LGBTQ+ Issues therapists in Chicago, IL
Browse LGBTQ+ Issues therapists in Chicago, Illinois. Compare credentials, specialties and therapeutic approach. Contact a therapist to learn more.
LGBTQ+
Susan Killelea
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, Sex Therapist
Exploration of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression are journeys that often continues after "coming out" or personally acknowledging your orientation and identity. You may want help in defining new feelings, support in affirming your gender, or guidance in informing others of changes. Therapy may help you learn more about your sexual and romantic attractions, relationship wants and needs.
18 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60618
Online in Chicago, IL
LGBTQ+
Jason Herr
Psychologist, Psy.D.
I provide affirming support for LGBTQ+ individuals exploring identity, relationships, and life transitions. Together, we address challenges such as coming out, family dynamics, discrimination, and self-acceptance while strengthening resilience, authenticity, and emotional well-being. My approach is inclusive, compassionate, and grounded in creating a safe space for clients to live fully as themselves.
16 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL (Online Only)
LGBTQ+
Rick Tivers
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, CGP
Highly specialized in the coming out process, managing gay relationships and gay couples therapy. Formerly married to a woman 18yrs, have 3 grown children. Now married to a man and openly gay.
45 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60602
Online in Chicago, IL
LGBTQ+
Dr. Aretha Steele (Mindful Healing Counseling)
Psychologist, PsyD
Hey! If you're navigating the unique challenges that come with being a part of the queer and LGBTQ+ community, we're here to offer a supportive space just for you. As a specialist, we understand the importance of embracing your identity and the hurdles that might come your way. Let's work together to explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a judgment-free zone. Whether it's coming out, building self-acceptance, or facing societal pressures, we're here to help. Your journey matters, and we're dedicated to providing a safe space where you can be your authentic self. Let's team up to make your path one of self-discovery, empowerment, and pride. You're not alone, and we're honored to be part of your journey.
(Note: We have specific therapists who specialize in this area at our practice. See our website for more information)
17 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL (Online Only)
LGBTQ+
Elaine Flockerzi
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC
I specialize in LGBT Issues, as evidenced by my professional training, licensing credentials, and years of experience working successfully in this area of treatment.
8 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL (Online Only)
LGBTQ+
Emem Itiat
Counselor/Therapist, LCPC
I work from a liberation Psychology standpoint and humanist framework observing individuals through the lens of their unique and shared intersections. When it comes to fighting against hate, discrimination, and violence against queer bodies I believe in working to enhance radical acceptance through promoting self-contentment, awareness building by identifying the underlying and overlying systems of oppression and how they manifest internally, and working towards dismantling those systems both externally and internally.
16 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL (Online Only)
LGBTQ+
Beck Gardner
Pre-Licensed Professional, M.A.
As a member of the queer community myself, I find I have a particular sensitivity to understand the ways in which sexuality and gender can impact one's experience of themself. I find self psychology and it's theories can be particularly helpful in this area.
3 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60657
Online in Chicago, IL
LGBTQ+
Dr. Kimberly E. Johnson
Psychologist, PsyD, HSPP, APIT
I have worked with LGBTQ clients for over a decade and consider myself an Ally. I am in tune to the unique challenges, bias and issues faced by this population. All to frequently LGBTQ clients all have been subject to trauma, disconnection from family, work or social discrimination based on their gender and sexual identity. Whether dealing with individual, partner or family issues I am an experienced resource.
19 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL (Online Only)
LGBTQ+
Subconscious Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapist, C.Ht.
LGBTQ+ individuals can face unique challenges related to identity, acceptance, and stress from societal pressures. Hypnotherapy provides a safe, affirming space to explore these experiences, reduce anxiety, and build self-acceptance. Sessions support confidence, emotional well-being, and a stronger sense of authenticity in everyday life.
3 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL (Online Only)
LGBTQ+
Juliette Grantham
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC
I'm Juliette Grantham, a psychoanalytic psychotherapist working with LGBTQ+ clients.
Some of what brings queer and trans people to therapy is specific: coming out, or choosing not to, navigating family, faith communities, and workplaces that may or may not be safe, sorting through questions about gender identity or sexual orientation, or the accumulated exhaustion of minority stress. Some of it is ordinary life, brought to a therapist who does not need the basics explained first.
