Female Therapists in Aurora, IL

Mistie Drews is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois who has been practicing since 2016. Mistie strives to provide a safe, nonjudgmental space to provide therapy. She specializes in addictions and trauma. Mistie also has experience with family and couples and individual therapy. CBT and DBT are methods she has used. In her spare time, Mistie enjoys being near any body of water. She believes in good self-care as therapists for our own mental health. A sense of humor is so important! She has two kids that are now young adults.

We all have the capacity to reach our fullest potential. Yet all too often we find ourselves stuck in negative patterns of thinking and acting, unable to see other possibilities. Therapy allows us to make meaning of our difficult life experiences and open up to new ways of thinking, feeling, and being. I strive to provide a safe and supportive environment where clients can learn to identify and express their emotions effectively, develop healthy ways of coping with difficult emotions, improve the quality of their relationships, and increase their self-esteem and sense of self-worth.

I strive to provide services to anyone feeling misunderstood, unheard, lost or struggling with the next stage in their life. Society can have a picture of what our lives should look like and how we should feel when certain events happen to us, it can get hard when we do not fit into that picture. Sometimes all we need is someone to listen and to validate our emotions to be able to find ourselves.

Taking the step to get counseling takes a lot of courage. You are already on your way to reach your desired goals. I believe that everyone faces their own challenges and has their own unique experience, but you don't have to go through it on our own. It is my job to guide you in your journey to reach health and happiness. I work with adults, elders, and adolescents ages 12-17 with anxiety, depression, sexual trauma, and grief and loss. I also have special insights with people who are marginalized (BIPOC, LGBT+, Women etc.).

It is extremely important that my client's feel comfortable with me and my work, otherwise therapy becomes a task, not something rewarding or nurturing. Teaching clients how to validate each feeling/emotion, how to sit with feelings and not run away from them is what I do best! I'd love to ask you why is it you may tend to cycle in the same energies and what would happen if you stepped out of it? Would love to hear your response! The way we think affects how we feel and then affects how we behave. I believe that every tear drop has a voice, if your tears had a voice what would they be saying?

Taking the first step to healing is difficult especially when you are unsure where to start and how to get where you would like, making your first appointment is a great start. Are there thing's that you have experienced that feel unresolved? Julia can help you unpack these experiences, feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Julia also enjoys working with parents and children/teenagers to reconnect with one another and be that bridge of communication. Give Julia a call today for a free 15 min consultation to see if she is a good fit for you.

Laura Sauer-Kenward is a Licensed Social Worker with a special interest in identity formation, breaking shame cycles, and mending communication barriers. Her approach is to listen first to allow her clients space to share their story and struggles without judgment. She aims to assist her clients to recognize their own potential, build their inner and outer resources, and embrace their individuality. She values creating a safe and comfortable therapeutic environment. Laura sees individuals aged 11 and up as well as families and couples.

My name is Dr. Mercy Abunaw, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C, DNP. As a healthcare provider, I am committed to helping my patients achieve total remission of their symptoms. I am a provider who will listen to you, understand your pain, and offer the best treatment advise, because that is what you deserve. I will assess your symptoms, order lab work if necessary, provide and or confirm your diagnosis, before formulating a treatment plan, be it counseling or medications. I will follow up with you every two weeks to make sure the treatment is effective. If necessary, I will refer you to other specialist. Reach me directly via phone and email.

Whether you are struggling with depression, anxiety, life changes, stress, or other challenges, together we can work on learning positive coping skills and behaviors to help improve your thought process and mood. I can assist you in improving your communication, increasing your resilience, and identifying your personal strengths. I am here to help guide you towards understanding yourself and your needs while learning the tools that will assist you in reaching your treatment goals. I am bilingual and provide services in English and Spanish.

My career in psychology began with graduate study at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (Chicago, IL), which included a certificate in Trauma-Focused Behavioral Therapy, followed by completion of a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from Benedictine University (Lisle, IL). My practice is grounded in positive, humanistic values that encourage personal growth and healing with a variety of treatment modalities.

I consider it a privilege to work with people who are motivated to change. Whether it’s feeling less anxious or depressed, improving an important relationship or learning to better control intense emotions, I am willing to join you in doing the hard work of change. Though the process is often simple, it’s rarely easy. The alternative option of staying the same, however, is usually much more difficult in the long run. Together, we’ll figure out how you can make your one life the best it can be. Isn’t that result worth the effort?

Do you or someone you love feel overwhelmed with life's challenges? Are mental health issues impacting your relationships, work/school and well being? Are you looking to find fulfillment in your daily life? Life can be hard. I am here to help navigate through life's challenges to encourage growth, change and healing. I am passionate about building meaningful relationships with my clients through a lens of compassion, collaboration and empowerment. I use an eclectic approach to therapy to integrate various forms of evidence-based strategies to encourage self-expression in a way that feels comfortable to the client.

**New Clients waitlist** If you deal with Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Trauma history, Eating Disorders, Addiction issues, Personality Disorders, Sharon is a licensed clinical therapist that has over 15 years working experience with treating adolescents and adults. Whether you are looking to explore current issues or past deep painful ones, she provides a safe, non-judgmental space to discuss/express/process difficult emotions, thoughts, behaviors and relationships. Her therapy is an eclectic approach using DBT, CBT, ACT, Motivational Interviewing.

My therapeutic approach focuses on the whole person. I look at the individual, their environment, and the many factors that make up who they are. By focusing on their strengths, I work with the individual to discover the person they are meant to be. My experience includes training in Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. I have previous clinical experience with children and adolescents, in a child welfare capacity, as well as inpatient behavioral health. I was also licensed as a foster parent in 2005; I have both worked with children who are in the foster care system and children who were adopted.

How We Treat One Another Matters: For better and for worse, across our whole lives, we operate in relationships. Our views of our "self" and how we relate to others develop from how we have been treated in relationships. Our capacities to love, to learn, to become our best, all emerge optimally within healthy relationships. Likewise, wounds of heart and soul emerge from ways we have been treated and/or choices we have made which have hurt us, sometimes very deeply. Persons who have experienced relational trauma and/or overwhelming life stressors are ideal candidates for clinical services at Gateway.

Amber is a passionate, qualified, and experienced therapist who practices CBT, Motivational Interviewing, DBT, and Solution Focused Therapy techniques. Her compassion drives her to deliver a safe, welcoming, and comfortable environment to the clients without judgment, promoting steady healing. During her professional career, she has worked with hundreds of clients between the ages of 4 to 70 years. She has extensive experience in providing counseling for substance abuse and mental health.

Renyce Ward is a Licensed Social Worker in Illinois who has been practicing since 2024. She has a BS in Psychology from University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, a Masters of Social Work from University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana and a Trauma-Informed Educational Practices Certification from North Central College. Renyce helps support the social-emotional needs of individuals by providing a safe and non-judgmental environment where together, they will explore areas of strengths and challenges.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 25 years of clinical experience. I work primarily with adults who struggle with anxiety, depression, and unresolved psychological trauma. I use my relationship with my clients in order to allow them to discuss uncomfortable emotions such as shame and guilt, in a non-judgmental relationship.

Hello! Choosing a therapist is not easy and involves finding someone with whom you are comfortable. I offer a supportive approach that is sustained by years of experience, knowledge and training through private psychotherapy and consulting services. My clinical services provide a comprehensive and holistic approach toward personal growth and healing. Together, we can uncover your inner strengths and gifts to make emotional and behavioral treatment a fulfilling journey. I have received DIPLOMATE professional certification with the American Psychotherapy Association and have professional certifications in Play Therapy, Domestic Violence, Sexual Addictions,and Trauma-Based Treatments.