Therapist in Chicago, Illinois,
Tonya Vander, LCSW

Tonya Vander, LCSW, understands what trauma and grief look like when life is severely altered, and she offers a strong, empathic ear and tools to guide clients through healing. She creates safe spaces for individuals to feel heard, encouraged, and accepted. She supports clients age six and up struggling with depression, family conflict, mood disorders, stress, and is especially skilled at treating:

Trauma/PTSD: Tonya is highly skilled at treating trauma and supporting clients through the tremendous repair work needed to heal. She helps clients focus on hope and resiliency no matter what barriers they’re facing. Tonya understands change takes time, but there’s possibility to overcome anything and move forward.

Traumatic Brain Injury: Tonya knows how brain injuries affect physical function, thinking ability, behavior, and living day-to-day life. She provides tools to improve function and ease the anxiety, depression, and stress that come with such injuries. This includes helping families cope with life changes.

Severe Mental Illness: Tonya can help clients with serious mental, behavioral, or emotional disorders progress and better function in their daily lives.

ADHD and ODD: Tonya has a background working with children and adolescents who demonstrate disruptive behavior at home and/or in the classroom. She takes a systems approach including parents, foster care, and teachers to help support the child. She also incorporates art and play therapy to engage children.

Tonya earned an undergraduate in sociology degree from Columbia University, New York, and a graduate degree from University of Chicago SSA. Her approach to therapy is collaborative and individualized depending on the goals and needs of the client. She combines TF-CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Informed Care, Psychotherapy, and more to meet client needs. In every case, Tonya finds a treatment plan that brings the results clients desire.