I work psychoanalytically, which means we can go past managing other people's reactions and into your own experience of yourself. The pressure to edit or soften parts of who you are carries an unconscious logic worth understanding, often learned early, and it tends to persist even in accepting environments. In sessions we pay attention to where that editing still happens, including with me.
Not everything weighing on you is yours to fix, and this work does not ask you to pretend otherwise. If you would like to talk, I would be glad to.
2 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60603
Online in Chicago, IL
LGBTQ+
Gemstone Wellness, Inc.
Psychologist, PsyD, LCPC, LCSW, LPC
At Gemstone Wellness, LGBTQIA2S+ therapy is not framed as helping you “figure yourself out” in isolation—it is about understanding your identity in the full context of your life, your relationships, and the systems you’ve had to navigate. We recognize that exploring sexual orientation and gender identity can be expansive and liberating, while also complex, disorienting, and at times deeply painful. Therapy creates space for all of that to exist at once, without pressure to define, label, or resolve it prematurely.
Our practice is queer-led, and many of our therapists share lived experience within LGBTQIA2S+ communities. All clinicians are deeply trained in affirming care, meaning you won’t need to educate your therapist, defend your identity, or filter your experience to be understood. If working with a queer therapist is important to you, we prioritize that in our matching process, because we believe safety and resonance are foundational to meaningful work.
We approach this work through a trauma-informed, culturally aware lens. Living outside of dominant norms often comes with chronic stress—navigating visibility, safety, family systems, religion, and broader societal messaging that can invalidate or pathologize difference. Over time, this can lead to anxiety, shame, disconnection, or a sense of fragmentation. Therapy helps contextualize these experiences so they are no longer carried as personal failures, but understood as adaptive responses to real environments.
Our work often includes exploring the intersection of identity with relationships, intimacy, and community. This may involve navigating coming out, questioning or evolving identity, processing internalized stigma, or building relationships that feel aligned and authentic. We also support clients in non-traditional relationship structures, offering care that is explicitly affirming of queer, trans, polyamorous, and kink communities.
What distinguishes Gemstone Wellness is the relational experience of therapy itself. Sessions are collaborative, engaged, and human. We are not neutral observers of your identity—we are active, curious, and attuned participants in your process. There is room for uncertainty, for humor, for grief, and for growth.
The goal is not to arrive at a fixed definition of who you are. It is to build a relationship with yourself that feels grounded, coherent, and free—so your identity becomes something you live, not something you have to prove.
10 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60604
Online in Chicago, IL
LGBTQ+
Mind Body Connections
Counselor/Therapist
Identifying as LGBT can have unfortunate negative implications. We will help you understand how your family of origin, religion and other stressors may have caused you harm. We will help you embrace your true identity with support from professionals who know this from the inside-out.
28 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60613
Online in Chicago, IL
LGBTQ+
Mindful Healing Counseling
Psychologist, PsyD
When addressing LGBTQ+ issues, we provide a welcoming and affirming space where you can feel truly seen and understood. We recognize that navigating identity, relationships, and societal pressures can bring unique challenges, and our goal is to support you in a way that honors your individuality. By offering a compassionate ear and using inclusive, strengths-based approaches, we work together to address your concerns and celebrate your authentic self. Whether you’re seeking guidance on identity, facing discrimination, or just need a safe space to express yourself, we’re here to walk with you on your journey towards empowerment and self-acceptance.
16 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL (Online Only)
LGBTQ+
Rachel Honaker, Depth Counseling Services
Counselor/Therapist, LPC
I am passionate about working in the LGBTQ+ community. Partially because of experience and a desire to give back in honor of the support I have received. The stressors of being queer are many and varying, but they all deserve to be addressed in a safe place. Whatever your story so far, we can co-create a space for you to process your experience and feelings and work towards an integrated sense of well-being in yourself, your relationships, and your identity.
10 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60603
Online in Chicago, IL
LGBTQ+
Natalie A Shafer
Counselor/Therapist, MA, NCC, LPC
LGBTQ+ experiences are shaped by both personal identity and broader social contexts, which can impact safety, self-expression, and a sense of belonging. I approach this work with affirmation and respect, recognizing the importance of being seen and understood without judgment. Alongside our work together, I hold an advocacy-oriented perspective, supporting you in navigating challenges while honoring your identity and lived experience.
