Therapists in Illinois

Hello! Thanks for checking out my profile! I have been a practicing psychotherapist for 5 years, working in a community mental health agency in Chicago. I'm originally from Wisconsin, but have an adventurous spirit that keeps taking me elsewhere!! I'm happy to have the chance to provide therapy to those that may not have the time or energy to go sit in someone's office for an hour a week! Working in community mental health, I've helped individuals address a variety of mental health and environmental problems, such as life stressors, anxiety, depression, attention issues, family conflicts, parenting support, etc. In addition, the context of this work was with low-income families who had limited resources and high stress in meeting their families' needs. As human beings, we are never dealing with one thing at a time, and I believe as a therapist, it's important to understand the nuances of how someone's symptoms, environment, and other stressors interact in order to provide the best therapy. I approach each of these issues with a very empathic ear, and learned what I could about the individual in order to provide the best care possible. I take a very strong psycho-educational approach, helping clients to understand the patterns that are ineffective for them, and helping them to develop and understand coping skills, what their function is, and how to utilize them effectively. I believe that the more empowered we are, the more control we can take over our own reactions to stressors and symptoms, and the bigger impact we can have on our own mental health. Thanks for listening, and if you like what you hear, let's talk! I'd love to meet you and support you in the best way that I can!!

Joshua (Josh) Jouza earned his Bachelor’s degree in Applied Sociology and Political Science in 2011 from Lewis University where he achieved the highest of honors. Josh furthered his education, earning his Master’s of Science degree in Counseling from National Louis University in 2014. Josh embarked on a one year internship at the Counseling Center of Illinois. During this time Josh worked with the substance abuse population facilitating State mandated groups and counseling to DUI offenders in addition to running anger management groups. Post intern Josh has been working within the mental health field for the last four years, doing community outreach and crisis work. Currently Josh is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor where he works with the population aged thirteen (13) and up specializing in the treatment of Depression and Anxiety, including, BiPolar, Schizoaffective Disorder and Schizophrenia, among others. Josh prides himself on having a passion for his work and treating all individuals suffering from mental health afflictions with the utmost empathy. Josh continues to pursue opportunities that allow him to bring awareness to others of mental health issues and the opportunities for treatment that are available to all.

My name is Dorian A. Ortega, LCPC I am a licensed mental health therapist in private practice. My therapeutic approach centers BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ and is inspired by liberation, feminist and multicultural psychology. As a person of color, I believe in focusing on first loving yourself by having therapy as a tool for guiding that process. I am also co-founder of healing poetry circles to introduce accessibility for mental health services. For the passed 2 years, I have organized a series of free poetry healing circles and other events that seek to use art as a culturally relevant, accessible, inclusive tool of expression, education, resistance and community healing in Humboldt Park.  My approach is client-centered and also based in building community wellness. I believe in a practice style of loving yourself first and I encourage building up strengths and help to find holistic ways to heal through mental health challenges. I believe when we create love for ourselves and honor our communication and relationships with ourselves and others, we can build a healthier future for ourselves and our loved ones. I am not only a practitioner but a community advocate for mental health and utilizes poetry, writing, and social media presence to intentionally build intersectional and restorative connections to uplift and liberate marginalized communities.

I am a licensed clinical social worker in Illinois with 5 years of experience working as a therapist in community mental health. I have worked with clients with various mental health concerns including depression, stress and anxiety, relationship issues, parenting problems, life adjustments/transitions, career challenges, bipolar disorder, and ADHD. I also worked with children who have been diagnosed with being on the Autism Spectrum. My therapy style is collaborative, warm, and welcoming. I believe in treating everyone with respect, compassion. I believe that therapy should be a safe place to share with no judgement. My approach combines cognitive-behavioral, person-centered, and solution-focused therapy. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards change. If you are ready to take that step, I am here to support and empower you. I look forward to working with you!

Let's move forward together! Sometimes we feel our life is out of control and the first thing we need to do is to identify how and why. Once we can identify how we feel our life is out of control, we can work on the why. Now we can begin to identify what we want our life to be and what we need to do to move forward toward our goals. We will work as a team and I will provide a safe, secure and non-judgemental environment for you to share and explore your world in order to develop goals and a plan to move forward. I have over thirty years of experience and am licensed in Illinois as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor(LCPC), Texas as a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor(LPC-S), and Wisconsin as a Licensed Professional Counselor(LPC). Everyone is unique and the therapy must be tailored to fit the individual. I have experience working with anxiety, depression and other mood disorders, forgiveness, grief, trauma and abuse, psychosis, life transitions and addictions. Clinical Approaches: Client-Centered therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, Reflective and Reframing

