Therapists in Illinois

I like people, and I believe in an elastic understanding of the human condition. My approach is informal and centered in the belief people move within the world in ways that make sense to them. Daily decisions often reveal parts of the self developed during formative years; it is human to adapt emotions to stressful events. It is also human to reenact distress because it is familiar. Personhood is largely informed by the body's fundamental desire to feel physiological balance. Exposure to trauma may be part of someone’s balance, and therapy can be a place to gain clarity in ways we bond with ourselves/others and understand purpose.

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." Ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao-Tzu. Let's face it: asking for help isn't always easy, but you've taken the courage to do so. Therapy is an exciting experience of self-discovery! As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), I work with adults, individually or as couples. I use a bilateral approach, incorporating a Strength-based practice with a focus on the mind/body connection, in particular Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). I assist clients in noticing, when automatic processes are occurring & to alter their reaction to be more of a reflection.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by day-to-day life? Are there things from your past that are unresolved? Do you desire self-improvement but don’t know where to start? Starting where you are is the first step in every new journey. I want to help guide you on your journey by helping you to unlock your own inner power to make transformative changes in your life. This can sound overwhelming, but you don’t have to do this work alone. I take a client-centered approach by meeting you wherever you may be in your journey of healing and self-discovery.

To me, therapy is a team sport. I'm there to help create a space and relationship where you feel safe exploring the things that are happening in your life. Maybe that thing is identity exploration, depression or anxiety that just won't quit, or figuring out how survive and then thrive after a big trauma. All of this is big stuff. I'm here to help you hold it and find a way through it. I have plenty of tools that I can bring to bear (questions, coping skills training, identifying patterns, and reframing situations), but ultimately, my approach centers around you and what you need to be successful, however you define success.

This summer, take the courageous step towards self-discovery and growth. Let's work together to uncover the insights and transformations you seek, building a brighter, more fulfilling path forward. I know that starting or restarting therapy can be intimidating and finding the right fit is important. In my practice I take time to work with clients to feel understood without judgement while building meaningful insight. Building communication, understanding, compassion, and confronting difficult patterns are important components to consider when looking for a therapist and these are hallmarks of my work with clients.

Healing can be a journey. Engaging in a space where your authentic self can shine can make that journey a bit less difficult. I try to create a space that is welcoming to your thoughts, feelings, and self-energy. I mostly work with people of marginalized communities (i.e. BIPoC, LGBTQ+, First-Gen/Immigrants), trauma survivors, and creatives. My past experiences including working with people with psychosis, sexual violence trauma, and gender affirming/supportive care.

My career began providing direct service and resources to families of domestic violence, substance use, and homelessness. I am passionate about helping others discover the root of their challenges and encouraging change through an eclectic and trauma-informed approach. I believe we all have a purpose, and our lives are most fulfilled when we walk in that purpose.

I specialize in trauma work from an attachment-based lens, focusing on parental, family and generational traumas. Your brain and body are not just connected but are a single system- your nervous system. This is why your body also carries trauma and stress. I integrate somatic/body-based therapies to help with managing strong emotions, numbness and dissociation. Learning how to ground yourself, both feel and regulate your emotions, and form healthy attachments in your relationships can be life-changing. Trauma can change your brain and your connection to your body, but we’ve proven healing to be equally powerful.

We often feel overwhelmed, out of control, or caught in patterns we can’t seem to escape. Many of us move around the world carrying secret struggles with negative thoughts, emotions, or urges, which disturb our day-to-day life and make waves in our relationships. Clients who seek my support are resourceful, and have typically already tried all of the tools in their existing toolbox. We are searching collaboratively for new pathways to positive change.

I have worked with clients from a variety of backgrounds on a wide range of struggles including feelings of depression, academic difficulties, identity exploration, anxiety, family conflict, relationship questions, experiences of discrimination, trauma, and grief and loss. I have also volunteered in the Emergency Room to counsel and advocate for people following sexual assault. As a man of trans experience, I am especially interested in supporting queer and TGNC communities and have a wealth of experience with emerging adults.

