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LGBT therapists in Arlington Heights, IL


Top LGBT-friendly therapists and psychiatrists in Arlington Heights, IL
Headway connects LGBTQIA+ individuals in Arlington Heights with affirming mental health providers who understand your unique experiences. Our network of 811 licensed providers offers virtual and in-person sessions, with many offering free consultations and availability within two weeks.
Thank you for taking the first step in sharing your story—your Mental Health Matters, and you deserve to be heard, supported, and understood.
Welcome to Integrated Family Behavioral Health & Counseling PLLC! I'm Mihaela Vladu, PMHNP-BC, a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over 16+ years of experience in healthcare, dedicated to helping individuals achieve lasting mental wellness and regain control of their lives.
I provide compassionate, personalized, and evidence-based care in a safe and supportive environment where you can feel heard, understood, and empowered. My approach focuses on treating the whole person—not just symptoms—while working collaboratively with you to reach your goals.
I specialize in working with a diverse range of individuals, including younger/older adults, children aged 6 and up, women dealing specifically with trauma and abuse, and veterans, as well as active-duty personnel experiencing PTSD. As a certified ADHD specialist, I provide targeted, evidence-based interventions to help individuals improve focus and daily functioning. I also have extensive experience treating bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, panic disorder, OCD, and other complex mental health conditions.
Areas of Expertise:
• Dual-Diagnosis Care (SUD + mood/anxiety/psychotic disorders)
• MAT: Buprenorphine/Suboxone inductions & maintenance; relapse-prevention planning
• Alcohol/Opioid Withdrawal & Detox protocols (court order MAT program, inpatient, outpatient, and halfway houses)
• Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Psychosis
• Residential/PHP/IOP programmed care & step-down planning
• Trauma-informed care, veteran populations, and complex comorbidity
Your experience with me will always be grounded in compassion, honesty, and respect. I believe people grow when they feel heard and understood, so I work hard to create a space where you feel safe being yourself. I am collaborative and down-to-earth, and I will meet you exactly where you are while helping you move toward the life you want.
I believe one of the most courageous things you can do is begin to understand your own story.
My goal is to create a safe, grounded, and trusting space where you can begin your process of healing and growth. I work collaboratively with you to build a relationship that feels supportive, attuned, and meaningful—so you can explore what’s been weighing on you and move toward real, lasting change.
My work is rooted in supporting adults navigating trauma and its impact on emotional, relational, and day-to-day functioning. I use an individualized, evidence-based approach, integrating modalities such as CBT, DBT, ACT, and trauma-focused therapies to ensure your care is tailored specifically to you.
I have worked with individuals, families, and diverse populations across multiple settings, including private practice, hospitals, and community-based programs.
I earned my Master’s in Counseling Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, with a concentration in Trauma and Crisis Intervention. Prior to this, I obtained my MD from Garyunis University in Benghazi, where I began my career as a psychiatrist, working in high-intensity and war-affected environments. That experience shaped my deep commitment to understanding trauma and the human capacity for resilience.
Since then, my work has expanded across different countries and clinical settings, including private practice, hospitals, and advocacy programs addressing domestic violence, sexual trauma, and gender-based violence.
What I value most in this work is witnessing your growth—supporting you in making sense of your experiences, reconnecting with yourself, and stepping into a more grounded, meaningful life.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, I believe that therapy is your space, shaped by what you need right now.
With 13+ years of experience in community mental health, residential treatment, and inpatient psychiatry, I provide therapy and parent coaching to:
- Children (5 years and older) & Families
- Young Adults & Adults
- Parents & Caregivers
I work alongside individuals navigating hard moments—especially those who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or powerless. Often, the people I work with are themselves experiencing or have a loved one impacted by:
- major life stress or conflict at home or school/work
- trauma
- grief and loss
- depression
- anxiety
- psychosis
- mania
- substance use
You are the expert on your own life and your own healing. My role is to meet you where you are and walk with you on your path, sometimes guiding, sometimes following, but mostly walking side-by-side.
Hello, I am Jonathan. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over a decade of experience. I am committed to creating therapeutic spaces for others to be able to trust and receive a positive experience out of therapy. I am from Chicago and love all sports teams. I love giving back to my community and also spending time doing things in life that matter the most. I am a three time graduate of the University of Illinois (Go Illini). I am a believer that WE will get through any challenges that you have by supporting you through during your journey and counseling for you to live life to the fullest capacity beyond your counseling journey.
If you're struggling with addiction, carrying the weight of complex trauma, or trying to cope while managing a chronic health condition, I want you to know there's a way forward — and you don't have to walk it alone. I'm a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor (CADC) with over 16 years of experience across private practice, residential substance abuse treatment, medical social work, and the non-profit world. I've sat with people in their hardest, most overwhelming moments, and I bring that same steady, non-judgmental presence to every session.
