Therapists in 60602

My professional background includes working with a wide variety of clients from children to older adults. I have provided mental health and substance abuse outpatient counseling including individual, group and family therapy. I have worked with a broad range of presenting issues including anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, adjustment difficulties, grief and loss, relationship problems, family conflict, mood disorders, personality disorders, psychosis, thinking disorders, codependency, domestic violence, self-esteem, women’s issues, spirituality, chronic illness, chronic pain, dual diagnosis, and addictions.

My therapeutic approach is to fosters a space where the past, present, and future intersect in a way that healing, empowerment, and clear direction can flourish. I understand that life can at times be challenging, change can be destabilizing, and loss will cause pain. Through these life transitions one may at times need a safe space to cultivate hope and grow. I employ evidence based practices, cultural sensitivity and awareness to assist you in achieving your therapeutic goals.

I frequently work with individuals in transition, from emerging adulthood through retirement. Following loss or change, long-standing perceptions and patterns can hold us back from a next phase of life that's fulfilling and meaningful. My approach may be particularly helpful with issues related to grief, workplace conflict, interpersonal trauma, relationship concerns, and other issues where anxiety and depression often lurk. In addition to psychotherapy, I offer neuropsychological assessment and personality testing services, an opportunity to understand how your emotions and cognition work together, with an eye to what might enhance life satisfaction and success.

If you identify as LGBTQIA+, femme, and/ or a person of color you may be facing obstacles or concerns in your life that are heavy on your mind. The weight of your worries may be leaving you feeling sad, frustrated, afraid or even angry. It may feel bigger than what you have time for right now, causing you to hold back when you want to say something. It may be more and more difficult to disclose any of these feelings to anyone without falling apart. It’s okay to feel sadness, frustration or anger and it is okay to take time to talk about it. You can learn to allow room for all of your feelings.

Life can be difficult and all of us struggle at times. We deal with hardship, loss, pain, break ups, hurt, relationship turmoil, tough transitions, crisis, sadness, worry and difficulty managing intense feelings. We are also resillient. We all have the inherent ability to change and better ourselves. We offer you the space and tools to learn and grow through collaborative, non-judgmental, compassionate therapy.

I utilize a combination of somatically-focused, cognitive, and psychodynamic approaches to assist you in understanding your concerns. I'd love to help you address current changes you'd like to make, but also address underlying concerns so that current struggles are less likely to resurface. I specialize in tailoring treatments in developmentally attuned ways. With adults I assist clients in understanding how their life journeys have led them to their present concerns, and work on uncovering and undoing patterns you may find less effective.

As a relational therapist, I focus on supporting and witnessing clients in finding healing, connection, conflict resolution, and repair to ultimately build a life and relationships that honor their values and imagination. Therapy is an opportunity for liberation from dominant social narratives that don’t work for us as individuals or in our relationships, and I recognize the intergenerational and ongoing trauma of struggling against those dominant narratives. All relationships can benefit from this lens – whether they're romantic, platonic, brand new, long-term, with others, or with parts of yourself.

We live in a stressful, complex, and contradictory world. And though you do your best to cope with the chaos around you, sometimes it gets overwhelming. The chaos can make you question your decisions - sometimes it can even make you question who and how you are. Why are there so many obstacles to the life and relationships you want? Shouldn’t there be a clearer path? It can be so hard to navigate through the noise. Craving to connect more fully but end up feeling needy and more alone. Wanting to feel safe, but unease grows and bleeds through. Striving to be authentic, but there is so much noise it is hard to hear your true self.

I work with individuals, couples, and families struggling with a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, addiction issues (substance abuse), troubled teens, school failure, LGBTQ+, and trauma and identity issues. As a lifelong allied and friend to the LGBTQ+ community, I work very hard to remain current to concerns that are specific to marginalized communities. I tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique needs. I will work with you to think outside of the box and build strength through our therapeutic relationship.