Hi! My name is Meagan (she/they) and I have had the privilege of working with clients of all different backgrounds at both the residential and outpatient level of care. I prioritize creating a safe and inviting space for individuals to begin their healing journey and am grateful to have the opportunity to help individuals explore how pieces from our past can continue to impact us as we continue to get older. I strongly believe in taking an individualized and empathic approach in order to empower individuals as they strive to meet their goals, as well as to ensure they feel supported and heard.

I believe our mental health is deeply impacted by our collective narratives, particularly in the context of our environment(s), our access to resources, and our experiences of privilege & oppression. Therefore our work together will be centered in your wholeness, examining and holding how all of these positions & experiences have shaped, and continue to shape, your life story & lived experience. What are the stories you tell yourself about who you are? What stories have been assigned to you w/out your consent? How might your life be different if you reclaimed & rewrote these stories?

Sometimes life becomes unmanageable on our own and we have to reach out for help. I am here to help normalize therapy and the discomfort that comes along with it. I am trained in EMDR, a modality used to help process traumatic memories and the cognitions associated with them. I specialize in working with individuals suffering from chronic anxiety, depression, complex trauma, emotional dysregulation, identity issues, addiction, LGBTQ+ issues, and everyday life stressors that can be difficult to manage.

Update:(Current availability for Clinical Supervision) You are the expert on you. I am here to walk beside you as we increase your awareness, understanding, and insight of what has happened to you and the ways past traumatic experiences are currently affecting your life. Your brain adapted so that you could survive. Your current struggles may be from adaptations that no longer serve you. Together, we will develop this insight and engage in life changing, trauma informed, work. It is important that we, both, determine a good and ethical fit in our roles as client and therapist. Visit my websites' "About Your Therapist" tab for more.

I strive for more than patient “functioning” as an end goal; I support my patients toward self-actualization and greater inner connection. If you feel stuck, consider a depth psychological approach. Many patients have only experienced supportive or solution-focused therapies, not realizing how these approaches inadvertently maintained their unhelpful patterns. Together, we will strive to find the right answer, not just the quick one.

Are you a member of the LGBTQIA community or an ally? Have you struggled to find a therapist who is engaging and focused on change? Are you a geek who feels unheard, over-diagnosed for your hobbies and passions, and enjoy creative endeavors like table-top RPGs, video games, and board games? I view my role as a lantern in the dark. It is challenging to walk around in the dark without any sense of direction before you find a lantern sitting on a stool. It is up to you to decide to pick up the lantern, to use it to guide your path through the dark, walk the path, overcome the barriers before you, and find mental wellness.

Life can be hard and having a counselor who truly hears you is life changing. You deserve to feel amazing and we're experts at making that a reality. As a niche based practice we have counselors that can help you navigate challenges in life & love. We have expertise in break-ups/divorce recovery, anxiety/stress, grief & loss, post-college transitions, trauma, relational discord, self-esteem, ADHD, non-traditional relationships and LGBTQ+. Our strength lies in walking with you through difficult transitions quicker and with more ease, insight and coping. We love supporting our clients because our life's work is to improve yours.

Counseling can strengthen your ability to recognize and make choices in your life that align with the person you want to be. I can help you cope with difficult emotions and develop a strong sense of self-compassion and acceptance. I am most passionate about addressing concerns related to anxiety, depression, trauma, and sexual health. A significant portion of my career has been focused on serving LGBTQ+ people and communities, and I pay close attention to cultural factors and the ways in which they impact a person's vantage point in this world.

I work with many types of clients, but specialize in working with queer and trans people, couples, and other forms of relationships (triads, polycules, open, polygamous, etc.). I deal primarily with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, family conflict, grief and loss, transitions, stress management, trauma, sex-related issues and traumas, kink and BDSM, behavioral and substance addictions, and chronic pain and chronic illness. I tend to work with adults. I love working with clients that bring their whole self to therapy as I do too. I always encourage feedback to ensure the therapeutic process feels affirming and healing.