Therapists in Chicago, IL

I am a firm believer that the success of a therapeutic relationship can be determined within the first two sessions. A strong alliance between the practitioner and client is essential for the success of treatment. As such, I place a strong emphasis on creating an environment that fosters comfortable conversation, safety, and openness between us as partners in the therapeutic process. By doing so, and allowing conversation to flow naturally, I believe that a more authentic alliance can begin to develop. I adhere mainly to cognitive behavioral theory to serve as the backbone for the therapeutic techniques that I employ.

I use both talk therapy and art therapy to assist clients in building insight into thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, as well as developing skills to cope with difficult life stressors. I strongly believe that practicing kindness and self-compassion does not contradict with personal growth and self-improvement. I view the client as the expert in their own life when identifying areas to work on and setting goals, and I see myself as a "fellow traveler" who, through non-judgemental collaboration and support, can help guide the client towards living a life that feels in line with their personal values.

I offer collaborative psychotherapy for anxiety, depression, and substance use, using naturalistic research-supported approaches that enhance awareness, access strengths, and build skills. These approaches - which vary according to individual needs and preferences - include mindfulness, depth-oriented counseling, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Existential Psychotherapy. Particular concerns may include worry, panic, obsession, procrastination, grief, esteem, frustration, habits, and/or motivation. The overarching model promotes psychological growth, transcendence of purpose-limiting "world views," and personal empowerment.

Leah O'Brien (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor specializing in anxiety, depression, adjustment to trauma, eating concerns, interpersonal problems, life transitions, and substance use. Ms. O'Brien is integrative in her treatment approach, often combining cognitive-behavioral, emotion-focused, and motivational interviewing approaches. She prioritizes collaborating with clients to create individualized treatment interventions, tailored to the identified goals of each client, with an emphasis on creating a warm, safe, and nonjudgmental therapeutic environment.

Sandstone Care Chicago ensures that you receive the correct diagnosis, and helps you find the proper and most effective treatment for your substance use and mental health conditions. We listen to your concerns and meet you wherever you are on your recovery journey.

I am a solution-focused therapist with a collaborative, non-judgemental, and client centered approach to treatment. My goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment for individuals to explore their challenges and make progress towards creating healthy and satisfying lives. I am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and other empirically validated treatments such as prolonged exposure (PE) and ERP. I have experience working with diverse populations in a variety of settings providing treatment for depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, panic disorder, and social anxiety.

I provide therapy that is collaborative, understanding and humanistic, where I work together with patients to customize therapy so it is tailored to the patient's unique needs and goals. I work with people to address a range of issues, including depression, anxiety, traumatic stress, problematic substance use, shame, loss and grief, relationship difficulties, sexual and gender identity issues, job and academic stress, adjustment challenges to situations such as divorce, new parenthood, stepparenting, adoption and challenges managing and coping with serious health conditions such as infertility, autoimmune disease and cancer.

I am qualified to help clients with trauma using EMDR and TFCBT. I also have experience with addiction and substance use treatment. I have experience with couples, individuals, families, and adolescents.

I work from a "empathy above all" perspective and am extremely individualized in my approach with regards to client needs. Therapy is not "one size fits all," and neither is recovery; recovery from trauma, substance use disorder, alcohol use disorder, toxic relationships, disordered eating, and more. These are only a few examples of the issues I am qualified to work with.

I work with adults of all ages who may be facing various struggles including anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship issues and substance use/abuse. As obstacles are constantly presented to us in life, my goal for clients is to have the confidence in themselves and their ability to live the life they want and deserve. I am here to act as a guide and support system with my clients while they discover the abilities they have within them. We often can be our toughest critics and I strive to provide people a space where they can build kindness and grace within themselves in order to improve their lives.

The start of therapy is often a painful or stressful time. I will work with you to improve your current life and increase your future resilience. I believe the foundation of this work is often the experience of being truly heard. There are stories behind the things we do and the feelings we have. We usually know parts of these stories, but therapy helps us to know more. As we come to know more, we gain more control, and it becomes easier to meet life’s challenges. Additionally, we become better at seeing people and situations for what they really are, which helps us to avoid ruts at work and in our relationships.

We live in an abbreviated and relentlessly future-oriented society that deems it abhorrent to live with or tolerate uncertainty and contradiction. In our attempts to make sense of it all, life becomes exhausting, suffocating, and at times, unbearable.

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.

Therapy is a way of approaching those life challenges that sometimes appear overwhelming or confusing. By putting words to those feelings, you can begin to unravel patterns of behavior, relationship dynamics and decision making processes, thus allowing for meaningful change. Therapy takes place in a supportive, non-judgmental space where you are able to reflect on your concerns by exploring the thoughts and feelings you are experiencing. Treatment is based on your singular circumstances, utiliziing a psychodynamic, trauma informed approach.

I am a psychotherapist who is interested in working with clients who are striving to become their authentic/best selves. The counseling process is one that looks the holistic needs of the individual (i.e. society, family, personal narrative/story) to promote personal growth and development. Therefore, I am a multicultural and gestalt therapist who is committed to the process of understanding and addressing societal issues that impact clients' emotional and psychological health. I work collaboratively with clients to connect to their authentic selves, step into their power, and set goals to achieve their desired holistic needs.

Navigating life's set backs, challenges, and adversities can absolutely take a toll on our wellbeing and ability to function, which is why it is important to know that you do not have to work through these concerns alone. I believe in the power of healing through promoting self-awareness, autonomy and empowerment, and also in people's strength to move towards change. Though suffering is a part of life, something that all humans share, working to manifest helpful and sustainable coping mechanisms, and skills that will work to serve you long term makes a difference in the quality of life a person experiences.

You’re looking for a therapist who is approachable, attentive, and actively engaged—someone who can celebrate and see you, hang in the hard times, who can shift your perspective, facilitate new insights and provide concrete tools and strategies to help you better navigate life and relationships. No matter what we may be struggling with, we can all benefit from a safe and open space to process our unique issues. No problem is too small to share with someone who can help you explore ways to deal with it and to improve your overall quality of life.

My name is Sarah Basler, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW. Therapy is a big step. I am happy you are looking for a therapist for yourself or a loved one. I have over 20 years of experience providing counseling to adolescents and adults. I have experience treating substance use, anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma. My goal is to help you on your path to healing. I like to meet you where you are and help you be the best version of yourself. Transitions and life can be hard. I am here to guide you through life's challenges.

As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, I am here to help navigate life’s challenges and collaborate not only on your mental health journey thus far, but also what’s to come. I practice with a client-centered approach and enjoy the beauty in co-creating a therapeutic dynamic. Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and exploring the unknown can be overwhelming - I provide a safe space that accentuates your values, strengths, and beliefs while increasing self-awareness to what has been inside of you all along. Together, we can expand on previous coping skills while also developing new ones to help grow throughout your journey.