Divorce Therapists in Lincoln Square, Chicago, IL

People come to me when feeling stressed, anxious, overwhelmed with fear and stuck - whether it's a relationship concern, a challenge with a child, a loss or life has taken an unexpected turn. As an experienced Clinical Professional Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist, I can help. I partner with clients to change limiting beliefs and defeating patterns, discover strengths and embrace possibilities. I provide a safe, nonjudgmental space to explore difficult emotions, understand triggers, process deep wounds and become curious about all parts of ourselves.

As a therapist, I am focused on being genuine and mindful with client(s). My individualized approach, along with working together produces the best results. It helps you identify and explore sources of stress, set specific goals, and identify methods to achieve the desired outcome(s). Often times, simply shifting our choices, behaviors, expectations or perceptions can lead to significant improvements in how we feel. Positive outcomes are created with desire and guidance.

Life is not always easy - whether psychological or environmental, obstacles often come before us. I am passionate about assisting clients feel empowered to move past these obstacles to have the type of lives that they envision for themselves. I believe this is something we are all deserving of in our lives. Let’s work together by looking at what goals you have and creating a plan on how to achieve them. I will assist you by providing a safe, affirming, inclusive, warm, and open environment where you feel comfortable saying whatever is on their mind. We will work as a team to get you where you want to be.

Often what brings people to therapy is the desire to change a pattern of behavior that no longer works in your best interest. Changing the way we handle certain areas of our lives can be a difficult process. Finding the right therapist for you is essential in making this change happen. Together we will explore what change you would like to move towards, and understand how your patterns developed over time. What once were effective coping skills may no longer be necessary or useful, but letting go and finding another way is the work we can do together.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with children ages 3-18, with a variety of emotional and behavioral issues. I specialize in working with children who have experienced trauma, particularly abuse and attachment trauma. I have a nurturing, yet directive style that helps children and families to feel at ease, as I believe that safety in the therapeutic relationship is most important. My passion lies in helping children emotionally heal, and helping parents to play an integral role in this process. I know that it is difficult to ask for help for your child, and feel privileged to do so.

O2 Counseling is group of therapists specializing in relationship therapy for individuals, couples and adult families. All of our therapists are whole-heartedly dedicated to your progress and invested in your well-being. Our Marriage and Family Therapists help couples understand triggers, communicate more effectively and change unhealthy patterns. All therapists also work with individuals who are struggling with anxiety, stress, depression, low self-worth and life transitions such as divorce, job loss or parenthood.

We can all use a little help sometimes. Counseling can provide us with a space to explore our authentic selves and try out new strategies for coping with life's challenges, free from judgment. The individuals and families I support are typically seeking relief from feelings of sadness, anxiety or worry, shame, hopelessness, anger, or confusion. These feelings are often associated with divorce or separation, grief and loss, family issues, or childhood trauma. The feelings and circumstances can feel all consuming and difficult to manage, but you don't need to manage them alone.

People often come to therapy because they are experiencing a particularly difficult moment in their lives like a divorce, loss of job, or challenges with children, family or friends. Other times, it is more that they are experiencing recurring symptoms like anxiety, depression, or relationship turmoil. Quite often there is unaddressed trauma in their lives as well. I have been helping people for 17 years to get back in touch with their own path for healing and growth. I provide a safe space where you can tap into your own desires and, in time, move your life in the direction you want.

Life can be very challenging. If you are reading this you might be ready to talk. And talking helps. But, it isn't everything. Therapy is a puzzle that we never complete. Therapists sort through thoughts and ideas with you so things don't seem so overwhelming. Here we create a space to breath. I have been honored to work with clients who experience many issues such as anxiety, depression, poor familial relationships, loss, death, grief, divorce, commitment difficulties, loneliness, PTSD, difficulty sleeping, concentrating, focusing, ADD, eating disorders,codependency, isolation. And more.

