You look in the mirror and don’t recognize the person staring back. Maybe you’ve spent so long being what everyone else needed that you’ve lost touch with who you actually are. Maybe you’ve been performing a version of yourself for so long that you can’t remember what’s real and what’s an act.
Maybe you’re successful, accomplished, and admired, but you feel like a fraud. Like you’re one mistake away from everyone discovering you’re not who they think you are.
Self-image isn’t just about whether you like how you look. It’s about whether you recognize yourself, in your choices, your relationships, your life. It’s about whether the person you present to the world matches the person you feel like inside.
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience, I help people rebuild their self-image from the inside out. Not by creating a new mask to wear, but by peeling away the layers that don’t belong to you—the expectations, the roles, the stories you’ve been told about who you should be—so you can discover who you actually are.
You've spent so long being what everyone else needed that you've lost touch with who you actually are. You look in the mirror and see a stranger.
You criticize yourself and what you do constantly. Nothing you do is ever good enough. You compare yourself to everyone and always come up short.
You're successful on paper, but you're convinced you're faking it. One mistake and everyone will see you're not as competent, smart, or together as they think.
You're the "good daughter," the "reliable employee," the "perfect partner." But take those roles away, and you don't know who you are.
You're only as valuable as your last accomplishment. You obsess over how you look because you believe your worth depends on it.
You became a parent, a caregiver, a partner, and somewhere along the way, you disappeared. You don't remember what YOU want anymore.
The real you is still there. Let’s find them.
Self-image therapy is about excavation, removing the layers that don’t belong to you so you can discover who’s underneath.
Session 1-2: Understanding the Current Self-Image
We’ll explore how you see yourself right now, where those beliefs came from, and the gap between who you present to the world and who you feel like inside. By the end of session 2, you’ll have clarity on what we’re working on.
Session 3-8: Identifying the “Shoulds” and Inherited Stories
We’ll dig into the messages you’ve internalized: “I should be more successful,” “I should look a certain way,” “I should want what my parents wanted for me.” We’ll identify which beliefs are actually YOURS and which ones you’ve been carrying for someone else.
Session 9-20: Challenging and Rewriting
This is where transformation happens. We challenge distorted beliefs (“I’m a fraud,” “I’m not good enough”) and replace them with truths. We practice setting boundaries, saying no, and making choices aligned with YOUR values. You’ll reconnect with parts of yourself you’ve suppressed or forgotten.
Session 20+: Integration and Living Authentically
As your sense of self solidifies, we shift to less frequent sessions. The goal is to help you live authentically, making choices, building relationships, and showing up in the world as the real you, not a performed version.
Low self-esteem isn’t fixed with affirmations or “positive thinking.” We dig into WHERE these beliefs came from (family, culture, trauma) and unlearn them at the root.
You’ve been performing for so long, being the “good daughter,” the “reliable employee,” the “perfect partner”, that you’ve lost touch with who you are when no one’s watching. We find that person.
Most clients see meaningful shifts within 6 months (approximately 24 sessions). Deep identity work takes time, there’s no quick fix, but you’ll notice changes along the way.
This is common, especially for immigrants and second-generation Americans. We work on honoring your roots while building an identity that feels authentic to YOU. You don’t have to reject your culture to be yourself.
Self-image therapy focuses specifically on how you see yourself, your identity, your worth, your authenticity. While general therapy addresses a range of concerns, self-image therapy zeroes in on rebuilding your relationship with yourself.
That’s exactly why you’re here. Many clients come to therapy having lost touch with themselves. Part of our work is excavation, removing the layers that don’t belong so you can discover who’s underneath.
Yes. We address body image as part of self-worth work: separating your value from your appearance, challenging beauty standards, and moving toward body neutrality or acceptance. If you’re struggling with disordered eating, I can provide referrals to eating disorder specialists.
That’s the distorted belief we’ll work on. You deserve to feel good about yourself, not because you’ve earned it through achievements, but because you’re human.
Yes! I provide secure online therapy throughout Illinois. Many clients prefer online sessions for convenience and flexibility.
I accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, United Healthcare, Cigna, and other major insurers. Contact me to verify your specific plan coverage.
in-person and online options throughout Illinois.
Friday 10 AM – 8 PM
Saturday 9 AM – 3 PM
1525 East 53rd Street
Suite 433
Chicago, IL 60615
Parking: Paid parking available behind Akira and paid street parking.
Public Transit: CTA and Metra
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
11 AM – 8 PM
125 South Wacker Drive
Suite 308
Chicago, IL 60606
Parking: Paid street parking or multiple public garages..
Public Transit: CTA & Metra.
Whether you’re navigating relationship struggles, identity questions, trauma recovery, or generational patterns you’re ready to break, I’m here to help. Fill out the form, and I will reach out to you as soon as I can.
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