Lesbian Therapists in Des Plaines, IL

Something is not ok. Maybe you can't stop worrying, and stress wakes you up at night and you can't turn off your brain. Maybe there are things that you can't talk to your friends about. A relationship has ended, or you've found yourself in the same kind of relationship again. Maybe someone you love has died and you don't know what to do, or it's been a while and people think you should be "over it" by now. Maybe you've just gotten a scary diagnosis. Maybe you have a decision to make and need help figuring out what to do. Being human is really, really hard sometimes; being in therapy can help.

Telehealth - IL. Life can be complicated, messy and challenging. I work with adults, adolescents and children struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, bereavement, low self-esteem and life transitions. I provide a safe and accepting space where you can be open and honest with the difficulties you are experiencing in your life. As a career changer, my experiences as a writer and editor in the corporate and nonprofit sectors provide an additional perspective in my work with clients. My multicultural background is an asset in working with diverse populations.

For over 25 years, I have provided counseling and psychotherapy for children, adolescents, adults and couples. I am humbled by the courage it takes to reach out for help when faced with life's challenges. My approach is informed by my psychodynamic training, which acknowledges our early experiences, and cognitive behavioral therapy to help understand our thoughts, feelings and behaviors in the present day life. I work with a range of presenting problems such as depression, anxiety, trauma, domestic violence, loss and grief, relationship struggles, divorce and co-parenting issues and work place stress.

As a licensed clinical social worker, I believe in every person's capacity to heal, grow and foster meaningful tranformation in their lives. In my practice, I am a companion to adults across the lifespan who have powerful stories to tell. People who work with me are often looking to develop a deeper, more conscious relationship with themselves. I strive to build a secure relationship with my clients, within which we might begin to reckon with experiences of complex trauma, process profound grief and pain, support greater connection with one's body, and make space for all aspects of one's Self to step into the light and be known.

I strive to create a safe and effective environment that can help process, explore, and reach specific personal goals. I believe in an integrative approach to provide the necessary tools and support needed during the therapeutic process. I aim to provide a safe space to work towards desired change or personal growth. I am bilingual in Spanish and English and believe in the importance of a holistic and cultural approach.

My specialty is connecting! Connection is the key to all relationships and especially the therapeutic relationship. Also, as a Play therapist, I am uniquely qualified to treat children and teens and have special expertise in working with challenging behavior as well as trauma or difficult life circumstances. I also include parents in the therapy process in order to ensure they have the skills and support they need for success! Connecting in therapy, with both children and parents, creates lasting changes and positive growth!

With everything that life throws at us, it can be difficult to process through it all alone. Seeking help can be scary and vulnerable, but it is also one that indicates your strengths. I believe that therapy allows for an opportunity to gain insight and learn strategies to face life’s challenges.

I work with single and partnered adults who struggle to express themselves due to the lingering effects of developmental stressors. My ideal clients are motivated to explore the depths of their self-esteem, develop greater insight into how it affects their daily lives, and identify coping strategies that actually work.

I'm a Bilingual Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and work individuals, families, couples, children and adolescents and assist them in developing skills to live healthier and more functional lives. I take a warm, holistic and relational approach considering the mind-body connection and incorporate a variety of therapeutic techniques, including Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and Family Systems. Grief Certified.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with clinical experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and their families in both community mental health centers and school settings. I take on a holistic and relational treatment approach in my practice, utilizing evidenced-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Strength Based, Family Systems, and Mindfulness Techniques. My areas of focus include anxiety, depression, trauma, attachment, family/social conflict, life transitions, and cultural issues. I am also bilingual and provide therapy in English or Spanish.

I believe that counseling can be a space for you to explore the obstacles that are getting in your way of achieving your goals. In treatment we will focus on what is working in your life and build from those successes to help you make the change you want to make.

Maybe you or someone you care about seems to have lost control of your ability to drink, take medication, eat, gamble, have sex, use the internet, play video games in a way that is not disruptive or harmful to you or the ones you love. Is someone telling you that your behavior is a problem? Are you unable to consistently predict whether or not you can stop once you start? Do you find yourself planning, thinking about or engaging in the behavior when you need to be attending to other things in your life like relationships, work or school?

Meghann Richko is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Yoga Therapist, and Fitness Professional. Her emphasis is on methods for managing a variety of conditions including but not limited to anxiety, depression, stress reduction, eating disorders, body image issues, mental and emotional disorders, improving nutrition, muscular skeletal issues, stress related illnesses, injury rehab and prevention, preventative health, and the psychological aspects of pain and pain management.

At The Juniper Center you will find LGBTQ centered care. We are owned and directed by a therapist and a member of our community. Your name, your pronouns, your identity belong to you. Helping you heal belongs with us. You don't want to have to hide any of who you are. Whether your gender does not match your body, your identity does not match your gender, you love someone born the same sex as you or you love someone who is working their way through these issues, we are here to help. Perhaps you are a parent wanting to understand your child, or to help your child find a positive way through confusing issues.

My therapeutic approach is client-centered, strengths-based, creative and collaborative, one in which I often incorporate meditation and somatic work, informed by Internal Family Systems (IFS) theory. I seek to create a therapeutic environment where you will feel heard, validated and understood. We live in a society where we often feel we should weather stress alone but sometimes having someone truly hear you and see you makes all the difference.

As a parent, you want your child to be happy and successful. You want a calm, peaceful home where everyone feels safe and comfortable. If your child is sad, irritable, withdrawn, isolating, not sleeping, complaining of stomachaches or headaches, not getting the grades you know they can achieve or they just don't seem like themselves, our team of child and adolescent therapists will do everything in their power to help your child get back on track and feel better. Our therapists are easy to relate to and they get good results.

Do you sometimes feel like you can't get beyond events that have happened in your life? Do you feel troubled or haunted by them despite your best efforts to move on? Are you withdrawn, unpredictable or irritable, releasing your feelings on the ones you love most. You may feel like you can't control your emotions or life. We work to help you understand what is happening in your brain and body that prevent you from digesting what has happened and to help you put it in the past, to move on. At The Juniper Center, we're helping you live your best life.

Change can lead to distress and difficulty. We offer practical planning and smart solutions! Improve your school, job, or household happiness; build relationships and gain insights. Learn techniques and strategies to cope with your troubles and frustrations. Psychotherapy for Children, Adolescents, and Adults!

Sometimes life's problems can seem overwhelming, or make us feel stuck in place. I would enjoy helping you find a way beyond whatever is holding you back. Even as losses seem to block or narrow our paths forward, I have to believe that exciting challenges and possibilities continue to draw us onward, if we can hold fast to the notion that we humans, working together, are forever capable of growth and change. I can especially help you with aging, transitions, depression, anxiety, trauma, and religious/existential issues, as well as affirmative approaches to LGBTQI+ concerns.