Anxiety Therapists in Evanston, IL

My practice is based on the theory of Analytical Psychology founded by Carl Jung. What this means to me that therapy is not about "fixing" but about "growing" by becoming aware of what is unconscious. Loss, trauma, anxiety, depression. These things happen to all of us sooner or later & like a force of nature, they need to be understood in order to be withstood. My goal is to help people become more conscious to better understand themselves & figure out their personal path through pain and towards individuation. I provide coaching & symptom management for immediate problems while nurturing seismic shifts for lasting change.

The decision to engage in psychotherapy is deeply personal to each of us. Many of us find ourselves repeating interpersonal patterns within relationships and thinking, "why does this keep happening?" Or battling feelings of self doubt and curious how the past shapes our current experiences. Maybe you are a new parent or currently pregnant, overwhelmed with this tremendous life transition or the intensity of your emotions.

My belief is that the best therapeutic relationships are collaborative journeys. I am a sensitive and passionate social worker devoted to supporting you through the challenges and obstacles that life often throws your way. My history working as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker treating persons who experience difficult change, trauma, serious mental illnesses, or life altering events, has led me to employ a wide array of techniques to process pain, and move past discomfort.

I work with adults and adolescents to help them understand the impact of their thoughts, feelings, and actions on their wellbeing. I offer an active and empowering space to navigate issues such as anxiety, low mood, family conflict, identity confusion, and cultural transitions. I also provide therapy/coaching for work and school-related stress, low motivation, attention difficulties, and time management. People working with me will learn how their life experiences affect their ability to cope with challenges effectively.

I welcome all kinds of clients to my practice, and I'm lucky to work with clients from 19-89 (so far!). My clients are often focused on feeling and functioning better through an exploration of their identities, histories, current situations and goals for the future. I particularly enjoy working with people on issues of depression and/or anxiety, changes in body size and/or ability, chronic pain, trauma, gender and sexuality issues, work and life transitions, aging, stress management, and parenting challenges. My work centers around fostering awareness of and compassion for yourself in moving through everyday life.

In the same way that lifes difficulties can hold us back, I think they can also teach us to grow. I see counseling as a cooperative space that serves to help you strive towards becoming the best version of yourself. Within session, I focus on creating a safe environment where you feel comfortable exploring your identity and working through inner struggles. At the core of the therapeutic process, I think deep connection matters and I strive to see each client as the unique individual they are. I value you for who you are and believe that your understanding of yourself is inextricably linked to your success.

As a body-inclusive psychotherapist, I believe that we have within us everything we need to heal and grow, and that safe, supportive, and collaborative relationships help us to tap into our innate systems of healing. Whether focusing on overall emotional and physiological regulation, managing symptoms related to anxiety or depression, or addressing specific traumas or stressors, we can work together to move away from "stuckness" and towards an enhanced sense of harmony and well-being.

When life’s demands have left you feeling anxious, overwhelmed, frustrated and confused, it’s time to pause and take care of yourself. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor. I create a safe, nurturing, and nonjudgmental space for clients to feel heard, understood, and supported. I strive to help adults 18 years and older increase resilience, self-compassion, and self-efficacy and achieve their therapeutic goals so they may live their lives with a greater sense of ease and fulfillment.

The future feels uncertain and we are more anxious or depressed. We are busy with long "to do" lists, yet feel lonely and disconnected from others. We rely more on partners/spouses to meet our needs or simply avoid them by scrolling on our phones. Our children are caught up on social media and we worry about their chances for happiness and success. How do we manage what feels overwhelming and outside our control? How do we find time to think? Therapy is a space to slow it down and make needed changes. I will help you quiet the racing thoughts and create a better understanding of who you are and what you want in your life.

I use mindfulness techniques and cognitive-behavioral approaches in working with patients. That being said, every person is unique and treatment should not be "one size fits all". I believe that it's vitally important that treatment techniques are tailored to the individual patient and the problems he or she wants to work on. I have extensive experience treating patients with a variety of anxiety disorders, depression and mood disorders, adult ADD, adjustment disorders and stress related problems. The core of my approach is to help people unleash their own inner motivation for change. I work with adults and teens.

Life can be stressful. We are constantly bombarded with news, both good and bad: requests from family and friends, work deadlines, and living with the unknown. Taking time to talk through our worries, fears, and learn more about ourselves can be endlessly rewarding. How do we learn to have boundaries? How do we learn that self-compassion does not mean selfish? How do we learn to start recognizing patterns and making positive change in our lives? How do we build connection? Therapy can help us achieve these goals while processing our fears, traumas, and doubts, as well as cheering on our accomplishments, no matter their size.

I am a compassionate counselor that believes in the power of warm healthy relationships to heal the distress of challenging life experiences. I take a creative and mindful approach to therapy with an emphasis on personal strengths and goal direction. With respect, humor, acceptance and empowerment, I work to increase awareness and understanding and assist you in viewing yourself and your world in positive and exciting new ways. We will collaborate to find a path of personal growth that feels right for you.

Emily Ellsworth is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who specializes in depression, anxiety, mood disorders, relationships, first-episode psychosis, and other psychotic symptoms. Emily has been committed to providing mental health services and life coaching to individuals ages 18+ for 9 years. She earned a dual degree in Psychology and Gender, Sexuality, and Feminism studies from Duke University where she fell in love with the idea of holistic treatment. She then earned her Master’s in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago to gain further knowledge about treating an individual from an internal and external perspective.

I believe a trusting and collaborative therapeutic relationship will help you increase self awareness, understanding and the acceptance needed to bring about positive change and growth. It is equally as important to focus on your strengths as it is to focus on the areas of your life you find to be challenging. Therapy provides an opportunity to learn more about yourself and better understand your life choices as well as assist you in better understanding your most important relationships, past and present.

Starting therapy can be such an overwhelming task, but you have made it this far which means your ready to do the work! I have experience working with teens, young adults and adults struggling with a wide range of clinical issues such as anxiety, depression, life transitions, grief/loss, and relationship concerns. As a therapist, I make sure to do the

I work with adults struggling with depression, anxiety, prolonged or acute grief, chronic pain or illness, caregiving, sexual orientation, and relationship issues. I do not subscribe to one particular modality but rather tailor my approach to each client's needs. I believe working in the here and now are great ways to address current stressors, and I'm always happy to work with clients to address deeper issues as appropriate.

No matter where you've been or where you want to go, all of who you are is welcomed and celebrated here. I utilize a non-judgmental, trauma-informed approach where you can openly examine your mental health, your beliefs, your identities, and how your experiences and interactions with society affect your life. I particularly enjoy working with those who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community and clients in non-monogamous relationships; I am a sex-positive practitioner and am kink and poly-affirming. I also have significant experience working with clients who are navigating life/spirituality after experiencing religious trauma.

Life is complicated and seldom straightforward. We are often left facing challenges that are surprising and difficult to navigate. It may be a new role, a disappointment at work, a problem in a relationship, or some lasting echoes from the past that still show up, that causes us to feel anxious, angry, sad, confused and “stuck”. We try our best to manage by using coping strategies that turn out to be more problematic than helpful. We are then left thinking, what happened? Will I ever feel like my old self? Why can't I just get over this? If you are anxious, struggling to focus, overwhelmed by work or family, I am trained to help

Life can bring forth challenges and struggles which at times feel overwhelming and asking for help can be difficult. I approach my therapeutic work with a social justice lens. My clinical experience includes working with clients who have experienced trauma, addressing relationship concerns, and managing depressive and anxiety symptoms.