Serengeti Wellness
Group Practice
155 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60601
Let's Connect (312) 604-5115
Serengeti Wellness is more than just a private practice; it’s a sanctuary for culturally conscious and attuned mental health care. We prioritize emotional safety, compassion, and the opportunity for lasting transformation. At Serengeti, we are passionate about reshaping the narrative around therapy, moving beyond decades of stigma to a space where personal needs and overall wellness are at the forefront. We are a team of 15 therapists with a wide range of specialties to meet each client's unique needs. Our services include individual therapy, couples and family counseling, EMDR, hypnotherapy, and yoga for mental health.
Our Team
Alana Stramowski
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC, NCC
2 Endorsed
Chicago, IL 60601
Waitlist for new clients
Being in relationship with others is a universal human experience, though it doesn’t come without challenges. I believe how we show up in relationship with ourselves and others sets the foundation for everything else in our lives. As a therapist with a focus on relationships, anxiety, depression, LGBTQIA+ mental health, complex family dynamics, relational trauma, sexual trauma, neurodivergence, and grief, I create a safe and nurturing space for clients of all identities to explore their emotional worlds and relational challenges.
Being in relationship with others is a universal human experience, though it doesn’t come without challenges. I believe how we show up in relationship with ourselves and others sets the foundation for everything else in our lives. As a therapist with a focus on relationships, anxiety, depression, LGBTQIA+ mental health, complex family dynamics, relational trauma, sexual trauma, neurodivergence, and grief, I create a safe and nurturing space for clients of all identities to explore their emotional worlds and relational challenges.
Alyssa Meixelsperger
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, CADC
1 Endorsed
Chicago, IL 60601
Waitlist for new clients
Being vulnerable and opening yourself up to change can be intimidating. When beginning therapy, many people don’t know where to start and often feel overwhelmed by everything they want to accomplish.
I am here to support you in taking that first step and making change seem more manageable. By using a client-centered and collaborative approach, I help each client identify relevant goals for therapy that align with their unique circumstances. My style of therapy is holistic; I prefer to look at the ‘whole-person’ and meet each client where they are at.
Being vulnerable and opening yourself up to change can be intimidating. When beginning therapy, many people don’t know where to start and often feel overwhelmed by everything they want to accomplish.
I am here to support you in taking that first step and making change seem more manageable. By using a client-centered and collaborative approach, I help each client identify relevant goals for therapy that align with their unique circumstances. My style of therapy is holistic; I prefer to look at the ‘whole-person’ and meet each client where they are at.
I believe that the most healing aspect of therapy is the positive, safe relationship that forms between counselor and client. I specialize in supporting clients who experience Eating Disorders, Body Image, Anxiety, Aging, Self-Esteem, Mood Disorders, Pregnancy & Postpartum support, Familial Conflict/Relationships, Trauma, Identity Navigation, Inner-Child Work, Life Transitions, Self-Esteem, ADHD, and more. I particularly enjoy working with Adolescents (13+), Adults, and Couples, and offer both individual and couples counseling services.
I believe that the most healing aspect of therapy is the positive, safe relationship that forms between counselor and client. I specialize in supporting clients who experience Eating Disorders, Body Image, Anxiety, Aging, Self-Esteem, Mood Disorders, Pregnancy & Postpartum support, Familial Conflict/Relationships, Trauma, Identity Navigation, Inner-Child Work, Life Transitions, Self-Esteem, ADHD, and more. I particularly enjoy working with Adolescents (13+), Adults, and Couples, and offer both individual and couples counseling services.
Often when we experience a major life change, a personal loss, or just seem to be in a
rut, it can seem like our thoughts and feelings don’t make sense anymore. My approach is grounded in the present moment—helping you make sense of what you're experiencing right now while offering practical tools to support relief and real, lasting change. If you're looking for a collaborative, active, and solutions-focused style that helps you move forward, we may be a great fit. I use a lot of metaphors and sprinkle humor into therapy to connect with my clients and ease tension. Often, my sessions begin with a mindfulness breathing exercise.
