Prenatal and postpartum therapists & psychiatrists 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.

My style is eclectic and strength based. I see human nature as intrinsically good. Sigmund Freud said we are bio-social animals. I believe a great deal in listening to one’s self talk. The more positive our dialogue with ourselves is, the more positive our dialogues with others and our lives are. I’m also experienced in CBT, DBT, MI, Solution Focused, ACT, Gestalt, Interpersonal, and person-centered counseling.

My training includes lots of wonderful supervision and workshops, a three-year certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Chicago, and two one month intensives with Virginia Satir, the founder of family therapy. Virginia taught that exploring the self is like mining gold. We all have gold inside of us. That is our basic goodness. A lot of emotional suffering is the result of being detoured from that basic goodness.

Hello, and thank you for taking the time to read about my professional background.

I graduated with my bachelor's in social work in 2013 from MacMurray College in Jacksonville IL.

I furthered my education at the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign School of Social Work and graduated with my Masters in SW in 2017.

I have gained 13 years of experience with the majority of those years spent in psychiatric facilities for children and adults.

I specialize in motivational interviewing, DBT, CBT, and a multitude of other treatment styles.

Hi there, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 15 years of experience in the field. My experiences have come from child welfare, community mental health and healthcare and afford me the opportunity to support so many individuals and families along the way. Most recently I have focused on perinatal mental health and supporting families through the continuum of pregnancy and postpartum transitions.

Hi, I’m Heather Lopez, LCSW. I help women, moms, and BIPOC professionals who are navigating anxiety, life changes, burnout, and the mental load of holding everything together. You might be the one everyone counts on—but lately, you’re wondering who’s checking on you.

Whether you’re adjusting to motherhood, working through family stress, or just trying to feel like yourself again, therapy can be a space to slow down and breathe. I work virtually with clients across Illinois. My style is warm, clinical, supportive, and down-to-earth (with the occasional well-placed joke). We'll explore your patterns, set real goals, and focus on healing in a way that actually feels useful in your daily life. I accept insurance and offer weekday sessions. If you're looking for a therapist who gets it and creates a judgment-free zone, let’s talk.

In addition to individual therapy, I offer a weekly 1-hour support group for moms experiencing overwhelm, anxiety, emotional exhaustion, and difficulty adjusting to the demands of motherhood.

This group focuses on emotional regulation, stress management, and reducing feelings of isolation through supportive, structured group processing.

Life can be messy, confusing, and exhausting—and you don’t have to go through it alone. I’m a realist therapist who listens deeply and meets you where you are. I blend evidence-based tools with real-world conversations to help you feel understood while learning how to cope, heal, and grow. If you’re feeling anxious, burned out, stuck in grief, challenged with life transitions or caught in old patterns—and ready for meaningful change at your own pace—I’m here to help. Let’s figure this out together.

Hi, I’m E. C. Kissner — and if you’re someone who feels accomplished on the outside but stretched thin on the inside, you’re in the right place. Many of the people I work with are navigating burnout, transitions, stress, uncertainty about next steps, or a sense that life’s moving faster than they can keep up with. You want clarity, balance, and a way to turn insight into real-world change, and you want a space that meets you where you are — respectful of your identity, your experiences, and your goals.

I work with older adults and individuals living with serious mental illness who may be feeling overwhelmed by life changes, emotional stress, health concerns, loss, or isolation. Many of my clients come in carrying too much for too long, feeling stuck, discouraged, or disconnected from themselves.

Whatever brings you here, my goal is to offer a space that feels steady and respectful — where you can slow down, be heard, and start making sense of what’s been heavy. You don’t have to have it all figured out; we’ll take things one step at a time, without pressure or judgment.

Hello, I’m Shelia Ransom Jenkins, MSW, LCSW, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience supporting adolescents, adults, couples, and families through life’s challenges. I offer a compassionate, trauma-informed, and client-centered approach to therapy, creating a safe space where individuals feel heard, supported, and empowered.

I hold a Master of Social Work and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice, and my professional background includes work in community mental health, educational settings, and clinical leadership roles. I have experience helping clients manage anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, relationship and family conflict, behavioral concerns, life transitions, and stress related to work, school, and personal growth. I also have specialized training in perinatal mental health, supporting individuals experiencing postpartum depression and related mood disorders.

My therapeutic approach integrates evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), trauma-informed care, and strengths-based interventions, tailored to each client’s unique needs and goals. I believe therapy is most effective when it is collaborative, practical, and rooted in trust.

Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, navigating a difficult transition, or seeking deeper self-understanding, my goal is to support you with empathy, clarity, and encouragement as you work toward healing and lasting change.