Anxiety Therapists in Wicker Park, Chicago, IL

I am a Counselor with a passion for supporting emerging adults as they wade through the complexities of today's world. I believe in a Person-centered, Humanistic approach to therapy, building therapeutic relationships based around trust and mutual respect, fostering an environment of non-judgement, positive regard, and authenticity. I assist my clients on their journey towards their goals. Working together, we will discover ways to spur your personal growth and foster a greater sense of fulfillment in your life, utilizing, expanding, and developing skills and abilities, including ones you might not even know you already have.

Feeling overwhelmed, lost, and anxious can be debilitating. You may feel frustrated that you lack the necessary tools to manage life’s stressors. By focusing on your individual goals, I can help you build motivation, take action, and discover ways to be your most authentic self. Through self-exploration, we can examine patterns that might be impacting your current relationships and daily life. I provide in-person and virtual psychotherapy for adults struggling with anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, self-esteem issues, disordered eating, life transitions, work-life balance, relationship difficulties, and more.

Welcome! I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and hold a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northeastern Illinois University. I believe everyone deserves to live a life worth living and it's my role to help clients achieve that goal. I believe in a very collaborative relationship with clients to help build an open and honest relationship. I will work very hard to provide you with a nonjudgmental space to allow for safe self-expression while processing and gaining an understanding of behaviors, thought patterns, and core beliefs.

My hope as a therapist is to support you in processing grief and loss in its many forms—whether that be losing a loved one, receiving a difficult diagnosis, or facing any other unexpected life shifts. In addition to my focus on grief and loss, I work with clients experiencing difficulties related to anxiety, depression, trauma, cultural identity, migration, family/interpersonal conflict and the complexities that come when these challenges and others intersect.

I recognize that, at times, people may feel hesitant to engage in therapy. Entering any process of change and growth can feel overwhelming whether facing life transitions, anxiety, depression, overall stress, and more. I want to work with my clients to help them reach a place in which they feel confident in acknowledging their emotions and thoughts openly and without judgment. I want to work collaboratively to develop their goals and work on change in a way that feels manageable and encouraging.

I’m here to assist you on your path to change and making a better life for yourself. Whatever the reason you are seeking counseling at this time, there is hope, there is healing and you are not alone in this fight. My goal as a therapist is to provide you a safe, empathetic space so that you can feel seen, heard, and empowered to make the changes you seek in your life. I work with individuals and couples utilizing a mix of therapeutic approaches, primarily Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the Gottman Method, Motivational Interviewing and Mindful Self Compassion.

The most important thing I want potential clients to know is that I truly love doing therapy and sincerely care about the people I with work with. The belief that clients can create greater self awareness, insight and transformation through a non-judgmental, safe and compassionate relationship is the foundation of my approach. By providing an open and collaborative space, clients can explore their thought patterns, emotional/somatic states and behavioral experience to promote meaningful changes. I bring a warm smile, a curious, gentle, down to earth manner, a sense of humor and an authentic self into the therapy room.

Anyone who is looking to find someone they can trust to talk about personal and difficult issues will feel comfortable seeking therapy at my office. I work to guide others to reach their goals not force or judge. I feel comfortable working with adults and teens who may be depressed, bi-polar or have anxiety concerns. Clients can expect honest and direct feedback in addition to support.

Are you a high achieving BIPOC person who has spent years working hard to prove that you are worthy and good enough and now you’re tired, stressed, and maybe even experiencing burnout? If this resonates with you, I'm guessing you’re ready to learn new coping skills, claim your worth, and tap into your inner wisdom so you can make aligned choices, release anxiety and depression, and finally thrive.

I enjoy empowering people with anxiety and depression to work towards overcoming the challenges they face, teaching them resilience in facing their fears.  I value the importance of building a strong therapeutic relationship with my patients, utilizing both evidenced-based talk therapy and skills-based therapy to create and maintain this partnership. I believe in validation and curiosity in my therapeutic approach while also helping my clients to do hard things and challenge themselves to create a more joyful and meaningful life. I also believe in the importance of family involvement in treatment.

