Couples therapists in Springfield, IL

I help adults navigate anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, stress, and the effects of trauma so they can feel more balanced, confident, and in control of their lives. If you feel overwhelmed, stuck, or like the patterns in your life are no longer working, therapy can help you gain clarity, recognize your strengths, and create meaningful change. You don’t have to figure it all out alone.

My passion for being a therapist comes from a life-long dream I had of helping people transition from a difficult time in their life to a life that can become full of joy again. I work with clients who are experiencing the loss of a loved one or the loss of a job, dreams, divorce and other challenges. I also work with women who have postpartum depression, a traumatic pregnancy or birth and recovery. I also work with clients who are suffering from anxiety and depression that can stop us from living the best life we can. Life is hard, can give you challenges, questions the meaning of life, can make you angry, bitter and hard to get through each day.

I know what you are going through, what you are feeling and what you are ignoring. I write about this from personal experience from the many losses I have had in my life—my daughter, siblings, parents and many friends. Grieving takes time and, in the beginning, we’re consumed with the details: wakes, funerals, memorial services. This can feel like it’s giving us a purpose, keeping busy, honoring our loved one. But what happens when the service is over? Friends and family have gone home, they’re living their lives and we’re left with our memories and our grief. A question I often hear is how can I begin my life without my loved one?

I've spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of trauma, behavioral health, substance use, and the legal system — the places where people's lives get the most complicated. My background includes community mental health, child welfare, residential treatment, and forensic social work throughout the Chicago area. I've worked with courts, directed multi-site programs, and served populations that most therapists don't encounter. Now I bring all of that experience into one-on-one telehealth sessions for adults across Illinois.I work best with people who have been through real complexity: trauma that runs deep, co-occurring mental health and substance use challenges, grief that doesn't follow a timeline, life disrupted by legal system involvement, or histories that are hard to explain to someone who hasn't seen it before. If you've worked with other therapists who didn't quite get it — I understand, and I'm not starting from scratch with you. I'm also currently completing my Doctorate of Social Work at the University of New England, which reflects my commitment to staying at the leading edge of clinical practice. My work is grounded in evidence-based approaches — CBT, Trauma-Focused CBT, Motivational Interviewing, Strength-Based Therapy — applied with warmth, directness, and 30 years of real-world experience behind them.

I bring over a decade of professional experience to therapy along with my own life experiences, empathy, understanding, and hopefully a little humor along the way.

While my license is as a Marriage and Family Therapist, I strive to live my own life as authentically and intentionally as I can as a parent, family member, and friend; and I bring those same values into the therapy room.

I believe every person has a story worth telling and deserves to feel heard without judgment. It is truly an honor to witness the strength and resilience my clients possess, and I never take for granted the trust they place in me by allowing me to be part of their journey.

True wellness is a commitment to your best self. But what do you do if you don’t know what that looks like? When is the last time you had the space to reflect on your life and goals? Do you find yourself unbalanced due to life’s changes and in need of a reset? Meet with me! Let’s develop a plan for you to see yourself clearly. I utilize client-centered approaches with science-supported interventions. I won’t leave your wellness up to chance, let’s work together to make a change.

Hi! I'm Jessica, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) passionate about helping individuals navigate life's challenges with compassion and authenticity. I earned my Master of Social Work degree at George Williams College of Aurora University. I take a person-centered, trauma-informed approach to therapy that recognizes the whole person. Including their relationships, life experiences, strengths, and environment. I specialize in working with anxiety, life transitions, grief, self-esteem, and the impact of difficult or traumatic experiences. My goal is to create a warm, supportive space where you feel heard, understood, and empowered to make meaningful, lasting changes that align with your values.

Welcome! I would be honored to walk this journey of change with you. I have a master's degree in Community Counseling and a graduate certificate in Couples and Family Counseling. Having worked in higher education for over 30 years, I enjoy working with young adults and older adults. I am intrigued by all of the transitions in life, which could be related to identity, phase of life issues, all types of relationships, as well as more general issues related to mental health and life functioning.

I am a solution focused therapist with 39 years of experience. My therapy style is cognitive, interactive, compassionate, and, if need be, challenging. I believe effective therapy should produce change, not just insight. I will listen to you deeply, help conceptualize the problems, patterns, and dynamics which are causing you trouble, and give you feedback. Together, we will develop a strategy for more effective functioning and a better quality of life. therapy.

I do not do phone consultations.

Life can feel especially heavy when you are carrying anxiety, grief, trauma, relationship stress, family expectations, or the pressure of balancing different cultural worlds. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing virtual therapy to adults in Illinois and Michigan, with a particular interest in supporting South Asian adults, women, and professionals.

I offer therapy in English, Hindi, and Urdu. My goal is to create a welcoming space where you feel understood as a whole person—including your culture, identity, family relationships, values, and life experiences. You do not have to minimize what you are feeling or explain why your cultural and family circumstances matter.

Dr. Christina Alexakos is a Clinical Psychologist with over 19 years of experience

providing psychotherapy to individuals across the lifespan from childhood to geriatric.

She has experience in assisting clients with adjustment issues ranging from changes in

occupation, education, grief, relocation, providing skills in parenting, stress and pain

management, health and wellness, mindfulness, increasing self-esteem and

assertiveness. She has worked with anxiety and depressive disorders, bipolar disorder,

trauma, anger management, personality disorders, and severe mental illness.

Dr. Christina Alexakos earned her Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology

from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She provided inpatient

psychological assessments and group psychotherapy at Hartgrove Psychiatric Hospital.

She trained in Health Psychology in the pain clinic at Swedish Covenant Hospital as

well as providing inpatient and outpatient psychotherapy to hospital patients. The

University of Chicago and The University of Illinois at Chicago provided comprehensive

training in neuropsychological evaluations with adults and children experiencing a wide

range of clinical concerns. She completed an internship at Southlake Community Mental

Health Center and a postdoctoral fellowship at Hopewell Academies, a therapeutic day

school for special needs/troubled teenagers.

Dr. Maria Escobar is a licensed clinical social worker and Doctor of Social Work dedicated to advancing equity, empowerment, and well-being in diverse communities. With over 10 years of experience in the field, Dr. Escobar specializes in clinical practice areas, e.g., trauma-informed care, family systems, or mental health advocacy.

I have been a licensed clinical social worker for over 30 years bringing broad experience and perspective to my sessions. I believe that joining with a client is paramount to establishing trust. Trusting that your provider cares for you, has your best interest at heart and provides you with reasonable and doable solutions is key to growth. If we don’t connect, no harm/no foul. We agree to move on and I will assist with that process, if necessary.