Trauma and PTSD therapists in Chicago, IL
Find experienced trauma and PTSD therapists in Chicago, Illinois 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
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 (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Allyson Stephens
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, MSW, LCSW
Trauma, generational trauma, and PTSD can be hard issues to overcome. I am someone who has personally healed from past trauma. I can help you heal from your childhood trauma or a traumatic experience you just had. I use IFS, EMDR, Somatic Therapy, CBT, and DBT for this issue.
8 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL (Online Only)
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 (Online Only)
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
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 (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Sarah Fandel
Counselor/Therapist, LPC, LMHC, LCPC
I am experienced in using the modalities listed above to treat PTSD and trauma.
11 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Emily Blitz
Psychologist, PsyD
Trauma doesn’t always come from one big event—small, repeated experiences can quietly shape how safe, seen, or steady you feel in the world. In our work, we create a supportive space to notice these patterns, understand how they affect your relationships and sense of self, and gently foster healing. Approached with curiosity and care, you can find greater safety, insight, and self-understanding.
12 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Jason Herr
Psychologist, Psy.D.
I work with individuals who have experienced trauma and its lasting emotional, psychological, and physiological effects. With extensive clinical experience treating trauma across community mental health and private practice settings, I incorporate biological and neurological education to help clients understand how trauma impacts the brain, body, and nervous system. I also help clients learn how to regulate the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, building skills to reduce reactivity, increase grounding, and restore a sense of internal safety. Together, we process traumatic experiences at a safe pace while strengthening emotional regulation and resilience. My approach is compassionate, structured, and trauma-informed, supporting clients as they move toward healing and integration.
16 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Danielle Keys at Headway
Licensed Mental Health Counselor, M.S.ED, LCPC
Trauma is sometimes unknown or related to a specific event in one's life. During the assessment, you'll be asked specific questions in order to capture if there is trauma known in your life. Sometimes trauma is carried around through no fault of the client, however, the client has to choose to do something about it. I use Person-Centered, Dialectical Behavior, or Trauma-Focused CBT approaches with clients. The goal is to help client's express themselves without judgement, to be heard, validated, and encouraged to make choices to minimize and accept certain types of distress.
11 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Dr. Aretha Steele (Mindful Healing Counseling)
Psychologist, PsyD
Hey! If you're carrying the weight of past wounds, we're here to offer a safe space and support. We specialize in helping teens and adults navigate through the impact of trauma. Together, we can work on understanding your experiences, finding healing, and building resilience. Our sessions provide a judgment-free zone where you can express yourself and work towards a brighter future. Healing from trauma is a courageous journey, and we're here to walk beside you every step of the way. Your well-being matters, and we're honored to be part of your path towards recovery and empowerment.
(Note: We have specific therapists who specialize in this area at our practice. See our website for more information)
(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)
PTSD/Trauma
Elaine Flockerzi
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC
I specialize in Trauma and PTSD, 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)
PTSD/Trauma
Faye Williams
Marriage and Family Therapist, ALMFT
Trauma is trauma is trauma, and can leave an indelible mark. Everyone processes their experiences differently. Everyone deserves to heal on their own terms, in their own time.
4 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60611
Online in Chicago, IL
PTSD/Trauma
Empowered Wellbeing, Decolonizing Intersectional and Integrative Complex Trauma & Dissociation Recovery Support
Life Coach, view my credentials online at: www.recoveringfromwithin.com/credentialslongform
We bring 14+ years of experience with complex trauma, dissociation care and recovery, memory reconsolidation and other neurodevelopmental care, attachmemt care and support... We specialize in CSAS - Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Colonial and/or Narcissistic/Trauma Recovery. Our approach is systems and neurodevelopmental and at times ethnotraditional/ecorelational based. We bring compassion and empathy to trauma recovery support. There is a deep understanding of the internal and external affects of trauma recovery. Care providers are sometimes also survivors who have been through the recovery and have deep compassion for the process. We look at and work with intersectional issues of oppression. We also recognize many instances of socially derived trauma are intergenerational, lateralized and or oppressive and ongoing, clients are often addressing childhood, as well as, adult trauma from a non-self-shaming compassion based approach such as, Intersectional Care, Parts Work including TIST -- Trauma Informed Stabilization Theory, IFS -- Internal Family Systems; Somatic Work and distance CranioSacral; DBR, Polyvagal and Attachment Theory based approaches... non dominant handwriting, addiction care, memory reconsolidation and existential/coherence level care. We also integrate understanding of Transformative and Social Justice to bring awareness to internalized oppression that can keep survivors looped into dangerous experiences. We have a decolonizing orientation to care! This work is a special calling, during and post trauma recovery, folks may even feel more affirmed and move towards creative and fulfilling Self actualization in their process. We welcome POC and GM folks with intersecting care needs. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions.
15 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL (Online Only)
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
PTSD/Trauma
Dr. Kimberly E. Johnson
Psychologist, PsyD, HSPP, APIT
I have worked with clients who have been traumatized as a child, teenager, adult or older adult. Trauma can occur due to emotional, physical, sexual or psychological assault. Everyone experiences and manages their trauma exposure in their own unique way. Sometimes we are not even aware of events that have happened to us or have spent a lifetime trying not to remember. Regardless, that experience can impact how we think about and treat ourselves and others. Depending on the severity and duration of that trauma, it is not uncommon for it to affect our ability to work, parent, maintain relationships, function and even tolerate being around others. I work with clients who have experienced physical and psychological abuse, sexual abuse or exploitation, combat or military trauma, racism, discrimination and marginalization, sexism and violence. Everyone's story is unique and I work to help that individual process those experiences at a pace that they can manage to reclaim the life they deserve.
