Therapists in Illinois

Welcome! I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist located in Northern Illinois. I've been in practice since 2006. I specialize in treating adult individuals and couples who struggle with Anxiety, Self-Esteem, Difficult Life Transitions, and Relationship Distress. I did my pre-licensed practicum work with survivors of childhood sexual abuse. As such, I am able to sit with difficult childhood memories in a way that helps you make sense of the patterns and maladaptive behaviors you may be experiencing in adulthood. I enjoy working with women who struggle with issues related to difficult change, aging and self-esteem.

I have a style of working with clients that deeply honors and values their inherent capacity to heal and improve the quality of their lives. Simply creating a space for individuals to honestly explore and reflect on their inner thoughts, feelings, and being spurs psycho-spiritual transformation.

Trauma is an adverse emotional, mental, and physical reaction that individuals encounter when confronted with negative experiences such as abuse, sexual assault, interpersonal violence, emotional/psychological harm, neglect, disaster, terrorism, and war. In some cases, when trauma has occurred during early developmental stages, a person can experience complex trauma, which can result in severe posttraumatic stress disorder (e.g., intrusive memories, images, thoughts, dreams), including emotional dysregulation, acute depression, anxiety, dissociation/numbness, relational problems, and suicidal ideation.

My areas of expertise include relational concerns, anxiety/depression, emotion regulation, young-adult development and life transitions (moves, school/career, divorce/separation, etc.) Interpersonal difficulties with repetitive arguments, communication and messaging, lack of understanding, stonewalling/withdrawal, infidelity, difficulty navigating needs and expectations. Together we will identify patterns, stressors, the role of beliefs, goals and emotions in motivating behavior. Life comes with problems, and success is dependent on navigating the ups and downs.

If you are experiencing marriage or relationship challenges, a difficult divorced co-parenting situation, or stressful parenting issues, there are powerful skills, and simple shifts in thinking that can give you relief and help you find peace. I believe that the challenges we face are not failures; rather they are opportunities to grow and mature into ourselves. I specialize in relationship work, couples work, divorced co-parenting issues, family relationship work, emotions work (anger issues, anxiety and grief) and individual self-growth, including life transitions. Through my work with high-conflict divorced co-parenting, I have developed tolerance, patience, compassion and skill for working with difficult and challenging relationship dynamics.

It is okay to feel chaotic or stuck in oneself, relationships, or family systems. Therapy with me is collaborative; nurturing a space that feels brave, nonjudgmental, and warm for each of you. My clinical belief is that in therapy, we may go through emotional challenges, which may come with pain and sorrow, alongside realization and compassion. To experience the healing we seek, we want to make room for emotions, thoughts, and experiences that are uncomfortable and hurtful. I know it takes a lot of courage to do so, and I would love to go on this journey with you.

ONLINE COUNSELING AVAILABLE! Get counseling without going out. I specialized in remote online counseling. I have immediate openings for daytime, evening, and weekend appointments. My passion is working with individuals relating to grief and other life transitions; which include, employment exit strategies, career decisions while identifying gifts and talents, finding your life calling and coaching through life altering events. I am a excellent couples counselor and whether you are preparing for marriage or married, I can help you become better communicators and partners for life.

Empathy, acceptance, and genuineness are three qualities that I believe are the foundation for building a trusting and supportive therapeutic relationship. My areas of specialty are in the treatment of Couples, Women's Health Issues (perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, postpartum, pregnancy loss and infertility), Eating Disorders, Depression, Relationships, Pre-Marital counseling, and Emotional Regulation. In working with complex trauma, the emotional processing, exploration of self-related difficulties (e.g., fear and shame), and acceptance or resolution of past interpersonal issues are an important part of therapy. With complex trauma, I utilize an emotion-focused therapy approach, bringing emotion to the clinical forefront of therapy.

SOCIAL MEDIATOR-THERAPIST: Social Mediation lends third party neutral support to prepare and empower family members to have a voice; and to prepare to heal the raw wounds of relationship conflict, betrayal and broken trust; Social mediation addresses some of the following problems: Depression, anxiety,alcohol abuse, abuse of prescription medication, trauma, alienation in marriage, family, or community,divorce,narcissism, sex addiction, partners’ trauma, shame, gaslighting, betrayal and broken trust,restoring trust, and revitalizing sexual intimacy, conflict over parenting; and adult child issues over parents’ elder care.

I have over 40 years of experience in the counseling field. I work with adults, and couples. My strengths are my ability to listen, to understand and to empathize. I engage with my clients in a manner that allows them to safely explore choices and find their path to their well-being. I provide a safe, secure, non-judgmental environment where clients can be open and honest in order to understand, move forward and reach their goals.

As a Clinical Psychologist, Registered Nurse and Marriage and Family Therapist, I have 30 + years experience helping adults deal with life struggles by positively using their individual cognitive, emotional, social, physical, spiritual and behavioral abilities.The focus is goal oriented but with sensitivity and understanding.

I work with adults (ages 18 and up) in a private practice setting. I see clients in person and via telehealth. I have worked in private practice for over a decade and work with a variety of populations. My specialties include, but are not limited to: Eating Disorders: Compulsive Overeating/Binge Eating, Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, Depression, Anxiety, Adjustment Disorders, Relationship/ Marital issues, Stress Management/Wellness, Grief & Loss, Mood Disorders and Trauma.

I am Licensed Clinical Social Worker that has been in practice since 2006. Throughout the years I have worked in different settings with individuals from all ages. I enjoy working with adolescents, young adults, and individuals struggling to cope with symptoms of depression, anxiety, marital or interpersonal relationship problems. I am familiar with non-traditional love styles and my approach is kink-affirming and sex positive.

As a therapist, I strive to meet my clients where they're at and increase their self-awareness, which in turn helps them understand their thoughts and feelings in relation to the problems at hand. I realize that my clients are the experts in their own life experiences, therefore, utilize an individualistic approach in working alongside them in efforts to restore emotional balance.

It can often be a challenge to find a counselor to connect with, to feel comfortable sharing your experiences with and that seem to "get you". We also often want someone that cannot only understand and empathize but also to challenge behaviors/beliefs in a way that help create introspective thought, growth and change. I endeavor to join you on your journey, exploring what you seek, while also embracing the idea that sometimes you just need the ability to share safely and authentically in a supportive environment.

At some point in our lives, we all go through challenging experiences that seem beyond our ability to manage on our own. Whether it's a life transition, something from our past, or a relationship struggle, these experiences can be overwhelming and may affect our sense of well-being. I am interested and experienced in working with adults and adolescents facing a variety of mental health concerns. Whatever the issue, you will be given wise guidance in a caring, authentic manner as we work together to achieve both short-term and long-term wellness.

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.

Are you looking to repair or improve your relationship? I am a licensed marriage and family therapist specialized in treating couples' issues, specifically around life cycle transitions in the relationship (engagement, fertility, coparenting, divorce, etc), as well as issues around trust and communication. I use a systemic and strengths-based approach in working with my clients and their relationships. I begin focusing therapy on a behavioral level to work on tangible changes, and if the client continues to feel stuck, we continue by addressing cognitions and underlying emotions to the problem to identify where they are constrained.

At Yates and Associates, we are ready to assist you with individual, marriage, and family counseling. We are experienced in helping our clients understand and work through addiction, co-dependency, anxiety and panic disorder, depression, grief, eating disorders, and abuse. We can also help with communication issues, decision making, and the challenges you may face during times of major transition, such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, job loss, and death.