Dissociative Disorders (DID) Therapists in Lakeview, IL

Hi there, I'm Allyson! I am so proud that you have made this step. I’m glad you are here. There is a reason you are here, and I understand how vulnerable this can be. It is so brave that you have started this process and are ready to start your healing journey.

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 am interested in helping clients develop curiosity about themselves. With curiosity, we can create new ways of relating to ourselves. This is a tremendous capacity! I want to help the client feel empowered about therapy and have increased insight are some of my goals when working within a therapeutic framework. Clients who are motivated to work, because this is very hard work, and it takes investment of time, money and energy to heal.

A certain level of disillusionment exists when your external world doesn't match your internal one. Restless and intrusive thoughts may be hindering your everyday joys or harsh flashbacks affecting your presence and sense of safety. A certain level of growth is wanted, but the pathway how to get there may seem unclear or too difficult. I can help by building upon your already-existing skills and resilience to decrease your shame-narrative with a healthier mental paradigm. I incorporate somatic and experiential techniques into sessions to aid in addressing and processing chronic and pervasive trauma.

I believe that a client-focused, relational, and accepting therapeutic relationship encourages meaningful change and spiritual development. Further, I have found that maintaining an openness to the exploration and integration of faith and spirituality can be transformational for many individuals. I primarily use an existential framework to conceptualize my clients and incorporate techniques from cognitive-behavioral therapy, emotion-focused therapy, and solution-focused therapy.

Do you feel overwhelmed? Stuck? Are you struggling with unresolved past pain? Healing is possible. I can help. My career focus has been on treating trauma and its aftermath. I have training and experience with many trauma treatment approaches ( PE, CPT, EMDR, DBT) which I apply in the context of a psychodynamic and relational approach to therapy. You have the right to seek a therapist who is a good fit!

As your therapist, one of my priorities is to walk alongside you as you grow into the most integrated version of yourself, embracing your autonomy and strengths. It can be difficult to balance your sense of internal safety and the external commotion of the world. A sense of disillusionment occurs when our external wants do not meet our internal needs. I focus on your concept of Self as it relates to emotional disturbance, fragmentation of the self, maladaptive thinking patterns, and dissociation. My aim is to work with you to embrace and overcome challenges endured throughout the lifespan and to help you find alignment within.

I believe therapy is for everyone. There is no problem too big or small that can't be helped through therapy. My goal with all my clients is to create a safe, judgment-free space for self-exploration and healing. I’ve been a practicing Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor since 2015, after receiving my Master’s in Counseling from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. I’ve worked extensively with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, bipolar, trauma, and substance abuse. I work with ages 12 and up. I am happy to meet in person or via telehealth to design a game plan to address your treatment goals.

I believe personal growth and change is achieved through exploration into the origins of one's difficulties, gaining self-awareness, and learning new patterns of relating to oneself and others. My intention in my therapeutic work is to assist patients in identifying and evaluating patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior that lead to difficulties in one's life and relationships. Increased awareness into underlying motivations and problematic relational patterns creates an environment where healthy changes can be explored. Each patient's treatment is tailored to specifically address their unique challenges.

I offer individual, couples counseling and career counseling for people of all ages. As a professional businessman and now a psychotherapist, I bring life experience to therapy that gives me practical and insightful perspective on the challenges people face at home, the workplace and in their relationships. I enjoy working with couples and have extended training in the Gottman Therapy method. Couples issues can rack relationships especially those struggling fidelity and trauma issues. I am keenly aware of each of these and have worked with these tough issues as a therapist and husband.

"Direct," "empathetic," "non-judgmental," and "gentle" is how clients describe my approach. With respect, care, and guidance toward empowerment, my expertise is working with individuals, couples, and families navigating relationship obstacles, adult/child survivors of sexual abuse, BIPOC/PGM and LGBTQ+ clients, women of color, South-Asian clients, and clients from all walks of life. I believe that trust and comfort are the foundation of each client/therapist relationship. This journey, which begins with what I know as a very difficult first step, is about you.

Greetings Beautiful People... I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 25 years of direct service experience helping people who have experienced significant pain and trauma in their lives. I describe myself as a straight talk, no chaser kind of clinician who uses compassion with honesty to help confront the difficult things that keep us stuck in unhealthy patterns in our lives.

As a Chicago based consultant/psychotherapist, I have worked 20 + years in communities throughout the United States, Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Serving youth, adults, couples and families by way of private practice as well as consulting with nursing homes, social service agencies, residential facilities, schools, hospitals and several for profit business I have experience treating clients who come from different backgrounds and I am at my best serving a diverse community with diverse needs. In addition, I facilitate organizational change using similar techniques that foster cultural transformation and growth.