Nishma Patel, LCPC
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Pronouns: she/her
Email: npatel@balancedawakening.com
Direct: 630-277-9015
Accepting new clients
Availability and Scheduling:
Ms. Patel sees clients online over video (telehealth) Monday through Friday. She also sees clients in-person at our 4043 N Ravenswood Ave (Lakeview) location on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Ms. Patel has availability for new clients. If you’re interested in working with her, you can book an appointment below!
Feeling unheard, overwhelmed, or stuck can make everyday life feel heavy. You deserve support that helps you feel understood - not judged or rushed. I provide trauma-informed therapy for children, teens, young adults, and adults in a calm, grounded, and collaborative space where you can show up exactly as you are.
I help clients navigate anxiety, emotional regulation challenges, identity development, and major life transitions. Many of the people I work with struggle with perfectionism, people-pleasing, or cultural and family expectations that make it hard to feel “enough.” In therapy, we gently identify these patterns and build self-compassion, confidence, and practical coping skills that support lasting change.
I specialize in working with teens and young adults who feel overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, and the pressure to figure everything out. Sessions are supportive and nonjudgmental—you don’t need to have the right words or a clear plan. Together, we make sense of emotions, understand what’s influencing your choices, and strengthen self-trust.
I also support adults navigating anxiety, trauma, and periods of feeling stuck or disconnected. My approach is steady and empowering, helping you slow down, feel more grounded, and regain a sense of control.
I integrate CBT, DBT, Emotion-Focused Therapy, somatic work, and Motivational Interviewing through a trauma-informed, person-centered lens. Therapy with me isn’t about fixing you—it’s about helping you feel seen, supported, and capable of moving forward at your own pace.
Child-Centered Therapy
When supporting children, I meet them where they naturally are - through play, art, imagination, movement, and curiosity. Children often express emotions long before they have the words for them, so therapy focuses on building trust, strengthening emotional regulation, and helping them understand their inner world in developmentally appropriate ways.
I support children navigating anxiety, emotional and behavioral challenges, anger, hair pulling, and stress related to major life or family transitions. Just as importantly, I work collaboratively with caregivers, offering guidance, insight, and practical tools to help you better understand your child’s needs and support progress outside of sessions. Caregivers are an essential part of a child’s healing, and my goal is to help you feel informed, empowered, and supported throughout the process.
Together, we create a safe, consistent, and nurturing therapeutic space where children can feel seen, build confidence, and develop healthy coping skills - while caregivers gain clarity and reassurance along the way.
Supporting Second-generation indian american women and women of color
As a second-generation Indian American woman, I understand the cultural expectations and generational pressures that often go unspoken. You won’t have to explain code-switching, caretaking, or the pressure to excel. Your whole identity - your culture, your story, your voice -is welcome here as we explore what healing looks like with softness, rest, and authenticity.
Experience
My passion for this work grew from supporting people during some of the most overwhelming moments of their lives. I’ve worked in inpatient and hospital settings, a youth detention center, and on a crisis hotline—experiences that taught me how deeply trauma, stress, identity, and environment shape the way we cope. In each role, I learned the importance of being a steady, compassionate presence who listens without judgment and truly sees the person behind the pain. These experiences strengthened my commitment to advocacy—both for others and for ourselves—as a powerful pathway to healing, shaping the calm and grounded therapist I am today.
THERAPIST SPECIALITIES
Anxiety
Depression
Life Transitions
Stress Management & Burnout
Emotional Dysregulation
PTSD & Childhood Trauma
Autism Spectrum & Neurodivergence
Relationship Issues
Self-Esteem & Self-Compassion
Client focus
Children
Teens
Emerging Adults
Adults
Caregivers of High Needs Children
Women of Color
Location
Telehealth (IL)
Insurance Accepted
BCBS PPO
Blue Choice PPO
Aetna
Licensure
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, IL, 180.016801
Education (educación)
M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, National Louis University, Wheeling, Illinois, 2021
B.A. Applied Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 2016
Learning to Be Kinder to Yourself
Nishma shares a powerful reminder that our minds can sometimes be our biggest bullies—and that self-compassion takes practice. She encourages clients to challenge negative self-talk through simple tools like mirror work, helping them speak to themselves with the same kindness they offer others.
Creating Safe Spaces to Be Fully Yourself
Drawing from her own experiences, Nishma shares the importance of having a space where you can speak freely—without guilt, shame, or judgment. She’s passionate about helping South Asian clients feel seen and supported, reminding us that vulnerability is not weakness but an act of strength and self-acceptance.
Challenging Stigma and Honoring Culture
Rooted in her own South Asian heritage, Nishma speaks about breaking the silence around mental health and challenging cultural stigma. She invites clients to see vulnerability as strength and to honor both healing and cultural identity with compassion and pride.
Helping Kids Grow Through Play and Connection
Nishma uses play, games, and creative activities to help children express themselves and build emotional skills like frustration tolerance and communication. Through laughter, color, and curiosity, she helps kids learn that mistakes are part of growing—and that therapy can be both safe and fun.

