Family therapy and counseling in Illinois

I did not stumble into this work — I chose it, and I choose it every day. I am Bianca Gist, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois and Indiana.

I am also a former collegiate athlete, and that background shapes how I show up — I know what it feels like to carry a lot and still need someone genuinely in your corner. My experience is rooted in the spaces where people need the most and are often given the least — Chicago Public Schools, foster care, home-based services, and community mental health. Through my private practice, Her Sole Purpose LLC, I work with children, adolescents, student-athletes, and families using CBT, ACT, and trauma-informed care. I use what works for the person in front of me, not a one-size-fits-all approach. I work well with people navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and the weight of environments that were not built for them. Therapy with me is honest, grounded, and focused on what actually helps you move forward — not just cope.

If any of this resonates, I would love to connect.

Life can feel like a lot sometimes, whether you're navigating anxiety, grief, addiction, or the emotional weight of caring for a loved one. Maybe things feel tangled, or you're used to being the strong one for everyone else. You don’t have to figure it all out alone. I want to understand your story, what’s been heavy lately, and what you’re hoping will feel different. Together, we can begin to make sense of it all and help you feel more steady, supported, and like yourself again.

My nursing career began in 2010 when I first became a Registered Nurse. In 2017 I graduated from Maryville University in St. Louis, MO with my master’s degree in nursing and became a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C) licensed in Illinois. I have been blessed to work in many facets of healthcare since and has also become a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC). With a strong foundation in both primary care and mental health, my approach aligns overall wellness and hormone optimization with physical, mental, and lifestyle well-being.

My therapy room is a space where you don’t have to explain yourself. You can show up, fully and authentically, without the need to code-switch or justify your experiences. Our sessions are a dedicated time for you to be heard and understood without judgment.

I am a social worker and grief counselor, with over 6 years experience working with bereaved clients. I am also a director of mental health education for a grief focused non-profit, creating programs that educate on grief & loss awareness. While grief is my main focus, I hold a special place in my heart for all life transitions, including job/career changes, spiritual adjustments/abuse, and relationship losses.