Therapists in Cook County, IL

Whether this is your first time seeking therapy or have prior experience, looking for the right fit in a therapist can be a difficult and vulnerable journey. I have extensive experience with providing therapy to individuals with depression, anxiety, non-suicidal self-injury, self-esteem issues, eating disorders, body image concerns, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts and ideation, psychosis, personality disorders, LGBTQIA+ issues, interpersonal issues, and trauma/PTSD/complex PTSD. I enjoy working with individuals who desire to learn effective coping strategies to reach their goals!

Are you feeling stuck or unsure of yourself? Are you struggling with anxiety, depression, work/life balance, relationship concerns, or how to achieve what you really want? I can help you find your authentic voice, connect to your inner strengths, discover new perspectives, and effectively assert yourself to make the positive changes you need. I will help you manage your self-critical voices and gain meaningful insights into your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. I specialize in helping young and not so young adults who are struggling with self-confidence, relationships, trauma, life transitions, and issues of identity.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist, working with adolescents, adults and couples who are struggling with a wide range of issues. I work towards providing an environment of comfort and support where individuals feel safe working to understand their thoughts, behaviors and difficulties. I utilize various interventions to fit my clients needs and circumstances, but often use a cognitive-behavioral and solution focused approach. I work hard to focus treatment on the specific needs of the client and provide the tools, coping skills and support they are seeking.

I believe that everyone deserves to have the space to process their thoughts and emotions with someone they trust. As a therapist, my style is warm, empathic and strengths based. Rather than focusing solely on challenges, I work with my clients to identify and amplify their inherent strengths. My approach is rooted in genuine empathy, with the intention to provide a haven for clients to explore their feelings without judgment. As someone that works with people from all walks of life, I know that everyone’s journey is unique, and I tailor my practice to meet individual needs with the utmost sensitivity.

I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with a Masters degree in Family Counseling and over 20 years experience working with children, teenagers and adults as a therapist, school counselor and special education teacher. I am a strength-based therapist utilizing solution-focused, cognitive-behavioral and client-centered therapy. To support my interventions with young children, I am trained in the use of play therapy. I specialize in working with children and families struggling with behavioral issues at home and in school; and with children and adults experiencing life transitions.

My belief is that effective counseling develops from establishing a collaborative relationship with clients, as they are the experts in their lives. Through psychodynamic therapy individuals gain a self-awareness and understanding of the influence of their past on present circumstances, and enables individuals to explore unresolved conflicts and symptoms that arise from past dysfunctional relationships and manifest themselves in current issues going in their lives. My belief is that people want to be healthy and happy and sometimes just do not know where to start.

Cary Shepard is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, who has been practicing since 2016. They graduated from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology with a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology. Cary works from an eclectic approach, utilizing tools and theory from a variety of perspectives as it best meets the needs of their clients. Some tools and theories they routinely utilize include DBT, Psychodynamic, Existential and Humanistic and therapies.

I help individuals of all ages navigate through past trauma, identify triggers through self-reflection, and find alternative methods to help address anxiety and depression.

Explore. Understand. Grow. These three words best explain my approach to therapy. Through the establishment of a trusted therapeutic relationship, together, we will embark on the process of psychological change. We will explore what is preventing you from reaching your full potential. You will develop a greater understanding of yourself, which will facilitate your growth into the person you want to become. I am a licensed clinical psychologist offering counseling to adults, adolescents, children, and families. I have extensive experience treating clients with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, low self-esteem, eating disorders, parenting issues, behavioral problems and career concerns.

I am passionate about working with adolescents, adults and couples looking to cultivate change. I believe each person seeking therapy is unique, and my approach is tailored to meet your individual needs. I use an integrative approach, drawing upon a variety of techniques including psychodynamic, existential, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches. I have experience working with an array of mental health issues including gender dysphoria, LGBTQIA+ issues, trauma, anxiety, and depression. I have a great deal of experience working with first responders, grief, and high conflict couples.

We all function in the context of relationships: with our partners, families, or larger systems such as school, work, church, and other environments. I want to get to know you and your story. I work with adolescents and adults to get a holistic understanding of the issue of concern and address it within the context of your story. I work with individuals, couples, and families to address a variety of issues from anxiety, depression, and communication challenges, to larger family issues that seem “too big” to figure out.

As a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of experience in mental health, I have worked with a variety of populations in multiple settings, including outpatient, inpatient, residential, judicial, and educational. As a psychiatric social worker for a large medical system, I provided direct service to individuals struggling with a range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, stress, and relationship and parenting issues. My collaborative, problem-solving approach to working with clients helps them better understand, navigate, and overcome the challenges of life.

Change is never easy,but with the assistance of a therapist, you can start to learn skills to move towards your goals. Some of these skills include effective communication, mindfulness, relaxation, and changing negative thought patterns. In my work with couples, I focus on teaching communication skills and understanding underlying issues that effect the relationship.

Life is full of twists and turns we never expected to encounter. We feel alienated and out of balance. Sometimes we simply feel lost and do not know which direction we are facing. Feelings of depression, anxiety and/or physical symptoms can shadow this experience and lead us to feeling more isolated. When we find ourselves in just this situation we tend to view it as if we are stuck. To me, however, we are being called to transformation and more often than not we all need assistance as we walk that path.

Is there something holding you back from living the life you want? Do you feel anxious, depressed, uncertain, fearful or confused as to how to move forward? Do you hope to change an aspect of your life but you don’t know where to start? The journey of therapy can be a powerful tool to help you move through and uncover some of these obstacles and propel you towards the life that you have imagined.

For over 20 plus years, I have enjoyed working with teens and adults struggling with depression, anxiety, relationship conflict and body image. I recognize it can feel overwhelming to reach out and find a therapist ‘who is a good fit.’ I am happy to provide a complimentary consultation as it is super important to feel enough of a connection to begin the process. I am a very supportive and empathetic therapist. I want to help you learn how to be kind to yourself and validate yourself. I was trained at the University of Michigan and have over ten years on staff at Lurie Children’s outpatient psychiatry.

Essential Counseling Group (ECG) is a collective of mental health professionals whose goal is to heal clients through a psychodynamic framework. Our diverse experiences allow us to offer effective individual, family, and couples treatment. We treat a number of mental health challenges including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and trauma. ECG is here to help you be the best version of yourself.

We all want to be healthier versions of ourselves and improve our overall wellbeing. Most of the time we tend to concentrate only on focusing on our physical health. While this is important it's not the only component of well-being we should be improving. To achieve lasting health we need to understand the importance of the body, mind and soul and how they work together to build our overall wellbeing. A healthy body keeps you well and active, a healthy mind keeps you focused and engaged, a healthy soul keeps you fulfilled and content.

Mood disorders like anxiety and depression rob too many people of their passion and excitement for living. Deep-seeded trauma can similarly wreak havoc on peoples' lives, threatening to derail their future hopes and plans. The good news is, we do not have to live this way forever and we do not have to go on the journey alone. Therapy is an opportunity to work through the underlying causes of our dysfunctional thoughts and behavior in a safe, professional and nurturing environment. I am proud to work with individuals from all walks of life and to collaborate with them while they seek out more satisfactory and authentic ways of being.