LGBT therapists in Illinois

I have provided counseling services for over 20 years, helping clients work through trauma, PTSD, anxiety, panic, stress, family challenges, and women’s issues. I specialize in supporting people who feel stuck in painful memories, overwhelmed by anxiety, or disconnected from themselves after difficult life experiences. My approach is compassionate, non-judgmental, and deeply respectful of each person’s story. I believe healing often involves more than traditional talk therapy, which is why I incorporate approaches that support the mind, body, and spirit. I am an EMDRIA Certified Therapist and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, and I use EMDR, somatic therapy, attachment-based therapy, interpersonal therapy, and other trauma-informed approaches to help clients move toward relief and healing. When we work together, you can expect a caring space where you are accepted as you are and supported at a pace that feels safe.

My name is Alicia Ali. I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over a decade of experience in my field. I enjoy working with people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community as they navigate life’s challenges and rediscover their best self. I specialize in helping clients manage work/life stressors, anxiety, depression, and relationship issues.

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 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’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 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.

My name is Frank Floski, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. With 6 plus years of experience, my goal is to provide a warm safe space for my clients. I specialize in mood disorders, ADHD/neurodiversity , sexual concerns and the LGBT+/queer issues.

Hello, and thank you for taking the time to read about my professional background.

I graduated with my bachelor's in social work in 2013 from MacMurray College in Jacksonville IL.

I furthered my education at the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign School of Social Work and graduated with my Masters in SW in 2017.

I have gained 13 years of experience with the majority of those years spent in psychiatric facilities for children and adults.

I specialize in motivational interviewing, DBT, CBT, and a multitude of other treatment styles.

Hi, my name is Dr. Mark Aghakhan and I am a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in a variety of therapeutic, educative, consultative, and evaluative services. I utilize interventions that best match my client’s style and approach toward everyday challenges.

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.

I’m Annmarie O’Connell, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with over 15 years of experience supporting individuals through some of life’s toughest moments. My background is rooted in community mental health, where I’ve worked with people from all walks of life dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, and major life transitions.

I’m also trained in Brainspotting, a powerful therapeutic technique that taps into the brain-body connection to help clients process and release deeply held emotional pain. This approach, along with my real-world experience, allows me to support clients in a holistic, meaningful way. My work is deeply personal to me—because I’ve experienced firsthand how life-changing therapy can be.

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.