Therapists
Keith J. Harris (he/him)
There can be a gap between what we feel and how we want to feel. Our relationships with others or ourselves, work, life changes, or the past can cause issues with self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and other manifestations of stress. You do not have to be alone in this. These feelings are not wrong, but they do tell us valuable information. It tells us that we are human, and that we care. We cannot always control our circumstances, but we can challenge and change our reaction to them.
For nearly 20 years, I have worked with individuals experiencing difficulties in their lives. This can be due to a myriad of issues such as traumas, work or life transitions, relationship changes, and feelings of sadness or inadequacy. I love my city and the people in it. My goal is to create an authentic space where you feel comfortable exploring and making changes. This is a journey and together we can build solutions from your strength and resilience.
My approach is person centered, trauma informed, and nonjudgmental where the therapeutic relationship is used to recognize patterns and build new skills. We will work together opening doors and finding what works for you to achieve balance and peace.
We all want a life that is rich in experience, meaningful, and present. You have made the enormous first step of starting to look for help. That can be the hardest step to do. The therapeutic alliance is the cornerstone for all work we will do together.
Erik Giles (he/him)
Not all problems have to be huge to be worthy of our attention. Those challenges can feel overwhelming and even take over our thoughts and lives. There are so many small adjustments we can make in how we see things that can make a world of difference. I get why a lot of people are either nervous about it or downright do not like therapy. We will work on what you want to work on and do the work that is important to you. I do not have all the answers, but together we will find the answers that are right for you. I come to this work celebrating that every day is a new opportunity to be happier and more satisfied with one’s life than yesterday. I appreciate your trust in me to help you with that.
I come to this work later in my life having already built a career in business and management. I’ve lived in different parts of the world. I have kids and step kids. I have been married and divorced and have been fortunate to be a part of a blended family. I bring a life of lived experience and a passion for learning from all the other’s trained like me so that we can talk out whatever brings us together. I practice a direct approach and consider this work to be a collaboration. I work with individuals and couples, both new and in long-term relationships. Family energy in therapy has the potential to bring healing, so if your family is struggling, I’d love to help.
I only see clients evenings and weekends and the first step is reaching out to see if there is a good fit. It can be a hard one but one that is the first in a journey to wherever you want to go.
Daniel Gaytan (he/him)
You are worthy. We as humans can overlook our own true ability to love and be loved. In this fast-paced world that we live in, we react or avoid our stresses, rather than face it, understand it, shift our views of it and act accordingly to our experiences, then finding more peace of mind. I'm a down to earth, good natured, empathetic and friendly person. I'm a Chicagoan that is Mexican American with a deep connection to family, friends, and have nearly twenty years of experience working with people in the mental health field. It is my belief that each human has the capacity for transformation and becoming their most authentic self.
Through compassionate exploration and guidance, we create a safe space to honor and understand aspects of yourself, fostering acceptance and integration. By acknowledging and embracing these challenging parts, we can work towards healing past wounds, resolving inner conflicts, and reclaiming your selfhood.
The practice brings us more peace of mind of who we are and opening up and freeing all of our possibilities and potential. So we can connect with our good nature and be present. The point of therapy is caring, supporting and empowering. It can be arduous but we are paving the way for profound growth, healing, and ultimately, a deeper sense of wholeness.
alberto gonzalez (he/him)
You do not have to be alone in what you feel. As we go through life, we experience joy, happiness, and share experiences with those we love. At the same time, we often go through hardships; we face the daily stresses of maintaining our commitments in work and relationships. Some of these hardships can be predicted, however, many cannot. Life can throw us off balance.
I have lived throughout the United States, in California, Arizona, Colorado, and am now here in Chicago. I am a fully licensed LCSW in the State of Illinois and have been working in the mental health field for the past 6 years. I have experience working with children, adolescents, college students, and adults. I understand that each individual comes with their unique strengths and background. At the core, relationships start off with listening and understanding. Your experience is unique to you, I get that and will do my best to understand where you are coming from and aid you in reaching the place you want to be in.