Life is full of experiences that catch us off guard, leaving us feeling fragile and vulnerable and full of emotions that are difficult to manage. Some of these events, such as pregnancy, parenthood, marriage, and new relationships often cause us to have juxtaposing emotions that can be challenging to navigate and contribute to feelings of isolation. As your therapist, I will walk beside you as you overcome life’s obstacles and help nurture any past wounds to help you live your best life. In addition to adults, I also love working with children from birth through adolescence.

As an LCPC, Mediator, and Clinical Supervisor with over 15 years of experience, I focus on the strengths and resiliencies clients already possess and offer strategies and interventions to help overcome barriers. Some areas I specialize in are anxiety, depression, trauma, major life events, divorce, and familial conflict. I have worked across different levels of care and understand the importance of a trusting, therapeutic relationship.

My approach to therapy is grounded in the belief that each individual has the capacity to affect change in his/her life. I also believe in my responsibility to actively engage with my client and facilitate their movement through their issues and feelings. Different theoretical interventions may be more facilitative depending on one's particular needs, one's background, one's view of the world, and one's capacity for insight. As a therapist, I truly consider the individual as a whole and attempt to utilize the most effective tool to facilitate progress towards independent wellness given the particular needs and challenges of my client.

Have you ever felt like you were busy doing all the things you thought would bring you a happy life, yet felt alone and disconnected from yourself and others? These feelings are often when people turn to alcohol, drugs, food, shopping or relationships to try to create those feelings of happiness, contentment and joy. It can work for a short time however the key to moving forward is to understand the reasons we seek out these distractions.

I practice from an insight-oriented, collaborative, and individualized approach to meet the unique needs of each person I work with. I strive to provide a supportive and accepting space for my patients to feel heard and understood while also feeling challenged to experiment with new ways of thinking, feeling and relating. My hope is that therapy can be useful in providing tools to relieve immediate stress while also helping uncover the underlying meanings of unwanted or distressing symptoms, feelings and relational patterns in order to create lasting change.

Alana is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) candidate who works with individuals and couples navigating anxiety disorders, life transitions, relationship concerns in all spheres of functioning, complex family dynamics such as divorce and adoption, and grief. Alana approaches therapy from a trauma-informed, integrative relational lens utilizing existential and psychodynamic theories as well as feminist and systems-based theories.

To be honest I am probably not the right therapist for you. I am not like most therapists, and my clients are not like most clients. They come to me for a very specific job at a very specific time in their life. They are desperate. They have had enough. They have been through other therapists in the past and have not gotten the results they wanted. They don’t go to Lollapalooza anymore. They are at least in their early 30s. They are stuck. They are successful at their jobs, their artistic endeavors and have other external achievements. But deep down inside, they are broken and lost. They are children in adults clothing.

As your child's psychologist, I will see the world through their eyes and help them find their voice. I have over 10 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families. I utilize Client-Centered play therapy with young children and Client-Centered talk-therapy with adolescents, young adults and families. I wholeheartedly believe in providing empathetic understanding, unconditional positive regard, and being genuine. Providing young people with a safe place to explore their thoughts and feelings is key to encouraging positive growth and authenticity. I also offer emotion-focused parenting support and counseling.

I believe that our most impactful relationships and our cultural contexts profoundly influence how we navigate the world. This systemic approach is combined with a practice that is trauma-informed and strength-based to hold space that balances warmth, thoughtfulness, and laughter with an appropriate amount of challenge. In my work, I value creating authentic and meaningful relationships with my clients where we can collaborate to deepen your understanding of yourself and your relationships.

I am a very caring therapist with many years of individual, couple and family therapy experience. I have worked successfully with very difficult emotional, cognitive and behavioral clients and cases, including: adolescent problem behaviors, couple and family dysfunction, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, personality disorders, gender identity, HIV/AIDS related issues and gerontologically related issues. Ability to help individuals, couples, families identify and correct problem thoughts, behaviors, communications through strong emotional guidance and support to help them make their own ways independently. Many years experience as personal coach and counselor. My therapy office is located in the heart of Lincoln Square in Chicago.