Trauma and PTSD therapists in Chicago, Illinois IL
Find experienced trauma and PTSD therapists in Chicago who provide testing, evidence-based treatment for trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and related challenges such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Compare detailed therapist profiles and connect with a provider that’s right for you.
PTSD/Trauma
XaHara A. MeGod
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LCPC, R-DMT, CPT
Trauma lives in the body, not just the memory. My approach to PTSD is gentle, paced, and deeply respectful of your nervous system. Using somatic therapy, cultural awareness, and trauma-informed principles, we help you release stored activation, reduce hypervigilance, and reclaim safety in your own skin. You don’t have to relive it to heal it.
8 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Bergen Counseling Collective
Counselor/Therapist, LCPC
What happened to you changed you. Maybe it was a single event. Maybe it was years of experiences that accumulated into a weight you've carried ever since. You might have flashbacks or nightmares. Or it might be subtler than that: a numbness, a difficulty trusting, a way of moving through the world always slightly on guard. Trauma lives in the body, not just the mind, and healing requires more than just talking about what happened. Our clinicians are trained in trauma-informed care that helps you process these experiences without retraumatizing you in the process. You can heal from this. Telehealth throughout Illinois. BCBS PPO and Aetna accepted.
20 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60640
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
PTSD/Trauma
Laura DeAngelo
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, LICSW
I am especially interested in working with clients who have a history of trauma. My training in both Accelerated Resolution Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy is very useful in treating symptoms of trauma.
10 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Dr. Sam Macy
Psychologist, PsyD
Therapy is one of the most effective ways to treat trauma (including the clinical manifestations of PTSD). In a context of warmth, patience, and care, I use an evidence-based and strengths-based approach to help people heal from and learn to better manage the impacts of trauma.
16 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60605
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
PTSD/Trauma
Maggie Reynolds
Licensed Professional Counselor, LCPC, EMDR Certified, NCC
Trauma is not defined by what happened, but by the impact it has on you. It can live in both the mind and body as a wound that hasn’t fully healed, or that keeps getting reopened when something triggers memories, sensations, emotions, or protective survival responses. You may be carrying the effects of a single-event trauma, such as a car accident, assault, medical trauma, or the sudden loss of a loved one. Or you may be healing from repeated experiences over time, such as childhood abuse, emotionally abusive relationships, chronic invalidation, or long-term stress that shaped how you see yourself and relate to others.
I help adults process what happened so they can stop feeling haunted, stuck, or controlled by the past and begin living more fully and confidently in the present. Many of my clients are high-functioning on the outside but privately struggling with anxiety, overwhelm, hypervigilance, shame, emotional numbness, or feeling “too much” and “not enough” at the same time.
In addition to talk therapy, I offer EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a well-researched and effective treatment for PTSD and trauma. I also integrate parts work (Internal Family Systems/ego state), attachment-focused therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and somatic and nervous system-based approaches to support deep healing and lasting change. For clients who are looking for something more transformational, I also offer Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), which can be especially helpful when you feel stuck in old patterns, disconnected from yourself, or when traditional therapy hasn’t gone far enough. My goal is to help you build self-trust, feel more grounded in your body, and move forward with clarity and strength.
16 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60611
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
PTSD/Trauma
Brittany Statler, Intuitive Wellness Therapy Group
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW
Headline: Healing Where the Story is Stored: A Somatic Path to Trauma Recovery
Beyond Just Talking About It
If you have lived through trauma, you know that the past doesn't just stay in the past. It shows up in your body as a tightened chest, a constant state of "high alert," or a heavy, persistent exhaustion. When traditional talk therapy isn't enough, it’s often because your nervous system is still stuck in a survival loop.
My Approach: Integrated Somatic Therapy
I provide a holistic, bottom-up approach to healing that honors the deep connection between your mind and body. We move beyond the "narrative" of your trauma to address the physical reality of how your body has stored those experiences. Through specialized, embodied practices, we will:
Address Physical Manifestations: Gently track and release the stored tension, chronic pain, or "freezing" responses that keep you stuck.
Facilitate Deeper Processing: By quieting the analytical mind and listening to the body’s "unspoken voice," we create space for emotional release that words alone cannot reach.
Rebuild Safety & Regulation: You will learn tangible tools to settle your nervous system, allowing you to move from a state of "reacting" to a state of resilient presence.
20 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Nicole Houde
Pre-Licensed Professional
I work with individuals experiencing trauma and PTSD by providing a safe, supportive, and trauma-informed space to process difficult experiences at a pace that feels manageable. Trauma can impact thoughts, emotions, relationships, and the sense of safety in the world, and may show up as anxiety, hypervigilance, intrusive memories, or emotional numbing. In therapy, I use Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to help identify and work through unhelpful beliefs related to the trauma, along with supporting coping skills and emotional regulation. The focus is on reducing the ongoing impact of trauma, strengthening resilience, and helping you move forward with a greater sense of safety, control, and self-understanding.
1 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60657
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
PTSD/Trauma
Natalie A Shafer
Counselor/Therapist, MA, NCC, LPC
Trauma often sits at the core of many emotional and relational challenges, shaping how we experience ourselves, others, and the world. It’s natural for the body and mind to respond to reminders of past experiences as if they are still happening. I work with you to gently process and rework these experiences, so they feel more integrated and rooted in the past rather than the present.
2 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60607
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
PTSD/Trauma
Beck Gardner
Pre-Licensed Professional, M.A.
