A longtime Chicagoan, I have also lived in China, France, and Japan. I use my full experience in management consulting, nonprofits, and the arts in my work as a therapist and am adept at working with people from varied backgrounds. I am astute, compassionate, and deeply committed to my clients' well-being. I engage my clients not only on the inner- and inter-personal levels, but also in the contexts of their intersecting roles and identities. I am attuned to the mutual influence that individuals...
I am a trauma-informed and culturally sensitive therapist who has dedicated myself to helping individuals with a history of trauma and life challenges stemming from mental health issues. In my daily practice, I primarily work with people who are struggling with trauma history, resulting in conditions such as PTSD, C-PTSD, Panic Disorder, Anxiety, Depression, Codependency, Dissociation, and Addiction. I am trained in addiction and trauma recovery work, and I am a certified EMDR therapist throu...
Melissa Koontz, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, is passionate about treating adolescents, young adults, and adults with various mental health concerns. She specializes in the treatment of mood disorders, eating disorders, body image, anxiety and stress, trauma, relationships and attachment issues, and life transitions. She emphasizes the importance of a safe and collaborative relationship with the client, and hopes to empower her clients to take meaningful steps towards change. In...
Our mission at Center Focused Therapy is to provide the highest level of ethical, competent and intentional treatment to our clients. We appreciate how difficult it can be to start therapy and do not take this decision lightly. Whether you have a clear idea of what you hope to address in therapy or are unsure of where to begin, our therapists are determined to meet you where you are in your own journey of healing and growth. Interested in learning more? Email or call us and we will be happy to a...
I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, a Board Certified Registered Art Therapist, a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and hold a masters in Criminology. I have been providing therapeutic services since 2011 and specialize in addictions, grief/loss, adolescents, and trauma. I've had the privilege to work in various settings such as community work with grief and loss, corrections facility, adult inpatient substance use treatment, adolescent & young adult residential, and therapeutic...
Thanks for visiting CIC! With a combination of education, specialized training, and genuine compassion the entire CIC team is proud to provide therapeutic services to the Chicagoland area. Simply put, the vision of CIC is to help as many people as possible find their way to being the best versions of themselves. We are all in this life together and our hope is the work done at CIC creates meaningful change in people's lives that then creates meaningful change in our world. Feel free to br...
I am passionate about providing evidence-based treatments including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure & Response Prevention, and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy for older adolescents, young adults and adults with OCD, depression, anxiety and related disorders. Over the past 5+ years, I have deepened my commitment to providing effective therapy through a personalized and strengths-based approach. I work collaboratively and flexibly with my clients to help develop goals in line with livin...
I enjoy helping people navigate things like the coming out process, grieving a death or anticipated one, relational struggles, exploring their sexual and gender identities, loss, major life transitions, and more. I specialize in treating grief, loss, complex trauma, and life transitions using attachment-based therapies and Internal Family Systems. Grief is a part of life that surfaces during death, loss, breakups, identity shifts, and more. As a grief therapist, I guide clients through the of...
Our experienced therapists have various specializations in addition to being trauma informed and fully competent in treating anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. We offer a safe, non-judgmental therapeutic space for you to share your unique story....
The distressing problems that bring you to therapy will later be revealed as the unlikely pathways towards a well-lived life. Pervasive sadness, suicidal thoughts, the heaviness on your shoulders are your psyche’s misunderstood messengers to summon you on a healing journey. Your symptoms have meaning and we will work together to understand them. In therapy, we will first work together to establish a sense of stability: from the first session, we’ll build a trusting relationship that offers a ...
Change can be scary and may force us to adapt quickly when we don't want to. Maybe you feel anxiety, guilt, shame, isolation, or feel like you have to continue a legacy bestowed upon you. You might feel like this is blocking you from growing. Be it a damaged relationship with your roots, needing to uproot and find a change of pace in life, or struggling to accept yourself for who you are - you are not alone and you deserve to feel relief. I know how demanding it is when life feels completely ...
Many of us lead busy lives with little space to breathe, think, and make choices with clarity. We hold ourselves to unsustainable standards in our careers, relationships and as individuals. We may run from day to day with an anxious stream of thoughts, or float numbly with disconnection and over-scheduling as a way to avoid pain. Sometimes our expectations, goals and circumstances come at the expense of clarity and fulfillment. I work with individuals & couples to reconnect while understandi...
I am dedicated to meeting clients where they are, offering a warm and welcoming approach as we collaboratively explore their needs and identify any barriers to progress. My therapeutic practice integrates a range of evidence-based modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Positive Psychology, Exposure Therapy, and Trauma-Informed Approaches. I also have extensive experience in crisis intervention, outpatient services,...
If you find yourself not feeling good enough, struggling to cope with worries, traumas, and pain from the past, or wanting to learn more about yourself and why you think and behave in the ways that you do, my therapeutic approach may be right for you. Depending on your goals/needs, we will work together to increase your insight, explore alternative coping strategies, and help you feel empowered to make different decisions in life to get your closer to who and where you want to be. My intention i...
At The Juniper Center, we understand that it takes courage to ask for help. But we also understand asking for help can be hard. It can feel daunting to share your life with someone you don’t know. If you’re considering therapy – whether to improve your mental health, restore a relationship, adjust to a life transition, or to recover from a trauma – finding the right therapist is the first step on your path to achieving your goals. We’re here to help make this process as safe and comfortable as p...
I believe therapy should be an affirming space where we can explore our lived experiences and how we relate to the world around us. I believe you are the expert on your life. You possess deep knowledge of your identity, values, strengths, challenges, and how they interact as you move through life. Through cultivating honest dialogue, mindful reflection, and self-compassion, we can develop tools to help you navigate life’s obstacles in a way that is authentic to you. My clinical experience pri...
You can expect me to be warm, caring, and honest as we grow into and establish our therapeutic relationship, tailoring our work to your preferences, needs, and goals. Many of the individuals and couples I work with experience anxiety, college/professional/work-related stress, interpersonal relationship issues, life transitions, depression, and unresolved trauma. In this work, I approach therapy with a strengths-based, LGBTQIA+ affirming, and trauma-informed lens and depending on your needs, ...
I am passionate about working with young adults who are trying to better understand themselves. My areas of expertise include Anxiety, Depression, Identity development with a special emphasis on Gender and Sexual Orientation, Hispanic clients, TGNC people, and people living with HIV. My therapeutic approach will vary depending on who I'm working with. I will walk you through the process of therapy, as often times it can be seen as intimidating and scary. I tend to work from a collaborative a...
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
I am a therapist, social worker, active listener, and committed community member. In therapy, I take a person-centered, holistic approach and am looking forward to supporting you in your goals - even if they're a bit uncertain at the beginning. I enjoy helping clients make change and solution plans in a non-judgmental space. Oftentimes, talk therapy is one piece of a bigger puzzle and helping clients identify and then connect with their unique healing team is something I love about this wo...