Therapists in Chicago, IL

I am a compassionate trauma-informed therapist that primarily works with individuals struggling with trauma/PTSD, ADHD, neurodivergent issues, relationship issues, chronic pain, physical disability, partner violence, substance abuse, anxiety, stress, depression, cultural identity, cultural/intergenerational conflicts, family conflicts, and other issues. As a daughter of South Asian immigrants, I have always been interested in working with traditionally overlooked communities. I have worked with individuals with dual diagnosis, domestic violence survivors, veterans, and LGBTQIA individuals.

Sometimes, our responses to life circumstances may not be conducive to finding long-term joy, authenticity, or connection. Our experiences are stored in both our minds and bodies, and expressed through both as well. Between a wide array of clinical approaches and your lifetime of lived experiences, my aim is to work collaboratively with you in reaching your goals, and to craft a therapeutic environment where you feel safe to be your most authentic self.

These last few years have been really hard on our Bodies. So many of us feel disconnected from ourselves. Your Body deserves to take up space - the world needs your voice and your story. My goal is that my clients can find a place to rest in our work together and to be authentically themselves. My specializations are in working with teenagers and young adults who may be neurodivergent, exploring gender identity and/or sexual orientation, healing from complex childhood trauma, and/or religious trauma, or looking to heal their relationship with food and their Bodies. I approach therapy from an anti-diet and fat-positive approach.

Are you feeling trapped or overwhelmed by life's challenges? Does something feel "off," but you don't yet have words for it? A strong therapeutic relationship can empower us to live the lives we want by challenging the stories we tell about ourselves and the world. Asking for help can be daunting, so I work to create a safe environment that supports my clients in being fully themselves. Since each person comes to my practice with their own vision of what a fulfilling life looks like, I use a collaborative approach to meet each person's unique needs.

When we feel stressed and overwhelmed, numb, or stuck, calmness and connection is harder to come by. Our own bodies may feel beyond our control, or we may feel disconnected to them. We may desire change but don't know how to create it. If we feel shame or self-doubt, we may have difficulty finding our voice, our community, or our life’s work. Managing and making sense out of what we’re feeling or thinking sometimes is too much to carry alone. When we know it's time for the way we're feeling or thinking to shift, and we want more health, creativity, and joy in our lives, it's time to invest in ourselves and our wellbeing.

As a trauma and couples therapist, I work with survivors of sexual and interpersonal violence and those impacted by traumatic generational cycles or systemic oppression. Depression, anxiety, issues with focus and attention, rumination, chronic pain, identity crisis, and relationship issues act as alarms that tell us things need to change. Seeking therapy can be an empowering first step in reclaiming trust in yourself, your body, and your relationships. In couples therapy, we will work on communication, rebuilding intimacy and sexuality, and creating security and stability while ditching social scripts that don't serve you anymore.

Hola! I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor from Chicago, Illinois who loves to work with young adults, adults, and families who are seeking a holistic and relational approach to mental health and overall well-being. I specialize in Somatic Experiencing (SE) and body-centered, mindfulness approaches. I provide bilingual, trauma-informed and culturally-responsive care for patients who struggle with complex and relational trauma, life transitions, grief, identity, and existential problems. I also provides support for post-traumatic growth, decolonization, integration, and self-embodiment.

Ready to stop surviving and start thriving? You want to feel better, get unstuck. You're tired of being so overwhelmed all the time. It's becoming more difficult to remain present with your children, loved ones, life in general, and with yourself. You're feeling stressed, on edge, physically exhausted. You’re not alone, I am here to support you in becoming your best you today in your own time and in your own way so your past no longer dictates your present.

I have an appreciation for complexity and understand that most of us live a life full of contradictions - striving for goodness, happiness, prosperity, low drama, and quality relationships. I get to witness clients create a foundation of safety from which they can pursue their personal and relational goals. I have a passion for working with both traditional relationships and alternative lifestyle clients, as individuals or couples. My clients are often unraveling past traumatic and toxic relationships or simply navigating the unknown with the goals of creating new, healthy patterns of communication, safety, and intimacy.

