Lauren Dircks

I’m Lauren Dircks, LCSW, a licensed therapist in Illinois with immediate openings. Are you struggling with anxiety, depression, grief, or life transitions and longing for a safe space to turn? My passion is creating a supportive, empowering space where you feel truly seen as you heal and grow.

I also offer EMDR for trauma recovery. I welcome teens, adults, seniors, and caregivers from all walks of life, offering a safe, inclusive space to be your authentic self. I support clients with anxiety, depression, grief, LGBTQ+ needs, perinatal care, dementia and caregiver stress, relationship conflict, anger, stress, self-esteem, and life transitions.

My approach is one that is very flexible as I meet you where you are to be able to best support you. I balance gentle support and sitting quiet to give you space to process and talk about challenges with also challenging thoughts and perspectives to help you see things in new and more positive ways. I work to ensure that when I am challenging thoughts or perspectives that it is done so in a gentle and supportive way, but also in a clear and straight forward approach. I am a very honest person, and clinician, and my approach is based on honesty while supporting, not just saying what I think one wants to hear.

During our first session we will focus on getting to know each other, and giving you space to share what brings you to therapy. We will review expectations, set goals for treatment, review policies, and I will happily answer any questions you may have. The first session is really a time for you as the client to get comfortable with making the first step on your improvement journey, and being able to feel confident in where things are going next.