Trauma Focused Therapists in Chicago, IL

I am dedicated to helping clients expand self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and process traumas and psychological wounds. With extensive experience in addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relational conflicts, burnout, and challenging life transitions, I offer compassionate and tailored support. I take great pride in working with BIPOC, immigrants, and first- and second-generation individuals navigating acculturation, racial identity, and cultural challenges, as well as young professionals and college students.

I work with adolescents, adults, and couples of all backgrounds, ethnicities, and sexual orientations. I utilize a trauma-focused lens to help you feel safe, see events from different perspectives, and understand ways in which the trauma you have experienced is shaping your current reality. By working together, you will understand that your feelings are valid. Together, we will achieve improved mental health. My life, educational, and career experiences give me a unique and compassionate lens to help you navigate life and reach your goals.

My therapeutic approach is to fosters a space where the past, present, and future intersect in a way that healing, empowerment, and clear direction can flourish. I understand that life can at times be challenging, change can be destabilizing, and loss will cause pain. Through these life transitions one may at times need a safe space to cultivate hope and grow. I employ evidence based practices, cultural sensitivity and awareness to assist you in achieving your therapeutic goals.

I work primarily with adult males who are dealing with depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and anxiety. My approach is integrative, combining the structured and goal-oriented nature of CBT, the trauma-focused methodology of EMDR, and the depth-oriented insights of psychoanalysis. This blend allows me to address both the symptoms and underlying issues my clients face.

Do you ever struggle with setting boundaries or prioritizing your needs in relationships? Do feelings of guilt or shame keep you from being vulnerable? Do you ever find yourself feeling anxious or depressed but can’t understand why? Trauma can sometimes have the ability to impact our thoughts, feelings, and relationships. As a trauma-focused therapist I have a thorough understanding of not only the impact trauma can have on a person’s life but also a person’s capacity to heal from trauma. I practice within a relational approach to therapy based on the mutuality, respect, and collaboration within the therapeutic relationship.

I value focusing on meeting basic needs, developing and executing goals, and providing a space for therapeutic processing. In my clinical practice, I focus on processing and navigating complex trauma and how it affects behavior and wellness. I also offer support to individuals who have relationship concerns, symptoms of anxiety or depression, and uncertainty about their future. Historically, I have worked with individuals who have been impacted by the legal system and can offer clinical case management and accompaniment to individuals who are dealing with criminal and civil-related legal cases.

I specialize in working with teens and young adults struggling with a variety of issues including but not limited to school problems, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and trauma. I have background and training in working with a diverse population of individuals across a variety of settings including inpatient, outpatient and school settings.

As a first-generation Latina, Licensed Social Worker, & mental health advocate, I am passionate about helping others work through their mental health journey to find peace & feel empowered to overcome their hardships. I utilize a culturally competent, trauma-focused, & intersectional approach to gain a deep understanding of how I can connect with an individual. Through a trauma-informed lens, I work with my clients to explore childhood experiences, their cultural identity, interpersonal relationships, triggers, life stressors, generational trauma, & how trauma experiences impact the mind & body.

Shakyra has several years of experience providing therapy and advocacy services to sexual assault survivors. Shakyra also has experience working with women, men, couples, LGBTQIA+ populations, teens, children, and families. She has experience working with Post-Partum Depression, anxiety, other mental illness, trauma, interpersonal/relational issues, and day to day stressors. Shakyra is particularly passionate about working with Black and Brown people, fat folks (with a body-positive lenses), LGBTQIA+ identities, and non-monogamous/polyamorous communities. She is kink, BDSM, ENM, and sex work friendly and affirming.

Anxiety, trauma, and depressive symptoms often leave us feeling out of control and hopeless. I believe healing can happen and hope can be restored. Working from an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and LGBTQIA+ affirming lens, I want to ensure a safe space where all of my clients feel seen, heard, safe, and respected. As humans, we all want connection, although sometimes these connections cause intense emotions and great amounts of pain. I recognize the stress of single parenting, the communication issues in romantic relationships and/or families, and the struggles of dating in a world of right and left swiping.

