Kristen Laakso

I believe therapy is an active, collaborative process. I work with clients to uncover what’s getting in the way of the life they want and to find ways forward—whether that means addressing unhelpful patterns, building healthier relationships, developing new coping strategies, or deepening self-understanding. I draw from a primarily psychodynamic approach, helping clients explore the underlying roots of their struggles so they can create lasting change. My experience with somatic work, specifically yoga therapy, informs my approach as well. I am particularly interested in working with individuals and couples navigating relationship challenges, life transitions, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, and issues of self-worth. Before becoming a therapist, I worked as a language teacher, magazine editor, and museum guide in France, where I met my husband and where our two teenage daughters were born. I am currently earning my Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling and Psychotherapy at the Institute for Clinical Social Work in Chicago.