Some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity.
Tanya Bennett
Tanya (she/her/hers) is a trauma-informed therapist grounded in relational and contemporary psychodynamic practice. Her approach is emotionally-focused and insight-based, bringing complementary acceptance and mindfulness strategies to help people reduce anxiety and depression, grow self-acceptance, heal trauma, and experience more satisfying relationships. She brings a human-development-across-the-lifespan lens, informed in part by her own midlife career change.
Tanya approaches clients with a compassionate and open heart. She enjoys working with people who are navigating life and career transitions and exploring their identity — helping them figure out what it all means and shaping the stories we tell ourselves.
Tanya believes healing and growth are acts of creativity, so she offers a therapeutic space where clients can be curious about themselves and what they want for their lives. Her work in a creative industry sparked this philosophy and her desire to help creative people (and the creative within all of us) to harness their superpowers.
She is passionate about getting comfortable with ambiguity and living in the “gray areas,” embracing vulnerability as strength, tackling perfectionism, self-doubt, and shame, and improving communication. Tanya is committed to building our connected resilience in an increasingly disconnected world.
Education and Credentials
- LPC, Licensed Professional Counselor
- NCC, Board-Certified Therapist
- M.A., Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Northwestern University
- B.A., Psychology, Duke University
- Fellowship, Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis & Psychotherapy
- Psychoanalysis Exploration Program, Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute
What specific modalities do you practice and are you certified?
I am a board-certified therapist, practicing insight-based, depth therapy from a multiculturally-informed and strengths-based perspective. I combine the verbal narrative of talk therapy with somatic awareness to explore and heal the legacy of trauma, attachment difficulties, and relational stress.
Counseling is not about having various effects on others but rather about how to let people become comfortable being themselves.
Nancy McWilliams
Well something’s lost, but something’s gained in living every day.
Joni Mitchell
Sooner or later you have to give up the hope for a better past.
Irvin Yalom
What do you like to do when you are not working? What do you do for fun?
I’m a voracious lover of ideas and experiences. Nothing heals me more than full immersion in live music, theater, TED talks, books, museums, movies, art, architecture, fashion, design. I care about social justice, public policy, and diverse perspectives. I love travel, both the real world and armchair varieties. I am also a proud aunt to four boys and love to plan outings where I can experience the world through their eyes and work on my favored-aunt status!
What are you excited about? What is your passion?
My passion is lifelong learning, and right now, this is focused on deepening my work in trauma-informed and attachment-based practice. I am a second-year Fellow at the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy.
What do you want to learn more about?
My first answer is “almost everything” … but most of all, there are three things I find infinitely fascinating: humans and the human condition, travel (52 countries and counting!), and all forms of creativity. Ultimately, I believe in the power of healing, creativity, and passionate people working together to change the world.
What do you like about being a therapist?
I subscribe to the relational idea that it isn’t just okay – it’s necessary – to let your clients affect you. People come to therapy with the strength and courage to grow already inside them. It’s my role to provide an accepting space and favorable conditions – a safe haven and secure base – to help them heal and thrive.
What’s your “go to” creative or restorative outlet?
Music. Any and all. Live. In the car. Under a disco ball. Even in the supermarket. Karaoke. Dancing in the living room to old school vinyl on the turntable. Twirling like Stevie Nicks.
