Find a Therapist in Joliet, IL

I have a direct approach to helping people find more peace in their lives. No matter the diagnosis or issue, I tailor my practice to meet you where you are, in each moment.

Hi! If you are looking for a professional counselor for yourself or your children, you've come to the right place. People call me Misha for short and I specialize in helping children, adolescents and their parents improve the quality of their relationships, bring about understanding and change in their lives for a happy and healthy family. I also work with adults, who struggle in their relationships andor have had painful experiences in their lives that have left them feeling depressed, anxious or angry. We will work together to identify the sources of yours or your children's difficulties and decide on a treatment plan that best fits your needs. I welcome feedback and tailor my approach to best serve each individual family and person.

I'm here to help—whatever it is you're facing, we can work through it together. Therapy is all about you and your goals, so I show up ready to listen. My hope is to provide a place for you to share what you're going through, and then find ways to move toward the life you want. We can do this through a mix of supportive feedback, increased self-awareness, new coping skills, and healthier life patterns. I have years of experience working with adolescents and adults, addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, stress, family dynamics, grief, self-esteem, and much more. I understand that taking the first step to begin therapy can feel overwhelming. I encourage you to reach out and see if I am a good fit for you and your goals. Email or call to schedule a session.

I am a relational therapist with 25 years of experience supporting and companioning adults of all ages navigating grief, loss, major life transitions, relationship issues, depression, and illness. I am a licensed clinical social worker, certified in drug and alcohol counseling. I have extensive experience supporting individuals with disabilities, substance use challenges, seniors, and chronic mental health issues. I support clients facing end-of-life issues with respect and compassion. I view my work as a calling. I approach the work of therapy with deep humility and respect. I honor the courage it takes to reach out and ask for support. As a therapist, my goal is to create a warm and safe space for clients to be able to explore their beliefs, challenge unhealthy thinking, and build healthier ways of coping and living. Through cognitive behavioral therapy and other modalities, I support clients to develop the skills necessary to thrive. My wish is for clients to feel supported by me as they grow and transition in their lives. I honor my clients’ successes as they move forward in their lives, embracing hope and possibility, while building foundations for future success. I look forward to hearing from you and being able to help you on your journey of growth and future happiness.

I specialize in treating mood conditions, anxiety, and attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) through evidence-based medication management and a personalized, culturally responsive approach. I also offer advanced treatments such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and Spravato (esketamine) for individuals with treatment-resistant depression. I understand how difficult it can be to reach out for help, especially when you've been carrying so much on your own. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. If you're feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, or simply ready for change, I invite you to take the next step—we'll move at your pace, and I'll be here to support you every step of the way.

How many times have you awakened feeling like things just aren't going to get better but you're not sure how things will change though you know they have to? What I know is that kind of anxiety and frustration, that feeling of anxiousness and/or depression doesn't set in overnight. It takes some time to build up to the point where you are at now. There is help out there and you are not alone. I believe that each client who walks through my door is unique and has experienced things in ways that others have not. Your perceptions are individual and need to be treated as such. I work with the client as a whole and encourage clients to use their strengths to help guide them through whatever troubles them. Life is stressful and filled with many challenges; our strength is put to the test daily. We all face dilemmas in our personal and professional lives that cause conflict in ourselves and our relationships. You are at the point now where you feel that deeply which is why you are looking here. I believe strongly that giving honest and forthcoming feedback helps clients look within themselves and use their own experiences as a guide to gain insight. Every experience we have creates who we are, good and bad. We just have to learn how to manage it.

I see therapy as a space where you can slow down and feel fully seen. My style is warm, relational, and straightforward; I want you to feel comfortable bringing your whole self, without judgment or pressure. I draw from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness, and narrative therapy, weaving them together in a way that fits your unique needs and story. Whether you’re navigating a life transition, carrying cultural or relational stress, or working on strengthening your relationships, I aim to offer steady support, practical tools, and a grounded space to make sense of what you’re going through. Together, we’ll focus on helping you feel more rooted, understood, and able to move forward in ways that feel true to you.

