Therapists in Illinois

I want to start by saying I’m proud of you. It takes a lot of bravery to seek help. It may not feel that way, and your brain may be saying “yeah, but.....”. However, you cannot have bravery without being afraid. I enjoy working with clients from ages 8 and up. I am affirming of LGBTQIA+ identities. I am experienced in working with: anxiety, depression, self-esteem, gender identity, grief, adjustment disorders, trauma, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, domestic abuse, and communication concerns. As a therapist, I can help you find routes to success, to growth, to healing. It’s okay to feel lost. You aren’t alone.

I work with people experiencing anxiety, depression and recent or historical traumas to develop skills to cope, integrate the traumas into thier lives and heal. Trauma shows up in our lives in many ways including reactions that are bigger than expected to small situations, fear and avoidance, overeating/emotional eating, substance abuse, trouble with relationships, feelings of emptiness, helplessness and hopelessness.

You deserve dignity, respect, and honesty because YOU, and those you love, are worth it. I will gladly utilize unique tools & methods to help give clients the strength they need to overcome their troubles. You have a right to cultural, religious, and sexual sensitivity in a judgement free space, and to interventions, without unrealistic expectations. You’ll never have to be afraid to ask questions or fear the answers. I excel at unique and difficult cases, and I'm not afraid to be direct. I have excellent boundaries, and I respect discretion.

I love to work with passionate people, whether it manifests in anger or intensity, and help to redirect that energy into positive motivation. I place special attention on working with stress, anger management, fertility issues and with substance use disorders. My specialization in recovery work from addictions came from experience working in both inpatient settings and outpatient counseling. Recovery work taught me to stabilize crisis situations and create momentum when clients feel stuck.

Melissa Murillo is a bilingual Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in Illinois. Melissa attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, receiving her Bachelors of Social Work (BSW) and Masters of Social Worker (MSW) with a specialization in clinical mental health. Additionally, Melissa is a Certified Domestic Violence Professional(CDVP) and a Certified Trauma Professional (CTP).

I believe people often become stuck in unhealthy patterns of behavior just because they have not learned another way. Many clients have strengths and abilities they have overlooked. These are the gems we will discover to aid empowerment, growth and achievement of life goals. Effective communication and coping skills are incorporated into treatment giving clients the tools to make positive changes. Therapy often includes alternative modalities such as guided visualization,writing, art and relaxation techniques. Each client is honored as an individual, with therapy adapted to their specific needs and comfort levels.

Nervous or scared about therapy and not sure where to start? Constantly tired of feeling the way you do.... numb and detached from those around you? You are not alone in this. I'm here to help guide you to the better reality you deserve. My goal is to understand who you are, what matters to you, and what challenges you're facing without any judgement. I specialize in trauma with particular focus on exploring race-based stress and cultural concerns, aiding queer identities in navigating the journey of self-discovery and acceptance, and healing from relational violence like narcissistic abuse or family violence.

Kimberly specializes in numerous mental health issues, including: Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety, PTSD, Anger Issues, Relationship issues, and Personality and Behavior Disorders. Over the years, Kimberly has gained expertise with several specialty areas and populations in mental health, including co-occurring disorders, trauma-informed/ gender-responsive treatment, and has significant experience working with diverse populations. Kimberly also has expertise working with clients with substance abuse struggles and is a Registered Dual Disorder Professional (RDDP).

If you're looking for a therapist who is well-trained in relationships and sex, and you want to take your love-life to the next level, then look no further! I work with individuals and couples, single or partnered, on relationship issues and sexual concerns. I help men and women of all sexual orientations learn how to establish and maintain long-term, healthy, fulfilling, and thriving relationships. Whether you're looking for dating coaching, relationship enrichment, or healing a troubled partnership, my mission is to help you achieve the type of relationship you've always wanted!

We love clients that are ready to work and build a strong therapeutic relationship! Therapy can be truly life changing, but it isn't always easy. Our therapists bring their A-game to every session, with full presence, warmth, and clinical processing abilities. (Also, we are all pretty funny and enjoy humor in sessions :) Our clients are generally working to heal and/or grow, and they build deep, long-lasting relationships with their therapist. We are not the practice to get you in and out, a constant cycle of new therapists and new clients. We choose clients based on best fit and believe slow and steady brings the greatest result.

Being queer myself, I often work with LGBTQ young adults and teens who are navigating life stressors while forming their identities. I’m formally certified with EMDRIA international in EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) and often use this approach to support clients' healing from childhood & other interpersonal traumatic experiences. I also assist clients in their processing of other aspects of identity including family, ethnicity, faith, and spirituality. I am very passionate about working with queer folks, people of faith, and additionally, those with post-traumatic stress symptoms and/or PTSD.

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!

I am dedicated to working with you to help you find your ability to deal with life and it's challenges by calling on your natural resources and capabilities and seeking a solution that is yours. I believe in the right to self-determination and that all people should have the capability to obtain what they want for their life through the power of therapy. I have worked with veterans of foreign wars, mature adults, teenagers and all kinds of people in between. I find the ability to explore life, understand ourselves and our situation better creates lasting happiness.

I want to assist you in uncovering your true potential that allows you to lead a life that is worth celebrating. We cannot change difficult situations in the past, but we can work together to better understand and resolve these obstacles. We can work together to help you change relationships, behavior patterns, or negative outlook that may hold you back from experiencing a fulfilling and meaningful life. If you are looking for support and guidance or you are ready to make changes in your life, I can help you work toward achieving your goals.

I provide a safe and welcoming environment supportive of each individual's unique journey towards problem resolution and personal growth. My prior professional experience has related to providing services to older youth, age 19 through 21 who had experienced a great deal of trauma, loss and abuse. These young adults reinforced for me the importance of recognizing and enhancing individual strengths and validated for me that we all possess the capability of resiliency in the face of adversity; consequently I believe in every individual's ability to identify and work toward change in their life.

I work with individuals, couples, and families struggling with a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, addiction issues (substance abuse), troubled teens, school failure, LGBTQ+, and trauma and identity issues. As a lifelong allied and friend to the LGBTQ+ community, I work very hard to remain current to concerns that are specific to marginalized communities. I tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique needs. I will work with you to think outside of the box and build strength through our therapeutic relationship.

I am here to give support to those who have experienced racial and gender trauma, domestic and sexual abuse victims, exploration of self-identity in all aspects, and more. I practice cultural humility in order to be able to work with different cultures and intersectionality. I aim to provide a client-centered approach which I find important in maintaining this therapeutic relationship. We will work together to make this a safe and brave space for you so that you can embark on your journey to heal.

" What consumes your mind, controls your life" Are you or someone you know dealing with something right now that does not seem to end? Feeling like giving up? Frustrated? Afraid? Feeling confused and needing direction? Maybe you have been feeling like no one understands, or that you can handle it on your own. As much as we would all like to handle it on our own, the truth is everyone can use someone to talk with. I am a believer in experiences making you who you are. These experiences can either consume you, or shape you.

As a trauma and couples therapist, I work with survivors of sexual and interpersonal violence and those impacted by traumatic generational cycles or systemic oppression. Depression, anxiety, issues with focus and attention, rumination, chronic pain, identity crisis, and relationship issues act as alarms that tell us things need to change. Seeking therapy can be an empowering first step in reclaiming trust in yourself, your body, and your relationships. In couples therapy, we will work on communication, rebuilding intimacy and sexuality, and creating security and stability while ditching social scripts that don't serve you anymore.