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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.
With more than 30 years of experience, I've helped individuals navigate anxiety, ADHD, trauma, and life's many transitions with compassion, understanding, and practical support.
I know reaching out for help isn't always easy. My goal is to create a safe, welcoming space where you feel heard, supported, and empowered to move toward greater confidence, healing, and peace of mind.
Often, struggles can become gateways to transformation. Many of the clients I work with are navigating low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, chronic stress, trauma, grief, or major life transitions that leave them feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected. You may be experiencing racing thoughts, emotional exhaustion, relationship difficulties, loss, or uncertainty about your direction in life. When we begin to explore these experiences with compassion and curiosity, new perspectives and meaningful change can emerge.
I believe telling your story in a safe, supportive space can be deeply healing. I want to hear about your hopes, dreams, challenges, and losses. My goal is to help you better understand your experiences, develop emotional resilience, and move toward greater clarity and self-acceptance. You are not alone, and I am here to walk alongside you as you move forward on your journey toward healing and growth.
My style is eclectic and strength based. I see human nature as intrinsically good. Sigmund Freud said we are bio-social animals. I believe a great deal in listening to one’s self talk. The more positive our dialogue with ourselves is, the more positive our dialogues with others and our lives are. I’m also experienced in CBT, DBT, MI, Solution Focused, ACT, Gestalt, Interpersonal, and person-centered counseling.
My training includes lots of wonderful supervision and workshops, a three-year certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Chicago, and two one month intensives with Virginia Satir, the founder of family therapy. Virginia taught that exploring the self is like mining gold. We all have gold inside of us. That is our basic goodness. A lot of emotional suffering is the result of being detoured from that basic goodness.
Having served clients in Florida for the past 8 years in my work as a clinician and in welfare, my professional and personal philosophy is to meet people where they are. Therapy is a vulnerable journey of healing. I will utilize individualized care and collaboration to make you feel accepted, safe and ready to become the best version of yourself.
Hi, I'm Kendra. If life has taken a turn you did not plan for, whether that is struggling
to grow your family, an anxiety that will not quiet down, or a relationship that feels
stuck, you do not have to sort it out alone. I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in
Illinois, and I work with adults and families who are carrying more than they let on. My
belief is simple: empathy, empowerment, and collaboration are what make therapy
work. You bring what you are facing, and we find the path forward together. When you
are ready, I would be glad to meet you.
Are you the person everyone depends on, but lately you're feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or like you're carrying too much? You may be dealing with anxiety, depression, burnout, grief, trauma, workplace stress, relationship concerns, or a major life change and know something needs to change, even if you're not sure where to start. That's where I can help.
I work with children, adolescents and adults and provide both ongoing therapy and short-term, solution-focused support. My goal is to create a space where you can talk openly, feel heard, understand what's getting in the way, and develop practical strategies you can actually use in everyday life.
Hi, I’m Dr. Linda Wickens, a doctoral-level therapist and coach who works with individuals navigating stress, life transitions, relationship challenges, and patterns that keep them feeling stuck while preventing forward movement and growth. Many of my clients are high-functioning on the outside but feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or frustrated that change feels harder than it should.
Therapy and coaching with me are never one-size-fits-all. We work collaboratively to create a plan that is specific to you, your goals, and your capacity, adjusting pace and structure as your needs evolve. I focus on helping clients understand their patterns, build emotional awareness, and develop practical skills they can actually use in daily life.
I hold a Doctorate in Social Work and am a fully licensed clinical social worker, with over nine years of experience in the mental health field. My work integrates evidence-based therapy with a coaching-informed lens when appropriate, allowing sessions to be both supportive and goal-oriented while still making space to explore the past and its impact on the present.
Clients often describe my style as warm, direct, and collaborative. As part of my concierge model, clients work directly with me rather than an assistant, and I remain accessible to my clients outside of sessions through secure communication when needed. I believe growth happens through understanding, compassion, and honest conversation, and that progress is most sustainable when care feels personal, intentional, and consistent.