Accepting new clients in-person or virtual. Our approach is goal-oriented at all levels and we truly believe everyone deserves to be free from the things holding them back. At CFC you will find a team of therapists who truly care. We take our time to get to know our clients and create goals that we can support you with. Whether it is you and your partner seeking intimacy or you are looking for relief from anxiety that doesn't seem to ever go away; we are here to help. Our motto is to walk beside our clients and share in this journey. We have 3 EMDR trained therapists, 4 couples counselors, a somatic pain specialist, and 3 interns.

As a therapist and mental health advocate, I believe everyone deserves one hour a week completely dedicated to them and what's coming up in their life. Whether you're experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, LGBTQIA struggles, or relational issues, I can offer you a nonjudgemental and engaging space to get to know yourself on a deeper level. Through a process of self-understanding and self-acceptance, we lay the groundwork for your desired life shifts.

I'm a Taiwanese/Chinese second-generation immigrant who grew up in the Midwest. Born to first-generation immigrants, I've witnessed the ways my parents’ migration experiences and has worked to understand and break cycles of generational trauma. I've dealt with the forces of assimilation, gendered and racialized identity formation, and the need to establish a sense of belonging within an immigrant family surrounded by predominantly Christian, white communities. I've worked with individuals/couples that are challenged by anxiety, trauma, depression, stress, family/relationship conflicts, racial/sexual identities, LGBTQ+ issues, etc.

When we are able to truly understand ourselves and our relationships, we can build a life of genuine meaning and connection. Many people enter into therapy only to find themselves gaining small amounts of insight that produce little or no changes in their life. My therapeutic methods produce results that not only change the way we feel about ourselves in the world but change our behaviors. I am respectful of the fact that everyone's pace and tolerance to different interventions varies. My work is reflective of the care and respect I have for each and every client as individuals.

Suffering is often the result of less than nurturing relationships and experiences. Fear can become imprisoned in the body. Family and culture can dictate how safe it is, or not safe, to express and be yourself. My immigrant experience from Taiwan allows me deeper empathy with people navigating life transitions and relating to different cultures and new relationships. At Embodied Way Psychotherapy PLLC, I strive to empower individuals within the context of systemic injustice and complications. My work is to provide compassion and wisdom so that you can feel fully alive and authentic in your body, your world and your relationships.

What's your definition of birthright? As we grow, family, culture, and society can assign meaning that does not serve our best interest but theirs. Devastatingly, we're often taught to point the finger back at ourselves when things go wrong. But I believe we heal and thrive when we nurture healthy intrinsic (fundamental to who we are) connection to ourselves and others. This work creates a safety net allowing us to build self-esteem and adapt without losing our personal power. Pursuing the arts with a former career as a performer, choreographer, and artistic director, I strongly relate to "fitting-in while trying to stand-out".

Struggling with issues related to trauma, grief, body image, life changes, anxiety, or general unhappiness? Sessions involve a somatic collaborative approach to help you feel supported. We will discover your strengths and work on coping mechanisms that work for you to live a more balanced life. I strive for each client to feel empowered and choose to meet them where they are in a way specific to their own individual needs. With your agency and permission, I may utilize EMDR, movement and intuition, reiki, as well as psychotherapeutic factors to work towards healing. Humor and creative wonder are also invited in the room!

I support individuals, couples and families as they navigate grief and loss, anxiety and depression, identity exploration, sex and intimacy, and healing from trauma, both acute and complex. As a former doula, and childcare professional, I am both passionate, and experienced in supporting folks’ as they move through (in)fertility, pregnancy, birth, postpartum and parenting. I am especially passionate about working with couples. I am experienced in helping couples through high conflict or every day kerfluffles, deepening sexual and emotional intimacy and desire, navigating intercultural dynamics, and communication.

Our human experience can innately be encountered by adversity. I believe our therapeutic relationship and your internal wisdom can turn those experiences into opportunities for growth and transformation. You deserve to reconnect with your essence and your infinite power to create the life you want and the one that already belongs to you through the power of healing.

Thank you for taking this first step in finding me here. You may be experiencing life challenges, relationship issues, work stressors, and you’re ready to break these patterns and gain clarity. I specialize my approach to what you need at the moment, whether that’s developing healthy boundaries, communication skills, or connecting with a deeper purpose. I welcome a wide variety of client concerns, with a specialization in healing the root cause of mental health issues utilizing talk therapy, somatic releasing work, and breathing exercises.