Aria Counseling, PLLC

We are a group of clinicians grounded in shared values and clinical depth, dedicated to therapy that fosters real and lasting change. Rooted in psychoanalytic traditions, our approach reaches beneath symptoms to explore the emotional meanings, unconscious patterns, and formative relationships that continue to shape your inner life as well as your current struggles. Rather than offering quick fixes, we create a safe space for reflection and honest inquiry. We listen with care to your words, your history, and the silences between them. We trust that insight arises and growth begins in the context of an attuned therapeutic relationship. Together, we’ll work to understand how your past experience lives on in the present, and gently loosen the patterns that no longer serve you. Here, self-acceptance is not where the work ends. It is where it begins. From that place, new, more satisfying ways of being yourself can begin to take root. Our Philosophy: Healing Begins With Understanding Psychoanalytic therapy is the original form of talk therapy. It emerged over a century ago from Sigmund Freud’s revolutionary idea that the mind is shaped by unconscious processes—by forces and meanings that lie beneath the surface of conscious thought. We all experience the power of our unconscious mind. For example, when we do or say things and later ask ourselves, what was I thinking? Or, when we can’t seem to change something about ourselves that we know is a problem. Though much has evolved since Freud’s time, this core insight about a deeper, at times inscrutable self remains foundational to how we understand the human psyche. At our practice, we are grounded in this tradition of inquiry and meaning-making. But as clinicians, we are not purists. We are individuals. Each of us brings a flexible, integrative stance to treatment. We draw from a range of modalities—psychodynamic, relational, attachment-based, somatic, and even cognitive and systemic interventions—when they serve the work and attend to needs of our clients. We believe that change happens through insight, through relationship, and through time. This work can be slow, even difficult. But for those who are willing to go beneath the surface, it can also be profoundly liberating. Therapy becomes not just a space for coping—but for transformation, self-authorship, and emotional freedom. Is This Work Right for You? This kind of talk therapy is not a quick fix—but for those drawn to deeper self-understanding, it can be transformative. You may be well suited to this work if you: • Feel stuck in roles, relationships, or emotional loops that seem impossible to escape • Struggle with self-doubt, shame, or difficulties in sustaining intimacy • Carry grief or loss that feels unresolved or unacknowledged • Experience a persistent sense of emptiness, numbness, or inner deadness • Wonder how early experiences continue to shape your present struggles • Long to feel more whole, connected, and emotionally alive The sense of being trapped by old narratives, familiar roles, or invisible emotional constraints is often what brings people into treatment. It’s not simply about changing circumstances, but about understanding the deeper patterns that keep you circling the same terrain. Therapy offers a space to explore what holds you back, even when part of you already longs to move forward. Feelings of emptiness, too, are rarely empty. They are often full of meaning not yet spoken, losses not yet mourned, or longings that have been buried beneath coping. Psychoanalytic therapy gives voice to what has been silenced, creating space for new forms of self-understanding to emerge. Grief—whether named or unspoken, acute or cumulative—is a frequent companion on this path. Mourning can take many forms: for people, for possibilities, for the lives we imagined. In therapy, we tend to these losses slowly and respectfully, making space for sorrow, but also for reawakening. You don’t need to arrive with clarity. Many begin simply with a feeling that something isn’t working. That quiet sense of unease is not a barrier—it’s where the work begins. You are welcome to bring all of it. You Belong Here: Our Values At its best, depth therapy offers a place where all aspects of the self—conflicted, silenced, disavowed, or unknown—can begin to find language and recognition. This includes not only your inner world, but the social, cultural, and political contexts that have shaped it. We understand that identity is never one-dimensional, and that our psyche develops in dialogue with systems of power, history, and belonging. Our work is grounded in inclusive, culturally responsive care. We welcome people of all races, genders, sexualities, classes, belief systems, bodies, and neurotypes. We also hold space for grief, rage, ambivalence, joy, desire—all the parts of you that may have struggled to be heard or held elsewhere. This is not just a space to feel better. It is a space to be more fully and deeply known, and in that knowing, to grow freer. Meet Our Clinicians We are a community of clinicians united by a commitment to depth-oriented work. But we each bring distinct voices, life histories, and theoretical influences to the therapy room. What we share is a trust in the therapeutic relationship as a space for transformation, and a dedication to tailoring our work to the individuality of each person we meet. Richard Burlenski Richard is a licensed a clinical professional counselor. He earned his master’s degree in Human Development Counseling from Vanderbilt University where he honed skills working with adults and adolescents from diverse backgrounds and with a variety of needs. He specializes in issues revolving