In Person Therapists in West Loop, Chicago, IL

Hello! I earned my MA from Northwestern University and have been honing my skills in private practice for six years. I use a relaxed and person-centered approach to help adults of all backgrounds authentically navigate the complexities of life. In a non-judgmental space, we will prioritize what is important to you. We will increase self-awareness by exploring relationship patterns, attachment styles, defense mechanisms, and meaningful memories. We will help daily life feel more manageable with mindfulness practice, communication/conflict management skills, and self-compassion.

I am an empathetic therapist who believes that each session can be utilized as a vehicle for personal growth. Within the therapeutic relationship, I place an emphasis on exploring past experiences that have an influence upon the present, along with navigating through relational dynamics that become present during the therapeutic hour. Focusing on these areas leads to a deeper understanding and awareness of one’s own thoughts and feelings, while helping to resolve the influence of troubling past experiences on the present.

We all deserve to be happy and fulfilled in our relationships. However, healthy and meaningful relationships do not come without work. Whether it is with your intimate partner, friends, family or coworkers, the quality of our relationships has a direct impact on our mental health. I help individuals understand how their past experiences, sometimes traumatic, impact their present struggles related to anxiety, stress or depression, and often interfere with their ability to cultivate and maintain relationship satisfaction.

Usually, people look for help when they are faced with a situation that they are unable to find a satisfactory solution to either in their own repertoire of experiences or within their immediate environment. Situations can involve the loss of a loved one, or a marriage. It can also include a family crisis, anxiety, depression, difficulty connecting and maintaining a connection with others, work troubles, and illness and death.

Many of us are not taught to prioritize mental health and end up unsure of what to do when faced with difficult feelings. Therapy does not need to be scary or intimidating. My style is warm and deeply collaborative. Together, we will set goals, continually make sure we're moving in the right direction, and maybe even have a laugh or two along the way. I am a lifelong learner. In therapy, I draw upon the latest neurobiology research to help you understand how what's going on in your brain and nervous system can affect your mood and behavior.

My clinical focus lies with eating disorders and body image issues. I have worked in the eating disorder treatment community for 7+ years in a variety of capacities including inpatient, residential, and crisis stabilization programs. I am passionate about eating disorder recovery and collaborating with patients to find balance in their lives. I am anti-diet and HAES aligned. Therapy provides a safe space to be yourself in a supportive environment, helping to meet you where you’re at and work towards creating lasting change.

People seek therapy for many different reasons, often on the heels or in the midst of navigating life transitions and important relationships. Those who work with me tend to be seeking ways to better tolerate & manage the full range and intensity of their experiences, while honoring their genuine selves. In my 18 years of clinical work, I’ve focused on helping individuals & families find and practice ways to live regulated, connected, and meaningful lives amidst all the ups and downs of life. I enjoy working with people of all ages and specialize in anxiety, identity issues, complex trauma, and supporting child-parent relationships.

I believe that, given adequate time, space, and resources, all individuals are capable of self-directed change regardless of their presenting problem. I also believe that therapy can often be the missing factor for those who seek but are unable to successfully make positive life changes on our own. As a counselor, I facilitate change by working with and through the client. As client and counselor, we work together, as a team, to best meet the client’s needs by setting, and then pursuing, realistic, attainable treatment goals.

Gabriella uses an integrated theoretical approach, often implementing Mindfulness- Based Cognitive Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. What she finds most important within her clinical work is treating every client as an individual and working together to ensure a treatment plan specific to that individual’s needs.

There are few places where we can be fully understood and make sense of our experiences. Life can take us in directions we did not anticipate and we may need a reflective and accepting environment to reconnect to our true selves. I work primarily with adolescents and adults around topics such as single-incident and complex trauma, relationships, addiction recovery, mood disorders, and life transition.

I strive to offer a safe, non-judgmental space where collaboration and authenticity can flourish. Emotional growth takes courage and prioritizing our own healing can be revolutionary, not just for us but also for our families and our communities.

If you are experiencing hardships in anxiety, depression, trauma, imposter syndrome, work-life balance, marital issues, communication, and emotional regulation, I work to find both practical and insightful tools to handle an array of conflicts. I will help you navigate your patterns, from a holistic lens, utilize your strengths, and find meaning in the desired change you seek. In each session, You will be provided with a comfortable atmosphere where you can freely feel openness, honesty, and the trust to convey what ails you while receiving guidance and tools.

We will work together to help facilitate positive changes and move toward the life you imagine for yourself. As a dedicated psychotherapist, I help individuals facing a variety of struggles, including anxiety, trouble focusing, stress, grief, pregnancy/postpartum concerns and other women's issues.

I work best with BIPOC and/or queer individuals who are coping with mood, trauma, and sociopolitical struggles. My primary approach focuses on empowering individuals of marginalized communities to externalize systemic and oppressive factors so that we can focus on treating any personal difficulties that are causing you pain and suffering. Whether we focus on the past or the present, healing one part of yourself can heal many other parts because you have a story to tell. And no matter how many times or how many ways that you tell it, it is your own personal story. Let's change your story to help you become the person you want to be.

My passion is to help you feel heard, understood, and hopeful about the possibility of change. You'd be surprised by how much better you may feel after just a few sessions, either in-person or tele-health. I specialize in working with clients who are struggling with a number of things at the same time (such as life transitions, anxiety, trauma). My ideal client is someone who is interested in going below surface issues, and- potentially- including some "body-up" work in their therapy.

As a compassionate therapist, my mission is to provide support to individuals grappling with anxiety, life changes, disappointment, body image issues, stress, women's issues, and depression. I create a nurturing environment for all clients and offer Christian/Catholic counseling, incorporating faith-based perspectives for those seeking spiritual with their mental health journey. My aim is to empower individuals by aiding them in developing coping strategies and resilience. Whether you're facing mental health challenges or seeking faith-based support, I'm here to assist you on your journey to healing and personal growth.

Everyone has a story to tell. But how we choose to tell it is up to us. Through the act of retelling, confronting, and finding strength within, it empowers us when writing our next chapter. I am dedicated to helping my clients explore what their next chapter could look like.

My approach involves a collaborative, relational approach as a foundation for building trust and safety in the relationship. I have a mind-body focus and work with clients to increase their awareness of, connection to, and the ability to shift negatively experienced emotions and sensations. I strongly believe that people are the experts of their experience and that negatively experienced symptoms are survival-based adaptations to difficult and traumatizing life circumstances. I work to develop a compassionate stance toward and greater sense of self and identity to increase meaningful relationships within oneself and with others.

As a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) and board-certified art therapist (ATR-BC), I believe in the transformative power of creativity and the wisdom held within the body. In my practice, I offer a unique blend of creative processing and somatic modalities to explore the depths of your inner world with compassion and curiosity. Life can be a journey filled with unexpected twists and turns, and it's okay to seek support along the way.