Obsessive-compulsive disorder therapists & psychiatrists in Rockford, IL

I love helping both children and adults to cope better with stress, feel more hopeful about the future, and to process difficult moments from the past. Many of my clients have the goal to start living a life that aligns with their values; getting closer to what really matters to them. I see the goal of therapy as helping a client to live, work, learn, and play more freely. That might mean helping a child be brave enough to speak in front of their classmates or help an adult learn to set boundaries in their relationships.

I'm a lifelong learner who has many specialties, but my primary specialties would include Exposure and Response Prevention (Anxiety and OCD), Cognitive Processing Therapy (PTSD), ACT (Depression), Theraplay (children 0-5), treatments for neurodiverse peoples (ADHD and ASD), and Psychological Testing. I can also offer services in Spanish and English.

I appreciate the bravery it took to search for a therapist, and I hope I get the chance to help you and your family carve the next step forward. You are welcome to message me with questions or to set up a quick consult call to see what it'd be like to work with me. I guarantee I will respond to your inquiry within 2 business days.

I am a board-certified clinical health psychologist with extensive experience helping individuals navigate stress, anxiety, depression, health concerns, and life transitions. I take a collaborative and supportive approach, focusing on understanding your unique experiences and what matters most to you. My goal is to create a comfortable, nonjudgemental space where you feel heard and respected. Together, we'll work on practical strategies to help you copy more effectively, feel more balanced, and move toward meaningful, lasting change

I believe therapy should be a safe, supportive space where clients can show up as they are. My approach is warm, holistic, and grounded in building genuine connection while helping clients explore their challenges, strengths, and goals. My background includes case management, program leadership, vocational rehabilitation, and supporting individuals through trauma, life transitions, recovery, and housing or employment-related stress. I work collaboratively with clients to help them feel seen, supported, and empowered toward healing, growth, and lasting change.

I am compassionate, approachable, and committed to providing a safe, nonjudgmental space. I value open communication, transparency, and collaboration, and I believe treatment works best when we make decisions together. My care is evidence-based and trauma-informed, focused on understanding the whole person and supporting meaningful, sustainable mental health improvement.

I offer a kind, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where you can show up exactly as you are. Many people come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, stuck, anxious, emotionally drained, or unsure how to move forward. You may be dealing with anxiety, depression, stress, life transitions, relationship issues, or simply the weight of trying to hold everything together on your own. My goal is to help you feel safe, heard, and supported as we work through what is weighing on you. Therapy with me is about creating a space where you do not have to have all the answers right away - just a willingness to begin.

I approach therapy in a collaborative and compassionate way, creating a safe space where clients can feel supported as they explore their inner world. I believe that each client is the expert of their own life, and my role is to guide, support, and provide tools to help you connect with your strengths and insights. My work is trauma-informed and integrates a variety of techniques, including internal family systems, somatic methods, inner child work, strengths-based narratives, CBT, experiential approaches, and clinical hypnosis.

I did not stumble into this work — I chose it, and I choose it every day. I am Bianca Gist, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois and Indiana.

I am also a former collegiate athlete, and that background shapes how I show up — I know what it feels like to carry a lot and still need someone genuinely in your corner. My experience is rooted in the spaces where people need the most and are often given the least — Chicago Public Schools, foster care, home-based services, and community mental health. Through my private practice, Her Sole Purpose LLC, I work with children, adolescents, student-athletes, and families using CBT, ACT, and trauma-informed care. I use what works for the person in front of me, not a one-size-fits-all approach. I work well with people navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and the weight of environments that were not built for them. Therapy with me is honest, grounded, and focused on what actually helps you move forward — not just cope.

If any of this resonates, I would love to connect.