around grief & loss, relationship conflict, and trauma. He also works with issues of self-esteem, sexuality, and aging. Richard utilizes a therapeutic approach grounded in logotherapy, while integrating techniques from modalities like acceptance and commitment therapy and gestalt therapy. His approach is centered around identifying a person’s core values and assisting them in better enacting those values to cultivate a lifestyle that is meaningful and fulfilling. Richard’s perspective acknowledges the interconnectedness of a person’s mind, body, and spirit, as well as the relationship between the person and their environment. Through compassionate and inquisitive dialogue, he aims to build a therapeutic relationship that not only encourages self-assurance, but also offers insight into how the client constructs meaning from their experiences so that they better understand themselves in the world. Request an appointment with Richard by clicking on the “Request Appointment” button at the top of this page, or by calling (312) 605-5979 Rachel Cash Rachel is a Licensed Social Worker. She has earned a Master's in Social Work from The University of Chicago, as well as a BS from The University of Michigan. She specializes in fostering positive change through a strengths-based, goal-oriented approach that draws inspiration from behavioral and psychoanalytic modalities. At the core of Rachel's practice is a deep belief in the transformative power of the therapeutic relationship. She recognizes that individuals who have experienced interpersonal trauma often find the greatest healing in reparative relationships, and she strives to provide a non-judgmental and supportive space for her clients. Rachel's goal is to cultivate relational security and trust with her clients, using these as a springboard for healthier and more fulfilling connections beyond the therapy office. When she's not working, you'll find Rachel immersing herself in nature, exploring new culinary delights, delving into documentaries, penning poetry, and enjoying the company of her four-legged friends. Request an appointment with Rachel by clicking on the “Request Appointment” button at the top of this page, or by calling (312) 605-5979. Nadia Hallak Nadia has over 15 years of experience as a clinician and professor of psychology. Her doctoral dissertation examined the impact of culture and emotion on marital satisfaction, and over the years she has cultivated expertise in working with couples from diverse backgrounds. Deeply empathic, Nadia seeks to comprehend the client’s world and the experiences they endured, in order to truly understand their emotions and world view. She relies on a broad set of therapeutic tools, including client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and EMDR for helping clients process PTSD and extreme trauma. Nadia’s areas of specialty include divorce, reproductive issues, relationship issues, body issues, career and life changes, and identity issues. She also focuses on cultural issues and finding one’s bicultural identity. She enjoys working with clients from all age groups. Nadia sees clients via teletherapy. Make an appointment with Nadia by contacting her: nadiahallak@ariacounseling.net or by calling (312) 605-5979 Alexandra Hill With over a decade of experience in the mental health field, Alex began her career as a Special Education teacher, working with 9th-12th graders with significant cognitive impairments. After earning her Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago, she entered into school social work, serving students from preschool to 8th grade. She then transitioned to non-profit management, where she specialized in macro-level social work, as well as individual and group counseling with adults. Alex uses a holistic, culturally relevant approach specially designed to meet each client's unique needs. She values building a strong therapeutic relationship in to explore the root causes of presenting concerns, and to work toward incremental growth and change. Alex works with both children and adults, and she counsels individuals, couples and families. She specializes in trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, and perinatal, prenatal and postpartum mental health. She sees clients in person at our downtown location at 25 E. Washington St, and via teletherapy. Request an appointment with Alexandra by clicking on the “Request Appointment” button at the top of this page, or by calling (312) 605-5979 Meet Maria Mastronardi Maria spent over 15 years as a professor of communication studies before shifting careers to practice psychotherapy. Her background in media and cultural studies, advanced training at the Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute, and a long-time curiosity about human subjectivity, has indelibly shaped how she understands the problems people bring to therapy. In therapy, Maria treats every client's suffering with compassion and curiosity. Maria specializes in clients who struggle with anxiety, depression, relationship problems, eating disturbances, aging and life transitions, grief, identity issues, and low self-esteem. (Maria is not taking new clients at this time.) Meet Sherida Pringle Sherinda has over 20 years of experience counseling diverse populations, primarily in social services environments. She has an integrative, holistic approach and is skilled in helping clients with traumatic loss, disability issues, life transitions, as well as with more general mental health struggles. Sherinda sees clients via teletherapy. Request an appointment with Sherinda by clicking on the “Request Appointment” button at the top of this page, or by calling (312) 605-5979.