LGBT therapists in Joliet, IL

If you're struggling with addiction, carrying the weight of complex trauma, or trying to cope while managing a chronic health condition, I want you to know there's a way forward — and you don't have to walk it alone. I'm a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor (CADC) with over 16 years of experience across private practice, residential substance abuse treatment, medical social work, and the non-profit world. I've sat with people in their hardest, most overwhelming moments, and I bring that same steady, non-judgmental presence to every session.

Much of my work centers on substance use and recovery, complex trauma, and the emotional toll of chronic medical conditions. Whether you're in the thick of a crisis or finally ready to address something you've carried for years, I'll meet you exactly where you are — with compassion, real tools, and zero judgment.

I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Benedictine University. I have been working in private practice for over 10 years, helping adolescents and adults navigate life’s challenges and create meaningful, lasting change.

My areas of specialization include trauma and couples counseling, and I have a particular passion for working with women. I understand that women often carry many different roles and responsibilities, and sometimes lose sight of their own needs in the process. I enjoy helping women work through anxiety, depression, grief, relationship challenges, life transitions, and the many unexpected circumstances that can leave us feeling stuck or overwhelmed.

Great to meet you! I’m Mario (or Tomario), a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 14 years of experience helping individuals, couples, and families through life's toughest challenges. Whether you're navigating career stress, relationship difficulties, family conflicts, depression, or substance use, my goal is to serve as a supportive catalyst for positive change in your life.

Clients often describe me as approachable, practical, and easy to talk to. Therapy should be a collaborative process, and I strive to create a space where you feel comfortable being yourself without fear of judgment. My style balances support with practical problem-solving, helping clients gain insight while also developing strategies they can use in everyday life. Above all, I want you to feel heard, understood, and supported as we work toward your goals together.

I believe therapy should be a place where you don’t have to have it all together. Many of my clients are high-achieving professionals who are used to being the “strong one” for everyone else, but privately struggle with relationships, boundaries, confidence, or life transitions. I strive to create a warm, collaborative space where you can show up authentically, gain insight into patterns that no longer serve you, and build healthier relationships with yourself and others. I especially enjoy working with Black women and LGBTQ+ adults and strive to create an affirming, culturally responsive space where clients can show up fully as themselves.

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.

Hi, I'm Tierra Kinnard, LCSW, and founder of Step by Step Healing Services, LLC. With more than 16 years of experience in the mental health field, I am passionate about helping individuals navigate life's challenges with compassion, understanding, and evidence-based care. I believe healing begins in a space where you feel safe, heard, and accepted exactly as you are. I specialize in treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Excoriation (Skin Picking Disorder), Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling Disorder), anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief and loss. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds, including members of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. I understand the profound impact that mental health challenges can have on individuals, families, and relationships, and I am committed to helping clients build resilience, find relief, and create meaningful change.

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.

Hi there, my name is Lee. I am a bi-racial, first-generation Vietnamese-American, and I believe the best therapy happens when we bring our full, authentic selves into the room. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist. I have a passion for working with couples and diverse populations. My goal is to truly understand and connect, offering a space filled with warmth, radical acceptance, clear accountability, and—fair warning—the occasional painful dad joke.

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.

I am a clinical psychologist licensed in California and Illinois, and can see clients from both states. I support clients with variety of mental health conditions such as mood disorders, relationships issues, addictions, stress management, sport and performance psychology and health behaviors, trauma, insomnia and eating disorders. My therapy style is personable, connected, focused, and attuned.

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.