Therapists in Chicago, IL

As a Mexican-American therapist I want to provide a safe space and cultural competency for all. My background currently consists of working with survivors of Domestic Violence/IPV. Through my work with these clients I have also helped them work on the following: Improving self-esteem, understanding how to set boundaries in relationships, creating support systems that cater to a better sense of self, learning and establishing a sense of identity, and intergenerational trauma. My goal is to help individuals who want to better define who they are and heal from the impacts of external factors in order to live a more fulfilled life.

Parenting can be challenging and may leave you struggling to interact positively with your child(ren). Psychologist for Parenting helps parent(s) in 37 PSYPACT participating states (listed below) to gain awareness of their blinders, which helps build insight into family dynamics that are interfering with relationships and communication challenges. (Accepting clients who reside in: AL, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MD, MI, MN, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NC, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY).

Through research, education and clinical services, The Family Institute at Northwestern University is one of the nation's leading relationship-based behavioral health organizations committed to strengthening and healing the whole family system by bringing together the right partners to support children, adults, couples and families across the lifespan. As researchers, educators and therapists, we work with our clients and PARTNER TO SEE CHANGE. By weaving together 175 therapists and therapists-in-training, we create a high quality, collaborative system of behavioral health care. One that gets results.

Alicia is an EMDR trained licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) with certification in Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Alicia specializes in trauma-focused therapies, working with diverse age groups and family systems across the Chicagoland communities.

An inclusive team of experts working - in tandem with you - to understand and celebrate all of who you are! Trained and faculty affiliated at Harvard, Johns Hopkins, University of Chicago, Northwestern, and the University of Virginia, we are ready to support you. Our staff believe that relationships are at the core of effective therapy. We work to create an affirming, open, and empathic environment that values partnership with you to explore fresh understandings and underlying feelings. Using research-tested approaches and synchronized collaboration, we facilitate enhanced self-awareness, skill building, and effective coping that empower you to change the patterns that keep you stuck. We specialize in LGBT+ affirming therapy, anxiety, trauma, depression, low self esteem, grief, and relationships issues for people of all ages and across the spectrum of gender, sexuality, class, and race.

You are capable of taking charge of your own healing process, and my role is to help you find the channels and tools for healing that work best for you. Confronting emotional wounds can be a powerful, overwhelming, and often painful experience, and I strive to provide you with an empathic and judgment-free space where you can process these emotions freely. Utilizing a strengths-based approach, I harness the power of the therapeutic relationship to help you work toward recovery, empowerment, and overall well-being.

Are you hoping for a therapist that can really help you with living a more satisfying life? Are you ready to stop struggling with anxiety? A key element to therapy that all my clients should feel is a comfort and safety in our sessions. I believe that is one of the keys to quality therapy and lasting change. I believe an essential catalyst to therapy is one's willingness to gently pull back the layers of their being to discover who they are at their core. Therapy is a collaborative process and I want to join all my clients as they take steps towards a life that is constantly moving towards emotional and physical well being.

I believe that emotional growth is best achieved within a non judgmental, compassionate and safe therapeutic relationship. I recognize that each person is the expert on his or her life and we work collaboratively to identify areas clients would like to address. The client and I work together to examine thoughts, feelings and behaviors; we identify patterns, develop tools, and find ways to respond differently. Understanding and strengthening relationships is also a crucial part of my work with clients. Ultimately, I focus on clients' strengths and work to empower them to promote positive change, growth, and healing in their lives.

I use a strengths focused approach to therapy. Moving forward requires a look at what a person is already doing well in addition to the challenges in their lives. My approach includes insight oriented and cognitive techniques which I utilize in my practice. It takes a very strong person to admit they need help and to take the steps necessary to find a therapist who will be the best fit possible. In my view, therapy is teamwork and the therapist and client must work collaboratively for the best possible outcome of their therapy experience.

