Individual Therapy in Chicago & Northfield
Heal, grow, and rediscover yourself, one session at a time.
Find clarity, peace, and confidence through compassionate individual therapy. Our experienced therapists provide a safe space where you can finally exhale and start to untangle what’s been weighing you down.
You're Not Alone in Feeling This Way
Life can feel impossibly heavy when you’re constantly trying to hold it all together. When you’re the one everyone else leans on, but you have nowhere to lean yourself.
At Third Coast Wellness, we provide individual therapy in Chicago and Northfield to help you navigate anxiety, depression, life transitions, and everything in between. Our compassionate therapists create a safe, judgment-free space where you can process what you’re feeling, understand what’s holding you back, and build the tools to move forward with real confidence.
Who Individual Therapy Is For
Individual therapy is for anyone feeling stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected, or ready for meaningful change. You don’t need to be in crisis to begin. Whether you’re facing specific challenges or simply feel like something isn’t quite right, we’re here to help.
This therapy is right for you if you’re experiencing:
✓ Anxiety that follows you everywhere, making it hard to relax or feel safe
✓ Depression or low motivation that makes even small tasks feel overwhelming
✓ Questions about your purpose, direction, or who you’re supposed to be
✓ Disconnection from the people you love, even when you’re together
✓ Major life transitions like career changes, divorce, or becoming a parent
✓ Stress from parenting, infertility struggles, or midlife transitions
✓ Grief and loss of loved ones, roles, or the person you used to be
✓ Low self-esteem or difficulty setting boundaries
✓ Trauma or painful experiences that still affect you today
✓ Burnout from doing too much for too long
Why Choose Individual Therapy at Third Coast Wellness
Our approach goes deeper than surface solutions. We help you understand yourself on a meaningful level, creating lasting change that goes beyond just feeling better temporarily.
♡
Trusted Expertise
Our therapists specialize in helping adolescents and adults navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and relationship challenges. We bring warmth, clinical skill, and genuine care to every session.
♡
Clear Communication
We believe therapy works best when you understand what’s happening and why. We’ll explain our approach, answer your questions, and make sure you feel informed and empowered throughout your healing journey.
♡
Long-Term Results
We don’t just want you to feel better for a day or a week. We want to help you build lasting tools and insights that transform how you relate to yourself and others for years to come.
Our Approach to Individual Therapy
We use evidence-based, personalized approaches designed to help you understand yourself more deeply and create meaningful change.
CBT helps you identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns that fuel anxiety, depression, and self-doubt. You'll learn practical tools to challenge negative thoughts, manage difficult emotions, and respond to life's challenges with greater clarity and confidence. This approach is particularly effective for anxiety, depression, and stress management.
Psychodynamic therapy explores how your past experiences, relationships, and unconscious patterns shape your present life. By understanding these deeper patterns, you can make sense of why you feel stuck and create meaningful change. This approach is ideal for those seeking deeper self-understanding and long-term transformation.
Understanding your attachment style helps explain how you relate to others and yourself. We explore how early relationships shaped your sense of safety and connection, helping you develop more secure, fulfilling relationships in your adult life.
For those dealing with past trauma, we use gentle, evidence-based approaches to help you process painful experiences and reclaim your sense of safety. We work at your pace, ensuring you feel supported and in control throughout the healing process.
Mindfulness techniques help you stay present, manage overwhelming emotions, and develop self-compassion. We integrate mindfulness practices into therapy to help you respond to life's challenges with greater awareness and ease.
How Individual Therapy Works
Starting individual therapy in Chicago can feel like a big step. We make it simple and supportive from the very beginning.
Step 1: Schedule a Free Consultation
Reach out through our online booking or call us directly. We offer a free 10–15 minute phone consultation to discuss what’s bringing you to therapy, clarify your goals, review insurance and payment options, and ensure we’re the right fit.