Often when we experience a major life change, a personal loss, or just seem to be in a
rut, it can seem like our thoughts and feelings don’t make sense anymore. My approach is grounded in the present moment—helping you make sense of what you're experiencing right now while offering practical tools to support relief and real, lasting change. If you're looking for a collaborative, active, and solutions-focused style that helps you move forward, we may be a great fit. I use a lot of metaphors and sprinkle humor into therapy to connect with my clients and ease tension. Often, my sessions begin with a mindfulness breathing exercise.
Therapy requires a great deal of vulnerability, so I understand the trepidation that comes with it. Because of this, I utilize a Person-Centered approach to meet clients where they’re at in their process. My approach is to create an authentic connection with each of my clients and to work collaboratively with them in addressing their concerns. I practice with a multicultural lens and seek to understand how a client’s culture and identity impacts them, and how our differing identities show up in the therapy room. Therapy can be scary and painful, but it can also be beautiful and transformative with time.
Therapy requires a great deal of vulnerability, so I understand the trepidation that comes with it. Because of this, I utilize a Person-Centered approach to meet clients where they’re at in their process. My approach is to create an authentic connection with each of my clients and to work collaboratively with them in addressing their concerns. I practice with a multicultural lens and seek to understand how a client’s culture and identity impacts them, and how our differing identities show up in the therapy room. Therapy can be scary and painful, but it can also be beautiful and transformative with time.
People often come to therapy feeling stuck or unsatisfied, facing life’s inevitable challenges and cycling through the same patterns and relationship dynamics, feeling unsure how to move forward or take better care of themselves.
With curiosity and compassion, I support clients in exploring barriers, building insight and self-compassion, and engaging in healthier relationships with themselves and others. I take a holistic approach, considering clients’ multifaceted world and history, while ensuring the client is the primary driver of our work.
People often come to therapy feeling stuck or unsatisfied, facing life’s inevitable challenges and cycling through the same patterns and relationship dynamics, feeling unsure how to move forward or take better care of themselves.
With curiosity and compassion, I support clients in exploring barriers, building insight and self-compassion, and engaging in healthier relationships with themselves and others. I take a holistic approach, considering clients’ multifaceted world and history, while ensuring the client is the primary driver of our work.
Laura Johnson
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, MSW, MDiv
1 Endorsed
Chicago, IL 60601
Waitlist for new clients
Greater self-awareness is often the jumping-off point to a life that feels more connected, aligned, and authentic. Many of the people I work with are thoughtful and self-aware, yet still feel stuck, often navigating anxiety, relationship challenges, ADHD overwhelm, grief, major life transitions, or a lingering sense that something in life feels “off.”
Greater self-awareness is often the jumping-off point to a life that feels more connected, aligned, and authentic. Many of the people I work with are thoughtful and self-aware, yet still feel stuck, often navigating anxiety, relationship challenges, ADHD overwhelm, grief, major life transitions, or a lingering sense that something in life feels “off.”
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.
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.
My goal is to create a space where clients feel safe being their truest selves, without judgment or pressure. I strive to build a relationship that feels meaningful, supportive, steady, and with the kind of occasional humor that makes hard conversations just a little easier.
I work with teens (12+), adults (18+), and athletes, and specialize in: Anxiety, Depression, Trauma/PTSD, ADHD, OCD, Eating Disorders (including ARFID), LGBTQIA+ Mental Health, Athlete Mental Health, Exercise Dependence, Self-Harm, Body Image Concerns, Perfectionism, Relational/Family Trauma, Identity Issues/Development, Burnout & Attachment Style Exploration.
My goal is to create a space where clients feel safe being their truest selves, without judgment or pressure. I strive to build a relationship that feels meaningful, supportive, steady, and with the kind of occasional humor that makes hard conversations just a little easier.
I work with teens (12+), adults (18+), and athletes, and specialize in: Anxiety, Depression, Trauma/PTSD, ADHD, OCD, Eating Disorders (including ARFID), LGBTQIA+ Mental Health, Athlete Mental Health, Exercise Dependence, Self-Harm, Body Image Concerns, Perfectionism, Relational/Family Trauma, Identity Issues/Development, Burnout & Attachment Style Exploration.
We all have personal challenges and sometimes those challenges can overwhelm us. I have found that emotional symptoms are most often a sign of disequilibrium rather than a pathological condition. Embedded within each challenge is an opportunity to grow emotionally, relationally, professionally, and/or spiritually. Whatever has brought you here I encourage you to use this as your opportunity to evolve. I utilize a holistic and individualistic approach to assist clients navigate life’s challenges through meeting their needs and developing goals to evolve into the person you choose to grow into.
