LAURA KIERNAN, MSW

Therapist

Pronouns: She/Her
Locations: Andersonville & The Loop
Language(s) I Speak: English

Not Accepting New Clients

AREAS OF FOCUS

  • ADHD & Attention Issues
  • Behavioral Issues
  • Body Image
  • Eating Disorders & Food Management
  • Family & Relationship Conflict
  • Gender Exploration, Expression & Identity Affirmation
  • Imposter Syndrome
  • Kink, Sex Positivity & Sex Work
  • Life Transitions
  • Mood Disorders (Bipolar, Depression, Major Depression)
  • Religion & Spirituality
  • School Issues
  • Self-Harm
  • Social & Restorative Justice
  • Stress & Coping
  • Transgender & Transitioning
  • Trauma & PTSD

PHILOSOPHY

 I view therapy as, first and foremost, a relationship between partners trying to achieve a shared goal or vision. In this space, we can be free to explore and interpret history and events in the way that is most meaningful to you. Through this narrative, strengths-based work, it is my hope that you will be able to understand and even reframe past traumas, as well as social injustices and co-occurring identities.

THERAPY WITH ME

I strive to help you create a supportive, non-judgmental, collaborative space where we can work on writing your story together. As a therapist, I am passionate about your autonomy and self-determination. Therefore, I will check in with you during each session to find out what is working and what isn’t. I know how overwhelming it can be to have to be “the expert,” so I try to relieve some of that burden by letting you know there are no wrong answers or responses to the work.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

License:

  • Licensed Social Worker Candidate
    Practicing under the supervision of Dr. Leesa Contorino, PsyD-L (License No. 071010237)

Degrees:

  • MSW with a Mental Health Concentration, Loyola University Chicago
  • Juris Doctor, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Western Michigan University
  • BA in Music Performance & English, Albion College

CLIENTS I WORK WITH

  • Individuals (Children, Adolescents, Adults)
  • Families (Chosen, Family of Origin)
  • Relationships (Couples, Open, Marital/Pre-Marital,  Polyamorous/Polycule, Separation/Divorce)

TYPES OF THERAPY

Body-Mind Psychotherapy, Collaborative Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Feminist Therapy, Group Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Mindfulness Based Interventions, Narrative Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian Therapy), Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Systems Theory/Therapy.