Ilana Dress, LCSW

My name is Ilana Dress and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois. I believe therapy should be a safe and non-judgemental place to reflect, heal, change and grow. To me, holistic practice means addressing both the symptoms of anxiety, depression or distress, while also tending to the deeper mechanisms at play. These may be thought patterns, relationship patterns, issues maintaining healthy boundaries, painful childhood memories, or past unprocessed trauma, among other things. By integrating different therapy modalities, I assist my clients in gaining tools and skills to manage their symptoms, while also developing deeper insight, self knowledge and awareness, as well as self-compassion. I believe in the importance of addressing thoughts, feelings, behaviors and the way emotions live in the body. I hope to serve as a guide to help you tap into your inner-knowing. Additionally, I view the therapeutic relationship as a most powerful tool to facilitate corrective experiences. My areas of specialty include anxiety, life transitions, relational issues, perinatal mental health, and trauma. Therapy modalities and tools I utilize include mindfulness, grounding and distress tolerance skills, nervous system regulation, CBT, ACT, parts work/IFS, and psychodynamic framework. I am also trained in EMDR and use this modality to treat trauma and/or stuck negative beliefs and painful memories. Accompanying my clients on their healing journey is an honor and a privilege. If you wonder if I may be a good fit, please reach out. I would love to hear from you.