About Us
Our Values
Curiosity
We’re forever curious about the value systems and beliefs that guide you, gently digging into what makes you “you”, where that comes from and whether or not it’s serving you.
Compassion
We believe you are worth your desired experience not because youare perfect ornever fail, but because you are beautifully human.
Creativity
Hope and creativity go hand in hand. We believe that with a little creativity, paths that were once either unexplored or seemed too risky to access can become a reality.
Social Justice
We approach our work with an intersectional lens, LGBTQIA+ affirming and anti-racist, honoring all the different identities you hold.
Pleasure
In our stress-obsessed world, we choose to elevate feeling goodto a basic right, not a reward to be earned.
Meet our Therapists
Lena Elkhatib, LMFT, CST
(she/her)
Founder of Essentia Therapy, LLC
Individual, Relationship and Sex Therapist
SPECIALTIES:
- Relationship conflict
- Sex & Intimacy issues
- Mismatched desire
- Sexual shame
- Anxiety management
- Life transitions
INSURANCES ACCEPTED/RATES
- BCBS PPO
- United Healthcare
- Self-Pay ($125/hour)
I work with people looking to make changes. People yearning for, looking for and ready to reconnect with themselves, their partners and their sexuality in a deeper, more authentic, more vibrant way. I work with people that simply won’t settle for a life that is anything short of turned on.
As a relational therapist, specifically trained and licensed in Marriage and Family Therapy and AASECT-certified in Sex Therapy, my passion is in working with individuals and couples in navigating a myriad of personal and interpersonal challenges such as relationship issues, intimacy & sexual concerns and navigating life stage transitions and anxiety management.
My practice is all about creating a space for compassion and acceptance, alongside growth and change. Through therapy, we will work together to discover, unpack and explore the stories guiding your life or relationships. We’ll dig into where they come from and take a cold hard look at whether or not they line up with your values and desires. And, for those stories that are leaving you feeling stuck, we’ll challenge them and rewrite new ones based in your truth, opening up space for a life, love and sexuality that is rooted in authenticity, clarity and self-compassion. Our work together won’t always be easy, but change never is. If you’re willing to lean in, you’ll leave with a stronger connection to yourself, your partner and your sexuality, new scripts to live by and a slew of strategies to stay on track.
AFFILIATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS:
- Clinical Member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT)
- Clinical Member of the American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT)
- Clinical Member of the Illinois Affiliation of Marriage and Family Therapists (IAMFT)
- Clinical Member of The Sexual Health Alliance
- Member of Postpartum Support International (PSI)
- Pre-Marital Counseling Facilitator through PREPARE/ENRICH
Rachel Schwartz, AMFT
(she/her)
Individual, Relationship and Sex Therapist
SPECIALTIES:
- Relationship issues
- Trust Repair
- Life transitions
- Sex & Intimacy issues
- Sexual trauma
INSURANCES ACCEPTED/RATES
- BCBS PPO
- Self-Pay ($125/hour)
Are you struggling to create an intimate space with your partner? Are you looking for more vulnerability and find yourself coming up short? Do you experience similar cycles of conflict that feel difficult to change? Do feelings of anxiety and depression feel like it absorbs all of your energy? Have you experienced a decrease in trust with a loved one? You are not alone and I am here to help.
As a Couple & Family Therapist, I am specifically trained on how to work with the many relationships in our lives. These relationships may be our birth families, chosen families, intimate partners, or even society at large. Taking this perspective allows me to assist clients in reflecting and deepening their own understanding. This understanding teaches clients to notice the range of influence these relationships have on our lives. When we understand, and recognize, we can intervene and begin creating the lives we want.
I strive to create a space that is warm, welcoming, and nonjudgmental as we explore this messy thing called life. This space will provide you with the tools to dig deeper, the curiosity to ask the hard questions and the safety of knowing you are receiving quality care.
I have a particular interest in working with individuals and couples as they explore relational needs, life stage transitions, sexual trauma, families of origin, infidelity, changes in intimacy, conflict resolution and trust repair. My primary goal is to help you discover your most authentic self through collaboration. I look forward to working with you!
AFFILIATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS:
- Member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT)