Female Therapists in Champaign, IL

Dr. Kim Guest is a Psychologist in Illinois who has been practicing since 2003. Dr. Guest offers clients a genuine connection with a strengthbased approach. She strives to understand their perspective to help support/empower changes needed to improve quality of life and achieve personal goals. In her spare time, Dr. Guest enjoys travel, nature and wildlife photography, arts, and family.

Are you experiencing persistent feelings of unhappiness, anger, fear, or a sense of being stuck? No matter what you do, you feel like you are never good enough. I specialize in working with individuals that identify as neurodivergent, those struggling with body image, and new parents or those experiencing parenting transitions. I believe that everyone has the ability within themselves to heal and find empowerment in their own lives.

At my core, I am an artist and believe in creating the sacred space necessary for intentional healing. My approach is strength-based and person-centered. I draw from evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Systems Theory and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to address individual and relational needs.

Healthy relationships, children, parenting, and families are my passion. In addition to having a set of 20-year-old twins and 16-year-old, my husband and I also have a toddler. This, together with my almost 25 years in practice and specialized certifications, allows me to work alongside you on life stressors such as family court, custody, and family/divorce mediation/parent coordination concerns as well as the issues of anxiety, trauma, depression, eating disorders, body image, and family/marriage issues.

Unsure if your child's behavior is age appropriate? Is your adolescent having difficulties in academics or social connections? Are you struggling with adjusting to life changes or reflecting on past experiences that cause you to feel uneasy? Not sure how to work out differences between you and your partner or within your family? I am here to help your child play out any fears, worries, and past traumas, help your adolescent feel empowered, find solutions, and discover self identity, help adults navigate life transitions, and help couples/families explore conflict. Most of all, I focus on your needs to cultivate trust and safety.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor with a Masters Degree from the University of Illinois Springfield. I started my field work as an addiction counselor in outpatient and residential settings. I have great knowledge and expertise working with addictions and recovery, but also specialize in treating ADHD, especially in adults. Other areas of experience include anxiety disorders, depression, trauma, couples therapy, and family therapy. I am a certified Yoga Instructor, and often use yoga as a therapeutic modality in my sessions.

Sometimes life can be overwhelming. Are you an older adult struggling with managing your care, grief, or other areas of life? Are you a caregiver struggling to draw boundaries, dealing with grief, or stability? People generalize grief as the loss of a person. But reality is that grief has many forms. From loss of relationships, job loss, divorce, absence or pets. As time goes on and with the support of a licensed clinical professional counselor, these issues can become more manageable with commitment to therapy, a safe place, utilization of strategies and client strength-based approach.

Welcome to my mental health counseling services, where LGBTQ+/Gender-Affirming care, Depression, and Anxiety, ADHD are a cornerstone of my practice. I am a Latina individual born and raised in Chicago, who later relocated in the Champaign-Urbana area to gain my masters. While proudly using empathy and humor, I connect with clients to create a supportive and engaging therapeutic environment. I embrace using a trauma-informed, person-centered approach by tailoring various therapeutic techniques in order to meet you where you are by educating, encouraging, and making a safe space for diverse practices to meet your desired goal(s).

Cheryl Carter is a licensed clinical psychologist, who has been practicing since 2016. She received both her Masters and Doctoral Degrees from Adler University (Formerly, The Adler School of Professional Psychology) in Chicago, IL. She completed her pre-doctoral APA-accredited internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Carter specializes in providing individual psychotherapy to adults with histories of complex PTSD, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, grief/loss, and trauma.

Life is full of challenges. And sometimes we all need support. I have 2 passions; Autism and Women's Issues. I recognized many years ago that services for people with high functioning autism are lacking in our nation. They tend to fall in the cracks because people believe they don't need support. People with high functioning autism do need support, but that support needs to be uniquely designed for them. That's where I come in. My second passion, Women's Issues, has been some of my most meaningful work. Women face unique challenges in our culture, and it helps to have a therapist that understands these issues.

You are the expert of your life and every individual client is different. Therapy is not one-size fits-all. I, as your therapist, want to form a partnership with you in which we collaborate and work together. My job is to develop an individualized treatment plan for you and your specific needs. The most important component of therapy is the client-therapist alliance and this is a top priority of mine. My goal is to provide you an environment in which you feel safe, understood, and accepted.

Has your life taken an unexpected detour? Maybe it's a chaotic relationship, unrelating anxiety or navigating difficult family dynamics. Whatever your struggles might be, fighting these battles on your own can be difficult, painful and sometimes overwhelming. However, there is an incredible amount of power in a strong therapeutic relationship where you can process life with someone who desires to fully understand you with a lens of compassion and empathy.

Are you plagued by intrusive memories, flashbacks, or overwhelming emotions tied to traumatic events? Traumas such as accidents, abuse, or the sudden loss of a loved one can leave deep emotional scars that disrupt your daily life. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful, evidence-based therapy designed to help individuals process and heal from these distressing experiences. EMDR can alleviate symptoms like anxiety, depression, and PTSD, allowing individuals to regain a sense of peace and well-being.

Do you believe if you allow yourself to feel your feelings you will go crazy? Or not be able to handle them? Do you numb yourself with substances, sex, gambling, etc.? Are your relationships hurtful, abusive or disconnected? Are you so full of shame, regret and remorse that you can barely look at yourself in the mirror? Do you feel broken? If you said "yes" to any of these questions most likely you have experienced some sort of trauma in the past. These symptoms are a response to a deeply disturbing event/s that overwhelms an individual's ability to cope. Trauma hurts.

I am a Licensed Clinical Counselor in the state of Illinois and Missouri. I received my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University. I have experience in helping clients with managing symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression; improving motivation, self-esteem, and self-confidence; exploring sexual orientation and gender identity & coping with life changes. I am also comfortable assisting individuals facing challenges presented by adjustment issues, depression, grief, anxiety, mood disorders, trauma (PTSD), body dysmorphia and gender dysphoria, and other long-standing mental health concerns.

With abundant experience as a former teacher and counselor, I have worked extensively with youth. My doctoral research delved into emotional and behavioral disorders, high-incidence disabilities, and special education. I have also guided adults of all ages through career counseling, family and relationship issues, and decision-making skills, providing a comprehensive understanding of diverse needs.

The downfalls of life can leave us feeling worried, helpless, or anxious. We try to protect ourselves from pain…albeit trauma, losses, or hardships. We may experience panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, endless worries and many doubts. Fear, anxiety, or depression take us farther away from ourselves and the fulfilled life we can lead. Healing can feel scary, alone, and overwhelming. It takes courage to reach out for support.

We all go through tough times in our lives, times when we feel overwhelmed or lost, and when we need help to cope with it all and find a new path. I work with adults who are struggling with a wide variety of issues--parenting, adjustment issues, depression or anxiety, grief or loss, domestic violence, trauma and PTSD, and relationship issues just to name a few. I provide a safe, supportive, nurturing environment where clients can explore their inner thoughts, feelings and experiences and can rediscover what they need to feel happier and more at peace with their lives.

I believe therapy is a collaborative process between the client and therapist. I strive to provide a safe and non-judgmental environment. I enjoy utilizing a person-centered approach to sessions and meeting the client where they are. The client knows their narrative best, I find it important to consider lived experiences, cultural influences, as well as other intersecting factors into my understanding of your worldview. I enjoy celebrating client’s goals, sitting with at times difficult feelings, and embarking on this journey together.