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Family therapy and counseling in Chicago, IL
Top family therapists in Chicago, IL
Navigate family challenges across Chicago's diverse neighborhoods with evidence-based therapy from Headway's network of 870 providers. Whether in Lincoln Park, Pilsen, or Hyde Park, access family-focused care designed to build stronger connections and resolve conflicts.
Welcome! My name is Kandice Hightower, and I am a dual board certified nurse practitioner specializing in family and psychiatric mental health. With over 18 years of experience as a nurse, I am dedicated to providing compassionate, knowledgeable care to every person I work with. I have experience treating ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, and Bipolar Disorder, and I truly enjoy helping clients feel understood, supported, and empowered. If you are ready to take the first step, I would be happy to support you on this journey. Book today!
Are you tired of carrying things that are just too heavy for you to carry alone anymore? As a licensed professional counselor, I can help you carry that load. In my 12 years as a counselor, I've worked with families, children, adolescents, and adults of all ages in homes, outpatient offices, and online. I have a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision, and have taught in graduate counseling programs, but my first love is working directly with individuals who are dealing with the effects of trauma, grief, burnout, or anxiety. I am a Christian and would be happy to incorporate your spiritual beliefs, whether Christian or not, into our work together, if desired.
If you’ve been carrying stress, trauma, or emotional weight that’s starting to show up in your thoughts, relationships, or daily life, it can be hard to know where to start. I work with adolescents, young adults, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, relationship stress, and the impact of past experiences. You might notice yourself overthinking, feeling easily overwhelmed, shutting down emotionally, or reacting in ways that don’t quite make sense to you. Many of my clients come in feeling stuck but ready to better understand themselves and move forward in a different way.
For more than 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside individuals, couples, and families as they work toward healing, growth, and change. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor, and Substance Abuse Professional, I bring both deep clinical knowledge and a compassionate, down-to-earth approach to therapy.
I specialize in helping clients navigate life’s most personal challenges—including relationship and intimacy concerns, life transitions, grief and loss, trauma, and mental health struggles. I also provide substance abuse treatment, DOT/SAP evaluations, and recovery support using evidence-based approaches such as CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, Reality Therapy, Trauma-Focused CBT, the Duluth Model, and the Matrix Model.
I have a special commitment to serving Black communities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people living with HIV, re-entry populations, sex workers, and youth facing challenges. I understand how personal, cultural, and systemic factors shape each person’s story, and I create a safe, affirming space where clients feel truly seen and heard.
In our sessions, you can expect a respectful, judgment-free environment where your voice matters. I believe therapy works best as a partnership—we’ll set goals together, explore what’s holding you back, and develop practical strategies you can use in daily life a more fulfilling life. Whether you’re seeking support for a specific issue or simply want to invest in your personal growth, I’m here to help you take that next step.
I’m Emily, a licensed psychotherapist and Clinical Social Worker with a specialization in healthcare from Aurora University. I have extensive experience across various levels of care—including inpatient psychiatric settings, residential treatment, PHP/IOP, and community mental health—I have dedicated my career to supporting individuals facing co-occurring disorders, addiction, eating disorders, and trauma.
Through my work with complex cases, I have observed that many challenges are deeply rooted in trauma and systemic issues.
Frequently asked questions
Find the right counselor for your family
Headway makes it easier to find family-focused support — from finding the right provider, to understanding costs, to scheduling with ease.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Family Therapist in Chicago
Looking for family therapists in Chicago starts with understanding what kind of support your family needs. Family therapy can help with parenting conflict, adolescent struggles, blended family dynamics, mother-daughter counseling, and communication patterns across generations. Family therapists are trained to work with the relational system, not just one person. As you compare options, look for therapists who list experience with your specific concerns, such as parenting therapy, family conflict, or parent-child relationships.
Chicago has many therapists across neighborhoods like the Loop, Lincoln Park, Pilsen, Hyde Park, and Rogers Park, which can make the search feel broad at first. In-person care may work well if you want an office near home, school, work, or transit. Virtual appointments can expand your options if coordinating schedules across multiple family members is the main concern. Session attendance may include the full family, parents only, siblings, or individual family members, so review therapist bios for details on structure, availability, consultation options, and approach before booking.
Family therapy in Chicago can be a significant investment without insurance. Using in-network insurance is one of the most reliable ways to reduce session costs and understand your out-of-pocket expense before care begins. Headway helps you find family therapists who are accepting new patients, review bios, verify insurance, and see estimated costs before your first session. You can compare therapists by specialty, appointment format, availability, and insurance fit, then book directly when you’re ready.
If anyone in your family is experiencing or worried about abuse, threats, or coercion, joint family or couples therapy usually isn't the right starting point — individual support is safer. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-422-4453) and National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788\) can help you think through next steps.
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