Body Wisdom Counseling Holistic Mental Health in Chicago

Cher Hamilton-Tekautz (she/her/hers)

How can Body Wisdom Counseling help?

Whether you are seeking counseling to get relief from anxiety, stress, trauma or depression, wanting to experience fewer feelings of guilt and shame, needing to find more balance in your relationships or work, wanting support around your LGBTQIA+ identity, or hoping to develop acceptance of yourself, you will receive validation and understanding for what you're going through. You will also learn tools that increase self-compassion and self-acceptance, help you develop a kinder voice in your head, and increase your self-esteem.

I personally found that I made the most progress in my therapy when it focused on developing self-acceptance through mind body connection. I learned mindfulness techniques to become more comfortable with big emotions, learned how to get in touch with my inner truth, and was able to develop gentleness with myself. Because of those experiences I continued to learn about other body centered modalities such as yoga-informed therapy and Emotional Freedom Technique. I knew I had to offer these tools to others, which is why I named my practice Body Wisdom Counseling.

Advocate/Activist/Caregiver
You made a career out of taking care of or helping others and fighting for social justice, which you really enjoyed in the beginning. You loved the work so much that the stress of it didn't feel noticeable until it hit you like a ton of bricks. You feel like you are never doing enough, experience debilitating anxiety, have self-loathing thoughts, and feel like a burden to those you care about. You cry for hours and can't explain why and then feel so fatigued. You struggle to be present in your relationships, which sometimes makes you feel like a stranger in your own skin. You know you can't continue at this rate, but also don’t know where to begin. You’re in the right place.

What you will gain from therapy:

A space that is just for you
Development of self-care routines that lead to increased life/work balance
Understand emotional triggers
Learn ways to handle overwhelming emotions
Feel like yourself again so you can focus on your passions
Learn how to say no and develop better boundaries
Increased compassion and acceptance for yourself

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LGBTQ+
You identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, trans non-binary, queer, pansexual, qenderqueer, or any of the alphabet soup. Whether you are in the early stages of coming out, have been out for awhile, or are just beginning to explore your gender or sexual identity you are in the right place. Whether you are looking for support in obtaining gender affirming surgery, or you just need support in dealing with the anxiety and depression you experience and also happen to identify as LGBTQ you're in the right place. You just want to work with a queer identified therapist who has an understanding of your identity, non-monogamy, kink, or fetishes without needing to explain things. Welcome.

What you will gain from therapy:

Support of your identity and relationship(s) from someone in a queer relationship
Exploration and understanding of your gender identity that allows you to be your authentic self
Exploration and understanding of your sexual identity that allows you to be your authentic self
Exploration and understanding of your relationship orientation that allows you to have fulfilling meaningful relationship(s)
Learn ways to deal with feelings of jealousy within non-monogamous relationships

Survivor
You experience anxiety and depression. For the most part you've managed pretty well, but certain things are not going away and are actually starting to get worse. You experience intrusive thoughts, a rapid heart rate, and trouble breathing. You struggle with guilt and self-hatred. You are less patient and more irritable. You know your upbringing may be playing a role because you grew up with parents who fought often, were heavily using alcohol or drugs, or they were outright physically, emotionally, or sexually abusive. You are tired of not feeling good enough and something needs to change. This is where healing begins.

What you will gain from therapy:

Feel calmer, better able to handle stress, and more energized, present and connected
Increased self-esteem
Tools to manage anxiety, stress, depression, and guilt
Learn how your family upbringing has impacted you and your current relationships
Improved balance and communication in relationships

Request Appointment