At a glance
Best fit for: Neurodivergent teens and adults, survivors of the troubled teen industry, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and people struggling with grief and loss.
Approaches: ACT, motivational interviewing, DBT, psychodynamic, and client centered.
Who Am I?
Hi! I’m Laura (she/her). A clinical social worker who works with teens and adults. Before becoming a therapist, I spent the last 10 years as a tutor and executive functioning coach for neurodivergent students and an educational non-profit professional. My experience and passion for educational equity has shaped how I think about support: meeting people where they actually are, not where a system expects them to be. As a social worker, I bring that same lens into the therapy room, looking not only at what’s happening inside you, but at the family dynamics and broader systems that have shaped who you are. I am a caucasian, queer, neurodivergent, cisgender, woman.
I specialize in working with:
- Teens and adults dealing with anxiety and depression
- Young adults navigating life’s transitions
- Adults just trying to get through the day
- Neurodivergent teens and adults
- Survivors of the troubled teen industry
- LGBTQ+ individuals navigating identity, community, and belonging
- People working through grief and loss
- Individuals navigating relationship challenges
- Families working through conflict and communication
- Couples looking to build stronger connection and intimacy
How I help
I believe the relationship we build together is one of the most important parts of therapy. Sometimes the relationship itself is what does the healing. I also believe you deserve a therapist who shows up as an advocate, not just a listener, which means bringing an anti-racist, anti-oppressive lens into how I work, especially if the world outside this room hasn’t always made you feel seen or safe. I don’t have a script, and I don’t pretend to have all the answers. What I can offer is consistency, honesty, and a real commitment to figuring out, together, what actually helps you.
What a session with me is like
Our first few sessions are about getting to know each other and building a relationship. There is no pressure to dig into anything before you’re ready. We’ll work together to identify therapeutic goals early on, but session to session, we go wherever you need to go that day.
Whether we meet in person or online, expect a comfortable, cozy vibe. You’ll usually find me with at least two beverages within reach. Overhead lighting will be avoided at all costs. My office will be filled with comfy pillows and blankets, fidgets, snacks, and community resources if you need them. Come as you are. We’ll laugh, we might cry, and either way, we’ll be real together.
What I believe
I believe your identity, culture, and background don’t exist separately from the therapeutic process; they help shape it. Who you are informs how you’ve learned to see yourself, what you’ve internalized shame around, and what healing actually looks like for you. So we won’t work around those things. We’ll bring them directly into the room.
I believe healing isn’t linear. It moves in waves. Sometimes things are calm, and sometimes they come crashing all around us. It is my job to meet you where you are in your journey and help you navigate the waves together. I also believe emotions only hold the power that we give them. They don’t have to run the show. Together we can learn to work with them instead of letting them take control.
A little more about me
Outside of work, I am a major foodie, so you can usually find me at a farmers market, trying new restaurants, or hosting dinner parties and backyard BBQ’s for my friends. I love concerts, and street festivals throughout Chicago in the summer. If it’s not food or music related you can find me out for a long walk along the lake or thrift shopping with friends. At home, you’ll probably catch me reading mysteries (I grew up on Nancy Drew) or watching an old movie with my partner.
A few common questions
Are you accepting new clients?
Yes I am!
Do you offer virtual sessions?
Yes, I see clients virtually across Illinois, and in person at our Edison Park office.
Do you speak any languages besides English?
No I Don’t
What do you help with most?
Neurodivergent related challenges, 2SLGBTQIA+ issues, survivors of the troubled teen industry, grief and loss,
What insurance do you take?
BCBS PPO, BCBS HMO Northshore, Optum, Cigna, and Aetna.
- AetnaBCBS HMO NorthshoreBCBS PPOOptum/United
