OUR TEAM
At Balanced Life Counseling, our compassionate and open-minded counselors strive to create an inviting, friendly, and understanding environment.
Our team has experience helping our unique clients work through a diverse range of challenges. Every therapist at Balanced Life Counseling places a priority on communication, affirmation, and comfort, and will help you move forward on your unique journey towards acceptance.
AMANDA G. MELENDEZ, MSW, LCSW
Outreach Coordinator, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
SHE/THEY
Accepting New Clients
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Individual adolescents and adults (11+)
Romantic relationship counseling
Anxiety / Depression
OCD
Life transitions
Self esteem
Relationship issues
Gender and sexuality exploration
LGBTQ support
BIPOC/Multicultural lens - specialty with Latino/a/e
Trauma Recovery
-
Romantic relationship counseling
Individual counseling (18+)
Identity formation
Support for Individuals with strong connections to their online or digital identities
Eating disorders
Borderline Personality Disorder
Emotional regulation and interpersonal skills
Anxiety/Depression
LBGTQA+ affirming therapy
BIPOC-affirming and culturally responsive counseling
Kink-affirming therapy
ADHD
-
Romantic relationships / Couples
Individual Therapy (18+)
Trauma, abuse recovery, and PTSD, systemic and acute
Trans and Queer identities, gender affirming care letters of readiness
Anti-racism and oppression-related stress
Sex therapy
ADHD and ASD, adult diagnosis
Disability and chronic illness, chronic pain
Grief and loss
Religious backgrounds (current and former)
Anxiety / Depression
GRETTEL ROMERO, MS, ALMFT
Associate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, SHE/HER
Accepting New Clients
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Romantic relationship counseling
Individual counseling (18+)
Kink exploration
Ethical non-monogamy
Life-transition
Pre-marital
Blending/blended-families
Infidelity and betrayal
Trauma recovery
Individual relationship counseling
BIPOC/multicultural lens
-
Individual counseling (14+)
ADHD
Autism
Anxiety / Depression
Life Transitions
Trauma recovery
Identity exploration
LGBTQ+ support
GIDEON GREENE, ATR-BC, LCPC
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
HE/HIM
Not Accepting New Clients
-
Individual therapy (18+)
Art therapy
Gender exploration and transition
Trauma recovery
Caregiver burnout / Fatigue
Anxiety / Depression
ADHD / Neurodivergence
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Individual counseling (15+)
Complex trauma
Anxiety
Depression
Life transitions
Grief/loss
OCD
Current and former athletes exploring identity and processing loss and grief of sport
OLIVIA MCLEOD, MS, ALMFT
Associate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, SHE/THEY
Not Accepting New Clients
-
Romantic relationship counseling
Individual counseling (18+)
Premarital counseling
Interracial/crosscultural romantic relationships
Non-Monogamy
LGBTQ+ support (gender transition, lesbian couples)
Complex trauma
Trauma recovery
Identity exploration
Codependency/people-pleasing
Relationship issues
Spirituality
Anxiety / Depression
Life transitions
Sex therapy (couples & individuals)
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Intake
Billing Support
Documentation Support
Sara Groth, MA, LCPC
Clinical Supervisor, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, SHE/HER
Accepting New Clients
-
Individuals (18+)
Couples & Relationships
Sex therapy
Sexual trauma
LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapy
Kink-Affirming Therapy
Gender affirming care medical readiness assessment & letters
Sexual pain, dysfunction, and desire concerns
Anxiety/Depression
Relationship conflict
REBECCA SLUSHER, MA, LCPC
Founder, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, SHE/HER
Not Accepting New Clients
-
Individual counseling (18+)
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
EMDR
LGBTQ+ support
Trauma recovery
Anxiety
Depression
Life transitions
Identity exploration
RIA RAJKARNIKAR ESCOBER, MA, ALMFT
Associate Licensed Marriage and Family Counselor, SHE/THEY
Accepting New Clients
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Individual counseling (18+)
Romantic relationship/couples counseling
LGBTQ+ support
BIPOC support
Immigrant and first generation experience
Trauma Recovery
Life transitions
Grief and Loss
STEPHEN OELKE, LCPC, ATR
Intern Supervisor, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
HE/HIM
Accepting New Clients
-
Individual counseling (18+)
Art therapy
Gender exploration/transition
LGBTQ+ support
Anxiety/Depression
Self-esteem and identity development
Trauma Recovery
Suicidal Ideation
-
Romantic relationship counseling
Relationship and intimacy concerns
Individual counseling (6+)
LGBTQ+ support
BIPOC support
Anxiety, depression, and mood disorders
Trauma and PTSD
Grief
Neurodiversity-related concerns
Life transitions
Identity exploration
Family conflict and communication challenges
JOIN OUR FRIENDLY, COMPASSIONATE, & OPEN-MINDED TEAM OF THERAPISTS
We are currently accepting applications for a Licensed Counselor.
LOCATION & HOURS
To Schedule An Appointment:
Simply fill out the form here or call (872)-588-1071
1748 N Kimball Ave Suite 206 Chicago, IL, 60647
Mon-Thurs: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM, by appointment only
Fri-Sun: By appointment only
Getting Here:
The office is conveniently located at the Kimball / Bloomingdale #82 bus stop, and right off the 606 Bloomingdale Trail. We are 1.4 miles from both the California and Logan Square Blue Line stops.
Parking:
There is free street parking on Kimball avenue in front of and across from the office, as well as on Bloomingdale Ave around the corner.
Contact us today to meet our therapists and learn how our practice can help you cope with challenges and restore your sense of belonging.