Couples Counseling Therapists in Oak Park, IL

I provide therapy for adults, couples and families. Clients frequently are struggling with symptoms of depression, anxiety, grief and loss. My clients are often going thru a medical crisis, managing chronic pain or are dealing with a family member's illness. I also help clients who are grieving or who have issues with aging parents and need a plan and to deal with feelings of sadness. I am a registered nurse as well as a clinical social worker and have advanced training in medical family therapy. I am a very good listener and assist my clients in finding their strengths to help them move forward in life.

I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with a breadth of experience providing psychotherapy to adolescents, teens, adults and couples. I am proficient in the modalities of DBT, CBT, mindfulness-centered therapies and ACT, and specialize in the treatment of anxiety, depression, self-harming behaviors, stage of life, and grief and loss.

Our life's work is helping clients achieve a better sense of self and happiness...more recently we've recognized that without good mental health providers, finding this balance in life can be more difficult and stressful. As a result, we tend toward an Integrative approach and help our clients transform into the people they want to be. We see each client as an individual with many parts to their identity. Utilizing a holistic and systemic approach we help clients reintegrate the parts of themselves to function better as individuals and within their systems. Our focus tends toward a systems based approach using behavior methods.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who works with adults and couples in a person-centered approach and have training in emotionally-focused therapy, attachment theory, EMDR, and psychodrama. I also have a fine arts, music, dance, and psychodrama background. I utilize an eclectic approach to accommodate what works best for each individual, seeking to foster a safe, comfortable environment to help each client fulfill their treatment goals. I have experience working with range of issues, including depression, anxiety, trauma, divorce, extramarital affairs, relationship challenges, premarital, men's issues, and life adjustments.

We all have words in our heart that are difficult to speak. Therapy is a great opportunity to bring voice to those words and make sense of their meaning so we can have a greater understanding of who we are and our place in this world. I view therapy as a unique opportunity to know and understand yourself in more profound and meaningful ways so as to allow true clarity, purpose, and healing in everyday life. We will move at a pace that feels comfortable to you, and, ultimately, we will work together to bridge your inner emotional life to past and current experiences to then provide a renewed and hopeful understanding of yourself.

Angry, anxious, confused, or depressed because of relationship problems? Feel your partner never listens to you? Keep having the same old fights over and over? Imago Relationship Therapy is very helpful in restoring connection, safety, and romance. As a Certified Imago Therapist I enable each partner to be heard and understood so the needs of each can be met. Usually couples experience some immediate relief from the pain of alienation and begin to rediscover the love that brought them together. If your spouse won't come for counseling, come alone! I also do individual therapy, including EMDR for trauma resolution..

Do you feel as though you are seen and understood in relationships? Or have you at times felt like you are "too much" or "not enough"? You are not alone. Many of us struggle to feel "normal" in a culture that pathologizes so much about who we are. This can leave us feeling disconnected from ourselves and the world around us. Our therapeutic relationship will offer a warm and accepting space to explore yourself and your needs. Through mindfulness and somatic attunement, I will support you in strengthening the connections between your heart, body and mind so you can feel more grounded, regulated, connected, and whole.

I have extensive experience in helping individuals of many backgrounds rise above the inevitable challenges of life. I have assisted people just like you to access and utilize the personal, emotional/mental, and spiritual coping skills that help individuals, couples and families address issues that cause inner pain and turmoil. I have a PhD in Clinical Social Work, a Masters in Jurisprudence both from Loyola University and a AM from the University of Chicago. I am licensed in Illinois, Arizona and Puerto Rico providing in-person (depending on my residence at the time) and Telehealth sessions.

I have 25 years of experience as both a psychotherapist and clinical supervisor/teacher. I work with people with a wide range of emotional issues including: depression, anxiety, relationship struggles, trauma, and early attachment difficulties. I believe psychotherapy is powerful tool and works best with people who are committed to deepening their understanding of themselves and their relationships. I will work collaboratively with you and listen closely as we examine both old and emerging ways of being and managing life's challenges.

