LGBT therapists in Crystal Lake, IL

I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with experience working with young adults, adults, athletes, and groups in a variety of different settings including community mental health, residential substance use treatment, college counseling centers, athletic departments, and private practice. I have extensive experience in working with anxiety, mood disorders, grief and loss, attachment issues, burnout, and confidence and performance issues. I am attachment based but use a variety of theoretical orientations to collaboratively work with clients in providing support for continuous growth.

I’m Carlos Ruiz, a bilingual LCPC, psychotherapist, and Spiritual Director with graduate training in counseling and divinity. In my practice, I foster a safe, collaborative space where we can work together to help you move away from self-judgment and toward greater self-acceptance, curiosity, and meaningful connection. I work with individuals and couples navigating family issues, grief and loss, trauma, LGBTQ+ concerns, relationship and sexuality issues, transition struggles, anger management, and cross-cultural concerns. My hope is to help you discover the unreleased energy within you that can support healing, healthier living, and deeper connection with yourself and others.

I am a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) who believes that true and lasting healing happens when we treat the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—not just symptoms. I approach each patient with compassion, curiosity, and deep respect, ensuring you feel empowered to explore your healing journey in a safe and supportive space.

As an artist and art therapist, I believe that creativity comes in many forms. It is my goal to help every individual create a peaceful home environment be it through art or therapy. Being a visual artist means being able to make simple shapes and lines and help them evolve into another form. Art therapy uses lines, shapes and colors to help one heal. How an individual choses to manipulate those various tools determines the final outcome.

My journey stems from my own story of resilience in the face of hardships. I became a therapist because I have always wanted to help people through some of their darkest hours. Being exposed to some dark hours myself, I know that it is difficult to do it alone. When you have someone to confide in, assist you through the hard times, and just let you know that you are not alone, makes a difference.

My therapeutic approach includes CBT, Person-Centered Therapy, Relational Therapy, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, SFT, EFT, IFS, and just speaking like a human being. I offer a compassionate, trauma-informed space where you can feel safe, seen, and supported. My approach is relational and personalized—we'll explore your story together, build coping tools, and move toward healing with curiosity, courage, and care.

Therapy with me is real, down-to-earth, and never boring. I mix honesty, humor, and heart to make the process comfortable. I help adults manage emotions, build confidence, and tackle life's challenges with tools that work. Think of it as a safe space to be yourself, grow, and maybe laugh along the way. Please book here or at https://evolvetothrive9.com.

I hold a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, certification as a rehabilitation counselor, and licensure as a licensed clinical professional counselor (IL, ID, telehealth only FL).

My background has been working with clients adjusting to life transitions, work related challenges, and developing systems that support success.

With over a decade of psychiatric nursing experience, I've built a practice around making people feel truly understood from the very first conversation. I'm fluent in English, Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu, and I've found that meeting someone in their first language changes everything about how safe they feel opening up. I work with adults and teens navigating anxiety, depression, substance use, and eating disorders, combining medication management with therapeutic support to care for the whole person. My practice is fully virtual, so you can access care from wherever feels most comfortable for you.