“As it turns out, the good place was in the bad place all along.” - Michael, The Good Place. I believe that we can make meaning out of suffering. My goal as a therapist is to provide you with a gentle space to connect with your emotions, change unhelpful patterns of behavior, and gain deeper insight into the thoughts and actions that impact your quality of life. As a queer-identified provider, I bring unique insight to the therapy room. I believe that mental health providers have a responsibility to enhance the accessibility of affirming and empathic care to all, and I carry this energy into my work.

I believe that an open and supportive therapeutic relationship is foundational to healing. I bring a collaborative spirit and non-judgmental curiosity to our work together to help create a safe space for you to get in touch with your most authentic self and grow toward your values. You are the expert in your own life, so I strive to understand how your various identities and experiences inform how you move through the world. With warmth, humor, and transparency, I work with each of my clients to co-create a therapeutic process that meets their unique needs and goals.

At some point in our lives, we all encounter difficulties. These hard times may be related to our relationships, past or current traumas, work challenges, health problems, among others. My approach is to focus on the entire person, mind, body, and spirit. This involves taking a holistic view of the client and integrating healing practices for all facets of your being. My first goal is to get to know you and co-create a healing plan for you. I will partner with you to find what works best for you.

Whether you have specific goals in therapy, or are simply struggling to keep your head above water, therapy can be a space to slow down and allow yourself the opportunity to sit with your experiences and feelings. I love working with queer and trans folks, people exploring their gender and sexuality for the first time, as well as people with Autism and ADHD, and people who are exploring the possibility that they may be neurodivergent. I also enjoy working with people with complex trauma histories, religious trauma, complicated family dynamics, as well as people struggling with anxiety and mood disorders.

As a clinical intern, I specialize in helping clients navigate sexual and intimacy concerns, societal pressures, identity development, parent/child relationships, and life transitions. I hope to provide a safe and welcoming space for self-exploration, particularly within the LGBTQIA+ and kink communities. In this environment, the focus is on inclusivity, understanding, and supporting diverse relationships. Ultimately, the goal is to empower clients to embrace their authentic selves, build healthier relationships, and pursue a path of fulfillment and growth.

My clients present with mild to severe anxiety, depression or life related stress. Sometimes life gets overwhelming and my clients want support and also to learn new skills. They want to get back to some level of normalcy and by working in a collaborative way we work on achieving and crushing treatment plan goals. My clients just want to be ok! They want to be the best version of themselves and I help guide that process.

I believe we are most content when we are most in alignment with our true selves. Discontent, then, is more of a disconnect with who we truly are. It is a pain that can take on many forms (e.g. stress, sadness, loneliness, anxiety, anger, grief, exhaustion) and serves the purpose of bringing to our awareness, aspects of our self that need to be attended to rather than ignored. I believe the foundation of a helping relationship lies in fostering a safe space in which a person can show up as they are in the presence of someone who holds them in positive regard while highlighting their strengths and exploring together areas of growth.

In my individual, couples, and family work, values of collaboration, mutuality, and connection guide my practice. I partner with clients to identify their own unique strengths that can be used as resources to foster growth and change. I am attentive to the role of early family experiences, cultural values, oppression, and stigma in shaping client's experiences. Particularly when addressing painful or traumatic areas, I attend to clients' emotional safety using mindfulness and body awareness. I believe that healing happens in the context of honest relationships and invite my clients to engage in open dialog about our work together.

A certain level of disillusionment exists when your external world doesn't match your internal one. Restless and intrusive thoughts may be hindering your everyday joys or harsh flashbacks affecting your presence and sense of safety. A certain level of growth is wanted, but the pathway how to get there may seem unclear or too difficult. I can help by building upon your already-existing skills and resilience to decrease your shame-narrative with a healthier mental paradigm. I incorporate somatic and experiential techniques into sessions to aid in addressing and processing chronic and pervasive trauma.

I am passionate about working to ensure that underserved and underrepresented individuals, couples and families, have the support and resources necessary to live emotionally healthy and productive lives. I have found that through therapy, I can inspire people to deal with life as they find it and equip them with skills to make it better. I am passionate about helping people and identify their areas of opportunity for growth and guiding them to a place of understanding and action. I am able to encourage, inspire and help people move beyond the current circumstances, to a place of peace and resolve so that they may be successful.