19 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Online Therapy for Anxiety, Burnout & Life Transitions -AZ, IL, OH
Counselor/Therapist, LPC, LCPC
Trauma can leave you feeling on edge, disconnected, or stuck in patterns you can’t seem to break even long after the event has passed. I provide a grounded, compassionate space to help you understand your nervous system, process painful memories at a pace that feels safe, and rebuild a sense of trust in yourself and others. Using evidence based approaches like CBT and mindfulness‑based strategies, along with faith integrated support for clients who desire it, we work together to reduce triggers, strengthen emotional regulation, and create lasting healing. You don’t have to navigate trauma alone — recovery is possible, and you deserve support that honors both your story and your strength.
9 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Subconscious Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapist, C.Ht.
Trauma and PTSD can leave lasting emotional and physical effects, even long after the event. Hypnotherapy provides a safe, supportive environment to gently process and release these experiences. Sessions help reduce anxiety, improve emotional regulation, and foster healing, resilience, and a renewed sense of safety.
3 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL (Online Only)
PTSD/Trauma
Clark Thompson, PsyD, MA
Psychologist, PsyD, MA
I offer comprehensive virtual neuropsychological assessments for individuals experiencing trauma-related symptoms, helping clients across PSYPACT states understand how traumatic experiences have impacted their cognitive and emotional functioning. My trauma and PTSD evaluations examine not only classic symptoms like intrusive memories and hypervigilance but also assess how trauma affects concentration, memory, executive functioning, and emotional regulation—providing crucial insights often missed in standard clinical interviews. With specialized training in neuropsychology and years of experience across various clinical settings, I create thorough assessment reports that validate your experiences, differentiate PTSD from other conditions, and provide clear pathways toward healing through targeted treatment recommendations and practical coping strategies.
7 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60656
Online in Chicago, IL
PTSD/Trauma
Juliette Grantham
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC
I'm Juliette Grantham, a psychoanalytic psychotherapist specializing in trauma.
Trauma can leave you on edge even when nothing is wrong, startling easily, or feeling triggered without clear warning. It can show up as dissociation, avoiding certain people, places, or conversations without quite deciding to, or describing what happened calmly, as if it happened to someone else. Complex trauma, PTSD, and childhood trauma often carry these patterns forward long after the danger has passed.
I work psychoanalytically, which means these reactions are not treated as malfunctions to correct but as responses that once made sense. They carry an unconscious logic worth understanding, often protecting against a danger that part of you is not yet convinced has passed. In sessions we go only as far as feels tolerable on a given day, attending to both what you say and what tightens or goes quiet as you speak. This is slower, more careful work than skills-based approaches, and it can sit alongside grounding techniques, medication, or other therapy that already helps you steady daily life. What it adds is an understanding of what the past taught you to expect from closeness, conflict, or needing someone, so that what happens next can be shaped less by what happened then.
If the past has been shaping more of your present than you want it to, I would be glad to talk.
2 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60603
Online in Chicago, IL
PTSD/Trauma
Gemstone Wellness, Inc.
Psychologist, PsyD, LCPC, LCSW, LPC
At Gemstone Wellness, trauma is understood not as something that simply “happened in the past,” but as something that continues to live in the body, the nervous system, and the way you move through the world. We approach trauma with the recognition that your responses—whether anxiety, numbness, hypervigilance, or shutdown—are not dysfunctions, but adaptive strategies your system developed to survive.
Our work is deeply trauma-informed and grounded in nervous system regulation. Rather than pushing you to revisit painful experiences before you’re ready, we prioritize safety, trust, and pacing. Therapy begins with building a relationship where you feel genuinely seen and supported, allowing your system to settle enough for deeper work to unfold. From there, we gently help you process what you’ve been carrying so it no longer holds the same intensity or control over your present life.
We integrate approaches such as Trauma Focused CBT and relational, insight-oriented therapy to support healing without re-traumatization. The goal is not to erase your past, but to help you relate to it differently—so memories can be held without overwhelming your body, and triggers no longer dictate your reactions.
Throughout this process, therapy remains collaborative and attuned. You are never rushed, pushed, or expected to move faster than your system allows. Over time, many clients begin to feel a shift: less reactivity, more presence, a greater sense of safety in their body, and a reconnection to themselves and others.
Trauma therapy at Gemstone Wellness is not about forcing change—it is about creating the conditions where healing can happen naturally, at a pace that honors what you’ve been through.
10 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60604
Online in Chicago, IL
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, IL Statistics
Trauma and PTSD therapists in Chicago, IL average 15 years of experience and charge around $204 per session. 98% offer online sessions. The top treatment approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (73%), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) (41%), and Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) (36%).
Average years in practice
15 Years Experience
Average cost per session
$204
Accept insurance
50%
Offer sliding scale
37%
Gender ID
| 63% |
Female |
|
| 30% |
Male |
|
| 4% |
Non-Binary |
|
| 3% |
Gender Fluid |
|
Session Type
| 54% |
In Person and Online |
|
| 44% |
Online Only |
|
| 2% |
In Person Only |
|
Top Treatment Approaches
| 73% | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 41% | Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) |
| 36% | Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) |
| 35% | Psychodynamic Therapy |
| 29% | Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) |
| 29% | Existential / Humanistic Therapy |
| 28% | Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) |
Ages Served
| 99% | Adult |
| 70% | Young Adult |
| 51% | Senior |
| 44% | Teen |
| 21% | Children |
Client Focus
| 56% | Women |
| 46% | LGBTQ+ |
| 39% | Men |
| 27% | Military / Veterans |
| 25% | Black / African American |