Meet Our Therapists

Niquie is a Clinical Psychologist with specialized training in psychoanalysis, Gottman Couples Therapy Level 2 and Gottman Seven Principles Leader, modern psychoanalytic group therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, divorce mediation, and substance abuse treatment.  She works with high-conflict couples and families.  Additionally, she specializes in the treatment adults and adolescents with eating disorders; substance abuse; compulsive shopping, gambling, sex, and self-harm; alternative sexual and relationship lifestyles; trauma; parenting; relationship difficulties; and grief and loss.  Niquie has expertise helping couples and families struggling with divisive politics as well issues among estranged family members. She runs interpersonal process groups and conducts integrative relational therapy consultation and supervision.

Call 773-472-8587

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Sarah is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years experience.  She has a certificate in adult psychoanalytic psychotherapy from the Institute for Psychoanalysis. She provides psychotherapy to adults and children at two practice locations. She specializes in mood and anxiety disorders, relationship difficulties, personality disorders, and stage of life transitions, utilizing principles of relational psychoanalytic theory. Sarah provides supervision and consultation to psychotherapy students and professionals as well as faculty and administration of multiple head-start and early childhood programs.

Call 312-391-9743

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Sevil is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. She completed her master’s in clinical counseling and psychotherapy at the Institute for Clinical Social Work. A member of LGBTQ+, Sevil works from a psychodynamic and relational perspective with adolescents and adults who struggle with depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, body image, identity, life transition, young adulthood and LGBTQ+ issues. Her goal is to guide you to deeper self-understanding, self-acceptance and healing while providing a safe and compassionate space.

Call 773-242-7557

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Nathan is a Board Certified Licensed Clinical Social Worker.  He has 19 years experience as a psychotherapist and completed advanced training at the Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute.  He is interested in the internal emotional world of people and its bearing on relationships, including the therapeutic relationship. He approaches clients in consideration of their development—both in health and also when things get “off-track.” Nathan works with adults, children, parents and couples.

Call 773-348-1234

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Kat Johnson (she/her/hers) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She is a white, cisgender, queer therapist and has a Master’s degree from Loyola University in Chicago. Kat is primarily an ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) focused clinician with additional training in other behaviorally based and integrative therapies. She completed an advanced Contextual Behavioral Fellowship and has training in the treatment of relational trauma.  She has a strong passion for social justice that she utilizes in her work. Kat’s areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, identity, and LGBTQ+ issues. She also provides ACT consultation to clinicians in the Chicagoland area. 

Call 847-579-9436

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Allisun is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with specialized training in relational psychodynamic psychotherapy, mindfulness meditation, and couple therapy.  Allisun received post-doctoral certification in psychoanalytic psychotherapy from the Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute.  She has completed an externship in Emotion Focused Couple Therapy as well as training in EMDR.  She has experience working with depression and anxiety, relationship issues, identity and self-esteem, LGBTQ clients, eating and body-image disturbances, loss and mourning, and pregnancy related transitions.  She is available for individual and couples therapy.

Call 773-209-3772

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Melissa Vitale is a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She provides a holistic approach that considers your unique physical and mental health needs. For every new patient, Melissa provides a comprehensive initial psychiatric assessment, and offers subsequent mental medication management and individual psychotherapy. She is eager to collaborate with other providers (therapists, counselors) to provide optimal care for her patients. Melissa offers general psychiatric services for adult patients who are experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, or thought disorders. She sees adults and adolescents.  Melissa is available in person and remotely through telehealth.

Email Melissa

Call  773-536-2700

Ryan (he/him) is a Senior Postgraduate Fellow at Lakeview Center for Psychotherapy. He will obtain his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Adler University in August 2023. Before returning to Lakeview, where he had done a practicum year, Ryan completed his internship at Oregon State University, and has also trained at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Psychological Consultations in Chicago. Prior to his career in psychology, Ryan was a writer and performance artist and worked in the service industry as a bartender. He also has a love for comedy and improv, elements which distinctly color his therapeutic approach, as he often infuses play, humor, and laughter into the healing process. He holds a deep belief that identity is a creative task, and consciously weaves creativity into his therapeutic work. Ryan specializes in the intersection of creativity and mood disorders, offering insights and strategies to manage these complex challenges. Ryan’s approach assists clients in navigating the specific issues often faced by those with a creative disposition. He employs an integrative psychoanalytic approach and provides both individual and group psychotherapy.

Call  312-945-8826

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Beck Gardner (he/him) is a Postgraduate Fellow at Lakeview Center for Psychotherapy. He holds a master’s degree in counseling and psychotherapy from the Institute of Clinical Social Work. Prior to joining Lakeview, he worked as a school counselor at the Ancona school (a Montessori school for students Pre-K to 8th grade) and as a therapist at a group practice which focused on offering services to queer and gender diverse clients. Beck works from a psychodynamic perspective, working with his clients to develop a fuller understanding of themselves, their current and past experiences, and the ways in which they all link. Beck specializes in treating depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties,  trauma, and challenges with self-esteem and identity. Beck has experience with and enjoys working with queer and gender diverse clients of all ages, adults, children, and adolescents.  

Call  773-614-7787

Email  Beck