Rachel Rood, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Pronouns: she/her
Email: rrood@balancedawakening.com

Direct: 630-277-9337

ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Availability and Scheduling:

Ms. Rood sees clients online over video (telehealth) Monday through Friday. She also sees clients in-person at our 4043 N Ravenswood (Lakeview) location on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.

Ms. Rood is currently accepting new clients. If you’re interested in working with Ms. Rood, book an appointment below!

You might notice certain patterns showing up in your life or relationships—reacting more strongly than you want to, shutting down during conflict, feeling anxious about how others see you, or struggling to feel truly understood. Even when you’re doing your best, these same dynamics can keep repeating, leaving you wondering why. Many of my clients come to therapy asking these same questions. Therapy can be a space to slow down and start untangling these patterns—making sense of where they come from and how they continue to show up in your relationships and daily life. While our work often focuses on deeper understanding, I also offer resources and tools to try between sessions so you can start to notice and shift these patterns in your day-to-day life.  

I work with teens (12+), young adults, adults, and couples navigating anxiety, trauma, emotional overwhelm, and relationship challenges. Often, the struggles people experience today connect to earlier experiences or attachment patterns that shaped how they learned to cope, connect, and protect themselves. Many of the people I work with are thoughtful and reflective, seeking deeper self-understanding. As these patterns begin to make more sense, clients often feel more grounded and better able to navigate their relationships with clarity and confidence.  

In our work together, we approach these patterns with curiosity and compassion. Instead of rushing toward quick fixes, we take time to understand your emotions, reactions, and relationships more deeply—while also integrating practical tools and support you can carry into your daily life. Clients who get the most out of therapy are open to exploring their inner world and approaching the process with curiosity about themselves and their relationships.  

My approach is warm, relational, and collaborative. I see you as the expert on your own life, and my role is to walk alongside you with curiosity, compassion, and practical support. I draw from approaches like CBT, DBT, ACT, Internal Family Systems (IFS), polyvagal theory, and somatic therapy, depending on what feels most helpful for you and your goals.

somatic therapy

Trauma and stress often live not just in our thoughts, but in our nervous systems. You might notice this as feeling constantly on edge, shutting down emotionally, having trouble sleeping, feeling disconnected from your body, or reacting in ways that don’t feel fully in your control. In our work together, you’ll learn to better understand how your body responds to stress and why these reactions show up — without judgment.

I integrate somatic therapy with talk therapy to help you develop a greater sense of safety, stability, and emotional regulation. Sessions may include gentle body-based practices woven naturally into conversation, such as breathwork, grounding, progressive muscle relaxation, or polyvagal-informed exercises. Everything is introduced at a pace that feels comfortable and collaborative — you are always in control.

Over time, clients often notice they feel more grounded, present, and emotionally steady. Many report less overwhelm, improved stress tolerance, and a stronger connection to their body and emotions. Rather than feeling stuck in survival mode, clients often begin responding to challenges with more clarity, self-compassion, and choice.

couples & relationship therapy

Relationships can bring deep connection, but they can also become places where the same conflicts repeat again and again. You may find yourselves having the same arguments, feeling misunderstood, or wondering how things became so distant when you both care deeply about the relationship. Couples therapy offers a supportive space to slow down and step out of these patterns. In our work together, we explore the emotional and attachment patterns that shape how partners communicate and respond to one another.  

Using Imago Relationship Therapy and attachment-focused approaches, I help couples move beyond blame or defensiveness toward more honest, empathetic communication. Conflict doesn’t have to mean something is wrong with your relationship. Often, it reflects deeper needs that haven’t yet been fully understood. Therapy can help partners recognize these patterns and develop healthier ways to communicate, repair conflict, and reconnect with one another. Over time, many couples begin to feel safer expressing their needs, rebuild trust, and experience a renewed sense of partnership. Instead of feeling stuck in the same arguments, therapy can help you begin working as a team - navigating challenges with greater compassion, understanding, and clarity.

Experience

I have experience working with individuals of all ages from 6-50+ with varying backgrounds and challenges. Previously, I have worked in community mental health agencies, providing outpatient and school based therapy. This has helped shape my approach and appreciation for human resilience. Throughout my time in these roles, I have helped clients recognize unhealthy and abusive relationship patterns, develop self compassion and understanding, and practical tools to manage emotions.

THERAPIST SPECIALITIES

Client focus

  • Teens 12+

  • Young Adults / Emerging Adults

  • Adults 

  • Couples 

  • Relationship & Family Systems

Location

Insurance Accepted

Licensure

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker, IL, 149.030590

Education

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Masters of Social Work 2023

  • University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Bachelor of Social Work 2020

Healing Trauma Through Empathy and Embodiment

Rachel shares her passion for helping clients heal from trauma by reconnecting with their bodies and finding safety in compassionate presence. Inspired by Peter Levine’s words, she reminds us that healing happens when we are truly seen, felt, and witnessed with empathy.

Guiding You Back to Your Inner Wisdom

Rachel believes that everything you need for healing already lives within you. As your therapist, she serves as a compassionate guide to help you reconnect with your own wisdom—much like yoga, therapy becomes a practice of self-awareness, balance, and inner alignment.

The Power of the Therapeutic Relationship

Rachel emphasizes that healing happens through connection. Research shows the relationship you build with your therapist is one of the strongest predictors of growth and change. Her relational approach invites open dialogue, authenticity, and empowerment throughout the therapy process.

Collaborative Therapy Rooted in Feedback

Rachel believes therapy works best when it’s a true partnership. She welcomes open feedback to ensure each session fits your needs—whether that means adjusting the pace, offering new challenges, or creating space for gentleness on harder days.

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