Relationship Issues Therapists in Chicago, IL

You have the answers - my role as your therapist is to collaborate and bring your capacities and experiences to the forefront. My personal identities (i.e. latine and South Asian), along with my education in psychology, religion, and social work, inform my practice through an anti-oppression lens that is affirming of people on the LGBTQIA2S+ spectrum, people of all sizes, genders, racial, and religious identities, parenting and non-parenting people, diverse relationship structures, kinksters, people who have been incarcerated, and people who work(ed) in survival economies (i.e. sex work).

Therapy can be a vulnerable process to initiate, whatever brings you in is worthy of time and attention. Many aspects of life can be difficult, recurring and even intolerable. Hope or frustration may have brought you here, in pursuit of the change that continues to mystify you and simultaneously carry you onto the next day. Therapy may support you in working grain by grain towards small adjustments that add up and create new possibilities. Sometimes things don't change, though, and you may have to contend with that powerlessness too. For now, you can begin to get to know yourself and your patterns with more clarity and compassion.

I am a licensed professional counselor dedicated to supporting individuals and families from diverse backgrounds as they navigate various challenges. I work from an integrative therapy approach, informed by existential therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy. My experience as a psychotherapist includes treating issues such as social isolation, relationship conflict, grief, trauma, anxiety, and depression. I hope to create a safe space where you can confront and address the complexities of life. In about 8-10 sessions, clients often gain a greater sense of empowerment and self-efficacy.

Relationships are the heart of all meaningful change. Whether you are coming to therapy because you feel lost, demoralized, or moved to deepen your self-understanding, feeling authentically understood and appreciated in your relationships is crucial to healing. In my practice, I strive to create an accepting atmosphere in which you feel comfortable speaking freely about the concerns in your life. Together, we can understand how the relationship we build in our work is both a microcosm of your present, as well as a vehicle for surprise, change, and growth.

I'm passionate about working with couples and individuals navigating life transitions, grief, anxiety, self-esteem, relationship issues, and complex family dynamics. I strive to create a space that is comfortable, calm, and rooted in being human. I am committed to supporting clients from an intersectional feminist and anti-racist perspective.

I support clients in finding clarity, understanding themselves more deeply, and taking steps towards creating the kind of life they want to experience. My clients feel lost or overwhelmed and want something to change, but may not know where to start. Together, we work to understand how unprocessed emotions and past experiences are getting in the way of their wellbeing in the form of anxious thoughts, unhelpful relationship patterns, or negative self-talk. My clients want to build tools to become more self-aware, cope with challenges, and feel more satisfied in their personal relationships.

It is often difficult to ask for support in the face of life’s challenges, and I appreciate you taking this step! I work with young adults and adults experiencing depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, life transitions, and identity and self-esteem concerns, among others. My goal is to create a comfortable and safe space where we work collaboratively to help you face those challenges and make the changes you desire to live a more fulfilling life. We all have vulnerabilities, and strengths we often don’t realize. I therefore work with my clients to build on their strengths and resilience, and develop self-compassion.

Life is not always easy - whether psychological or environmental, obstacles often come before us. I am passionate about assisting clients feel empowered to move past these obstacles to have the type of lives that they envision for themselves. I believe this is something we are all deserving of in our lives. Let’s work together by looking at what goals you have and creating a plan on how to achieve them. I will assist you by providing a safe, affirming, inclusive, warm, and open environment where you feel comfortable saying whatever is on their mind. We will work as a team to get you where you want to be.

I am a licensed clinical social worker who feels privileged to be a therapist; I am honored to be part of a client's journey. I believe that the verbal sharing of experiences in a therapeutic relationship allows clients to gain insight, develop awareness and ultimately fosters growth. I work with clients on a variety of issues but specialize in relationships, working with both individuals and couples. I often work through an attachment lens but value & use other therapeutic modalities as well. I feel that the therapeutic relationship is the most valuable driver for change in therapy.

Seeking help for life's challenges is a courageous step. I am committed to helping people live happier and more fulfilling lives. Together we will set individualized goals to meet your needs and find solutions to your problems. I am integrative in my approach to therapy and work with clients to better understand how certain thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and interpersonal issues contribute to distress. My style is interactive, collaborative, warm, and relational. I provide clients with a supportive yet challenging environment to attain a better understanding of self and of one's goals and values.

I view therapy as an opportunity for the exploration of oneself, one's relationships, and one's experiences in the world. I will provide you with an environment dedicated to increasing your understanding of yourself and your situation, and we will work together toward your development of new skills to accomplish your goals.

I help men that feel stuck in life get unstuck. Many of my clients want their relationship with their significant other or friends to be more real and enjoyable, but the problem is they can’t figure out how to unpack and communicate their emotions. They end up feeling alone in life and disconnected from themselves.

Life can be difficult and frustrating but I am adamant that finding a safe and affirming space in therapy shouldn’t be. Because of this, I strive to celebrate individuals’ identities and help them cultivate hope and meaning in their life. I use a collaborative and strengths-based approach to empower clients facing adversities and want to overcome challenges toward a life they desire. I particularly enjoy providing a supportive and non-judgmental space for clients to explore their feelings and honor their truth to welcome growth.

I like to work with people to address problems that are causing them distress and to help them understand what is keeping them stuck in certain patterns in their lives. I tailor my approach to each unique individual by attending to their identities, experiences, and environment. Therapy can be such a meaningful opportunity to increase insight and to explore and implement change in our lives, and I look forward to joining you in that process.

Being a therapist is my second career. I know what it means to search to find a life that feels more meaningful. I have a master’s degree in counseling, completed a year-long immersion in narrative therapy, and have recently finished coursework for a PhD in social work focused on psychodynamic theory from ICSW. My psychodynamic training means I have experience in listening in a particular way. Gaining insight means learning to listen to ourselves in a deeper, more curious, and open way. Currently, I am studying the impact of dating apps on relationships for my dissertation. I understand that modern dating can feel like a landmine.

I work with people who are experiencing anxiety and distress. Many feel stuck in unsatisfying experiences. We can gently explore these experiences in ways that can loosen their "grip", and bring innate healing resources into play, cultivating a deeper sense of ease and opportunity in everyday experience. The dissolving of these unsatisfying patterns, and the appearance and growth of more satisfying ones, happens in both individual and relationship therapy.

Perhaps you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or hopeless. But you're also feeling ready for change, which is why you're here. It's common to feel like our thoughts and emotions are in a confusing and tangled knot, whether we have experienced trauma, challenging family dynamics, relationship issues, depression, anxiety, and/or other mental health challenges. What I can do is help you untangle the knot one thread at a time, make sense of these parts, and understand their origins and connections. Most importantly, together we can start to weave a new pattern that suits you, so you feel empowered to live an authentic and fulfilling life.

You may have been considering going to therapy for some time, but don't know who to speak to. Or perhaps you're facing an unexpected stress in your life. Either way, we're here to help and you don't have to face things alone. We have the training and experience to help a wide variety of issues: anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or relationship problems. Our staff offers a wide range of services including individual therapy, couples counseling, EMDR, and mindfulness training. We specialize in helping people feel better.

Cheers to seeking out assistance with the wrenches that life throws! I am committed to your growth and progress, and together we will collaborate to get you to the place you strive to be! My goal is not to hold your hand indefinitely! My goal is to equip and empower you with tools on how to navigate your circumstance, so that you are not dependent on the therapeutic space. If you are truly motivated to “do the work”, I am the therapist for you!