LGBT therapists in Springfield, IL

Hello! I’m Stephanie Darche, MA, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor(LCPC). My therapeutic style is empowering, nonjudgmental, warm, genuine and down to earth.

I work with children, adolescents, and adults. I have experience in working with clients with concerns related to anxiety, depression, parenting, family conflict, communication, LGBTQI+, child/adolescent adjustment, behavior and mood disorders, trauma, self-harm, suicidal ideation, ADHD, self-esteem, and life transitions.

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.

Starting therapy can feel intimidating, but you don’t have to figure things out alone. I’m Tamara Whittleton, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works with adults navigating stress, anxiety, depression, and major life changes. I focus on creating a supportive environment where clients feel comfortable talking openly while developing practical strategies for growth and healing

If you're functioning on the outside but privately exhausted, stuck, or carrying more than you've let on, you're in the right place. I work with adults, many in the LGBTQIA+ community, navigating trauma, grief, relationship strain, and major life transitions. A lot of my clients come in saying, "I know what my patterns are. I just can't seem to change them." That's exactly where we start. Together, we'll get underneath what's keeping you stuck and build a path forward that actually fits your life.

I have been a therapist for over twenty five years with a varied background including hospice, nursing homes, home care and individual counseling settings. I became a licensed, clinical social worker after graduating from the University of IL-Urbana 30 years ago.

I help young adults, adults, and athletes work through anxiety, depression, grief and loss, burnout, attachment and relationship challenges, and confidence or performance struggles so they can feel more grounded, confident, and connected in their lives. If you feel stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of your next step, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Therapy can be a place to better understand yourself, build on your strengths, and create meaningful change.

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) with years of experience supporting children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. My background includes working in schools, military communities, and private practice settings, which has given me a deep understanding of the unique challenges people face in different life stages and environments. I am passionate about creating a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients feel supported, respected, and empowered to grow.

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.