In this mutual relationship, we will work together to develop a plan that works for you to help you reach your balance. Therapy is a space where you can feel supported and listened to, and challenged to your potential to achieve the type of life you want to live. Feel free to reach out and see if we are a good fit together. I look forward to working with you.
CASSANDRA Baxter (SHE/HER)
Hi! I’m Cassy and I’m here to help you get your stuff together.
Hi! I’m Cassy and I’m here to help you get your stuff together. For 12 years, I have been assisting clients dealing through a wide range of life transitions and everyday stressors. My approach is direct, solution-focused, and client-centered. My goal is your goal. I want to help you identify where you keep getting stuck and set goals for a better balanced, less "chaotic" life. A little chaos isn’t a bad thing. It’s okay to have a beautifully messy life. When the amount of chaos and stress is no longer keeping you on your toes, but bringing you down, it’s time to shift.
That’s “shift” — not “change everything about yourself”— just shift. The tiniest change is worth celebrating. Creating positive challenges for ourselves means we’re consciously setting ourselves up for success. In therapy, we’ll get real about what is possible and set goals that are actually achievable.
As a clinician, I want you to gain insight into what’s most important to you and be proud of yourself for putting in the work that will grow your self-awareness, your resilience, and your ability to make necessary shifts in your life. I will be a non-judgmental party to assist in your journey, help you achieve your goals, and unlock your true potential.
Brittany taylor (she/her)
Throughout our lives, it’s easy for our inner critic to increase feelings of uncertainty, fear, and disconnection from ourselves. These creeping thoughts and emotions that we have can create self-doubt, mental anguish, and even impact our physical health. Our thoughts are constantly telling us stories that can be hard to believe, and we experience this spectrum of emotions that can be tricky to navigate. Rather than internalizing, reacting, or avoiding these negative thoughts and emotions, developing self-compassion and leaning into the pain of discomfort can help you to embrace all of your experiences and begin to shift your life in a way that is meaningful to you.
I was born and raised in Chicago where I am deeply rooted by family, and I lived in Colorado for 12 years where I played college soccer and dove into the field of social work, finding a passion for helping people. For nearly 11 years, I have worked with individuals who have experienced a wide range of difficulties; chronic stress, anxiety, depression, relationship changes, life transitions, trauma, grief and loss, substance use, disordered eating, body dysmorphia, self-esteem, self-doubt, and feelings of inadequacy. My approach is strengths based and person centered, and I work best with individuals who are authentic, willing, curious, and motivated to be the best version of themselves.
By building an alliance that is valuable to you, we will work together to identify your strengths as well as potential areas of growth. We will find new and effective ways to help you cope with life challenges, provide you with practical tools to enhance your self-awareness, and create values-driven goals to bring peace, harmony, and a sense of balance to your life. It is my mission to create a safe space for you to speak your truth, to prosper, and move forward with purpose.
SAMUEL BROWNSON (he/hIM)
Most of our psychological difficulties stem from being alienated from our authentic selves, born out of a well-meaning desire early on in life to shield us from pain. Over time, these protections become less like shields and more like walls. Therapy is a place where the parts that were left behind in that division can be reclaimed and given their proper role as guides and aides toward the life you are meant for, not as obstacles in front of it. We will create a space where all the parts of you can be accepted and understood, and tap into the emotions and growth that is uncovered as a result.
I work from the premise that change from the inside out is the most lasting. That being said, I work best with individuals who are reflective and curious about their inner world, and dedicated to building a different kind of relationship with it.
My approach is rooted in attachment research, using what I have learned in my training about early relationships to inform our work together. We’ll work to achieve your goals through understanding how these relationship patterns have helped or hindered you in moving toward the life you want, and work together to help you to live responsively, not reactively.
I look forward to serving as a guide on your path towards a more authentic and soulful life!