Rebecca Corpuz Swanney (she/her)

Hi! I’m Rebecca Corpuz Swanney (she/her).

It’s easy to feel disempowered in the world we live in today, especially when you have marginalized or intersectional identities, and/or experienced trauma. In our sessions, I hope to give clients an opportunity to feel empowered and in control of their treatment. I believe that many mental health issues stem from or are exacerbated by the current cultural climate we live in. In addition, many of the beliefs we have about ourselves are learned from our families, friends, and societal influences, and those in turn affect our emotions and behaviors.  In therapy, we can work together to untangle what beliefs are helping you and which ones are not. I also welcome feedback from my clients. I want to know what is working for you and what isn’t, and I hope to foster an environment where the client feels comfortable to express that criticism. 

My personal identities and background in acting and comedy help me connect with clients and help them feel comfortable, as it is hard to open up to a total stranger. I believe my neurodiversity helps me see patterns that might not have been noticed before, as well as break through barriers in communication. My approach to therapy is integrative, pulling from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, play therapy, multiculturalism, and feminist theory. Every single person is unique; therefore, everyone’s therapy should look and feel different based on not just their needs, but also the client’s input. The client is the expert of their own life.

 I like to work backwards, starting with what the client initially brings to therapy, and then peeling back the layers to understand where these thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are stemming from. From there, we work towards what you would like to change. When working with children, play is how they communicate and express themselves. By observing how they play and inquiring about the projects they create, you can find many insights into their feelings and behavior that they perhaps couldn’t articulate. Most of all, children just want to be validated, seen, and heard. 

I work with adults of all ages, my areas of focus and interest are in multiracial/ multicultural issues, LGBTQIA+ issues, trauma, neurodiversity (e.g. ADHD, autism), chronic illness, anxiety, and depression. In my Filipino culture, we have a concept that pre-dates colonization, called “kapwa”, which is the web of interconnectedness of our inner selves and between our fellow humans. It isn’t “you and I” or “us vs them”; it is all of us, altogether, and it is through kapwa which healing humanity can begin. 

Things that bring me joy

My kids, acting, surfing, music, pangram puzzles, rubik’s cube, travelling, lumpia, and whatever this week’s hyperfocused interest is.

Education

Indiana University – Bloomington

Bachelor of Arts – Theater and Drama

DePaul University

Master’s of Education – Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Clinical Supervisors

Shaysa Villa, MSW, LCSW, LICSW

Payment & Insurance Accepted

Locations

Rebecca 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.