Are you curious to see what it feels like to make positive changes in your life? Are you ready to quiet the anxious chatter that gets in the way of living your life to its potential ? Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where our problems and emotions can feel too overwhelming; we feel lost as how to move forward. Finding the right therapist to help you with this journey is crucial. As a therapist, I offer support while working with you on mutually agreed upon goals. I believe a healthy therapeutic relationship can allow one to succeed. Providing trust and understanding are key elements in helping one achieve change. Change is not easy. It takes courage and the ability to be an active participant in your life. It is also imperative that I understand how you view your world. My ability to be in tune with your needs ultimately leads to a relationship grounded in respect. With support and trust, you are more likely to take steps toward a more empowered and fulfilling life.

I prioritize creating a supportive environment for growth by sometimes using humor, which can be a powerful tool in therapy- it lightens the load and makes space for deeper exploration. Taking a non-judgmental, collaborative approach fosters trust, helping you to feel comfortable and empowered to engage in the process. I take an approach of person-centered care and utilize solution-focused therapy. I believe that we are not always able to control things around us but we can influence them and find ways to cope. No matter the situation, I am here to help navigate and provide support through compassion and reflection of hope.

In a society that emphasizes our unique differences, seeking out help and support continues to be stigmatized. Just as a tree cannot weather every storm that comes its way, neither can we, or should we, face life’s challenges on our own. As a Black, gay man from the South I’ve always been driven to help people learn how support informs us about our potential to access and achieve our goals. Awareness is the key. There is so much power in learning how our thoughts and emotions center not only our mental health, but through awareness we can learn about how our mental state affects our life in many ways. When we are cognizant of our emotions, we develop a deeper sense of self, and those perceptions of self can lead to growth in all aspects of life.

Very few of us were given the tools and affirmation needed to navigate sex, identity, and relationships, despite these things being a fundamental part of our humanity. I am a sex and relationship therapist passionate about reducing sexual shame, fostering a lens of curiosity and self-acceptance in sexuality, building a sense of playfulness and confidence, developing a personal acumen of sexual values, and unlearning messages of sex-negative cultures. I approach therapy from a relational, psychodynamic perspective, which means seeking to understand patterns that shape emotions, thoughts, and behavior and how these things have been influenced by our history, culture, and experiences. I am a queer and trans-identified therapist licensed in Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio, and California and I'm trained by the Sexual Health Alliance. I am LGBTQ+ affirming, sex work-positive, body-positive, kink-positive, neurodivergent-positive, and non-monogamy and polyamory-positive.

You may be here because you feel overwhelmed. Trauma, eating struggles, and body image concerns can feel heavy and isolating, especially when you’ve also faced rejection or invisibility for being LGBTQ+. It’s exhausting to carry shame, self-doubt, or the sense that your body isn’t a safe place to be. If this sounds familiar, know that you don’t have to go through it alone. I see you, and I can help. I offer a safe, affirming space where all parts of your identity are welcome. As a trauma-informed therapist, I specialize in supporting LGBTQ+ individuals navigating eating challenges, body image concerns, and the lasting impact of trauma. My goal is to meet you with compassion, curiosity, and respect, so you can feel understood and supported as you begin to heal. Our work together is collaborative. In our sessions, we’ll move at your pace. We’ll start by exploring your story, identifying patterns that keep you stuck, and creating a plan that feels safe and meaningful. I use relational and somatic approaches, which means we’ll not only talk about your experiences, but also explore how they live in your body, building new ways of connecting with yourself. Over time, you can expect to release shame, deepen self-trust, and build resilience. Many clients discover more peace with their bodies, more ease in relationships, and a greater sense of authenticity in how they live. Healing isn’t about perfection. Healing is about reclaiming your right to be whole, free, and fully yourself.