Trauma can have surprising and destabilizing impacts on so many areas of one's life. Understandably so, because it can be scary and painful to talk about, it can often go unexplored, hiding the ways in which it's impacted a person. I work with folks to provide a space where we attempt to understand traumatic experiences they've been through and the various ways that trauma has impacted them.
3 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60657
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
PTSD/Trauma
Reshma Rampersad
Psychologist, Psy.D.
Trauma can be overwhelming and very impactful. My approach to trauma therapy is grounded in safety, empowerment, and healing at your own pace. I provide a compassionate and supportive space where you can process your experiences without fear or judgment. Using evidence-based approaches such as trauma-informed cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and somatic awareness, we work together to reduce distress, build resilience, and restore a sense of control in your life. My goal is to help you move forward with strength, self-compassion, and a renewed sense of well-being.
7 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Patrick R. Gunderson, Ph.D., PLLC
Psychologist, PhD
I can help you achieve trauma resolution by processing traumatic incidents, reducing the associated anxiety and anger, and assisting in therapeutic corrective experiences. An important part of the healing process is to address traumatic incidents from the root, which can even be from childhood.
15 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60657
PTSD/Trauma
Sue De Santo
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW
I work with individuals carrying the weight of past trauma, painful relationships, and experiences that still live in the body as anxiety, numbness, or feeling constantly on guard. I bring compassion and relief to the places that feel stuck or overwhelmed. . My goal is to offer a steady, caring space where you don’t have to do it alone and where healing becomes possible not just in your mind, but in your body and relationships too.
35 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Mary Mesiha
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LICSW
If you’ve experienced trauma, it can leave a lasting impact—sometimes in ways that are hard to put into words. You might feel anxious, disconnected, or easily overwhelmed, even when things seem “fine” on the outside.
In therapy, we’ll create a safe and supportive space where you can begin to make sense of your experiences at your own pace. Together, we’ll focus on helping you feel more grounded, regain a sense of stability, and move toward healing in a way that feels manageable and respectful of your process.
27 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Dr. Adam Shafer (Chicago, IL)
Psychologist, Psy. D., M.A.
When the foundation of trust shaken (if not feeling broken) through experiences of trauma, the approach to restoring one's life must always be one of sensitivity, patience, and compassion. Without this, there will always be a risk that it will never feel safe enough to heal.
17 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60607
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
PTSD/Trauma
Balanced Awakening PC
Psychologist, Licensed Psychologists
At Balanced Awakening we are well equipped to assist women on their healing journeys when trauma has been a part of their history. Whether it's something "not quite right" that happened in childhood that has had a standing impact on your life, a series of traumatic events, or a one-time recent trauma, we are here to help.
12 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60613
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
PTSD/Trauma
Shawna Stillwell
Marriage and Family Therapist, IMFT-S
Trauma has a way of living in the body and shaping the way we see ourselves and other long after the vents themselves have passed. Using Internal Family Systems (IFS), I help clients approach their trauma gently and at their own pace, without having to relive or force anything. The goal is not just to cope, but to genuinely heal, and I'm in it for the long-run.
8 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Summer Stewart, PsyD
Pre-Licensed Professional, PsyD
Trauma can leave you feeling on edge, disconnected, or like you’re constantly reliving the past. Maybe certain memories, people, or places still trigger you in ways that feel out of your control. If you’re feeling stuck in survival mode, therapy offers a safe space to begin healing. We’ll move at your pace—unpacking the pain, calming your nervous system, and helping you feel safe in your body again. You are not what happened to you—and you don’t have to face it alone.
7 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Brandon Guin
Marriage and Family Therapist, PhD, LMFT
Traumatic experiences can leave us paralyzed and pessimistic about our future. It doesn't have to be that way. I have training in using EMDR, an evidenced-based approach to treating trauma and PTSD. This approach helps the mind and body process what has happened while decreasing the risk of re-traumatizating the individual. In this manner, the individual is able to access internal and external supports and resources for the mind and body that may not have been available during the traumatic event or events.
16 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
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
PTSD/Trauma
Susan Killelea
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, Sex Therapist
I use Acceptance & Commitment Therapy interventions and mindfulness techniques to assist clients in addressing anxiety, stress and trauma in their lives. This approach helps clients abandon restrictive strategies and instead experience and accept difficult thoughts and feelings as a necessary part of a worthy life.
18 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60618
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.
Trauma and PTSD therapists in Chicago, Illinois Statistics
Trauma and PTSD therapists in Chicago, Illinois average 16 years of experience and charge around $201 per session. 98% offer online sessions. The top treatment approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (73%), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) (39%), and Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) (36%).
Average years in practice
16 Years Experience
Average cost per session
$201
Accept insurance
49%
Offer sliding scale
37%
Gender ID
| 65% |
Female |
|
| 29% |
Male |
|
| 3% |
Non-Binary |
|
| 3% |
Gender Fluid |
|
Session Type
| 55% |
In Person and Online |
|
| 43% |
Online Only |
|
| 2% |
In Person Only |
|
Top Treatment Approaches
| 73% | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 39% | Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) |
| 36% | Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) |
| 33% | Psychodynamic Therapy |
| 29% | Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) |
| 28% | Behavioral Therapy |
| 28% | Existential / Humanistic Therapy |
Ages Served
| 99% | Adult |
| 69% | Young Adult |
| 52% | Senior |
| 45% | Teen |
| 21% | Children |
Client Focus
| 57% | Women |
| 46% | LGBTQ+ |
| 38% | Men |
| 28% | Military / Veterans |
| 25% | Black / African American |