Best Therapists in Chicago, IL of 2025
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Best Therapists in Chicago, Illinois of 2025
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I. Therapists in Chicago, IL
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Margie Wheelhouse
- 8 years of Experience
- United States
- Springfield, Illinois
- Visit Website
Languages: English
Treatment Approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-based, Emotionally Focused, Existential, Family / Marital, Family Systems, Gottman Method, Humanistic, Narrative
State License: Illinois
Jennifer Larson
- 20 years of Experience
- United States
- Chicago, Illinois
- Visit Website
Languages: English
Treatment Approaches: Attachment-based, Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Family / Marital, Family Systems, Gottman Method, Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic
State License: Illinois
Scott Hoye
- 10 years of Experience
- United States
- Chicago, Illinois
- Visit Website
Languages: English
Treatment Approaches: Attachment-based, Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Humanistic, Hypnotherapy, Interpersonal, Neuro-Linguistic, Psychodynamic
State License: Illinois
Daniel Lippmann
- 25 years of Experience
- United States
- Naperville, Illinois
- Visit Website
Areas of focus: Anger Management, Anxiety, Chronic Pain, Codependency, Grief, Relationship Issues, Sleep or Insomnia
Languages: English
Treatment Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Integrative, Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)
State License: Illinois
Andrea Platt
- 30+ years of Experience
- United States
- Chicago, Illinois
- Visit Website
Areas of focus: Anger Management, Anxiety, Coping Skills, Depression, Divorce, Grief, Infertility, Marital / Premarital, Pregnancy, Relationship Issues, Self Esteem
Languages: English
Treatment Approaches: Coaching, Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Family / Marital, Psychodynamic
State Licenses: Illinois, Massachusetts and New York
Anna Marcolin
- 27 years of Experience
- United States
- Highland Park, Illinois
- Visit Website
Areas of focus: Career Counseling, Coping Skills, Coping With Medical Issues, Divorce, Family Conflict, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Life Coaching, Marital / Premarital, Relationship Issues, Self Esteem, Sports Performance
Languages: English
Treatment Approaches: Coaching, Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Dialectical (DBT), Emotionally Focused, Family / Marital, Mindfulness-based (MBCT), Narrative, Relational, Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)
State License: Illinois
Rebecca Ogle
- 5 years of Experience
- United States
- Chicago, Illinois
- Visit Website
Languages: English
Treatment Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Culturally Sensitive, Dialectical (DBT), Eclectic, Emotionally Focused, Family / Marital, Feminist, Humanistic, Mindfulness-based (MBCT), Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Focused
State License: Illinois
Shaysa Villa
- 5 years of Experience
- United States
- Chicago, Illinois
- Visit Website
Languages: English, Spanish
Treatment Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Culturally Sensitive, Family / Marital, Gottman Method, Interpersonal, Multicultural, Psychodynamic, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
State Licenses: Illinois and Washington D.C.
Chelsy Castro
- 5 years of Experience
- United States
- Chicago, Illinois
- Visit Website
Languages: English, Spanish
Treatment Approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Dialectical (DBT), Mindfulness-based (MBCT)
State License: Illinois
Cathy Ranieri
- 8 years of Experience
- United States
- Chicago, Illinois
- Visit Website
Languages: English
Treatment Approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-based, Dialectical (DBT), Eclectic, Psychodynamic
State License: Illinois
II. The Best Therapists in Chicago, IL
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In this guide, you’ll find the top 15 therapists in Chicago, IL, based on a deep-dive review of eight key factors, including the therapists’ credentials and specializations, accessibility, and fee structures. Take a moment to review the factors used to compile this list. |
Choosing the Best Chicago, IL TherapistsCredentialsThe state of Illinois holds therapists to a high standard, requiring all licensed professional counselors to have a master’s degree. Counselors must pass the National Counselor Examination to become a licensed LPC. The amount of education your therapist has accrued and the licensing procedure helps ensure a high standard of care that you can trust. Counselors with the higher licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) credential have completed two years of supervised clinical experience. AccessibilityTo find the right fit, look for therapists who specialize in the areas where your issues lie, whether you need help with substance abuse, depression, anxiety, or relationship difficulties. Perhaps your work or family obligations require you to find a counselor who can meet with you on weekends or evenings, or you may want to seek a therapist who holds remote sessions. The therapists listed below were evaluated with all these factors and features in mind. CostOf course, cost is an issue when choosing a therapist, as you don’t want to bust your budget while getting the help you need. Many therapists take health insurance, which can help, and others offer payment options, including sliding scales based on your income level. You may be able to negotiate lower costs for a series of sessions. |
Brian Kong: Psy.D. | Best for depression
872-588-0220
Website
Brian Kong earned his doctorate in psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. He creates a safe space for therapy so clients can recognize the relationship between their patterns and the difficulties they face. Dr. Kong incorporates pop culture elements into his work with clients on issues involving relationships, grief, procrastination, failure, and self-acceptance.
