Centered Therapy Chicago

At Centered Therapy Chicago, providing trauma-informed care means understanding the extensive impact that trauma has on the mind, body, and soul, and utilizing that knowledge to understand each individual’s unique experience. We engage in ongoing professional training and consultation about best practices in trauma treatment.  We aim to empower survivors of trauma while gently guiding them in their own journey of healing. We emphasize the importance of collaborating with other practitioners and recognizing the utility of mind-body therapeutic work. In addition, clinicians at CTC are practiced at taking personal inventories and utilizing self-care in order to maintain trauma stewardship.

We are dedicated to working with the whole person. We continuously educate ourselves on the impact and healing of traumatic experiences through didactic training, case consultation, as well as consulting with our client’s other practitioners.  We complete a holistic assessment with our clients and work with clients to adjust their lifestyle and health practices to support their healing process. We utilize creative interventions to assist our clients in their healing process. Thus, we place great importance on our clients’ whole being, which includes their psychological, cognitive, spiritual, and physical well-being. We regularly collaborate with medical and holistic practitioners who work with our clients.

We practice from a culturally competent and systemic lens. We understand both the macro and micro system issues that contribute the experience of trauma. We regularly address historic, systemic, intergenerational, and cultural factors that impact the experience of trauma.

We understand the importance of creating safety and trust in the therapeutic relationship. We create safety and trust by educating the client on the therapeutic process and providing psycho-education about trauma and the impact of trauma on a client’s mind and body. We utilize a strength-based approach to our work and normalize the emotional and physiological symptoms of trauma. In addition, we teach our client skills to assist them in managing their trauma responses. We also understand the importance of empowerment and consent. For example, we inform clients about our interventions and ask/check in with the client before proceeding with the intervention. We regularly inform the client that sharing/participating is always their choice. In addition, clinicians at Centered Therapy Chicago recognize a hierarchy of needs for survivors of trauma, and help the client prioritize their needs during the process of healing. We adhere to Judith Herman’s model of trauma recovery, where client safety is our priority. We take a body-focused approach to treatment often first focusing on establishing safety within the therapeutic relationship and space. We also teach clients how to better manage their nervous systems so they feel an increased sense of safety within their own body.

In addition, the therapists at CTC place great emphasis on doing their own work in trauma stewardship. It is essential to be mindful of our own well-being while working with survivors of trauma to provide a healing space. Thus, our clinicians are consistent with taking personal inventories and implementing self-care.

CTC accepts BCBS PPO and Blue Choice.  We offer a sliding-scale to those who do not have health insurance and cannot afford the full fee. Our clinicians work closely with each client to ensure that healing is accessible.