About Counseling at CWHC

We engage with the impact of trauma and systems of oppression such as racism, ableism, classism, fatphobia, transphobia, and homophobia.  

Counselors are licensed staff members, clinical interns completing their graduate level training, and volunteer counselors donating their time in the counseling program. Our approach to counseling is feminist-relational and anti-oppressive. CWHC counselors view themselves as supporters and collaborators rather than experts. 

Our counselors work with a range of experiences including depression, anxiety, difficulty in relationships, childhood trauma, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, sexuality, gender identity, and health concerns.

Getting started

We currently have limited availability for new clients in the Counseling Program. If we are unable to accommodate you as a client, we are always happy to provide referrals to other values-aligned practices. We have open availability through our Trans Health Services to provide zero-cost letters of support for gender-affirming surgeries.

The easiest way to reach us is to complete our Contact Request Form. You can also reach us by email at counselinginfo@chicagowomenshealthcenter.org or by phone at 773-935-6126 extension 200.

Fees for service

The full cost of sessions is $150 for individual and partners counseling, and $75 for group counseling. We are in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO insurance for all counseling services. We know that the full fees are not affordable to most people on a weekly basis, so we offer counseling services on the following sliding scales:  

• Individual and partners counseling: $150 to $30 

• Group counseling: $75 to $15 

We encourage clients who can afford to pay more to do so, to support access to mental health services for those who need to pay less. We are committed to making mental health services accessible, so we invite you to speak with the Intake Specialist to set a fee that feels manageable.  No one is turned away based on their ability to pay.

Location

Counseling sessions can be in-person at our center in Uptown, or virtual via secure, HIPPA-compliant telehealth platform. The decision to attend in-person or virtually is up to you, and you can discuss options with our Intake Specialist or with your counselor. CWHC patrons and staff continue to wear masks in the building, and we have air purifiers running in every room. Our space is also low-fragrance.

Our office is accessible via CTA red and purple lines, and several buses run nearby. Parking is available nearby on Broadway and Sunnyside. Please inquire if you have any concerns about the physical accessibility of our building.

Individual Counseling

We offer one-on-one counseling sessions with no limit to the number of sessions you can attend with your counselor at CWHC. Counseling can support individuals going through life changes, anxiety or depression, dealing with trauma or grief, challenges with personal identity, and more. Sessions are weekly, 50 minutes long, and can be in-person or via telehealth.  

Partners’ Counseling

We support partners of all types who are looking for counseling support to navigate their relationship more effectively. Partners’ Counseling can address concerns with sex and intimacy, communication, finances, family dynamics, parenting, relationship structure and ethical non-monogamy, and more. Partners’ Counseling is appropriate for any relationship dynamic that you feel could use some extra support.  

Group Therapy

Therapy groups offer an opportunity to connect with people with shared experiences, receive and provide emotional support from peers, and practice skills in a supportive environment.

• Join our upcoming Summer Intuitive Eating Group! Starting June 25th, participants are invited to join us for a 10-week Intuitive Eating group designed to help individuals develop a balanced relationship with food, body, and mind by reconnecting with their internal hunger and fullness cues. Using the principles of Intuitive Eating, members will develop skills to eat based on physical hunger and satisfaction, while rejecting diet culture and food guilt. Sessions will be held virtually on Wednesdays from 6pm to 7:30pm CT. To learn more and register, click here.

Letters of Support for Gender-Affirming Surgery

As part of CWHC's Trans Greater Access Project (TGAP), the Counseling Program offers letters of support for gender-affirming surgery/care at zero cost. Letters can usually be written over the course of one 50-minute session with a counselor, and returned to you within 1 week of your session. You do not need to be an ongoing client at CWHC to access letters of support!

Consultation Groups

CWHC will be launching a Consultation Group for new counselors and therapists in Fall 2025! This group is for early-career clinicians who want to learn about feminist-relational approaches to therapy while building a supportive professional community. To learn more about the upcoming Consultation Group, including pricing and timing, click here.

Interning with CWHC’s Counseling Program

Counseling interns receive training and support in providing counseling from a feminist-relational perspective. Counseling interns provide individual, partners, and group counseling services.  
 
Counseling at CWHC is provided from a feminist-relational perspective, and the values of client self-determination and empowerment are seen as an integral part of the therapeutic relationship. Essential to this position is a commitment to anti-oppressive practices and racial, gender and disability justice. Hours are flexible, and we work Monday-Friday.  
 
Internships are open to second-year Master's social work, counseling, or clinical mental health students with relevant experiences such as: direct service provision, crisis hotline work, community organizing, case-management, or other advocacy work. Applicants will demonstrate critical self-reflexivity and humility. Prior experience with trans and gender non-conforming / gender-expansive / queer folks, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities is preferred. 
 
Counseling Internship applications for the 2025-2026 school year will be accepted starting on January 10, 2025. The deadline for applications is January 26, 2025.

Click here to learn more about internships and for application instructions.