Individual Counseling

Individual therapy involves meeting with a therapist one-on-one in order to make improvements in life satisfaction, happiness, confidence, productivity, mindfulness, etc. Therapy provides a person with a safe place to express themselves to another person free from fear of judgment or ridicule. Most people don’t have a person that can talk to about every single thing, big or small, in their life that may be bothering them. At Chicago Counseling Collaborative we provide just that. We create a secure and caring environment for you to talk out any and everything you need to. We will help you process your past, present, and your hopes, dreams, and fears about your future.

We put a high value of worth on you, the individual. We lead you through an emotionally gentle process to reach the core issues you are looking to process or change. While therapy can be difficult and requires hard work at times, we will make sure to lead you through the therapeutic process with care and empathy. Initially we will explore what has brought you into the therapy office and discuss goals you might have for yourself. As time goes on, your therapeutic goals may evolve and you may find we are discussing things you never though were a problem or affected your life. Therapy isn’t about adhering to one specific topic or reason for treatment, it’s about opening up, exploring your life, and letting emotional growth bring about positive change. As premier Chicago therapists we are dedicated to helping you facilitate that growth.

Many people seek therapy during or after a crisis event, but just as many seek therapy as a tool to become better versions of themselves. No matter what your initial reason for reaching out, it takes courage and a desire to change to begin therapy and these are both commendable attributes. We will look to the past for greater understanding of current struggles and then focus on what can be changed in the present. Rather than staying stuck in the past or negative, you will learn to focus on your present behavior, emotions, and thinking to determine where your growing edges are and how you can make changes toward a happier, healthier life.

Common Reasons to Seek Individual Therapy:

• Low Self Esteem – Improve your self-worth and move forward in your life with greater confidence and hope for the future.
• Stress Management – People can feel overwhelmed by the events of daily life and prolonged or increasing stress can take its toll. Therapy can help individuals better manage these parts of life.
• Depression and Anxiety – Often times coming hand in hand, depression and anxiety can cripple and otherwise healthy individual. Learn to manage these disorders and take back the control in your life.
• Sexuality and Sexual Problems – Issues around sexual identity and sexual problems can be difficult or embarrassing to talk about, but a safe and empathetic setting can provide the understanding and healing one needs.
• Grief and Loss – While normal parts of life it can often be difficult to process grief and move forward after losing a loved one.
• Family of Origin Issues – We often times have unresolved issues originating within our family of origin that need to be processed and worked through.

Benefits  of Individual Therapy:

• Reduce the symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress – Learn to manage these common happiness inhibitors.
• Confidence and Assertiveness – Learn to take control through healthy life choices and set yourself on a positive track.
• Life Organization – Dust out the cobwebs, free yourself from life’s clutter, and pursue your goals.
• Re-connect with Yourself – Get to know yourself on a more intimate level. Connect with your innermost hopes and dreams.
• Stop Self-Sabotage – Allow yourself to have the things you deserve out of life and stop sabotaging your own happiness.
• Let Go of Guilt and Shame – Work through the past in order to release yourself from unnecessary negative feelings.
• Decision Making – Both large and small life decisions can be difficult to make, having an impartial ear to listen can speed up the process and enhance confidence around your decisions.
• Improved Relationships – Knowing yourself better can help strengthen your relationships with others.
• Reactivity Reduction – Find ways to stop and think before reacting in stressful or volatile situations.

Types of Therapy Used:

• Psychodynamic – Uncovers and assists in fully experiencing painful and/or traumatic events that have been pushed out of our conscious awareness
• Internal Family Systems – As we move through life our positive and negative experiences contribute to our different “parts” within our psyche that all play a role in self-preservation.
• Narrative Therapy – Our identities are formed by our experiences and it is important to separate our negative experiences (problems) from ourselves in order to resolve them. We have problems, but we are not defined by our problems.
• Object Relations – Our relationships as adults are shaped by our relationships starting as infants. As an infant we identify “objects” as representations of people in our lives. A “good” caring hand that rubs our back when we are sick or a “bad” mouth that yells at us are examples of objects that can eventually grow to represent people that cared for us as infants and young children.
• Emotionally Focused Therapy – Focuses on emotions and their healing power in the here and now while looking at how problems happen rather than why.
• Self Psychology – The therapists relationship with the client is one of empathy and understanding unmet developmental needs are explored and processed.