Asian Therapists in Chicago
Culturally Attuned Therapy for Asian, South Asian, and Asian American Clients
At Balanced Awakening, we understand how meaningful it can be to find a therapist who shares or deeply understands your cultural background. Our team includes Asian, South Asian, and biracial Asian American therapists offering therapy in Chicago and virtually across Illinois.
Whether you’re looking for a South Asian therapist, an Indian therapist, or a Japanese American therapist, our clinicians provide culturally sensitive care that honors your heritage, values, and lived experiences. We’re here to help you feel seen, understood, and supported.
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Meet our Asian Therapists in Chicago
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![Sasha Mieko Vasilou, LPC Asian Therapist Chicago]()
Sasha Mieko Vasilou, LPC
Sasha is a multiracial therapist of Japanese, Greek, and Irish ancestry based in Chicago. A descendant of the Japanese-American Chicagoland diaspora whose family experienced incarceration during WWII, they bring deep cultural awareness and historical sensitivity to their work, helping clients explore identity, belonging, and intergenerational resilience.
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![Nishma Patel, LCPC Asian Therapist Chicago]()
Nishma Patel, LCPC
Nishma is a South Asian Indian therapist based in Chicago. Born and raised in the Chicago suburbs to parents who immigrated from India as teenagers, she brings a bicultural perspective to her work — helping clients navigate family expectations, cultural identity, and emotional well-being with empathy and depth.
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Rachel Rood, LSW
Rachel is a biracial Vietnamese and White therapist in Chicago who offers therapy through a lens of cultural awareness and inclusivity. Her approach honors the complexity of identity and the strength that comes from navigating multiple cultural backgrounds.
What Our Clients Are Saying
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During our first session Hannah was proactive in creating a plan of action to properly diagnose me and address my concerns. Detailed. Office is beautiful. Love the decor, relaxing ambiance and free tea.
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She was very kind and thorough during intake and the entire office looks like something out of a lifestyle magazine.
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The office is lovely and welcoming, the in-take paperwork helped me prepare for what I wanted to talk about and gave me a starting point.
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Dr. Yang is warm and empathic, and made me feel comfortable from the very beginning.
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Emma has been very supportive through major life changes for me. Her sweet and gentle nature made it easy for me to feel safe to open up to her. I am very grateful for her support and kindness.
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It was my first visit and she made me feel so safe. I opened up right away!
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Challenges in Finding Asian and South Asian Therapists
According to U.S. Census Bureau data shared by the American Psychological Association, only 3.28% of psychological professionals in 2021 identified as Asian, and just 0.03% as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. This stands in contrast to 80.85% of the workforce identifying as White, highlighting a broader underrepresentation of clinicians from minority backgrounds.
Given the diversity across Asian and AAPI communities, many clients face structural barriers when seeking culturally aligned care. In Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning, Cathy Park Hong (2020) described her struggle to find a therapist who shared her Korean heritage—discovering only one possible match in her insurance network across New York City. Her experience resonates with many who long for therapy that reflects their cultural reality.
Several factors contribute to this shortage, including limited access to educational and financial resources (Africa & Carrasco, 2011) and societal pressures from the “model minority” myth (Lu, 2024; Omadeke, 2021). These systemic barriers not only affect the pipeline of future therapists but also make it harder for Asian, South Asian, and AAPI clients to find care that feels culturally safe and emotionally resonant.
Representation and the Multiracial Experience
At Balanced Awakening, we honor the fluid and multifaceted nature of racial and cultural identity.
Many of our clients and therapists identify as multiracial or biracial, including Asian and mixed-heritage individuals who navigate unique experiences of belonging, family dynamics, and identity development.
We recognize that feeling seen and understood is foundational to healing. For clients who identify as mixed or bicultural, therapy can be a powerful space for exploring identity, self-acceptance, and connection. Our clinicians bring both lived and learned experience to support this journey.
Barriers to Therapy in Asian and South Asian Communities
Cultural Stigma and Evolving Perceptions
Historically, seeking therapy has carried stigma in many Asian and Asian American communities, where emotional struggles were often minimized or kept private. While these beliefs still exist in some circles, there has been a global shift: more people now see therapy as a proactive, empowering act of self-care.
Cultural Emphasis on Resilience and Self-Reliance
In many Asian families, emotional resilience and self-sufficiency are deeply valued—sometimes to the point of discouraging open expression of pain or vulnerability. At Balanced Awakening, we honor the strength these values represent while affirming that reaching out for help is a powerful act of courage, not weakness.
Impact of the “Model Minority” Myth
The “model minority” stereotype places unrealistic expectations on Asian individuals to be high-achieving and emotionally invulnerable. This can lead to pressure to suppress struggles or maintain a façade of perfection. Our therapists understand how these narratives can silence emotional needs and are committed to creating space where clients can be fully seen and supported.
Bridging Western and Eastern Perspectives
Therapy in the U.S. has largely been shaped by Western frameworks that may not always align with Asian values or communication styles. Our therapists bring cultural sensitivity and awareness to ensure therapy feels inclusive, grounded, and relevant to your lived experience.
The Strength of Informal Support Systems
Many clients find strength in community networks, family, spirituality, or cultural traditions. These informal support systems play a powerful role in mental health. At Balanced Awakening, we respect and integrate these strengths into therapy—offering an additional layer of support rather than replacing existing ones.
Benefits of Working with an Asian or South Asian Therapist in Chicago
Working with an Asian therapist can foster a deeper sense of trust and understanding.
Shared awareness of cultural norms, language nuances, and family structures can make therapy feel more natural and validating.
Our Asian therapists understand experiences such as:
Navigating bicultural identity and belonging
Balancing family expectations with personal autonomy
Processing immigrant and intergenerational experiences
Healing from racial trauma, perfectionism, and internalized pressure
Therapy with a culturally attuned clinician can help you move beyond survival and toward thriving—authentically and holistically.
Works Cited
Cho, E. Y. (2024). Embracing identity, navigating discrimination, historic & contemporary traumas, self-care, and challenges of a second generation Korean-American art therapist (Master’s thesis, School of the Art Institute of Chicago).
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Digital Collections
Rico, B. (2024, May 31). 2020 census shows increase in multiracial population in all age categories.
Census.gov
Start Your Healing Journey
Whether you’re seeking an Asian therapist, South Asian therapist, or simply someone who understands your unique intersection of identities, our team at Balanced Awakening is here to help.
We offer both in-person sessions at our Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Andersonville, and Loop offices, and virtual therapy for clients across Illinois.
Asian Therapist Chicago Videos
Therapy FAQs
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Working with an Asian therapist can offer a sense of cultural resonance and understanding that helps you feel more comfortable opening up. Your therapist may share similar values around family, community, and emotional expression — or simply understand the nuances of being part of the Asian diaspora. At Balanced Awakening, our therapists integrate this awareness into every session with warmth and sensitivity.
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Yes. Nishma, one of our clinicians, is a South Asian / Indian therapist in Chicago who provides culturally sensitive therapy for adults navigating anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, and bicultural identity. She understands the intersection of tradition, individuality, and family dynamics that many South Asian clients experience.
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Absolutely. Our team includes a biracial Japanese / Caucasian therapist, and we deeply value intersectional identities. Whether you identify as Asian, South Asian, biracial, or bicultural, our therapists provide a space that honors your full story — where you don’t have to choose one part of your identity over another.
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Yes, we provide online therapy for Asian, South Asian, and Asian American clients across Illinois. Virtual sessions allow you to connect with a culturally attuned therapist from the comfort of your own home while maintaining privacy and convenience.
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Our Asian and South Asian therapists support clients with a range of issues, including:
Anxiety, stress, and perfectionism
Family and relationship conflicts
Identity and belonging
Intergenerational and immigrant experiences
Trauma and self-worth
We tailor therapy to each person’s background and values so healing feels authentic and empowering.
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Yes! But with some exceptions. There are 3 situations where, legally and ethically (whether we want to or not) we would have to break your confidentiality. These include if we learn of any potential child or elder abuse from you, we determine that you are at risk of harming yourself or someone else, or we receive a court order for your medical records. Also, some of our providers are under supervision and regularly consult with their supervisor about their client sessions. Supervisors have the same obligation to client confidentiality.
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Our therapy rate in Chicago for the first two sessions is $250. After that, 55 minute sessions are $225. We accept BCBS PPO and Aetna insurance.
Maximize Your Out-of-Network Benefits with Ease
We’ve partnered with Thrizer to help you get the most out of your out-of-network benefits- especially if you're insured through plans like UnitedHealthcare or Cigna. Thrizer simplifies the reimbursement process by acting as your payment processor and handling claims on your behalf. That means no more super bills, no chasing down insurance companies, and faster reimbursements.
Curious about your coverage if we’re out of network? We can likely provide a personalized estimate of your out-of-network benefits through Thrizer, so you’ll know exactly what to expect before getting started.