Welcome to YOUR space of growth, if you accept, my dear fellow Human! You are capable of everything you desire for yourself & your inner world - change, healing, empowerment, upliftment, release, fulfillment, peace, liberation, & anything else your spirit truly yearns for. In this moment, Life may be immensely challenging you, but somehow you may still be exactly where you are supposed to be. At this fragile place where our paths converge I lay out in front of you this question: How can your mental wellness be truly supported right now, in the unique way YOU require?

We often find ourselves unable to move forward due to the enormity of the situations that are presented to us. We may feel stuck, tired, and at times, hopeless. So we armour ourselves to face the world. This armouring occurs in the form of addictions such as overeating; using drugs and alcohol; isolating and repeating patterns of toxic relationships. As a result our hearts become numb. We move through life with an armored exterior, fearful of experiencing our feelings and emotions. By creating a safe environment, I help unlock and release pain.

Therapist’s help can be life transforming whether you are struggling with a long-standing mental concern or have encountered a distressing situation recently. Oftentimes, when life throws challenges at us, we can bounce back, but sometimes we need someone by our side, who would listen, but not judge; who would be empathetic and curious; who would possibly offer an unexpected perspective or a “bird’s eye view” of the problem; who would acknowledge our strengths and encourage our growth; who would guide through the healing process and equip with skills essential to managing difficult emotions, thoughts, behaviors.

Special shoutout to you for taking your first step on your healing journey. Therapy can feel scary and foreign. These are normal feelings for your first time or even 10th time around. Whether you are navigating life's challenges, seeking personal growth/discovery, or striving for balance, I am here to provide support. Your empowerment and self-healing journey begins here.

It's challenging to deal with changes in your life, finding your identity, and managing relationships no matter what, but it's extra challenging if you don't take the "traditional" route. As a queer individual, I know the challenge myself. Whether you want to explore your gender or sexuality, receive support throughout a major transition, work through relational difficulties, heal from trauma, or simply expand your feeling of self-love, I can help. I work with folx of all ages to heal from personal and systemic traumas, through the means of deconstructing old narratives and building new meanings of the events in your life.

“people start to heal the moment they feel heard” ​is a guiding principle of my practice. Therapy is a place where your story is centered. In this space, you are allowed to be vulnerable and completely as you are. We co-create change through the therapeutic process by holding space for life’s biggest challenges. Though the process feels lonely at times, you have a trusted professional guiding you and holding space with you every step of the way. Thank you for taking the next step in your journey. I am excited to be with you on your journey.

Therapy is a truly unique journey. I believe in the power of the mind-body connection and seek to help clients understand how their experiences affect their whole system. Connecting with clients brings me joy and I strive to cater my skill set to meet your specific needs. Often, I invite creativity in to help you heal and grow into a more integrated version of yourself. Movement is a helpful tool to build more awareness, but I also recognize that moving and exploring creatively in a therapeutic setting can be challenging. My hope is to help you feel more at home in yourself while finding a soft landing to do the work.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Whole Person Certified Coach (WPCC) and a Creative Arts Therapist. I have worked in several agencies around Chicago providing a range of therapeutic services as well as clinical supervision. I have done extensive work with individual and group therapy and find great joy in helping others. I utilize both verbal counseling and creative arts techniques when working with clients. My experience includes helping individuals deal with personal stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, low self-esteem, life adjustments and relationship issues.

Asking for help is one of the strongest things you can do, but it can also be one of the hardest because of past experience of not being heard, believed, or supported. Extreme stressors and traumatic events - including new or ongoing health conditions - affect every aspect of our lives and can make relationships - with family, friends, colleagues, and even healthcare providers - very challenging. The impact of these events can make us feel isolated, misunderstood, and unsupported (even by the well-intentioned). They can lead us to make choices we aren't proud of and limit our enjoyment of life in general.

I am a bilingual Latina therapist who enjoys working with adolescents and adults. My approach is holistic as I believe our physical, spiritual, emotional, and social selves directly impact one another. I am a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) with 10+ years of experience treating a wide array of symptoms and concerns including anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties.