Hi! I'm Diala- a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Illinois and an EMDR-trained therapist. I work with adults through individual therapy. My clinical home is trauma. Most of my clients are working through something that happened to them — or a long pattern of things — and looking for a way to stop carrying it the way they're carrying it. Some came in knowing they had trauma. Most didn't.
Most came in for anxiety, a hard postpartum, a marriage that wasn't going anywhere, an unshakeable feeling of not being okay, and we found the trauma underneath it together.EMDR is my primary modality, but it's not the whole of my practice. I draw on talk therapy, CBT, DBT skills, mindfulness, and parts work depending on what the work needs. Some clients never do an EMDR session and benefit deeply. Most do. I'll never push you into a modality you're not ready for.
My approach is client-centered and collaborative. I see each person as the expert of their own experience, and I value your ability to help me understand you without assumptions or labels.At the heart of my work is the belief that therapy should feel real, safe, and human. My goal is to create a space where you feel seen, heard, and understood as you are.While we will develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs and goals, I also believe therapy is more than a process—it is a relationship built on trust and genuine connection.
In our sessions, you can expect warmth, respect, and space for your full experience. Whether you are sharing something painful, sitting in silence, asking difficult questions, crying, or even laughing—you are welcome here. Healing can be challenging, but therapy does not have to feel clinical or distant. This is a space for honesty, growth, and being fully human.
In our first session, we will use it as an opportunity to discuss what brings you to therapy, and what struggles you have been experiencing. You will also be given the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about our future sessions.
