I love helping others to make sense of their issues through an integrative approach. My specialties are, (1) Couples, Families and Individuals; (2) Multicultural Issues; (3) Work with actors, models, and sexual workers; (4) Negotiations.

I am a psychotherapist with a Master’s degree from the University of Chicago, where I studied clinical social work. I have experience working with children, adolescents, and adults on a wide range of clinical issues including anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, addiction, and trauma. I am passionate about perinatal mental health and is interested in working with new parents as they navigate at the complex issues associated with planning, pregnancy, and parenthood.

Is your life being restricted by fear, worry, phobias, shyness, panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, or repetitive/compulsive behaviors? Do you feel that your "comfort zone" has been shrinking, you've been avoiding things that you want/need to do, or that you get "stuck in your head" and can't be present in your life? There's good news: things can get better. My goal is to always bring a compassionate, authentic attitude to therapy that respects each client’s individuality, while utilizing powerful, evidence-based practices that have been proven to work.

We often try to deny and reject our past instead of embracing it, sometimes leading to self-doubt, negative thoughts and memories that can hinder us. Through collaboration and self-determination, we can reignite the drive that still lies within, so that we can increase your self-esteem, replace negative thoughts with positive thinking, and process those memories together. You are not alone. April has always been passionate about helping others achieve their goals for better mental health. From assistance with daily stressors to feelings of hopelessness, each client is unique and deserves a therapeutic journey tailored to them.

Relationships, no matter what kind make us who we are. We can not know who we are if we don’t know of those around us. Our everyday interactions with those around us, large or small, impact us as a result. There’s nothing more rewarding than sitting with clients, hearing how small changes towards healthy relationships has improved their lives. This includes nurturing the relationship with self- an important relationship in all our lives that we often ignore.

At LifeWorks, we welcome clients of all ages, ethnicities, races, spiritual practices and religious traditions, genders and sexual orientations. We are an explicitly inclusive practice with offices in Skokie, Lakeview, and the Loop. LifeWorks clinicians have many years of experience working with transitions, issues and conflicts related to relationships and identities that are marginalized or largely unsupported by society such as LGBTQIA, open relationships, polyamory, kink, sex work ... We are also knowledgeable about the struggles of religious, spiritual, racial, cultural and ethnic minorities.

**Not accepting clients at this time** Therapy is a process of collaborative change. Whether you want to explore your emotional experiences or need support throughout your gender transition, I am here to work with you. I seek to provide a space of unconditional yet objective support, to create an environment in which you can be your authentic self, and to facilitate a deeper understanding of who you are. My therapeutic approach is rooted in empathy, coping skill building, self-exploration and awareness, decolonization, and anti-oppression.

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS. I firmly believe in individualized, custom care for each of my clients. Just as “one size fits all” clothing never really fits anybody there is no “no size fits all” therapy in my practice. If you are going to put your time and trust in me then the least I can do is provide customized, evidence-based care. I honor the belief that each client is an expert on him, her, or themselves. My clients are equal partners in their care. In addition to this, clients also seem to enjoy my laid-back and caring approach.

I work with adults who seek healing from anxiety, depression. trauma and addiction. I offer a safe environment for individuals to feel accepted and understood in the myriad ways we can all feel beaten down by our lives. I offer to witness your life struggles and unmet dreams, while helping you to grow in self-awareness and self-acceptance. I work from a depth oriented, Jungian approach, which calls upon the wisdom of the unconscious, made known through personal dreams, complexes, archetypes, and the client/therapist relationship.

I am passionate about helping my clients reach their desired goals. I view them as worthy, as valuable and as capable of achieving the lives they want. I take a holistic view, treating mind, body and spirit. I have experience treating chronic mental illness as well as experience helping clients manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD and trauma. I have facilitated numerous psychoeducational and skills-based groups as well as on topics such as anxiety, depression and healing from trauma.

