Photo of Kel Blanchard, Clinical Social Work/Therapist in 60645, IL
Kel Blanchard
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, CAADC
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Chicago, IL 60645  (Online Only)
"Without a struggle, there can be no progress." ~ F. Douglass. It takes courage and strength for people to admit they are going through more than they can handle. If you are going through something difficult, you don't have to go through it alone. Therapy is a space where it's safe to share and reflect upon thoughts, feelings and challenges. My job as a therapist is to ensure my clients feel understood and learn to manage challenges that may come up in life. I am here to support you.
"Without a struggle, there can be no progress." ~ F. Douglass. It takes courage and strength for people to admit they are going through more than they can handle. If you are going through something difficult, you don't have to go through it alone. Therapy is a space where it's safe to share and reflect upon thoughts, feelings and challenges. My job as a therapist is to ensure my clients feel understood and learn to manage challenges that may come up in life. I am here to support you.
(847) 577-1501 x905 View (847) 577-1501 x905
Photo of Janice Merten, Clinical Social Work/Therapist in 60645, IL
Janice Merten
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, MA
Verified Verified
Chicago, IL 60645
Not accepting new clients
During my years as a therapist, I've treated many clients who coped successfully with life's endless challenges until something happened that turned their lives upside down. Death, relationship conflicts and other upsetting experiences cause feelings of anxiety, depression, confusion or loneliness. To strengthen people who come to me, I provide a safe, nonjudgmental relationship that frees them to express their feelings and gain a sense of direction. They know that I'll listen carefully, take them seriously and help them regain emotional stability and peace. I am only accepting clients I've worked with in the past.
During my years as a therapist, I've treated many clients who coped successfully with life's endless challenges until something happened that turned their lives upside down. Death, relationship conflicts and other upsetting experiences cause feelings of anxiety, depression, confusion or loneliness. To strengthen people who come to me, I provide a safe, nonjudgmental relationship that frees them to express their feelings and gain a sense of direction. They know that I'll listen carefully, take them seriously and help them regain emotional stability and peace. I am only accepting clients I've worked with in the past.
(773) 770-8626 View (773) 770-8626
Multicultural Therapists

What type of therapy is multicultural therapy?

Multicultural therapy is not tied to any specific therapy; rather, it is an overarching approach to therapy that aims to acknowledge and address the influence that factors like race, gender identity, and cultural background can have on someone’s life. Multicultural approaches can be applied to CBT, psychodynamic therapy, and others, and can be practiced with individuals, couples, families, or groups.

What can I expect from multicultural therapy?

Multicultural counseling should be tailored to the client’s unique identity and cultural needs. Such approaches often prioritize the building of trust so that the client feels comfortable exploring various aspects of their identity and any challenges caused by mismatches between their identity and the dominant culture. Beyond that, the format and timeline of therapy will be heavily influenced by the therapist’s preferred therapy approach and the specific problems for which the client sought therapy.

Can multicultural therapy help treat trauma?

Yes. Cultural factors such as racial background, gender identity and or sexuality, and immigration or refugee status can influence both whether someone experiences trauma and how they cope afterward. Multicultural approaches to trauma-informed care will be aware of these influences, helping the client recognize how their response to trauma may be shaped by their cultural background and identify coping mechanisms that take their identity into account.

What are the benefits of seeing a multicultural therapist?

Members of minority groups who seek therapy are sometimes frustrated by providers who don’t understand their cultural background or dismiss the ways in which race, gender, or other facets of their identity influence their lived experience. Seeing a multicultural therapist can help these clients feel seen, understood, and able to develop solutions to life challenges that take their upbringing, beliefs, and past experiences into account.