Lara received her Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work from The University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. Lara specializes in working with adolescents, teens, and adults dealing with anxiety, depression, mood and personality disorders, OCD, eating disorders, trauma, and addiction. Lara has experience working with a wide demographic in various settings, including residential, outpatient, and individual treatment programs. Lara uses a client-centered approach to healing, meeting clients where they are at and working in collaboration to create an individualized treatment plan.

The basis of an ideal client in my lens does not have a select issue. Everyone has their own life challenges and emotional weight they carry with them. In the end, what I want for my clients is a common goal to be the best version of themselves they can be while being open-minded in facing tasks related to that goal. Whether it is an interpersonal relationship problem, anxiety, substance abuse, etc; the ultimate goal is to be better in comparison to yourself yesterday rather than someone else. That common ideal goal is what I aim for with every client I work with through the use of problem-solving strategies and coping mechanisms.

I use a warm, nonjudgemental approach. I work with children, teens, adults, and families. We will work together to help you cope and grow. My background includes providing therapeutic services in communities, hospitals and schools. My experience includes supporting clients who are managing anxiety, depression, grief/loss, mood disorders, trauma-and-stressor-related disorders, ADHD, life transitions, paranoia, self-esteem or body image concerns, behavioral issues, self-harm, or relational concerns. I have extensive knowledge of evidence-based practices such as CBT, play therapy, narrative therapy, and strength-based approaches.

Accepting new clients in-person or virtual. Our approach is goal-oriented at all levels and we truly believe everyone deserves to be free from the things holding them back. At CFC you will find a team of therapists who truly care. We take our time to get to know our clients and create goals that we can support you with. Whether it is you and your partner seeking intimacy or you are looking for relief from anxiety that doesn't seem to ever go away; we are here to help. Our motto is to walk beside our clients and share in this journey. We have 3 EMDR trained therapists, 4 couples counselors, a somatic pain specialist, and 3 interns.

Taking the time out of your busy schedule to focus on you is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself and your relationships. I'm glad you’re here. I work with clients who are struggling to cope with daily stressors, navigating transitions, and manage symptoms associated with Depression and Anxiety.

Feeling stuck? I specialize in working with clients through difficult transitions and times where you feel like you're far from the person you want to be. I work with those experiencing low self-esteem, anxiety, relationship issues, and religious trauma. I help couples to improve communication, build trust, and foster meaningful connection. In our work, we will challenge persistent negative thought patterns, learn new coping skills, practice self-compassion, and more, based on your needs.

As of August 2021, Terry Hefter Associates, L.L.C. is delighted to join CFC Therapy and their family of psychotherapists. Together, we bring more than four decades of experience helping clients transform relationships, tackle roadblocks, and achieve their fullest potential. We look forward to empowering you as we embark on this exciting partnership! At THA Therapy Group, we believe in possibilities—and we empower you to realize yours. Working with our team of experienced therapists, you’ll gain the strength to navigate life’s challenges, confront what’s holding you back, and achieve your fullest potential.

An ideal client for me, would be someone who hasn't felt heard in a long time. Perhaps someone who's been told "you should do this/that.." but never asked, "what do you want?". Maybe you've never had someone that you can just vent to, and for a therapist to keep things real while still offering professional guidance. An ideal client for me would be anyone who's feeling burnt out, hopeless, or lonely and is ready to regain control of their life. Scopes: Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, Trauma, Personality/Mood Disorders, LGBTQ+ issues, Adjustment Disorder, Substance use

My specific areas of interest include working with individuals, couples, and families who are experiencing anxiety, depression, disordered eating, relationship and attachment concerns, difficulties with self-esteem, as well as those struggling with grief and trauma. I am also particularly interested in helping families navigate the complexities that come with divorce and/or separation.