Salima Al-Alwi, MA, LPC

*More About Salima*

I want you to live a fulfilling authentic life! And, to do that, it’s important for you to understand your story. I believe that everyone has a story based on their lived experience and this story impacts their behaviors and approach to life. My approach to therapy is to collaborate with my clients to help them gain a greater understanding of their story, behaviors, and where they want to get to.  Once we define your goals, we will work together to build the skills you need to get there. Through this process, we will increase your self-awareness, coping skills, and mind-body connection. 

*What To Expect From Our Work Together*

I practice from a psychodynamic lens, which means I collaborate with you to help you understand how unconscious thoughts are impacting your life. I also utilize a holistic and integrative approach, where I work to understand the interconnectedness of your physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. My approach is also rooted in trauma-informed care, so I will never rush you or push you faster than you need.

At the end of the day, I am a flawed human like you. I will be personable, down to earth, and will use humor in our session. I will also challenge you and hold you accountable to your goals. There are going to be times where therapy is going to be really hard and you may not want to show up, and that’s okay, it is part of the process. I know how difficult that can feel from my own personal therapeutic journey and I hope that we can work through these difficult moments to help you get you closer to your goals.

*What You Need to Know About Me*

I grew up in Maine and moved to Chicago in 2017. I absolutely love it here, but truly miss the ocean.  And, so we are all on the same page, the lake is not a beach….haha. On a good day, you can catch me at the lake enjoying a good book and soaking up the sun. I live for a last-minute adventure or road trip and truly enjoy being with friends and laughing.

I have always known I wanted to help people and have worked in the medical field for several years prior to transitioning to counseling. I used to work as a Nursing Assistant on an Oncology floor on the south side of Chicago. I realized my favorite part about my job was listening to my patients’ stories and being able to hold space for the range of emotions they had while going through treatment. One day it hit me like a brick wall and I made the career change and pursued counseling. 

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor. I have a BS in Biology and received my Masters in counseling from Northwestern University. My capstone project at Northwestern was on the intergenerational impact of trauma on BIPOC women. I am also a Nationally Certified Counselor. I am a social justice advocate and strongly believe healthcare, including mental health should be affordable and accessible to everyone.