LGBTQ+ Issues therapists in Chicago, Illinois IL
We are proud to feature top rated LGBTQ+ Issues therapists in Chicago. We encourage you to review each profile to find your best match.
LGBTQ+
XaHara A. MeGod
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LCPC, R-DMT, CPT
I provide affirming, body-based care for LGBTQ+ individuals navigating coming out, gender exploration, family rejection, minority stress, or identity integration. Your identity is never pathologized here. Together, we honor your unique joys and struggles, and build resilience from a place of cultural and somatic awareness.
8 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
LGBTQ+
Bergen Counseling Collective
Counselor/Therapist, LCPC
You deserve a therapist who gets it. Not one who needs you to educate them, not one who treats your identity as the problem to be solved, not one who's "fine with it" but clearly uncomfortable. Our clinicians provide LGBTQ+ affirming care that goes deeper than surface-level acceptance. We understand the specific stressors you navigate: family rejection or tension, coming out at different life stages, discrimination, internalized messages you're still untangling, relationships that don't fit the scripts you were handed. You don't have to translate your experience here. Telehealth throughout Illinois. BCBS PPO and Aetna accepted.
20 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60640
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
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 Illinois
LGBTQ+
Dr. Sam Macy
Psychologist, PsyD
As an LGBT-affirmative therapist, my goals are to gain a textured and holistic understanding of peoples' salient identities, while promoting empowerment and authentic living.
16 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60605
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
LGBTQ+
Maggie Reynolds
Licensed Professional Counselor, LCPC, EMDR Certified, NCC
I have experience supporting LGBTQIA+ folks with identity exploration, relationship concerns, career stress, and healing from relational, familial, and societal trauma related to rejection, oppression, and discrimination. I provide affirming, compassionate care and welcome you to show up as your full self. Therapy can be a space to feel understood, build self-trust, and move forward with more confidence and clarity.
16 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60611
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
LGBTQ+
Nicole Houde
Pre-Licensed Professional
I work with individuals navigating LGBT issues by providing an affirming and supportive space to explore identity, relationships, and life experiences. LGBT concerns can include coming out, navigating family or social dynamics, internalized stigma, the impact of religion or spirituality, and experiences of discrimination or minority stress. In therapy, we focus on strengthening self-acceptance, processing these experiences, and building resilience in a way that feels validating and empowering. My approach is collaborative and centered on helping you feel more confident in your identity while creating a life that aligns with your values.
1 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60657
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
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 Illinois
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 Illinois
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 Illinois (Online Only)
LGBTQ+
Patrick R. Gunderson, Ph.D., PLLC
Psychologist, PhD
I work extensively with people in the LGBTQ+ community as a therapist and ally. I can help to build self-assurance, reduce gender dysphoria, and promote comfort in your body.
15 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60657
LGBTQ+
Brandon Guin
Marriage and Family Therapist, PhD, LMFT
As a member of the LGBTQAI+ community, I'm a strong advocate for helping other LGBTQAI+ individuals.
16 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
LGBTQ+
Pavan Prasad
Psychiatrist, M.D.
Dr. Prasad specializes in treating mood disorders and Adult ADHD . He use a holistic approach, treating the full person rather than just symptoms. Dr. Prasad helps to treat treat mood, self-esteem, and concentration problems, as well as working with more diffuse issues around identity, interpersonal
11 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60611
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 Illinois
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 Illinois
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 Illinois (Online Only)
LGBTQ+
Best Therapies, Inc.
Therapist
Best Therapies welcomes Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) folks who want support. We are committed to and value diversity for our practitioners, families, and communities.
LGBTQIA+, Gender Non-Conforming (GNC), and Non-Binary (Enby) as well as Queer and Trans People of Color (QTPOC) folks continue to experience stigma, harassment, discrimination, and violence. If you are in need of affirming support surrounding your experience as someone who is questioning their sexuality, gender expression, or identity within the LGBTQIA+ community, and are interested in connecting with a practitioner at Best Therapies, please reach out.
7 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60618
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
LGBTQ+
Nostos Psychotherapy
Psychologist, PsyD
We specialize in working with individuals who are identified as part of the 2slgbtqia+ community, as well as those who identify as part of ENM, Poly, BDSM and Kink communities. We are queer affirming and sex positive clinicians who are dedicated to providing a safe space for all.
12 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60661
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
LGBTQ+
Cultivate Your Essence
Registered Psychotherapist, LPC, LCPC, MFT
At Cultivate Your Essence, we provide affirming, inclusive, and culturally responsive care for individuals within the LGBTQ+ community. Our therapists offer support for identity exploration, relationships, family dynamics, discrimination-related stress, life transitions, and overall emotional wellness in a safe and affirming environment.
8 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (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 Illinois (Online Only)
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 Illinois
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, Illinois Statistics
LGBTQ+ Issues therapists in Chicago, Illinois average 15 years of experience and charge around $199 per session. 97% offer online sessions. The top treatment approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (72%), Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) (43%), and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) (42%).
Average years in practice
15 Years Experience
Average cost per session
$199
Accept insurance
47%
Offer sliding scale
45%
Gender ID
| 52% |
Female |
|
| 33% |
Male |
|
| 8% |
Non-Binary |
|
| 7% |
Gender Fluid |
|
Session Type
| 57% |
In Person and Online |
|
| 40% |
Online Only |
|
| 3% |
In Person Only |
|
Top Treatment Approaches
| 72% | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 43% | Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) |
| 42% | Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) |
| 39% | Existential / Humanistic Therapy |
| 38% | Psychodynamic Therapy |
| 35% | Family Systems Therapy |
| 34% | Multicultural Therapy |
Ages Served
| 98% | Adult |
| 75% | Young Adult |
| 59% | Senior |
| 48% | Teen |
| 26% | Children |
Client Focus
| 82% | LGBTQ+ |
| 65% | Women |
| 47% | Men |
| 32% | Black / African American |
| 32% | Persons with Disabilities |