LGBT therapists in Illinois

As an independently licensed professional counselor, counselor educator, and supervisor, I believe that everyone deserves a space where they can feel heard, supported, and accepted. I've been practicing for 15 years and hold a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, a doctorate in Counselor Education, and a Fellowship in Thanatology with specialized expertise in grief and loss. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and someone with AuDHD, I bring both professional knowledge and lived experience to my work. My goal is to create a warm, affirming environment where you can show up as your authentic self and move toward meaningful change.

Maybe you're carrying more than you let on, and you're tired of holding it together on your own. I believe therapy should feel genuine, collaborative, and human. I work with women, emerging adults, and LGBTQIA+ folks navigating identity, relationships, ADHD, life transitions, grief and loss, and end of life concerns. I also love working with performers, singers, actors, nurses, and physicians, people who give a lot of themselves and rarely get a space that's just theirs. With me, you can expect warmth, humor, curiosity, and plenty of room to simply be yourself.

Hello, I’m Shelia Ransom Jenkins, MSW, LCSW, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience supporting adolescents, adults, couples, and families through life’s challenges. I offer a compassionate, trauma-informed, and client-centered approach to therapy, creating a safe space where individuals feel heard, supported, and empowered.

I hold a Master of Social Work and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice, and my professional background includes work in community mental health, educational settings, and clinical leadership roles. I have experience helping clients manage anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, relationship and family conflict, behavioral concerns, life transitions, and stress related to work, school, and personal growth. I also have specialized training in perinatal mental health, supporting individuals experiencing postpartum depression and related mood disorders.

My therapeutic approach integrates evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), trauma-informed care, and strengths-based interventions, tailored to each client’s unique needs and goals. I believe therapy is most effective when it is collaborative, practical, and rooted in trust.

Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, navigating a difficult transition, or seeking deeper self-understanding, my goal is to support you with empathy, clarity, and encouragement as you work toward healing and lasting change.

Therapy to restore pleasure and emotional safety after sexual assault and other trauma for adults and their partners. I specialize in three areas: sex & intimacy, trauma & emotional regulation, and anxiety disorders such as OCD and BPD. I have extensive experience supporting individuals and partners experiencing intimacy challenges related to desire discrepancy, neurodivergence, and partners hoping to rebuild healthy sexual relationships. I strive to provide care in a space that deeply honors identity and lived experience.

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.

I am a licensed clinical social worker with 28 years of experience partnering with adolescents, adults of all ages and families. I am bilingual so I offer therapy in english and spanish.

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.

I'm a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor with a background that includes years of work with people navigating some of the hardest chapters of their lives — including incarcerated individuals, people struggling with addiction, and those carrying cultural weight that doesn't show up in a standard intake form. I'm South Asian, I grew up navigating two worlds, and that shapes how I show up for clients who've had to figure things out without a clear map. I don't do therapy with a clipboard. I'm direct, I'm real, and I'm genuinely interested in what's underneath the surface.

Hi, I’m Cherie. I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and EMDR-trained therapist. I work with teens and adults who are feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck in patterns that no longer serve them. Maybe you're constantly on edge, overthinking everything, or finding it hard to slow down. Or maybe you’ve been feeling flat, unmotivated, or like you're just going through the motions. These experiences often trace back to things your nervous system picked up on — ways it learned to protect you in stressful or painful situations.

I help people work through painful memories, low self-esteem, and the weight of depression—like feeling numb, exhausted, stuck, or hard on yourself. We'll explore the parts of you carrying that pain and move at a pace that feels right, whether you're ready for deep healing or just need a safe place to land.

If you’re feeling ready—or just curious—I’d be honored to support you on your healing path.

Outside of therapy, I love curling up with a good book, finding design inspiration (I have a soft spot for cozy interiors), caring for my houseplants, and spending time with my dog, Magnolia Grace—who may occasionally drop in for a virtual session cameo.

Life can get heavy, and sometimes you get to a point where you know something needs to change, you just may not know where to start. That’s where I can help. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, anger, grief, major life changes, or just trying to make sense of everything you’ve been carrying, we can work through it together.

I work with children, teens, and adults, with a special passion for supporting at-risk youth, justice-involved individuals, and people who may feel like they’ve been judged, misunderstood, or overlooked. You don’t have to come into therapy with the right words or have everything figured out. Come as you are. We’ll start there and work toward where you want to be.

Hello, I am Jonathan. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over a decade of experience. I am committed to creating therapeutic spaces for others to be able to trust and receive a positive experience out of therapy. I am from Chicago and love all sports teams. I love giving back to my community and also spending time doing things in life that matter the most. I am a three time graduate of the University of Illinois (Go Illini). I am a believer that WE will get through any challenges that you have by supporting you through during your journey and counseling for you to live life to the fullest capacity beyond your counseling journey.

Hi, I’m Carllie Meeks, a licensed therapist specializing in eating disorders, body image, and identity work. I hold a Masters degree from Loyola University Chicago and have extensive experience supporting adults in their recovery through a culturally responsive and trauma-informed lens. My approach integrates evidence-based therapies with compassion and curiosity, helping clients reconnect with their bodies and sense of self. I’m especially passionate about creating affirming spaces for BIPOC individuals navigating healing and self-acceptance