Find a therapist in Illinois — covered by insurance

Note: No longer accepting EAPs

I am a Chicago based therapist. I'm licensed in Illinois and have been working in mental health since 2010. I provide individual therapy virtually to individuals over 18 who reside in Illinois. Sessions are via phone or video conferencing.

I specialize in treating anxiety and burnout. Whether you feel burned out due to your job, being a caregiver, or simply because you are a person living through this time I can help.

Hello and thank you for being here! My name is Dorota, but I go by Dorothy. I am a wife, mom of 2 beautiful little girls and one furry, four-legged girl, and trauma therapist. I obtained my MSW in 2020 and LCSW in 2025 and have worked with all folks of all ages. My speciality is trauma, but anyone who is going through some challenges, life transitions, or just hard times right now can reach out to see if I would be a good fit.

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.

Taking the first step toward therapy isn’t always easy, and I’m glad you’re here. With 19 years of clinical experience, I’ve had the privilege of supporting individuals through anxiety, depression, relationship and family concerns, stress, and some of life’s most difficult transitions. I’m passionate about helping people better understand themselves, heal from what has been weighing them down, and create meaningful change in their lives. It would be my privilege to support you on your own journey toward healing and growth.

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.

My passion is helping others with their self-discovery. I do this by providing a safe and comfortable environment where you can be heard without worrying about judgment. I have worked with diverse populations from ages 12 and older, helping them resolve challenges in their everyday life.

Len Schmelkin is a LICSW who specializes in treating anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders, in adults and families. Len completed his graduate training at the University of Wisconsin. He is completing his certicated in family therapy at the Intensive Family Therapy Program in Boston.

Your experience with me will always be grounded in compassion, honesty, and respect. I believe people grow when they feel heard and understood, so I work hard to create a space where you feel safe being yourself. I am collaborative and down-to-earth, and I will meet you exactly where you are while helping you move toward the life you want.