Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Aurora, IL

I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who believes therapy should feel real, human, and grounded in honest conversation. With experience in community mental health, treatment courts, group work, and clinical supervision, in addition to working with individuals navigating trauma, identity, and personal change. I also teach and mentor future counselors while researching the psychological experiences of individuals living with vitiligo. I bring a little bit of humor into therapy, because let’s face it, in this day and age a little bit of laughing takes stress off our already hectic lives; though when it is time to get serious, we will address all and any issues that may be hindering your pathways of life. My philosophy: “people are more than their labels, and growth begins when people feel seen, heard, and respected.”

Welcome. I love helping people learn to navigate challenges in life. The treatment plan is tailored to each client's situation. We work together to determine the best method(s), and goals. Whether you are navigating a life transition, or you have a mental illness that you learning to manage, I can help.

You may be carrying invisible wounds from childhood trauma, abuse, or overwhelming life events. Perhaps you struggle with anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, flashbacks, nightmares, emotional numbness, and or repeating old patterns—and wonder, “Why can’t I just move on?” If so, you are not alone.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over ten years of experience, working with adults and couples in individual therapy. I draw from Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to support clients facing ADHD, anxiety, depression, domestic violence, grief and loss, self injury, spirituality, substance use, and trauma or PTSD.

I am a licensed clinical social worker and I have been working in the field of mental health sense 2006. I have a Master's Degree in International Social Justice and Public Policy as well as a Master's Degree in Social Work. I have a background in Addictions, Eating Disorders, Depression, Anxiety, PTSD and Chronic Illness. I have worked in hospitals, outpatient programs as well as group and residential therapy.

Hey there! I’m Briana Kesterson, LCSW.

I’m a licensed therapist offering individual and family therapy in Illinois, supporting people who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected from themselves. I have a Bachelor's in Clinical Psychology from the University of Illinois and a Master's in Social Work from Aurora University.

I work with children, teens, adults, and families navigating anxiety, emotional overwhelm, life transitions, relationship challenges, and self worth struggles. Many of my clients come in feeling “too much” or “not enough” and together, we begin to understand how to better support the parts of you that learned to cope and protect just to survive.

My approach to counseling begins with a simple conviction: you are more than a diagnosis, a set of symptoms, or a problem to be solved. You are a whole person living a real life—with relationships, responsibilities, experiences, hopes, beliefs, and circumstances that all matter.

I work primarily with adults and couples facing a wide range of concerns and seasons of life. My role is to come alongside you, helping you understand what you are experiencing, see yourself and your circumstances more clearly, and discern how you want to respond to the life before you.