Individual Therapy in Chicago
Understand yourself. Feel more connected. Find a different way forward.
Sometimes you know something isn't working, but understanding why can be harder. You might find yourself overthinking, feeling overwhelmed by emotions, struggling in relationships, or repeating patterns you thought you had already worked through.
Individual therapy offers a space to slow down, make sense of what's happening beneath the surface, and develop a different relationship with yourself.
I offer IFS individual therapy in Chicago and throughout Illinois via telehealth, working collaboratively to help you better understand yourself, your emotions, and the patterns that shape your life.
What Brings People to Individual Therapy?
There isn't one reason people decide to start therapy.
Sometimes there's a specific problem you want to address. Other times, it's a growing sense that something needs to change, even if you're not entirely sure what.
You might recognize yourself in some of these experiences:
Anxiety and overthinking: Your mind rarely slows down. You replay conversations, anticipate problems, or feel responsible for things outside your control.
Self-criticism and perfectionism: You hold yourself to high standards, struggle to feel satisfied with what you accomplish, or feel like you're never quite enough.
Emotional disconnection: You have difficulty identifying what you're feeling, expressing your needs, or letting other people see what's happening inside.
Relationship patterns: You find yourself people-pleasing, withdrawing, becoming defensive, or having the same conflicts in different relationships.
Stress and burnout: You're used to handling a lot, but keeping everything together is becoming exhausting.
Identity and self-understanding: You're exploring who you are, what matters to you, or how your experiences have shaped the way you see yourself.
You don't need to have everything figured out before starting therapy. Sometimes the first step is simply having a place to talk about what's been difficult.
Therapy That Goes Beneath the Surface
You may already have a pretty good understanding of what's happening in your life. You know you overthink, recognize certain relationship patterns, or understand where some of your self-criticism comes from.
But knowing something intellectually doesn't always make it easier to change.
In our work together, we'll get curious about what's happening inside. Rather than focusing only on managing symptoms or changing behaviors, we'll explore the emotions, experiences, and protective parts that influence how you relate to yourself and others.
My approach draws on Internal Family Systems (IFS) and relational psychodynamic therapy. Both offer ways to understand the deeper patterns that shape our experiences and relationships.
The goal isn't to judge or get rid of parts of yourself that feel difficult. It's to understand them, develop a different relationship with them, and create more room for choice in how you respond to life's challenges.
My Approach to Individual Therapy
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS offers a way to understand the different parts of ourselves that can sometimes seem to be in conflict.
One part of you might want to take a risk, while another worries about what could go wrong. You might have a critical voice pushing you to do better, alongside another part that feels exhausted by the pressure.
Rather than treating these experiences as problems to eliminate, IFS invites us to become curious about what these parts are trying to do and what they might need.
I have completed Level 1 training in Internal Family Systems and incorporate IFS into my work with individuals.
Relational Psychodynamic Therapy
Our early experiences and important relationships can shape how we understand ourselves, connect with others, and respond to difficult emotions.
Relational psychodynamic therapy helps us explore these patterns, including the ways they may show up in our relationships today and even in the therapeutic relationship itself.
Together, we can begin to recognize patterns that may have once helped you navigate relationships or difficult experiences but no longer serve you in the same way.
A Collaborative, Individualized Process
Therapy isn't a formula, and your experience shouldn't have to fit into one.
Our work will be shaped by what brings you to therapy, what matters to you, and what feels useful as we go. I bring curiosity, clinical perspective, and an openness to exploring things at a pace that feels manageable.
You don't have to perform, have the right words, or know exactly what you need. We can figure that out together.
Who I Work With
I work with adults navigating a range of emotional, personal, and relationship challenges. I have a particular interest in working with the following groups, but these are not exclusive categories.
You don't need to fit a particular description to be welcome in my practice.
Professionals and high achievers
People who are used to being capable, responsible, and successful, but who may privately struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, self-worth, or the pressure to keep everything together.
Men exploring emotional wellbeing
Men who want to better understand their emotions, relationships, identity, and the expectations they've learned to place on themselves.
LGBTQ+ individuals
A welcoming, affirming space to explore identity, relationships, belonging, internalized expectations, and the experiences that shape how you relate to yourself and others.
People navigating change and disconnection
Individuals who feel stuck in familiar patterns, disconnected from themselves or others, or uncertain about what they want their lives to look like.
What Is Individual Therapy Like?
Starting therapy can feel unfamiliar, especially if you haven't done it before. You might wonder what you'll talk about, whether you'll know what to say, or how you'll know if it's helping.
Our first sessions are an opportunity to get to know each other and understand what brings you to therapy. We'll talk about what has been happening, what you'd like to be different, and what you hope to get from the experience.
Over time, our work may involve exploring emotional experiences, recognizing patterns, understanding different parts of yourself, and noticing how earlier relationships continue to influence your life.
Some sessions may focus on something happening right now. Others may involve slowing down and exploring something that has been difficult to understand or put into words.
There isn't a requirement to arrive with a clear agenda. We can start wherever you are.
Individual Therapy in Chicago and Throughout Illinois
I offer in-person individual therapy in Chicago, as well as virtual therapy for adults located throughout Illinois.
Whether you prefer meeting face-to-face or the flexibility of online therapy, the focus remains on creating a collaborative space where you can feel understood and explore what matters to you.
If you're looking for an individual therapist in Chicago, or an online therapist serving Illinois, I invite you to learn more about working together.
Frequently Asked Questions About Individual Therapy
-
You don't need to be in crisis or have a specific diagnosis to benefit from therapy. You might be struggling with anxiety, relationships, self-criticism, or a sense that something in your life isn't working. Therapy can also be a place to better understand yourself and explore personal growth.
The work is collaborative and experiential, allowing us to understand patterns that may be difficult to change through insight alone.
-
People seek individual therapy for many reasons, including anxiety, stress, relationship challenges, shame, perfectionism, emotional disconnection, identity questions, and recurring patterns they want to understand. We can explore what is most important to you rather than following a predetermined agenda.
-
Individual therapy describes the format of therapy, where you work one-on-one with a therapist. IFS, or Internal Family Systems, is one therapeutic approach that can be used in individual therapy. I incorporate IFS alongside relational psychodynamic perspectives in my work, based on your specific needs and preferences.
-
No. Some people arrive with a specific concern, while others have a general feeling that something needs to change. We can use our time together to understand what's happening and identify where you would like to focus.
-
Yes. I offer virtual individual therapy to adults located throughout Illinois, in addition to in-person sessions in Chicago.
-
Yes. I offer in-person therapy in the Chicago Loop, with easy access from public transportation. Virtual sessions are also available throughout Illinois.
-
The first step is to schedule a free consultation. It's an opportunity to talk briefly about what brings you to therapy, ask questions about my approach, and decide whether working together might be a good fit.
You don't need to know much about IFS or have a specific goal in mind. We can start with what's happening in your life right now.
Ready to Start?
You don't have to know exactly what needs to change to begin exploring it.
If you're looking for individual therapy in Chicago or throughout Illinois, I invite you to schedule a free consultation. We can talk about what brings you here and whether working together feels like a good fit.