Please Note: I do not provide couples or marriage counseling. I do not treat adolescents under the age of 21. Additionally, I am not able to treat clients who are experiencing active suicidal ideation or self-harm behaviors. If these services are needed, I encourage seeking a provider who specializes in these areas or contacting appropriate crisis resources if immediate support is required.
I have 26 years of experience dealing with individuals, couples, families in therapy. We will work together to develop plans that are unique and right for you.
Everyone needs help sometimes, not because they are broken, but because life can become too heavy to sort through alone. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who believes every person should have access to support that helps them rise to new challenges, cope with loss, manage the ups and downs of mood, and better understand who they are. I work with adults navigating grief and loss, anxiety, depression, stress, mood changes, life transitions, relationship issues, PTSD, trauma and the feeling of being stuck or disconnected from themselves. My goal is to provide a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can feel supported while we make sense of what you are carrying and create a path toward living your best life.
⭐ I’m Shelly Lewin, LCSW/LICSW, a therapist with 31 years of experience helping adults navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, identity issues, and major life transitions. I provide virtual therapy across Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, New Mexico, and West Virginia, offering accessible, evidence‐based care to clients seeking meaningful and lasting change. I have 30+ years of experience in private practice and leadership roles at organizations including:
- The Joint Commission
- Northwestern Memorial Hospital
- Kaiser Permanente
- Common Spirit
- Mount Sinai Health System
This background allows me to offer deep clinical expertise paired with practical, real‐world understanding of how people heal and grow. My approach is warm, collaborative, open‐minded, and affirming. If you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or ready for change, I’m here to walk beside you with steady support and clinically grounded guidance. I specialize in therapy for adults experiencing:
- Anxiety & panic disorders
- Depression & mood disorders
- PTSD and trauma recovery
- Substance use and addiction
- LGBTQIA+ affirmative care
- Men’s issues & identity exploration
- Life and career transitions
- Chronic illness & long-term stress
Additional areas of expertise include: Bipolar disorder, OCD, grief & loss, workplace stress, anger management, cultural/ethnic identity issues, expat adjustment, relationship issues, family challenges, and end-of-life concerns
I offer support and skills to those exploring identity, intimacy, or relational complexity—whether in gender, sexuality, kink, or deocolonized relationships. They may be sitting with grief, unraveling the impact of trauma, or feeling the weight of past experiences in their body. They long for connection but struggle with vulnerability, trust, or belonging. Some feel stuck in cycles of overwhelm, while others are questioning the stories they’ve been told about who they are. They seek a space where they can be seen without judgment, process their experiences, and make sense of the systems shaping their lives.
I’m a psychiatric nurse practitioner committed to compassionate, thoughtful, and evidence-based mental health care. With more than a decade of experience in psychiatry, emergency medicine, trauma, and clinical leadership, I bring a broad skill set to my work, but human connection remains at the center of my approach.
I believe every person deserves to feel heard and supported. I help individuals navigate anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, and other mental health challenges with clarity and compassion. I take time to understand your story, collaborate on your goals, and create a treatment plan that fits your life.
My diverse background, from trauma care to outpatient psychiatry and clinical education, has strengthened my commitment to high-quality, collaborative care for patients of all ages.
At Granted Mental Health Services, my mission is to provide accessible, patient-centered care that honors your experiences and supports your journey toward a healthier, more balanced life. I’m grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside you.
Hi there! My name is Shannon, and I am a licensed marriage and family therapist passionate about working with relational dynamics of all shapes and sizes. I am particularly invested in helping clients navigate differences in expectations of intimacy, responsibility, and accountability. While neurotypical, I have extensive experience making space for neurodivergent voices in and out of the therapy room. Born in the US and raised in Taiwan, I provide therapy services in both English and Mandarin.
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


Find the right LGBTQ-friendly therapy provider for you
Headway makes it easier to connect with affirming therapists who understand your identity — from finding the right therapist, to understanding costs, to scheduling with ease.
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