Jessica Risker LCPC

• Illinois, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, 180008062

I’ve spent my whole life interested in what makes us work. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Philosophy, I attended Northwestern University to obtain a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology. I wanted to develop skills and understanding to help others make changes to their lives. I spent years working in social services agencies across Chicago, helping the homeless population secure permanent housing as well as stable, reliable health care. I simultaneously worked evenings as a therapist in private practice, assisting individual clients with a variety of issues. In 2018, I opened my own counseling practice in Wicker Park, and have greatly enjoyed my time assisting individuals and couples reach their goals. Since 2020, I have been offering counseling services exclusively through teletherapy. I am a fully Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). I work with many individual clients on issues related to anxiety, depression, relationships, women’s issues, weight loss, career guidance, substance abuse and recovery, and life changes/decisions (life coaching). I also do a great deal of work with couples (married, unmarried, and premarital) on building communication skills, conflict resolution, better understanding each other’s perspective and needs, and increasing relationship intimacy. In addition to being a counselor, I am also a professional musical and visual artist. My artistic endeavors greatly influence my understanding of human nature and our search for meaning. My tandem endeavors as a counselor and artist have given me unique insight into building a life that balances both work and creative pursuits, as well as hands-on experience establishing a professional artistic career. In this realm, I also offer counseling to artist and creatives who wish to better understand their own challenges and/or further develop their artistic careers. I’ve had the pleasure of working with a variety of creative people across Chicago: comedians, musicians, visual artists, and writers, among others. I very much enjoy combining my artistic skills/experience with my counseling work, and am thrilled to bring this unique experience to my clients. Finally, I have a great deal of experience working with professionals in Chicago’s financial, legal, and tech industries, and have insight into the unique challenges and rewards of these particular career paths. My approach When working with clients, my style draws from many counseling theories. I will work with you to determine which approaches might be the best fit for your individual needs. I work thoughtfully to find an approach that feels comfortable, engaging, and appropriate for your areas of strengths and needs. My training at Northwestern University focused on many therapeutic approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and client-centered therapy. I am also well-versed in reality therapy, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness approaches to counseling. I very much look forward to working with you. You will find my counseling style warm, empathic, encouraging, comfortable, supportive, injected with gentle humor, nonjudgmental, and motivating. I am also very interesting in mindfulness, helping people gain greater self-awareness, and increasing one’s ability to live in the space of the present moment.