We all have personal challenges and sometimes those challenges can overwhelm us. I have found that emotional symptoms are most often a sign of disequilibrium rather than a pathological condition. Embedded within each challenge is an opportunity to grow emotionally, relationally, professionally, and/or spiritually. Whatever has brought you here I encourage you to use this as your opportunity to evolve. I utilize a holistic and individualistic approach to assist clients navigate life’s challenges through meeting their needs and developing goals to evolve into the person you choose to grow into.
I approach therapy with the understanding that healing and growth take time and that a strong therapeutic relationship is essential for meaningful progress to happen. Trust develops through consistency, openness, and a sense of safety. I prioritize creating a supportive environment where clients feel respected, heard, and able to show up fully as themselves. We’ll work collaboratively to build insight into your thoughts, emotions, and behavioral patterns through a blend of self-reflection, thoughtful challenging, mindfulness, and actionable goal-setting to create meaningful change.
I approach therapy with the understanding that healing and growth take time and that a strong therapeutic relationship is essential for meaningful progress to happen. Trust develops through consistency, openness, and a sense of safety. I prioritize creating a supportive environment where clients feel respected, heard, and able to show up fully as themselves. We’ll work collaboratively to build insight into your thoughts, emotions, and behavioral patterns through a blend of self-reflection, thoughtful challenging, mindfulness, and actionable goal-setting to create meaningful change.
I support clients who are seeking a welcoming and affirming environment where they can confidently learn to navigate the growing complexities of everyday life. My clients come to me feeling anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed and are eager to create change for themselves. Together, we work collaboratively to understand how past experiences, relationships, and unresolved emotions have impacted their social-emotional functioning and ability to live a more fulfilling life. I offer my clients the space to be heard, tools necessary to cope with challenges, and strategies to establish meaningful relationships.
I support clients who are seeking a welcoming and affirming environment where they can confidently learn to navigate the growing complexities of everyday life. My clients come to me feeling anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed and are eager to create change for themselves. Together, we work collaboratively to understand how past experiences, relationships, and unresolved emotions have impacted their social-emotional functioning and ability to live a more fulfilling life. I offer my clients the space to be heard, tools necessary to cope with challenges, and strategies to establish meaningful relationships.
Seeking therapy is a courageous step. It takes strength, vulnerability, and a willingness to face parts of us that can feel overwhelming or even painful, especially when sharing them with someone new. I recognize how hard it can be to open, to build trust with a therapist, and to navigate the emotional weight of asking for support. In many cultures, therapy is still surrounded by stigma and misconceptions, which can create barriers to access and acceptance. I strive to create a warm, supportive, and inclusive space where you feel safe, seen, and heard.
Seeking therapy is a courageous step. It takes strength, vulnerability, and a willingness to face parts of us that can feel overwhelming or even painful, especially when sharing them with someone new. I recognize how hard it can be to open, to build trust with a therapist, and to navigate the emotional weight of asking for support. In many cultures, therapy is still surrounded by stigma and misconceptions, which can create barriers to access and acceptance. I strive to create a warm, supportive, and inclusive space where you feel safe, seen, and heard.
Life can feel overwhelming when you're carrying the weight of anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, sexual concerns, or the daily realities of living with a chronic illness. If you're feeling stuck, disconnected, or simply exhausted, you don't have to navigate it alone. I specialize in working with individuals navigating anxiety, depression, chronic illness, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and the effects of sexual, religious, and medical trauma. As a Certified Sex Therapy Informed Professional (CSTIP), I also support individuals navigating intimacy, relationships, sexuality, and sexual wellness.
Life can feel overwhelming when you're carrying the weight of anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, sexual concerns, or the daily realities of living with a chronic illness. If you're feeling stuck, disconnected, or simply exhausted, you don't have to navigate it alone. I specialize in working with individuals navigating anxiety, depression, chronic illness, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and the effects of sexual, religious, and medical trauma. As a Certified Sex Therapy Informed Professional (CSTIP), I also support individuals navigating intimacy, relationships, sexuality, and sexual wellness.