Teletherapy for Loop - Chicago, IL

I am delighted you found me here on Psychology Today. My ideal client comes from many different walks of life - children, adolescents, adults, couples and families. My ideal client is looking for change and a therapist that is going to "shoot straight" with them and do more than just nod their head in agreement. My ideal client is looking for direction and change in their lives and wants a partner in change. I work with my ideal client on anxiety, major depression, trauma, couples counseling, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional-defiant disorder (ODD), and substance abuse, and LGBTQIA+ issues.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me! My ideal clients are looking for a strength-based approach where they are more than a "psychiatric diagnosis." My clients come from many backgrounds - they are children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families - and are dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, women’s issues, anger management, ADHD, autistic spectrum disorder, addiction issues, couples therapy, and working through LGBTQ+ issues. I partner with my clients in the change process and empower them through using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and other tailored approaches.

Therapy transformed my life when I was referred to a counselor years ago as a teen. Since then, I have wanted to provide this type of support and to serve as a guide for others through difficult times in life. I aspire to help my clients tap into their own inner strengths, so they can ultimately live more freely, fully and authentically. I take a client-centered approach, and help my clients identify their own goals for themselves.

Our world is changing at such a rapid pace. You may feel it's difficult to cope with all these shifts in your life, and to keep up with daily routines. We have all been through a huge upheaval the past several years. Are you looking for a safe, non-judgmental place to process some of these challenges? Or maybe you need some tools and resources to help you (or a loved one) manage anxiety, stress or trauma. Maybe your child/tween/teen/20 yr old has become surprisingly disagreeable, spending less time with family, pushing you away. You may notice changes in appearance, or name. Whether sudden or gradual, you may not know how to cope.

My philosophy of care is grounded in the notion that every person has a gift within themselves. People do not need to be fixed; they need support to be able to return to their core self. I am here to support you whether you are going through a transition, dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges. Please consider reaching out if you want to make meaning of your life, use difficulty as an opportunity to grow, and/or you are someone deeply committed to improving society. I am here to provide a place to process, balance, and develop.

There are times in life where we all feel overwhelmed. Whether the day to day grind is wearing you down or overwhelming anxiety is making it difficult for you to leave the house, I am here to be on your side. I am a big believer that effective therapy is a collaborative effort between the client and the therapist and that healing is achieved by working together. I take an integrative approach to therapy, where I tailor the therapy to fit the needs of the client. I am also trained in EMDR therapy for trauma treatment and Gottman level 3 certified for couples work.

Accepting NEW clients. Wendy Galyen & the counseling TEAM at Thrive for Life offer VIDEO &PHONE-based counseling. Online counseling services are great for busy professionals, college students, stay-at-home moms, retirees, or other clients who do not have time for traditional in-person sessions but who would benefit from counseling support in their daily lives. Free consultation available to determine if this type of counseling can meet your unique needs. Some insurances accepted or private pay from $75-$150/session. IL team includes: Wendy Galyen, Marilyn Verbiscer (couples), Emma Flores, & Lindsey Welch (life coach).

Life is challenging. Nobody rides for free. You’ve been struggling with mood, energy and worry for awhile now (maybe for as long as you can remember). You may have noticed your thinking amplifying your unpleasant emotions and negatively impacting your relationships. Maybe some of your experiences have left you feeling stuck, defeated and unworthy. It can be hard to imagine a life without these things present, but I’m here to tell you that things can change, and you don’t need to go through it alone. With the right skills and support, you can build the life you have always wanted and move through the challenges you have experienced.

Are you done struggling with anxiety, depression, and relationships? Are you ready to feel fully yourself and alive again? Are you ready to build the life you want to live? My first goal when meeting with you is to establish a genuine & collaborative connection. This'll serve as the foundation for the work necessary to deal with daily feelings, understand experiences & make positive changes to your life. We'll work together to help you feel whole, peaceful, and connected. When you're done with therapy, you'll feel empowered and ready to face whatever challenges life throws at you. I can help you live your passion, purpose & truth.

