Career Counseling Therapists in Chicago, IL

Having been involved in the mental health field for over a decade, working across various setting (hospitals, VA, college) I now focus on those eager to enhance their creativity, community, and value-driven experiences. As the founder of an organization that has seen significant growth, my interest lies in supporting leaders—whether they are in creative roles, parenting, or mental health professions—who struggle with the demands of their work environments and the prioritization of their own healing. I believe relationships are formed in repair and I am useful to those seeking to deepen the interpersonal and cultural spaces.

There are times when we feel stuck and needing some sort of change. We do not always know what that change is. Fears, anxieties, or other obstacles get in the way. We grow frustrated with our inability to create change. Perhaps you are uncertain as to whether you want to continue in your career path. Maybe you are frustrated with your relationship and need to change it, or are considering moving on. Maybe you are continually having difficulties expressing yourself, or in dealing with stress, grief, anxieties, depression, or family/relationship matters.

With all the stressors in our society today, you may benefit from a caring clinician who can be a main source of support and offer effective therapeutic treatment. I believe the most important element in a therapeutic relationship is empathy and rapport. I try to understand your world and the experiences that you have had and be empathetic, because only then can we process your emotions and perspectives together. I hope to help you reach your goals while offering a supportive and safe environment.

What's your definition of birthright? As we grow, family, culture, and society can assign meaning that does not serve our best interest but theirs. Devastatingly, we're often taught to point the finger back at ourselves when things go wrong. But I believe we heal and thrive when we nurture healthy intrinsic (fundamental to who we are) connection to ourselves and others. This work creates a safety net allowing us to build self-esteem and adapt without losing our personal power. Pursuing the arts with a former career as a performer, choreographer, and artistic director, I strongly relate to "fitting-in while trying to stand-out".

Are you looking to make changes in your life, or recently made a major shift in your life? Are you having challenges transitioning to a new career, school, or relationship? At times we all struggle with the evolution in our lives, and there is no need for you to go through it alone. My interest and expertise is with individuals who are experiencing life transitions including transitions in employment, education, and life stages.I have 8 years experience working with adolescents, adults, and families who are or have experienced trauma or diagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder.

Accepting NEW clients. Wendy Galyen & the counseling TEAM at Thrive for Life offer VIDEO &PHONE-based counseling. Online counseling services are great for busy professionals, college students, stay-at-home moms, retirees, or other clients who do not have time for traditional in-person sessions but who would benefit from counseling support in their daily lives. Free consultation available to determine if this type of counseling can meet your unique needs. Some insurances accepted or private pay from $75-$150/session. IL team includes: Wendy Galyen, Marilyn Verbiscer (couples), Emma Flores, & Lindsey Welch (life coach).

I believe in taking a warm, nonjudgmental, collaborative approach to therapy; I truly believe that you are the expert of your experience and I am here as a coach to help support you in reaching your goals. I use my own lived experiences as a biracial and first-generation Latinx/Asian and queer, nonbinary person to connect and support others with similar identities. I am also a social worker at heart and like to bring in an understanding of our society to help people of color, LGBTQIA+ folks and other marginalized communities feel empowered, navigate and cope with the impact of these systems in today's world.

I believe psychotherapy should be simple and accessible; theories are important yet your own experience is the best teacher. Similarly, connecting with my clients on a deeply relational level and developing an understanding of who you are is as integral to the process as the clinical training which informs my therapeutic approach. I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who emphasizes existential concerns at the heart of the issues that bring people into therapy. Some examples include creating a more meaningful existence, exercising personal freedom/choice, and developing a greater sense of responsibility for one's growth.

I understand that making the decision to begin therapy can be as daunting as it is positive. I will provide a warm, supportive space to begin to sort out life's challenges. I believe that everyone has the resilient capacity to create change and will help guide clients toward healthy goals by letting go of past issues, negative thoughts, and/or unwanted behaviors. As an experienced, licensed psychotherapist with a masters degree in clinical social work from the University of Chicago, I have been a practicing social worker since 2004 and a psychotherapist since 2011.

Life can be challenging and very difficult to navigate, whether it's concerning a career, school, an illness, relationships, etc., and often times, these life challenges are in co-occurrence with one another. Likewise, we tend to feel as though we are alone in facing life struggles, and I am here to help you understand that you are not alone. My goal is to validate you and your life experiences while guiding you in a way to effectively take on life challenges. Through validation, collaboratively, we can also recognize how your thought and behavioral patterns impact how you emotionally react to difficult life experiences.

My overarching goal for any of my clients is to have an improved life, in whatever area that they are seeking to manage and improve.

You finally made it, and you’re still not happy. You graduated, landed a dream job, and have a nice home. You checked every box on the “should-do list” and while you’re not completely miserable you're not that far from it. You long for Fridays and dread Mondays, not that it matters because you catch up on work on the weekends. If you feel overwhelmed by work that has taken over the other areas of your life, I can help. I help professionals learn to manage stress, feel less anxious, and set boundaries at the office without jeopardizing their job.

How do you overcome the pain of loss? It may be the loss of a job, a romantic or social relationship, the death of a loved one (traumatic or unexpected) or a chronic health issue. Living in a fast paced digital world, we expect instant gratification and often feel the pressure of unrealistic expectations. Life offers us all many challenges. Are you overwhelmed with anxiety or depression? Do you use drugs, alcohol, food and/or destructive relationships to relieve your pain?

A change or transition in life often highlights a need for additional support. Therapy can afford you the opportunity to not only manage current stressors but also to work toward creating a solid foundation for achieving balance and satisfaction in life. In our work together, I will set the pace according to your unique needs, and we will work together to highlight the best methods for identifying and utilizing your strengths.

Amid life's complexities, you deserve a space where self-compassion and curiosity flourish, where every part of your identity is not just welcomed, but celebrated. I'm here to offer that affirming space—an oasis of emotional safety and empowerment where you can explore, center, and grow. I'm committed to creating a therapy space that feels liberating, empowering, and affirming. Your lived experience is not just respected—it's centered in every session. As a queer neurodivergent therapist, I bring a deep passion for supporting LGBTQIA, and neurodivergent individuals on their journey toward self-discovery and understanding.

As a therapist I work with clients who are ready to feel empowered to work through life's challenges and grow into their most authentic self. I champion clients as they heal through past traumas, work on boundaries, and create fulfillment in their lives. Together we can address anxiety, depression, life transitions, boundaries, relationships, career transitions, and unhealthy coping skills that no longer serve you.

Finding the right therapist can be hard work, but you're in the right place. I specialize in working with adults and couples in transition. I have experience facilitating change related to depression, anxiety, stress management, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, pregnancy or parenthood, and professional or educational transitions. At your first visit, we will focus on what brings you to therapy and what you are hoping to achieve.

Identifying interferences to optimal personal functioning and removing them is an important part of emotional growth, often leading to or facilitating an improved sense of health in the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspect of both individual and our interpersonal experiences. My job, as a therapist, is to support my clients' feelings and thoughts however they may emerge, while at the same time working to encourage the transformation of those emotions and thoughts into transitions toward the pursuit of a fuller, more satisfying life.

Are you struggling with emotions, career, relationships, or chronic pain, but not sure how to move forward? As we've all experienced through the pandemic to certain degrees; life events can be unexpected, overwhelming, and traumatic. You deserve space to process what brings you to therapy with a professional who can validate your experiences and commit to working with you, at your pace, to develop solutions. I work from a culturally-aware, trauma-informed perspective to ensure that you feel seen and heard, and offer Art Therapy. Non-judgmental by nature, I collaborate with clients by building on strengths to overcome challenges.