Much of my work centers on substance use and recovery, complex trauma, and the emotional toll of chronic medical conditions. Whether you're in the thick of a crisis or finally ready to address something you've carried for years, I'll meet you exactly where you are — with compassion, real tools, and zero judgment.
Hi, I’m Heather Lopez, LCSW. I help women, moms, and BIPOC professionals who are navigating anxiety, life changes, burnout, and the mental load of holding everything together. You might be the one everyone counts on—but lately, you’re wondering who’s checking on you.
Whether you’re adjusting to motherhood, working through family stress, or just trying to feel like yourself again, therapy can be a space to slow down and breathe. I work virtually with clients across Illinois. My style is warm, clinical, supportive, and down-to-earth (with the occasional well-placed joke). We'll explore your patterns, set real goals, and focus on healing in a way that actually feels useful in your daily life. I accept insurance and offer weekday sessions. If you're looking for a therapist who gets it and creates a judgment-free zone, let’s talk.
In addition to individual therapy, I offer a weekly 1-hour support group for moms experiencing overwhelm, anxiety, emotional exhaustion, and difficulty adjusting to the demands of motherhood.
This group focuses on emotional regulation, stress management, and reducing feelings of isolation through supportive, structured group processing.
If you're functioning on the outside but privately exhausted, stuck, or carrying more than you've let on, you're in the right place. I work with adults, many in the LGBTQIA+ community, navigating trauma, grief, relationship strain, and major life transitions. A lot of my clients come in saying, "I know what my patterns are. I just can't seem to change them." That's exactly where we start. Together, we'll get underneath what's keeping you stuck and build a path forward that actually fits your life.
Hello! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a Master of Social Work that is passionate about supporting women, teens, and those who are navigating trauma, depression, anxiety, family and relationship issues, low self-esteem, and life stressors. Perhaps you who have not felt like yourself or have not found your voice due to everyone else having a say about your life choices. I believe that healing begins in a space where you feel heard, understood, and genuinely supported. With nine years experience and through lived experience, my work focuses on helping you manage those concerns, as I have worked with multiple populations including children, teens, and adults.
If you're an adult navigating anxiety, depression, or relationship stress — and maybe feeling like
no one quite understands where you're coming from — you're in the right place. I've been
practicing for 15 years across community and clinical settings, working with adults and older
adults on mood, relationships, and the weight of everyday life. I'm bilingual in English and
Spanish, and having lived abroad myself, I genuinely enjoy working with people from a wide
range of cultural backgrounds. You don't have to explain your world to me — I'm here to
understand it.
I bring 16 years of experience to my work and genuinely love what I do. I’m passionate about helping people feel empowered, heal, and move toward lives that feel meaningful and authentic. I believe everyone has the capacity to heal—sometimes we just need a little support along the way. I live near the tri-state border and provide remote therapy to clients in Illinois and Iowa. An Iowa native, I spent about a decade living and working in Southern California and Phoenix before returning to the Midwest to be closer to my (now) husband and stepkids. Yes—I traded sunny San Diego for a snowy Midwestern winter in December!
In my practice, I strive to offer a safe, affirming space for women and LGBTQIA+ individuals. I specialize in supporting neurodivergent clients and those living with chronic illness or disabilities. I also bring personal understanding to this work, having benefitted from therapy myself as a bi woman with ADHD and physical disabilities.
I especially enjoy working with young adults navigating the many transitions of their 20s and 30s. This stage of life can feel overwhelming and uncertain, and I believe it becomes far more manageable—and meaningful—with the right support.
I'm a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor with a background that includes years of work with people navigating some of the hardest chapters of their lives — including incarcerated individuals, people struggling with addiction, and those carrying cultural weight that doesn't show up in a standard intake form. I'm South Asian, I grew up navigating two worlds, and that shapes how I show up for clients who've had to figure things out without a clear map. I don't do therapy with a clipboard. I'm direct, I'm real, and I'm genuinely interested in what's underneath the surface.
About our LGBTQIA+ affirming therapists located within 20 miles of Arlington Heights, IL



- 100%LGBTQIA+
- 98%Anxiety
- 98%Depression
- 95%Stress management
- 93%Relationship issues

- 100%Aetna
- 98%Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
- 88%Cigna
- 86%Carelon Behavioral Health
- 71%Ascension

- 98%English
- 14%Spanish
- 7%Polish
- 5%French
- 5%German

- 98%In-person or online
- 2%In-person only

- 74%Woman
- 24%Man
- 2%Non-binary

- 52%Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 33%Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
- 7%Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
- 7%Clinical Psychologist

- 100%Individual therapy
- 38%Family therapy
- 36%Couples therapy
- 31%Child or adolescent therapy
Frequently asked questions


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