2 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60607
Online in Chicago, IL
LGBTQ+
Igor Soloveychik
Psychologist, Psy.D., CSAT
A safe and welcoming space for LGBTQ individuals
22 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60611
Online in Chicago, IL
LGBTQ+
Dr. Ryan Kitts Schallon
Psychologist, PsyD
For many queer and trans people, the project of selfhood involves a double labor: becoming who you are while contending with a world that has opinions about whether that person should exist. The effects are not always dramatic. Sometimes they are quiet — a lifelong habit of self-editing, a flinch so practiced it no longer registers as a flinch. Therapy is a place where the full weight of that experience can be acknowledged, and where the self that survived it can begin to discover what it wants when it is no longer organizing itself around someone else's discomfort.
3 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60613
Online in Chicago, IL
LGBTQ+
Merrisa Dawn Santos
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC, NCC, CCTMHP, CCTP
As an ally supporting those with LGBT+ issues, I provide a safe and affirming space for individuals to explore their identities and experiences. Through active listening, empathy, and respect, I validate their feelings and help them navigate challenges they may face, such as discrimination, coming out, or self-acceptance. I offer education and resources on LGBT+ issues, including terminology, rights, and community support networks. Additionally, I advocate for equality and inclusion in all areas of life, challenging discrimination and promoting acceptance and understanding. My goal is to empower LGBT+ individuals to embrace their authentic selves, feel supported, and thrive in a society that values diversity and equality.
5 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL (Online Only)
LGBTQ+
Dr Calvin Young
Counselor/Therapist, PhD, LCPC
We are not our sexuality. That is just one aspect of the human experience. All humans have value.
30 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL (Online Only)
LGBTQ+
Alignment Psychotherapy, PLLC
Psychologist, LP, PhD
We are committed to providing affirming, inclusive, and culturally responsive care for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. As a queer-founded practice, we bring both professional expertise and lived understanding to the therapeutic relationship, allowing us to approach this work with authenticity, respect, and deep sensitivity. We recognize that LGBTQIA+ individuals often navigate unique challenges, including stigma, discrimination, identity exploration, family dynamics, and the impact of systemic inequities. At the same time, we honor the resilience, creativity, and strength within queer communities. Our work is grounded in creating a space where clients feel seen, supported, and free to explore their identities without fear of judgment. Our approach is collaborative and tailored to each individual, integrating evidence-based practices with an awareness of the social and cultural contexts that shape our clients’ experiences. Whether clients are seeking support around identity, relationships, mental health concerns, or life transitions, we aim to provide care that is not only clinically effective, but also affirming of who they are. We are dedicated to fostering a therapeutic environment where LGBTQIA+ clients can build insight, develop coping tools, and move toward lives that feel more aligned, empowered, and meaningful.
3 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL (Online Only)
Chicago's size and diversity mean therapists here cover an exceptionally wide range of specialties, with strong representation in trauma, anxiety, depression, and cultural identity work across the city's distinct neighborhoods. The South and West Sides experience community-level trauma tied to violence and systemic inequity, driving particular demand for therapists who specialize in PTSD, grief, and resilience-focused work. The city is home to Rush University Medical Center, Northwestern Medicine, and the University of Chicago Medicine, with a large independent practice community concentrated in Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, and the Loop. Chicago also has robust bilingual therapy communities serving its large Spanish-speaking, Polish, and Mandarin-speaking populations.
LGBTQ+ Issues therapists in Chicago, IL Statistics
LGBTQ+ Issues therapists in Chicago, IL average 15 years of experience and charge around $200 per session. 97% offer online sessions. The top treatment approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (73%), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) (44%), and Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) (43%).
Average years in practice
15 Years Experience
Average cost per session
$200
Accept insurance
49%
Offer sliding scale
43%
Gender ID
| 53% |
Female |
|
| 32% |
Male |
|
| 8% |
Non-Binary |
|
| 7% |
Gender Fluid |
|
Session Type
| 58% |
In Person and Online |
|
| 39% |
Online Only |
|
| 3% |
In Person Only |
|
Top Treatment Approaches
| 73% | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 44% | Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) |
| 43% | Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) |
| 39% | Existential / Humanistic Therapy |
| 38% | Psychodynamic Therapy |
| 35% | Family Systems Therapy |
| 34% | Multicultural Therapy |
Ages Served
| 98% | Adult |
| 76% | Young Adult |
| 57% | Senior |
| 48% | Teen |
| 24% | Children |
Client Focus
| 81% | LGBTQ+ |
| 63% | Women |
| 49% | Men |
| 31% | Black / African American |
| 31% | Hispanic / Latino |