Amy Wood, LMFT

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  I earned my Bachelor of Arts at Oberlin College and completed my Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University in Los Angeles.  I have trained and worked as a therapist in a multitude of settings.  I have worked in community mental health, with children and teens in a school-based program, at the Pain Psychology Center of Beverly Hills with patients navigating chronic pain, and in private practice in Santa Monica, California working with individuals, families, couples and teens. When I first relocated to Illinois, I was a therapist and team member at Cira Center for Behavioral Health in Chicago, Illinois before founding Wood Counseling Center. I work with clients in California and Illinois as well as offer Collaborative Divorce coaching services. Utilizing a therapeutic approach that integrates narrative, solution-focused, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral, and emotionally-focused models, I help individuals, couples and families explore their hopes, identify obstacles, and initiate practices that empower change.

I bring sensitivity and curiosity to the conversation in order to foster a therapeutic space that feels safe and productive.  I am an active and steadfast participant in the therapeutic process. I provide a loving and challenging environment where we can roll up our sleeves and do some hard work together.

I appreciate and honor my work with all kinds of people, families, ages and stages. Some of the areas and themes that I focus on are:

-COUPLES: I work with both LGBTQ identified and cisgender, heterosexual identified couples to strengthen communication, build trust, heal hurt and betrayal, and break undesired habits. 

-CHRONIC PAIN: I am passionate about the connection between the mind and body and the importance of holistic treatment approaches for clients suffering from chronic, mindbody pain conditions.

-SEPARATION & DIVORCE: I help individuals and couples navigate the stress and grief that arises from separation. I support couples to mindfully make decisions, communicate with children and families, and craft an intentional and preferred path forward. 

-MOTHERS & FATHERS: I support mothers and fathers in finding greater balance, exploring identity shifts, letting go of guilt, leaning in, fostering self-care, and developing parenting practices.  

-TRANSITIONS: I have expertise in helping clients adjust to different forms of transition, such as relational, professional, grief/loss, aging and identity.

-DECONSTRUCTION: I work with individuals to deconstruct societal and cultural systems of oppression that impact identity, mood, and behavior. For example, this work might explore the impact of gender roles, racism, body image or perfectionism.

I care deeply about my clients and I am committed to meaningful conversations with positive outcomes. Outside of counseling, I am a mother, wife, sister, aunt, daughter, friend and community member.