Many of us lead busy lives with little space to breathe, think, and make choices with clarity. We hold ourselves to unsustainable standards in our careers, relationships and as individuals. We move from day to day with anxious thoughts, or float numbly with disconnection and over-scheduling as a way to avoid pain. Often our expectations, goals and circumstances come at the expense of our own healthy well being.

The Coronavirus Pandemic has created a collective trauma. There can be some comfort in knowing that everyone is making sacrifices in this new uncharted world; however, each person’s experience is unique. Often there are unexpected ups and downs in coping that can be surprising and catch us off guard. I specialize in working with clients facing issues of trauma. I have always been fascinated in how the mind naturally creates coping strategies to help get us through tough situations in its drive towards survival. Sometimes these strategies are helpful, but other times they can hinder us from living life to its fullest.

Could you use a safe space to process a major life transition? Are you looking for guidance on improving your relationships? I see therapy as a valuable tool to reflect on life, unpack how you're feeling, and discover what changes you can make to be more satisfied. My therapeutic style tends to be a good fit for clients who identify as perfectionists, struggle with anxiety and uncertainty, or who are experiencing stress from significant phase of life changes like a new job, marriage, or having kids. I am a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and Certified in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C).

Pursing emotional and behavioral health isn't just meant to improve our lives, it's meant to change how we function in the world. The changes we make can spark change in our relationships, jobs, families and community. If only change was easy! Change often comes during times of pressure and struggle. Therapy is a tool to help you address these barriers head on and unearth skills and strengths need to help you meet your goals and thrive.

Life can be challenging, and everyone has times when they feel overwhelmed and need some support. In my work, I provide a caring, nonjudgmental environment for adolescents, adults, couples, and families to speak openly about their lives and to explore their true selves. Therapy is meant to be collaborative, so picture me as a trusted guide walking beside you as you face what comes next. I specialize in working with young people, polyamorous/nonmonogamous people, and folks in the LGBTQIA+ community. NOTE: I AM currently taking new adolescent, couple, or family clients!

If you are seeking support in your journey towards a more empowered and fulfilling life, I am happy to non-judgmentally walk alongside you as a compassionate source of empathy, objectivity, and accountability throughout the process. I am a licensed clinical professional counselor and trained addictions therapist who is passionate about holistic wellness. I am dedicated to helping clients develop the insight, coping skills, and self-compassion necessary to become a happy and whole version of themselves.

Understanding that the journey toward healing isn’t always glamorous and sometimes scary, I aim to provide clients with an emotionally safe environment to overcome the difficulties that plague them. I understand that choosing to start therapy isn't always an easy decision due to life’s demands and sociocultural stigma around seeking mental health care. I strive to create therapeutic relationships that are nonjudgmental, authentic, transparent, warm and collaborative. I provides a collaborative and objective platform to explore concerns, unlearn & replace thoughts or behaviors that no longer serve my clients.

At some point in our lives we all experience the full force of life’s challenges. Sometimes the distress, pain, alienation or isolation is too intense for us to traverse life’s path alone. Yet, for many of us, asking for help or inviting others into our private world is equally difficult. I hope to convince you that therapy can help us understand conflicts underlying these challenges. Through insight, self-empowerment and enhanced emotional regulation, we can become more adaptive and begin to heal and grow in the face of challenges or transitions. Therapy can also help to cultivate a greater sense of meaning and purpose in our live.

I approach therapy with warmth, acceptance, and humor through a culturally humble, anti-oppressive lens. I will work with you to understand the intersection of your identities, values, and beliefs, with the understanding that they are multi-faceted. My goal is to meet you where you are and understand the context of your life (familial, social, cultural, environmental). Together, we'll identify what’s important to you and work together to empower your sense of self and improve your quality of life.

My clients want to make changes in their lives. They believe that healing is possible for both body and mind. When they feel safe enough, they bravely share the old stories about themselves and the no-longer-helpful ways of dealing with the world that kept them feeling sick or stuck. They keep showing up when the going gets rough, because they’ve seen for themselves that they can trust the process, and they’re willing to keep working it until it works, one day at a time.