LGBT therapists in Homewood, IL

I have been a therapist for over twenty five years with a varied background including hospice, nursing homes, home care and individual counseling settings. I became a licensed, clinical social worker after graduating from the University of IL-Urbana 30 years ago.

I help young adults, adults, and athletes work through anxiety, depression, grief and loss, burnout, attachment and relationship challenges, and confidence or performance struggles so they can feel more grounded, confident, and connected in their lives. If you feel stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of your next step, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Therapy can be a place to better understand yourself, build on your strengths, and create meaningful change.

Maybe you’ve gotten really good at functioning while quietly wondering why the same thoughts, emotions, or relationship patterns keep showing up. Anxiety can leave you overthinking everything, ADHD may make it hard to slow down or stay on track, depression can disconnect you from yourself, and trauma can continue shaping how you respond long after the experience is over. I work with adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, ADHD, depression, trauma, and PTSD, along with identity concerns, relationship and family issues, stress, anger, grief, LGBTQIA+ and transgender experiences, and cultural or ethnic concerns when they’re part of the bigger picture. I believe therapy can be meaningful without feeling heavy all the time—there’s room to laugh, be yourself, and figure things out as we go. My goal is to help you understand yourself and your patterns more clearly so you can make choices that better reflect how you actually want to live, relate, and show up.

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.

Hello, I am Skip I have been a therapist for over 12 years. I love what I do and am passionate about assisting people with addressing life issues. I specialize in trauma, addictions and couples therapy.

Hello, my name is Amanda Grippi. I am a licensed counselor in both Missouri and Illinois. I earned my Master's degree from Southern Illinois University with a focus in community psychology and I have been in practice for over 20 years. In addition to helping people with Anxiety and Depression, I have advanced training in neurodivergence including ADHD and Autism as well as trauma. I also have extensive experience working with members who identify as LGBTQ+.