Sexual Abuse Therapists in Chicago, IL

I'm drawn to working with individuals who have experienced trauma, childhood abuse, sexual abuse or domestic violence. Oftentimes, those who have endured these types of traumas end up struggling with setting boundaries and maintaining healthy relationships. I’m also passionate about working with people who are religious/spiritual or who feel their religion/spirituality may have been affected by trauma. I enjoy working with mothers to help navigate the identity shift as well as manage past childhood traumas that may come to the forefront as a result of having children.

There is hope and healing; even though it might not feel like it. I have experience working with children, teens, and young adults dealing with everything from anxiety and relationship issues to trauma and sexual abuse. It would be a privilege to work with you or your child towards healing, tailoring the counseling process to best fit your needs.

Hello! Therapy should be a safe space in which you are able to be transparent, vulnerable and the driver to the change you would like to see in your life. As an experienced clinician, I am dedicated to collaborating with you to heal from past relationships, understand, recognize and heal from trauma and remove the barriers that may be negatively impacting your progress.

My practice works with a diverse population. I specialize in addiction, both Sex Addiction and a range of other addictions. I run groups for sex addicts and for the partners of sex addicts. I also specialize in trauma and work with adolescent and adult trauma survivors, both male and female. The practice also works with the LGBTQ community.

The decision to begin therapy is a big one, and often filled with a range of emotions and questions. There are many paths a therapeutic process can take in moving toward healing, processing painful issues, and working toward positive, integrated change. Each person enters therapy with specific individual challenges and goals for treatment. I work from a perspective of respect for my clients and utilize an eclectic, collaborative treatment approach based on your individual needs. I strive to create a safe and supportive environment that will enable us to work collaboratively and objectively toward those goals.

My goal is to meet you where you are on your journey to wellness, and take you where you want to be. I create opportunities to express your narrative in a safe space, in a manner that is conducive to your well-being. I provide an inclusive judgment-free space regardless of background or identification. I help individuals gain insight into their own decisions, patterns of outcomes. I enjoy working with individuals who are experiencing a life transition or difficulty adjusting to change. Current clients describe my approach as warm, validating, and intentional.

It is essential to look at past relationships and experiences to work through what is bringing you into therapy now, including relationship issues, difficulty pinpointing or expressing emotions, or experiencing distressing symptoms. Our experiences from the past shape how we view the world, engage with others, and often speak to how we feel about ourselves.

Do you ever feel like the support of your family and friends is not enough? You don't have to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder to benefit from therapy. Many people turn to therapy for help with everyday life issues: relationship problems, anxiety, and self-doubt. Others seek therapy during difficult times such as sexual abuse and grief. In order to reap the benefits of therapy it's important that you choose the right therapist- someone you can trust, who makes you feel valued with the experience to help you overcome emotional challenges and make changes for the better in your life.

Therapy can be a radical process of transformation providing healing, greater sense of belonging, emotional freedom, and hope. I view therapy as a dynamic collaboration that allows for the exploration of current circumstances as well as the discovery of underlying personal and cultural patterns. In addressing your full individual self within your cultural context, we can find not only easing or resolution of symptoms but also a fuller and more meaningful life.

My goal as a therapist is to create a safe space where clients who have been traumatized and marginalized are allowed to share their stories and feelings. My therapy office is a judgment free zone where you will receive validation, support, and practical ways to manage difficult thoughts and experiences. I have had success counseling survivors of complex trauma, girls and women of all ages, and those that have felt marginalized and invalidated by their experience in the world. I am real and love to use humor in session when appropriate!

A positive, trusting relationship is the foundation of effective therapy. My goal is to help you discover your strengths, cope with stress, improve relationships, heal past trauma, and attain a happier, more fulfilled life. As a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience, I am dedicated to offering compassionate, solution-focused therapy, and helping you make positive, lasting life changes. I have helped individuals and families to resolve a range of problems including depression, anxiety, relationship problems, parenting and other family issues, grief and loss, substance abuse, and the effects of sexual abuse and other traumas.

I am here to work with you regarding the things in life where you feel "stuck." You may be stuck for a variety of reasons, including past or current trauma, chronic illness, relationship or work-related stressors, or caring for children or your aging parents. You might be in a heterosexual marriage and realize that you are LGBTQ, and you are scared, wondering how to move forward in a way that is sensitive to your family, and is true to your identity. I have both personal and professional experience with this issue, and I am happy to help you navigate through it.

I specialize in working with adolescents and young adults (average age 13 to 25) who struggle with anxiety symptoms related to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. I have extensive experience in treating survivors of sexual abuse. I utilize exposure-based interventions, which are designed to help confront fears, expand comfort zones, and extinguish avoidance behaviors. I help to achieve trauma resolution by processing traumatic incidents, reducing the associated anxiety and anger, and assisting in therapeutic corrective experiences.

There is something keeping you from having the happy, fulfilling life you crave. Anxiety about your career is causing performance issues at work. Is it keeping you from enjoying life outside of work? Maybe stress is keeping you from sleeping. Your anxiety is relentless and exhausting. Perhaps a past sexual assault or other trauma is making it difficult to have the healthy relationship you crave. It is making it hard to trust yourself and others. Or maybe you just can't get over that break-up. You're in a demanding career or caregiver role that has you burned out. You can't get away from low self-esteem and self-doubt.

Currently have a waitlist of 2-3 months. I specialize in treating individuals who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety (including performance anxiety), depression, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD). I have experience working with individuals who have experienced or been witness to severe trauma including sexual abuse, childhood abuse, traumatic loss, birth trauma, loss of a parent, etc. Additionally, I am trained in working with individuals who have adjustment disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and developmental disabilities and disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and dyslexia.

I have over 20 years of experience working with individuals who need emotional support for a variety of reasons but have expertise in the area of sexual violence. I believe creating a safe and supportive space is so important to be able to process the full impact of trauma. I am fully bilingual (English/Spanish) and bicultural (Latinx) and provide services from a culturally informed lens. I identify my therapeutic style as compassionate and non- judgmental.

Psychotherapy is an opportunity to look at your deepest fears and face them with the support of an experienced and trusted therapist. At the Healing Journey Psychotherapy, I am committed to work with you and support you through a style that is relational, inquisitive, compassionate and challenging. My areas of expertise include surviving sexual abuse, domestic violence, chronic pain and the after effects of traumatic experiences in relationships.

Prioritizing mental health, now more than ever, is paramount to leading a healthy and fulfilling life. The personal and systemic traumas we encounter can lead to increased anxiety, isolation, depressive symptoms, and physical ailments. You are not alone! I have vast experience working in integrated health and understanding how stress and trauma impact us physically. I also recognize the secondary trauma that can arise from dealing with the systems meant to help us. I specialize in trauma-informed therapy and am EMDR trained. Creating a non-judgmental, safe, and reliable space is my number one priority.

I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and received my degree from Loyola University. I have 20+ years of experience working with adults in different therapeutic environments. In my practice, I like to create an ambiance of empathy where clients who have suffered traumatic events in their lives may find a place of refuge and healing. In addition, I assist persons to find purpose beyond trauma and discover their own strengths to build resilience.