Azra Husain (she/her)

We live in an increasingly busy world, and most people find themselves not having the time or the opportunity to put themselves first. I don’t believe we exist just to work and survive, but also to reflect, grow, and experience the best versions of ourselves. This is where I believe therapy can be incredibly beneficial. Prioritizing yourself for even one hour a week can provide you with the insight and skills to tackle your life‘s biggest challenges. It takes a lot of courage and vulnerability to hold ourselves accountable or admit when we need help. Most people become very accustomed to keeping all their problems buried inside. But a therapy space can be your escape to be honest with yourself and with the world around you.

Through compassion, curiosity and a client centered approach, I like to get a sense of the whole person, including their community, identity, religious background, cultural lense, and personal values. People are complex and multi-layered, and it is important to understand each aspect of what and who has shaped us as individuals. In my work with clients, I focus on the unique ways in which people think and how our self limiting beliefs can create the very challenges we want to overcome. I use an eclectic approach in treatment but find  CBT and DBT to be incredibly useful in identifying, and modifying our behaviors and feelings. As well as acceptance and commitment therapy to understand and clarify our personal values and motivating factors. I also enjoy working on interpersonal skills through IPT, that impact communication, relationships, and boundary setting. In my 10 years of experience as a clinician, I have worked heavily in building skills to manage depression, anxiety, relationship conflicts, PTSD and self-esteem issues. I consider my approach to be warm, thoughtful, and collaborative. I draw from relationship-based and trauma-informed interventions that support adolescents and adults. 

I deeply enjoy working with individuals from diverse backgrounds who have a close connection with immigration and assimilation issues. As a woman of color with a dynamic cultural upbringing, I have a invested interest in understanding and supporting people who find themselves trying to balance two different cultures while staying true to who they are. I have a deep awareness of the challenges of recognizing emotional and mental health difficulties in communities and cultures that can often overlook it.

There is a great deal of appreciation and admiration for anyone who takes the leap to reach out for help in a world that can often feel like you’re being left behind. Recognizing you matter is the first step to improving the quality of your life and your relationships. For me, the most important ingredients in a therapeutic space is patience, consistency and the willingness to be uncomfortable in order to find the comfort that you seek. 

Languages

English, Hindi, Urdu

Things that bring me joy

Seeing my close friends for dinner, cooking at home, going to the movies, reading fiction, going to the art institute and farmers markets, boutique shopping and stand up comedy.

Education

Master of Arts from Lewis University

Focus: Counseling Psychology

Bachelor of Arts from Lewis University

Focus: Psychology

Licensure

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, State of Illinois

License Number: 180012563

Payment & Insurance Accepted

Locations

While Azra’s offices are located in South Loop, Chicago, within Dearborn Station and Lakeview for in-person sessions, she also welcomes and serves clients for online therapy from anywhere in Illinois. Clients from the Chicagoland area may choose in-office or online therapy and usually commute from surrounding areas such as River North, West Loop, Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lake View, Rogers Park Logan Square, Pilsen, Bridgeport, Little Village, Bronzeville, South Shore, Hyde Park, Back of the Yards, Wicker Park, Bucktown and many more.