I am Maleka Qureshi, a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). I have over 10 years of experience in helping clients with finding their authentic self, improve self-esteem and learning to cope with different life challenges. I have experiences helping clients with anxiety, depression, substance abuse problems and different addiction problems. I provide couple therapy by helping romantic partners address relationship conflicts, improve communication, and increase affection and empathy for one another.

For over the past 20 years, I have enjoyed assisting in putting together the pieces of my client's puzzles. I strive in putting the needs of my clients 1st! Focusing on evidenced based treatments; my advanced trainings have equipped me to use therapeutic interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma focused therapy, child-parent psychotherapy and many more. I have an extensive background in treating mood disorders, behavioral modifications, emotional dysregulation,PTSD and other disturbances. I tailor my practice to uphold the confidentiality of my clients and I strive to give my clients the best service possible!!!!

We're a trauma-informed, culturally-sensitive mental health counseling group for multicultural, Asian, BIPOC, immigrants, LGBTQIA+, and other marginalized communities. We're passionate about working with individuals, couples and families from different cultural backgrounds, exploring how complex identities and unique personal experiences have shaped us into who we are. We specialize in healing from anxiety, complex trauma, relationship issues, perinatal issues, ADHD, adoption, OCD, stress, cultural identity, cultural/intergenerational conflicts, family conflicts, grief, and other issues.

I specialize in providing relationally focused therapy to individuals, couples, children, and families from diverse backgrounds and identities. As a bilingual clinician with Ecuadorian and Colombian heritage, I am particularly committed to serving BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and migrant communities who may face unique challenges in understanding and accessing mental health resources. By working alongside clients, my goal is to help break down societal beliefs surrounding therapy and identify a better understanding of yourself, and/or your family that is holistically informed by identity, culture, and past experiences.

You have the answers - my role as your therapist is to collaborate with you and bring your capacities and experiences to the forefront. My personal identities (i.e. latine and South Asian), along with my education in psychology, religion, and social work, inform my practice through an anti-oppression lens that is affirming of people on the LGBTQIA2S+ spectrum, people of all sizes, genders, racial, and religious identities, parenting and non-parenting people, diverse relationship structures, kinksters, people who have been incarcerated, and people who work(ed) in survival economies (i.e. sex work).

My clinical approach is authentic and integrative, resulting in a collaborative treatment plan based on client’s culture and values, the best available clinical research, and clinical expertise for my clients to thrive in their lives. I enjoy working with children, adolescents and adults in individual, family and group settings. I specialize in the treatment of anxiety, ADHD, OCD, Executive Functioning (EF) skills, complex trauma/PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, racial/cultural identities, academic performance, family conflicts, relationship issues, grief, life transitions, stress and other life concerns. I also speak Korean.

Happily accepting NEW clients with in-person and Telehealth openings! What happened to you is not your fault and no trauma is insignificant, whether that be in childhood or adulthood. I recognize this is not an easy process and commit to meeting you where you are. I am well-versed in addressing the unique challenges that individuals with complex trauma face from interpersonal violence, narcissistic abuse, and childhood trauma including symptoms of complex PTSD (C-PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Together, we will identify tools to work towards building resilience, ultimately promoting improved well-being.

Hello! I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor from Chicago with five years of clinical experience. I am a member of the LGBTQIA community and specialize in obsessive compulsive disorders, anxiety, depression, and men's issues. I employ a mix of Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Trauma Focused, and Person-Centered therapies, and utilize Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD, Exposure Therapy for Anxiety, and Behavioral Activation for Depression. As a career-changer from the medical field to working as a therapist, I get that life throws you curveballs sometimes, but we can work together to get through those curveballs.

Rafiah Maxie is a Mother, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Founder of Goal Achieved, LLC. “As a 22 year psychotherapist I know the stages of change we all are faced with! My approach is to client centered, goal focused and empathic in nature- you are your BEST advocate..and I welcome you to this new beginning”. Rafiah believes that “Emotional and Mental pain is not something that should be hidden away and never spoken about. There is truth in your pain…there is growth in your pain….lets work with it together”