Psychoanalytic Therapists in Illinois

I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) passionate about helping people navigate life’s challenges, including anxiety, trauma, and difficult transitions. I create a safe, supportive space where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered to explore their thoughts and emotions. My approach is collaborative and tailored to each person’s unique journey. Together, we identify patterns that may be holding you back, build practical coping skills, and work toward meaningful change in your daily life. I focus on fostering self-awareness, resilience, and personal growth, always with compassion, empathy, and respect for your individual experience. Clients often describe me as warm, approachable, and insightful—someone who listens deeply, challenges gently, and supports them every step of the way toward clarity, balance, and well-being.

My aim is to provide a philosophically sophisticated therapeutic experience that is tailored uniquely to you. Together, we can work on various concerns such as addiction, overwhelming stress, culture shock, grief, difficulty in relationships, a sense of anxiety or the exhaustion of depression. My approach is a holistic one, based on a meditative, in the moment application of REBT, DBT, and Existential Counseling to help guide you through your struggles. My strength as a therapist is the total commitment to my client’s needs and yours is the resilience to unburden yourself from the obstacles that arise in your daily life.

Hello! My name is Latavia and I work with a team of dedicated therapists that want to support you and the community. Let us collaborate as we nurture your growth. You do not have to be alone.

Beginning counseling can be a very different experience. Becoming comfortable enough to discuss personal and difficult topics about your life is not always easy. I understand, as a person who has been in counseling myself, which is why I became a counselor. I know that faith can be an important part of people's walk in life and can integrate concepts of faith into counseling based on each individuals preference. I also realize that others wish to focus just on the therapeutic concepts that will aid their journey. I want to engage with you where you are and process all that is currently occurring in your life. I have found that through my journey of becoming a counselor that I want to help those who have experienced trauma. I also want to help those who struggle with addiction to aid in their changes they are pursuing. I want to be a support to relationships that are experiencing difficulty and are hoping for restoration as well as ending relationships well. The other issues that I can provide service for are anxiety, depression, and general life difficulties. I want to provide a peaceful and engaging experience that will help you on your journey to complete health. No matter what brings you to counseling you will be cared for. Please reach out via email, text, or phone to begin that process for your health.

I am so proud of you for taking this step! Deciding to go on this journey is not easy, but I am more than happy to help you navigate it. I am Dr. Arielle Smith, LCSW and I am a psychotherapist. I use a client centered approach which allows me to meet you where you are in life, while providing an atmosphere free of judgment, and full of positive regard. I encourage you to give yourself grace, become your best self, while holding you accountable, and challenging you to be greater.I provide psychotherapy to those who feel that they have lost themselves, may be transitioning, are overwhelmed with past trauma, or those who often feel anxious and shy away from their potential. During our time together, you have the ability to explicitly express yourself, with conversation and feedback that promotes healing, self-discovery, personal development and reflection. Together, we will go on a journey to explore self-worth and purpose. We will begin or continue the healing process, create goals, coping skills and necessary boundaries. You deserve to feel good, be great and continue to have a life you love!

I believe everyone has the narrative to their own story and the answer they seek is within; sometimes it just needs a little compassionate digging. Because therapy isn't a life time based resource, I believe in empowering individuals to discover and develop their own inner and outer resource pool as well as explore new coping techniques to continue to build resilience, empowerment, and nurture self compassion. My approach is race informed, trauma informed, and LGBTQIA+ friendly.