Step 2: Complete an Initial Assessment
Your first two sessions are assessment sessions lasting about 55 minutes each. We’ll explore your personal history, current symptoms, and therapy goals. Together, we’ll build a collaborative treatment plan that reflects your values and desired outcomes.
Step 3: Start Your Therapy Journey
After your assessment, ongoing individual therapy sessions last 50–55 minutes. They’re focused, collaborative, and paced according to your comfort level. We believe therapy works best when you feel safe, supported, and empowered to lead your own healing process.
Positive Outcomes of Individual Therapy
Our work together can lead to meaningful, lasting changes in your life. Not just feeling better temporarily, but truly transforming how you navigate your inner world and relationships.
You can expect to:
✓ Feel less anxious and more at peace in your daily life
✓ Understand yourself and your patterns more clearly
✓ Communicate your needs with greater confidence
✓ Set healthy boundaries that protect your wellbeing
✓ Navigate life transitions with more resilience
✓ Experience improved relationships and deeper connections
✓ Develop practical tools for managing difficult emotions
✓ Feel more like the person you want to be
Why Work With Third Coast Wellness
You’re not a problem to fix, but a story to understand.
At Third Coast Wellness, we believe therapy should go deeper than symptom relief. Our work is rooted in the belief that many of the challenges people face (anxiety, disconnection, depression, burnout) stem from unspoken pain, relational wounds, and unseen patterns. These aren’t signs of weakness. They’re signs of something important needing attention.
We specialize in depth-oriented, relational therapy in Chicago and Northfield that helps bring those hidden parts of yourself into awareness. We help you feel more alive, more connected, and more fully yourself.
Led by experienced therapists trained in evidence-based modalities, we work with people who’ve tried therapy before but didn’t get the depth or lasting change they needed. Whether you’re facing a major crisis or a quiet sense that something isn’t quite right, we help you understand your inner world so you can move through it with clarity and compassion.
Healing takes time, courage, and the right support. We’re here when you’re ready.
Our Dedicated Team
Founder & Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Alison Kramme, M.A., LCPC
Currently seeing clients in-person at Northfield or virtually via TeleHealth.
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Courtney Rankin, MA, LCPC
Currently seeing clients in-person in Chicago or virtually via TeleHealth.
Assistant Practice Manager
Kade Cox, Assistant Practice Manager
Creating efficient systems that support both clinicians and clients.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Get Started
Taking the first step is easier than you think. We’re here to make the process simple and supportive.
Free phone consultations are available.
You can get in touch by calling, emailing, or booking online. Our team will guide you through the next steps and help match you with a therapist who fits your needs.
If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected, or repeating the same patterns, therapy can help. You don't need to be in crisis to begin. Many people come to therapy not because something is drastically wrong, but because they want to understand themselves better, grow, and live more intentionally.
Your first session is an assessment where we explore your personal history, current challenges, and goals for therapy. This helps us understand your story and create a treatment plan tailored to your needs. We'll also discuss what you can expect from therapy and answer any questions you have.
Every person is different. Some people see improvement in a few months, while others benefit from longer-term work. We'll discuss your goals regularly and adjust our approach as needed. Therapy isn't about staying forever—it's about giving you the tools and insights you need to thrive on your own.
Yes! We offer secure telehealth therapy throughout Illinois. Many clients find virtual sessions just as effective as in-person, with the added convenience of attending from the comfort of home.
We accept many major insurance plans. During your free consultation, we'll review your coverage and discuss payment options. We're committed to making quality therapy accessible.
You Deserve to Feel at Peace
You’ve carried enough on your own. You don’t have to keep white-knuckling your way through life, pretending everything is fine when it’s not.
This is your invitation to slow down, go deeper, and start the process of healing. Whether you’re carrying unspoken pain, feeling stuck in old patterns, or simply yearning for more peace, we’re here to walk alongside you.
Begin your healing journey, one conversation at a time.
Available in-person in Northfield and Chicago, or virtually throughout Illinois