What patients say:
“He provides a safe environment where I feel I can communicate and explore difficult situations I have experienced and work towards understanding, growth, and change.”
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Depression Anxiety Relationship Issues |
Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO and BCBS Blue Choice | $175 fee per session | Yes | Yes |
Alithia Asturrizaga: MSW, LCSW | Best for work-life balance issues
630-697-6965
Website
Alithia Asturrizaga is a licensed clinical social worker with a master’s degree in social work. She has more than 10 years of experience treating career-related and work-life balance issues and offering therapy for anxiety, stress management, and life transitions, helping clients handle the overlap between those issues.
What patients say:
Alithia Asturrizaga is rated 5 out of 5 stars by her patients, who would be happy to refer friends and family to her.
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Therapy for Anxiety and Depression Career-Related Issues Conflict Resolution Relationship Issues Grief Counseling Parenting Support Stress Management Life Transitions Self Esteem Work-Life Balance Issues |
Aetna BlueCross and BlueShield Cigna ComPsych |
$90 fee per session | Yes | Yes |
John Frampton: Psy.D. | Best for child or adolescent therapy
872-241-9337
Website
John Frampton is a licensed clinical psychologist with a doctorate in psychology. He has more than 10 years of experience as a therapist, and before that was a school principal, giving him unique insight into the issues of children and adolescents. He focuses on helping children with school-based learning issues.
What patients say:
“We had tried everything to help our son with no success. At that point, we were thankfully referred to Dr. Frampton. He connected immediately with our family and helped our son learn to cope and communicate rather than to react and avoid.”
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Child or Adolescent Anxiety Behavioral Issues |
Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO | $90 fee per session | Yes | Yes |
Clearwater Counseling Chicago: | Best for insurance coverage
312-880-9913
Website
Clearwater Counseling Chicago is home to almost a dozen therapists, including licensed clinical professional counselors and licensed clinical social workers. Clearwater accepts several insurance plans, making it financially accessible for clients.
What patients say:
Counselors at Clearwater Counseling Chicago are described as “warm, open, and invested in staying up-to-date on the latest psychological research and practice interventions.”
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Depression Trauma and PTSD Family Conflict |
ACI Specialty Benefits Aetna Anthem Beacon BlueCross and BlueShield Cigna Coventry First Choice Health Humana MHNet Behavioral Health Molina Optum Presence Health TRICARE UniCare UnitedHealthcare |
Not provided | Yes | Yes |
Chelsy Castro: J.D., M.A., LCSW | Best for high-achievers
312-766-4612
Website
Chelsy Castro began her career as an attorney before becoming a psychotherapist. Before going into private practice, she was Director of Outreach & Clinical Programming for the Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program. She specializes in helping high achievers cope with stress, ADHD, and burnout.
What patients say:
People she has worked with call Chelsy Castro “a leader in the legal well-being space by providing timely support to so many legal professionals,” also saying she “provides clear and consistent information that is easy to comprehend and implement in your daily work-life balance schedule.”
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Anxiety ADHD Addiction |
BlueCross and BlueShield | $185 fee per 1 hour session | No | Yes |
Lena Elkhatib: LMFT, CST | Best for sex therapy
872-588-7603
Website
Lena Elkhatib is licensed as a marriage and family counselor and certified in sex therapy through the American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists. She works with couples considering marriage or co-parenting and women coping with postpartum depression and anxiety.
What patients say:
Lena’s Elkhatib’s patients call her a “great” and “amazing” therapist who has “all the right instincts.”
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Relationship Issues Sex Therapy Anxiety |
BlueCross and BlueShield UnitedHealthcare |
$125 fee per session | Yes | Yes |
Yvonne Patterson: Psy.D. | Best for women
312-805-5523
Website
After serving in the U.S. Air Force, Yvonne Patterson earned her doctorate in psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. Practicing psychodynamic psychotherapy, Dr. Patterson focuses on finding solutions to current problems ahead of exploring the roots of clients’ issues.
What patients say:
Dr. Patterson received five-star reviews from patients who appreciate her attentiveness.
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Depression Women’s Issues Anxiety |
Aetna Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueCross and BlueShield |
$100 fee per session | Yes | Yes |
Jennifer Huberman-Shlaes: Ph.D. | Best for couples and families
312-544-0187
Website
With a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from DePaul University, Jennifer Huberman-Shlaes trained at the University of Chicago Hospital and Georgetown University Medical Center before entering private practice. She works with couples, blended families, parents and children, and issues surrounding pregnant women and the elderly.
What patients say:
Patients appreciate Jennifer Huberman-Shlaes’s goal-oriented, collaborative and empathic approach to therapy, including when dealing with postpartum depression.