It is a brave step to begin therapy. Dedicating the time, energy, and resources to tend to yourself is both a big commitment and challenging work. Therapy can be a space that helps us create change and generate insight into our feelings, behaviors, and relationships. I believe deeply in the importance of creating a safe space while also building a strong therapeutic alliance. The healing/growth process is not always the most comfortable but there is nothing more empowering than taking our power back. If you are ready to begin taking good care of yourself, I can help you along that path. My therapeutic style is warm, collaborative, realistic, and empathetic. I have had the distinct privilege of serving individuals, couples, and families from a diverse range of backgrounds. I specialize in trauma therapy in children and adults and enjoy an experiential approach to healing. I have experience working with domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking survivors. I am trained as a child and adolescent trauma professional and I am also skilled in assisting in an array of clinical issues including chronic stress and anxiety, trauma, ADHD, depression, mood disorders, various personality disorders, Adoption concerns (Birthparents, Adoptive Parents, and Adoptees), esteem, and self-worth, along with academic and employment challenges. I welcome LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities into my practice.

I have been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) since 1999. I have successfully worked with a variety of individual, couple and family issues such as healing from the trauma of infidelity, ineffective communication, conflict management issues, premarital counseling, relationship dissatisfaction, sexual issues, divorce, depression, anxiety, anger, grief, sleep issues, poor self-esteem, sexual issues, etc. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Master of Science degree in Child Development and Family Studies from Purdue University. I am a Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, a Certified Gottman Seven Principles Leader and a Board Certified TeleMental Health Professional (BC-TMH). I have published and presented on the topics of infidelity, tele-mental health, clinical supervision, tele-supervision and clinical documentation. I have also taught psychology courses at Purdue University and Illinois Institute of Technology. I generally check my messages each day, Monday through Friday, during standard business hours and respond as quickly as I can. My goal is to respond within 24 hours during the weekdays. I do appreciate your patience when it takes a bit longer at times, as I may be tending to other clients or other professional responsibilities. I prefer to do therapy via weekly live video sessions as therapy progresses much more quickly with this modality which means you will feel relief much faster. Live video sessions are usually 30 to 45 minutes long. Currently, all of my evening appointments are full. Most of my availability is between 11:00AM Central and 3:00PM Central, Monday through Thursday. Regarding scheduling, I do not use my BetterHelp calendar as I prefer to make appointments directly with you. I am looking forward to working with you!

I am a clinical social worker in Illinois with over 20 years of experience helping people reach their goals. I have worked with clients on issues ranging from depression and anxiety to relationship stressors and concerns about self-esteem. I have also helped many clients with trauma related concerns. I hope from our first meeting that you will feel comfortable and feel like you can share all of your concerns. I am an eclectic therapist using mostly cognitive behavioral therapy but also include strength based therapy, solution focused therapy techniques, and motivational interviewing. You are the expert of your life and I believe that by partnering with a therapist that can be your support, you will be able to achieve your goals. It is wonderful that you have taken this step to explore therapy and I am here for you when you are ready.

I am an Illinois licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with more than 20 years of experience in private practice and a host of medical settings (nursing homes, hospitals, and hospice). I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, LGBTQ+ related issues, family conflicts, & grief and loss. I strongly believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and that every one of us has a story that deserves to be heard. Taking the first step to getting help takes courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

I am a licensed clinical social worker in Illinois with over15 years of professional experience. I want to support you in bringing forth your best. I embrace the adage, “When you are ready for the next step, you will approach that step.” As a therapist, I see my role as helping you become the person you want to be. The change process requires (1) self-exploration (which may require you to talk about difficult and challenging issues, and (2) stepping out of your “comfort zone” (when you feel ready) to try new behaviors. As you talk about the situation you are in and the challenges you face, I may ask questions such as, "How have you previously approached similar challenges?" What worked? What didn't work? What can you do to improve your chance for success? If you seem to be taking a self-limiting perspective, I might suggest replacing the self-limiting/self-defeating messages you are giving yourself with messages that are more appreciative and optimistic about who you are and what you have to offer (like “I am worthy” or “I am good at ________.”) What If you don’t think you are worthy or what if you don’t think you are good at ________? Then, I will ask you to explain how you concluded that. Or else, I may merely sit with you in support of you, leaving it up to you to tap into your gifts and bring them forth. Whatever you come up with, I will listen to you and reflect back what I am hearing from you, possibly offer my perspective, and hope that you can put it together to give it your best.