I work with teens, parents, young adults, and families to learn effective strategies to address any struggles they are facing. Effective therapists are good listeners and also hold clients accountable to make the changes they want to see. Whether it be behavioral changes at home or at school, managing and reducing stress and anxiety, or challenging you to work toward your goals, I will be engaging you throughout the process. I utilize well-researched and results-driven techniques to assist you in altering the unproductive patterns of behavior and stress management to lead you to success!

Though each person’s experience is unique, a common thread is that not knowing where emotions come from adds to distress. My hope is to provide a nonjudgmental place to better understand your emotions so that you can gain a sense of control in creating a meaningful life. A meaningful life may involve feeling comfortable sitting alone with your thoughts, the past becoming less haunting, more effective communication in relationships, feeling productive, or something else. Whatever you are working towards, I am here to support you.

I work with individuals who find difficulties with their interpersonal relationships. Trauma, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem can keep you stuck in limiting patterns. As a massage therapist for the past 24 years, I've noticed how people hold patterns of pain, trauma, and negative energy in their bodies. Now as a therapist I help people who may be carrying the weight of their past, feel their life is out of balance, or who are not living up to their full potential. If you'd like to relate better to those around you, learn new skills to change behaviors, and improve your overall wellness I can help.

Relationships can be a powerful source of fulfillment to draw from in our lives. Miscommunication, old patterns, unrealistic expectations and daily stress sometimes step in, preventing them from providing that happiness and strength. Therapy can break down barriers to improve communication, decrease conflict and increase emotional and physical intimacy. I specialize in the respectful treatment of relationship and sexual concerns, utilizing an open, honest, and sex-positive approach to help assess your unique personal goals and assist you in developing more positive and fulfilling relationships- with yourself and with partners.

Life is full of challenges and unexpected changes. It is normal to struggle with these challenges and changes. However, if you are feeling stuck, anxious, depressed, struggling with self-identity, experiencing grief and loss or other feeling/emotion/thoughts and feel ready to talk about it, I am here for you. I provide a safe space and support for you, by actively listening to your needs. We will walk through your struggles together.You will find a way to cope through it with a correct approach that fit for you and the resources that you need.

Are you tired of facing your problems alone, yet feeling uncertain about discussing them with a stranger? Are you feeling trapped in your anxious and depressive thoughts, but feeling too embarrassed to talk, but also too desperate NOT to? For most people, finding a therapist IS very anxiety provoking. They are afraid of being judged and of the unknown. So allow me to first applaud your courage and wisdom for taking action! To help my clients feel accepted and motivated, my approach is warm, casual, and collaborative. My focus is always on emphasizing the strengths, NOT on what "disorders" you might have.

Often when people start working with me they tell me intellectually they know how to handle something but emotionally they are stuck and keep doing the same unhelpful things over and again. Other times, people come in not knowing why they feel as they do, but they just want to feel better. Initially, couples frequently report having the same problem or argument. By collaborating with my clients, I help them work through what is getting in the way of healthier functioning and relationships. I take a systemic, integrative perspective, informed by research, utilizing a variety of approaches so that I can best meet your needs.

The expectations of our family, friends, and community can influence how we navigate the world and whether or not we embrace our authentic selves. I believe in the use of humor to connect in the therapeutic relationship while creating a safe and validating space in order to explore vulnerable topics; to move from surviving to thriving and towards a values-driven life; to move towards empowerment; to find your own voice; to find compassion for both yourself and others. And I would be honored to join you in your journey to engage in this therapeutic process together.

There will be times in your life, that you may feel doubtful and overwhelmed by changes, experiences, and difficulties coping with circumstances. These difficulties could be an opportunity to learn from mistakes, connect with yourself, and learn to better cope.

I focuses a lot of my practice on minority mental health. I have extensive experience of working with clients from various race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, immigration status, gender presentation, and socio-economic status. A special area of interest of mine is working with individuals to create healthy relationships and reconcile cultural/inter-generational conflicts. I specializes in working with individual adults and adolescents to address anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, stress, anger management, cultural identify, family conflict, grief, self-esteem, life transitions and many other areas of concerns.