board Certified MD Psychiatrist may be a more effective approach for you. I am structured and organized with treatment. I also provide neuropsychological and psychological TESTING. I am available for urgent needs. Work together to decrease struggling. US born and educated at Rutgers Medical School & completed Psychiatry Residency at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital.

My practice is focused on supporting others making important changes in their lives. Most people feel stuck at different points in their life and those times can be valuable opportunities for change. I believe in meeting clients where they are and empowering them to make the changes they wish to see in their lives

Many people enter therapy with me because they're experiencing problems with living. Often they've come to realize these problems seem to repeat themselves over and over again. Examples include managing intense and painful feelings, cultivating and sustaining intimate relationships and struggling to maintain an overall sense of well-being over time.

As a member of the LGBTQ community, I understand how important it is to find a therapist with whom one can identify and feel comfortable sharing the very personal reasons that bring individuals to counseling. As such, I provide a safe, non-judgmental space in which to explore the needs of my clients. For me, finding meaning and purpose is paramount to maintaining one's mental health. As such I work in collaboration with my clients to help find those things that make one feel whole and connected.

I am here to help you find balance in life. I view the counseling relationship as collaborative where we work together toward achieving your personal goals, making positive life choices, improving relationships, and healing from emotional hurt. I also understand that mental, physical, and spiritual health are all intertwined. I strive to provide a safe environment where clients can explore their feelings and talk about their life circumstances. I am up-front and candid with my clients, providing a judgment free environment where strength, wisdom, and change can be achieved.