Find a therapist in Illinois — covered by insurance

Sometimes talking about the past isn't enough—you want to stop feeling like it's still affecting your present.

Whether you're carrying the weight of a traumatic experience, feeling stuck in patterns that no longer serve you, or struggling with anxiety, overwhelming emotions, or painful memories, healing is possible.

I'm Caroline, a therapist who works exclusively with adults (18+) and has a special passion for helping clients heal from trauma using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. With a decade of clinical experience, I believe that while our past experiences shape us, they don't have to define our future. My goal is to create a supportive, compassionate space where you can process difficult experiences, build resilience, and move forward with greater confidence and peace.

I personally know what it is like to struggle with anxiety and despair. I also know what it is like to go to therapy and to get little benefit from it. Many years ago, my emotional life changed dramatically when I stumbled onto resources that addressed my actual needs, and subsequently I devoted myself to a career promoting better mental health practices than I was taught when I was young.

Simply put, I teach people six interrelated psychological skills that you can use to transform your life. If all you want to do is explore the past, I'm not your best option - I focus on the past only enough to get us moving toward the future you want. I love to help people develop psychological superpowers that they can use to get the life they always hoped for, starting from where they are now and moving forward into a future they find worthwhile.

I have 16 years of clinical experience, working with Children, adolescents, and adults. I provide individual, family, pre/post natal and couples counseling. I take a warm and inviting approach to ensure you feel comfortable as a client. I specialize in anxiety, depression, school concerns, family/ home concerns, friendship issues, ADHD, grief, narcissistic abuse, and autism. I also have 20 years of experience as a school social worker.

⭐ I’m Shelly Lewin, LCSW/LICSW, a therapist with 31 years of experience helping adults navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, identity issues, and major life transitions. I provide virtual therapy across Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, New Mexico, and West Virginia, offering accessible, evidence‐based care to clients seeking meaningful and lasting change. I have 30+ years of experience in private practice and leadership roles at organizations including:

• The Joint Commission
• Northwestern Memorial Hospital
• Kaiser Permanente
• Common Spirit
• Mount Sinai Health System

This background allows me to offer deep clinical expertise paired with practical, real‐world understanding of how people heal and grow. My approach is warm, collaborative, open‐minded, and affirming. If you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or ready for change, I’m here to walk beside you with steady support and clinically grounded guidance. I specialize in therapy for adults experiencing:

• Anxiety & panic disorders
• Depression & mood disorders
• PTSD and trauma recovery
• Substance use and addiction
• LGBTQIA+ affirmative care
• Men’s issues & identity exploration
• Life and career transitions
• Chronic illness & long-term stress

Additional areas of expertise include: Bipolar disorder, OCD, grief & loss, workplace stress, anger management, cultural/ethnic identity issues, expat adjustment, relationship issues, family challenges, and end-of-life concerns

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I provide a supportive and nonjudgmental space where you can show up as your full, authentic self. I have nearly 7 years of experience working with adults navigating a range of mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, burnout, and relationship concerns. I specialize in Motivational Interviewing and Strengths-based approaches. I am calm, caring and open-minded.

With over 25 years of experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I specialize in supporting individuals navigating grief and loss, life transitions, chronic illness, trauma (including first responders), aging-related concerns, and members of the agricultural and farming communities.

I provide telehealth services across multiple states, I’m here to support you on your journey toward healing and growth.

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.