Loren Phillips

With over twenty-six years of experience in social services, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has spent my career showing up for people in some of life's most difficult moments. I began on a domestic violence hotline and went on to support child survivors of sexual assault, homicide victims' family members, people experiencing homelessness, and those navigating substance use. I spent nine years as a team lead and clinical supervisor, and co-launched a living room mental health crisis center designed as a community-based alternative to hospitals and police for mental health emergencies. I received my Master of Social Work from Loyola University Chicago in 2013 and completed two years of advanced clinical training at the Chicago Center for Integration and Healing in body-based, trauma-informed therapy. I am also a Wilderness First Responder, which tells you something about how I approach being present for people in high-stakes moments. Outside of work, I enjoy cooperative living, group bike rides, DIY projects, and raising chickens in the city. I specialize in working with queer, trans, non-binary, and gender-questioning individuals, people who use drugs, and those living with PTSD and complex trauma.

My approach is grounded in body-based, present centered trauma-informed therapy with a strong anti-oppressive lens. I take seriously how systems of power shape our mental health and our lives. I focus on complex trauma, developmental wounds, and attachment patterns, helping clients reconnect with themselves in a way that feels safe and sustainable and fosters healthy relationships. I draw on my extensive background in harm reduction, LGBTQ-affirmative care, and crisis work to meet people where they are, without judgment and without shame. I believe therapy works best when it honors the whole person: their history, their identity, their body, and their community. I am warm, direct, and collaborative, and I bring genuine curiosity and deep respect to every session.

Our first session is about getting to know each other. I will ask questions to understand what brought you here, what you are carrying, and what you are hoping for. I will also leave space for you to go at your own pace, with no pressure to share everything right away. I want you to leave that first session feeling heard and having a sense of whether working together feels like a good fit. I approach the intake process as a conversation, not an interrogation, and I will share a bit about how I work so we can figure out together what might be most helpful for you.