Laura Espinoza Bowers, LCSW

About

Clinical Social Work/Therapist in Chicago, IL. Works with Anxiety, Depression and Trauma and PTSD. Sees clients in person and online. Takes Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicaid and other plans. Accepting new clients.

Areas of expertise

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Trauma and PTSD
• Anger Management
• Family Conflict
• Grief
• Life Transitions
• Peer Relationships
• Racial Identity
• Relationship Issues
• Self Esteem
• Stress Management

Types of therapy

• Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)Helps people make room for difficult thoughts and feelings instead of fighting them, and commit to actions that fit what matters to them.
• Attachment-basedLooks at early bonds with caregivers and how they shape relationships and emotions now, and works toward a greater sense of safety and connection.
• Culturally SensitiveTakes a person's culture, identity, background and values into account, and shapes the work so it fits their life.
• ExistentialExplores life's big questions, such as meaning, freedom, choice, loneliness and death, and how they connect to a person's struggles.
• Family SystemsSees a person as part of their family as a whole, and explores roles, patterns and communication across the family rather than one person's problems alone.
• FeministConsiders how gender, power and social context affect a person's life and well-being, and aims for an equal relationship between client and therapist.
• MulticulturalRecognizes how culture, race, ethnicity and other identities shape experience, and makes them part of the work.
• Play TherapyUses play, toys and games to help children express feelings and work through problems in a way that suits their age.
• PsychodynamicExplores how past experiences, relationships and feelings outside awareness shape how a person thinks and acts today.
• RelationalSees relationships as central to well-being. The relationship with the therapist is used to understand and change patterns in other relationships.
• Strength-BasedFocuses on the strengths, skills and resources a person already has, and builds on them to meet challenges.
• Trauma FocusedTherapy for people affected by trauma. Puts safety and pacing first, and helps process painful memories so they have less hold on daily life.

More details

Sessions

Both in-person and online

Accepting new clients

Yes

Specialties

Anxiety, Depression, Trauma and PTSD, Adolescence, Anger Management, Body Image, Caregivers, Child, Codependency, Family Conflict, Grief, LGBTQ+, Life Transitions, Men's Issues, Peer Relationships, Racial Identity, Relationship Issues, Self Esteem, Self-Harming, Sex-Positive & Kink Friendly, Sexual Abuse, Spirituality, Stress, Transgender, Women's Issues

Insurance

Aetna, Aetna Better Health Medicaid, Aetna Student Health, Blue Cross, Blue Cross Community Medicaid, Blue Shield, BlueCross and BlueShield, BlueCross HMOi Loyola, Medicaid, Out of Network

Ages

Children (6 to 10), Preteen, Teen, Adults

Works with

Individuals, Family

Communities

Bisexual Allied, Blind Allied, Deaf Allied, Gay Allied, HIV / AIDS Allied, Immuno-disorders, Intersex Allied, Lesbian Allied, Little Person Allied, Non-Binary Allied, Queer Allied, Racial Justice Allied, Sex Worker Allied, Single Parent, Transgender Allied

Languages

English

Gender

Female

Education & qualifications