Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
All of us long to experience a sense of belonging and to be taken in as the person we authentically are. Unfortunately, at various points in our lives, many of us consciously (or unconsciously) exile parts of ourselves as a way to adapt to our personal circumstances or to the demands of the oppressive systems we navigate. While there is much innate wisdom in this process as a mechanism of survival, it can also create inner turmoil and distress, as we–like the societies we inhabit–are effectively turning away from ourselves. I believe there is a message in the distress that has taken root in us, and this is an invitation to slow down and become curious about what in ourselves might need our attention. In doing so, we can access the wholeness which dwells within all of us. As you embark on this journey toward self-awareness, I will collaborate with you to turn toward the parts of yourself that have been disowned or burdened by pain.
I am a queer, second-generation immigrant, Latine psychotherapist. My early life and lived experiences are what informed my decision to pursue a career in psychotherapy and ultimately are what helped me develop a deep well of empathy and desire to understand others. To that end, in our therapeutic partnership I will endeavor to hold space for your multitudes, including the parts of yourself that are the most tender or hidden away.
I am sex-positive and kink-affirming, and I place an emphasis on creating a container that is imbued with safety and trust. I have a special interest in working with adults that grew up in dysfunctional family systems, adults that were parentified as children, and BIPOC individuals. Ultimately, however, I seek to understand you, no matter who you are. My approach to therapy is relational, non-directive, strengths-based, and playful when appropriate. I am grounded in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and in the psychodynamic modality. In the therapy room, I am direct, gently challenging, and warm. I will strive to provide a space that is compassionate and filled with a deep reverence for your lived experience.
Jesenia Chavez, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Virtual Therapy - Yes
In-person Therapy - No
Educational Background:
Loyola University, Chicago (Master’s in Social Work, Specialization in Mental Health & Master’s in Women and Gender Studies)
California State University, Chico (Bachelors in Psychology)
Licensure:
IL LCSW 149.027011
Clinical Background:
Moving Mosaic Therapy & Counseling, PLLC
LifeWorks Psychotherapy Center
Innovative Counseling Partners
Dominican University Wellness Center
Jesenia’s Services
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Individual Therapy
One-on-one, we will co-create a container and begin to identify your goals for therapy, advancing toward a stronger understanding of yourself and satisfaction in your life. This might include (but is not limited to) reflecting on recurring patterns and themes, exploring ways to experience greater attunement to your emotions, or becoming curious about yourself, and working on what ails you. These journeys can sometimes feel like hiking to the summit of a mountain, but you won’t be going alone!
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Relationship Therapy
I work with relationship constellations of all kinds, traditional and “non-traditional.” This includes (but is not limited to), sibling relationships, queerplatonic relationships, friendships, monogamous relationships, and relationships of consensual non-monogamy. Together, we will use your unique strengths to work through relationship ruptures and long-established patterns, so as to eventually move toward repair and to experience a greater sense of closeness and intimacy.
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Intersectional & Anti-Oppressive Therapy
We will work together with a recognition of the ways in which dynamics of power and identity inform how we navigate and experience the world. This critical framework is informed by the work of the Black feminist Combahee River Collective, who in the 1970s asserted that, “[W]e are actively committed to struggling against racial, sexual, heterosexual, and class oppression, and see as our particular task the development of integrated analysis and practice based upon the fact that the major systems of oppression are interlocking. The synthesis of these oppressions creates the conditions of our lives.”
Strike One (guitarist) by Jose Ramirez
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Eroticism & Kink Affirming Therapy
Together our work can explore your sexual and erotic self, your yearnings, your curiosities, and your wonderings, so as to move toward a greater sense and understanding of pleasure.