I help individuals and couples develop clear strategies to reduce feelings of anxiety, depression and loneliness. Those coping with marital or relationship difficulties, career transitions and parenting issues find my gentle directness helpful in improving the quality of their lives. In a calm, neutral environment, I offer clients the opportunity to understand themselves in a manner that leads to more satisfying family, marital and work relationships. I utilize family systems and cognitive behavioral therapy to help individuals and couples improve their communication skills and navigate the uncertain waters of change.

Being able to witness the power of community care helped shape my own devotion to social justice, wellness, and helping individuals find healing at their pace. Navigating this world as a queer black clinician has also granted me many opportunities to work with clients who are also often placed in bubbles that can be hard to maneuver away from. I work primarily with those who are looking to work through anxiety, grief, loss, trauma, coping skills, self-esteem navigation, mood disorders, LGBTQIA+ exploration, domestic violence, and intimate partner violence.

Are feelings of fear and overwhelm getting in the way of you making the changes you would like to see in your life? Do you want greater self-love, stronger relationships, and to meet the goals you have for yourself, but don't know how to cultivate these things? I bring a calming, empathic and confident energy into the room that can help you slow down your thoughts to understand yourself and what is keeping you from succeeding in the ways you desire. We will co-create a treatment plan that lays out a path for you. I will be by your side supporting you, giving my expertise, and challenging you in ways that will help you grow.

Are you looking for an experienced, local therapist for yourself or a family member? I have had extensive experience, both professionally and personally, in treating both adults and children. who have suffered loss, childhood abuse, depression and shame. I am currently offering clients a choice between teletherapy or being seen in my Oak Park office.

"When the winds of change blow, some people build walls. Others build windmills." ....... Change. It is unavoidable. All people share this truth. Whether we choose it or not, life will change. We live. We adapt. We learn. Yet life teaches us another truth; that we are not alone. We are inherently social, loving beings. Our lives are embedded in many kinds of relationships. Sometimes those relationships are swimming happily along and sometimes not so much. The good news is that these truths about change and relationships enable us to grow. Whatever stage we are in, wherever our world is at, we aim to live with richness and joy.

LifeSpan Counseling & Psychological Services offers services to children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. In therapy, I tend to take a collaborative, egalitarian approach to treatment. I am open and nonjudgmental, and I take special time to tailor treatment approaches to fit each individual therapeutic relationship. I practice from a predominately existential-phenomenological framework where individual needs, meaning-making, and pursuit of happiness are emphasized. I also incorporate elements of cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and attachment theory as needed.

New Availability Limited Spots Open Wednesdays and Fridays 10 am - 12 pm! I understand that life transitions, making decisions, and feeling comfortable with who you are can feel isolating and I want you to know you are not alone. I focus on creating a meaningful, therapeutic, and authentic relationship. Seeking support can feel overwhelming, so I commit to fostering a space that is non-judgmental, empathetic, and validating. My approach to psychotherapy involves creative exploration through person-centered and strength-based techniques.

As a queer and polyamorous therapist, I am passionate about working with queer and trans people, polyamorous individuals and relationships, kink and BDSM communities, and folks living life outside the religious traditions they were raised in. I particularly enjoy working with couples who are exploring opening their relationship or otherwise restructuring their relationship. I also work with triads, polycules, metamours, and other non-monogamous relationship configurations around communication and conflict, jealousy and insecurity, dating and breakups, and rethinking relationships.

Relationships are complex and, at times, challenging to navigate. Life responsibilities, societal expectations, unexpected life events, work-related stress, and other variables can significantly impact our relationships, romantic, family, and even ourselves. As a marriage and family therapist and systemic thinker, I understand that the presenting issues my clients bring to the therapy space are far beyond symptoms, and some other elements and variables influence our emotional well-being. With the help of an experienced marriage and family therapist, you can gain more clarity in your life.

Life can be full of overwhelming challenges. Through therapy I can help you overcome these struggles and work towards meeting your own personal goals and improving your overall quality of life. I am a licensed clinical counselor trained in working with individuals and families who are looking for symptom relief, personal growth, or to improve their relationships.