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Anxiety Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum Stress |
Aetna Humana |
$150 fee per session | No | Yes |
Jeremy B. Hisaw: LCSW | Best for life coaching
773-403-0473
Website
Jeremy B. Hisaw is a licensed clinical social worker who completed his graduate degree at Washington University. As both a life coach and psychotherapist, he focuses on clients’ interpersonal relationships and conflicts, teaching communications and coping skills, and empowering them.
What patients say:
“Between his constant reliability, active listening skills, and indispensable guidance, Jeremy has quickly become the vital centerpiece of my support system.”
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Addiction and Substance Abuse Anxiety Attention Deficit Disorder Bipolar Disorder Coping Skills Depression Divorce Family Conflict Grief and Loss Infidelity LGBTQ Life Coaching Men’s Issues Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Peer Relationship Issues Romantic Relationship Issues Self Esteem Sexual Identity Concerns Trauma and PTSD |
Aetna Anthem BlueCross and BlueShield Cigna |
$150 fee per session | Yes | Yes |
Azita Afshar: Psy.D. | Best for healing trauma
773-991-4417
Website
Dr. Afshar earned her doctorate at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology-Chicago, and she has taught at Bowling Green State University and Heidelberg College. She focuses on trauma, working with people dealing with childhood abuse or trauma, postpartum depression, relationship trauma and problems, and self-esteem and anxiety struggles.
What patients say:
Azita Afshar’s patients say, “they never thought they would ever get to the place that they arrive in therapy.”
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Depression Anxiety Relationship Issues |
BlueCross and BlueShield | $190 fee per 1 hour session | Yes | Yes |
Christina Jones: LCSW | Best for family conflicts
708-370-5646
Website
Christina Jones has been a licensed clinical social worker for more than 25 years, helping couples and families achieve and maintain harmonious relationships. She helps women dealing with childhood sexual abuse and intimate partner violence.
What patients say:
“Christina is direct yet compassionate, extremely knowledgeable, and knows exactly how to lead her clients to self-discovery and growth. After a session with Christina, I feel more centered and always leave with food for thought.”
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Relationship Issues Addiction Family Conflict |
BlueCross and BlueShield Cigna |
$220 fee per 1 hour session | Yes | Yes |
Emily Bhandari: LCSW | Best for EMDR therapy
708-320-8662
Website
Emily Bhandari is a licensed clinical social worker who helps clients, including adolescent and LGBTQI clients, build skills and coping strategies to deal with trauma and substance abuse. She uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy to reduce traumatic stress associated with disturbing memories.
What patients say:
“Emily helped me address severe work-related anxiety. For the first time, I tried EMDR to reprocess some traumatic work events that were hindering me professionally. After a few sessions, we were effective in reframing those experiences and moving me past old thinking patterns and into a more resilient mindset.”
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Trauma and PTSD Coping Skills Anxiety |
BlueCross and BlueShield | $13 fee per 1 hour session | Yes | Yes |
Isabelle Reiniger: LCSW | Best for eating disorders
773-683-3121
Website
Isabelle Reiniger is a licensed clinical social worker. She did her graduate work at New York University with postgraduate education in child and adolescent psychotherapy from the William Alanson White Institute in New York. She works with couples and families, and she helps people with eating disorders change their habits and negative thoughts and feelings.
What patients say:
Isabelle Reiniger’s patients rate her with five out of five stars, appreciating her “insightful” and “thought-provoking” contributions.
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Anxiety Bipolar Disorder Addiction |
Northwestern University Student Health Insurance U-Ship (University of Chicago) |
$175 fee per session | Yes | Yes |
Steve N. Du Bois: Ph.D., LCP | Best for Men
312-883-9639
Website
Steve Du Bois uses his experience as a researcher and educator to help patients in private practice. By incorporating cognitive behavioral techniques, patients can learn to conquer negative emotions and behaviors by changing ineffective thoughts.
| Specializations | Insurance | Cost | Sliding scale | Remote services |
| Addiction Alcohol Abuse Anxiety Depression/Mood Drug Abuse Eating Disorders Emotional Disturbance Impulse Control LGBT, Sexuality, Intimacy Marital and Premarital Men’s Issues Physical health Relationship Issues Trauma and PTSD |
BlueCross and BlueShield | $160 fee per session | Yes | Yes |
III. What You Should Know About Chicago Therapy
How are Chicago therapists licensed?
The Illinois Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act outlines the guidelines for Chicago therapists. After completing a master’s or doctoral degree in a counseling-related area, candidates for licensing must apply to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to take the National Counselor Examination administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors. Renewal of a therapist’s license requires 30 hours of continuing education every two years.
How much does therapy cost in Chicago?
Expect to pay an average of $150 per session with a Chicago therapist, with a range of $90 to $220 per session. Most therapists in Chicagoland typically accept major medical insurance plans.
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