SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT
Schedule your first appointment. For follow up appointments (existing clients), please contact your therapist at 773-774-4444.
Insurances I Accept:
Ages I work with:
Languages I speak:
Hi, I’m Ava Rapp (she/her). I’m a licensed social worker with experience working with older teens and adults of all ages. As a neurodivergent, social justice focused, and disabled woman, I bring my full self to therapy and strive to create a space where you can do the same.
I believe everyone has strengths and resilience, even when they’re hard to access. My role is to help you build on those strengths as you work toward your goals and navigate life’s challenges.
I see the therapeutic relationship as the foundation of effective therapy. I aim to be candid, compassionate, and nonjudgmental while helping you identify and challenge patterns that may no longer be serving you.
I am a cisgender, neurodivergent, disabled, bisexual white woman with a husband and a pup I adore. My lived experiences inform my work and help me create an affirming, authentic therapeutic space.
My approach is strengths-based and often incorporates DBT, CBT, and mindfulness. I believe therapy is not one-size-fits-all, and I’m committed to adapting my approach to best support each person’s unique needs.
I want to be there for it all—the good and the bad, the laughing and the crying. My path to becoming a therapist began in nursing, which gives me a unique, holistic perspective on how our physical and mental health are deeply interconnected. This background allows me to support you in navigating the complexities of your well-being with a comprehensive, integrative lens. I have a special place in my heart for fellow healthcare workers; I understand the unique weight of the field and aim to provide a safe, compassionate space where you can truly set that burden down and process your experiences. As a therapist, I strive to act as an advocate and ally to people from all backgrounds, religions, sexual orientations, and gender identities. I emphasize a multicultural, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and socially just therapeutic setting. I strive to create an affirming, nonjudgmental environment where you feel truly seen and heard. You are the expert on your own life, and I am here to walk alongside you as we uncover the path that works for you!
I believe that our individual identities, culture, and personal backgrounds are fundamentally integral to the therapy space—they shape how we experience the world, and honoring them is central to our work. I also believe that the therapeutic relationship itself is one of our most powerful tools for healing; it creates a secure foundation from which you can explore and grow. Finally, I know that healing isn’t a linear path, but a dynamic, lifelong journey, and I’m honored to walk alongside you as you navigate its unique phases at your own pace.
I want our sessions to feel like a space where you can truly just be yourself, so please come as you are—whether that’s in your favorite comfy clothes or whatever makes you feel most at ease. You’re always welcome to bring a snack, a cup of coffee, or whatever helps you feel grounded. We’ll spend our first few sessions building a foundation and establishing the goals that matter most to you. From there, we’ll move at the pace that works best for your life. While I’m here to offer guidance and support, you are the expert on your own experience, and you ultimately decide the direction of our work together. We will focus on what is most important to you, ensuring that our time together remains meaningful and centered on your needs.
I love to read, write, listen to podcasts, go to concerts, Broadway shows and museums, play with my dog, and watch movies. I also love trying new restaurants, traveling, and exploring Chicago. I’ve lived here for over 10 years and there is still so much to see and do, I love being a tourist in our city. I like yoga, walking, the beach and crafts, and I believe humans are all creative in their own ways.
Schedule your first appointment. For follow up appointments (existing clients), please contact your therapist at 773-774-4444.