Rachel Santellano, LSW
Warm, direct therapy focused on real change.
I didn’t always believe therapy worked. I spent years with therapists who were kind, thoughtful, and validating, but nothing in my life actually changed. Over time, I realized it wasn’t that therapy itself was ineffective—it was that I needed a different kind of approach. I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a therapist, and I came into this work wanting to create the kind of space I once needed myself: one where you feel safe being honest, and supported in doing something different. I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, spent time in Milwaukee, and eventually made my way back to the city, carrying a deep curiosity about how early experiences shape who we become and how we relate to others.
How I Work
- I create a space where you can speak openly without fear of judgment or pressure to perform.
- I balance warmth with honesty, listening carefully while also offering meaningful feedback.
- I help clients notice patterns in emotions, relationships, and behavior that keep repeating.
- I focus on turning insight into action, not just understanding what’s wrong.
- I work collaboratively, adjusting tools and approaches based on what actually helps you move forward.
- I believe many adult struggles began taking shape earlier in life, and real change becomes possible when we address them with clarity and intention.
Clients I Work With
I work with individuals, couples, adolescents, and neurodiverse clients who are ready for more than just feeling understood. Some people come to therapy needing space to be heard. Others arrive when they’re ready to grow, take responsibility for change, and try something new. If you’re at a point where you want therapy to show up in your daily life—in how you communicate, regulate emotions, and navigate relationships or life transitions—we may be a good fit.
Specialties & Services
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy for adults and young adults working through anxiety, emotional regulation, work stress, communication challenges, and relationship concerns in a collaborative, change-focused way.
Couples Therapy
Couples therapy for partners who want help improving communication, navigating conflict, rebuilding trust, and creating practical next steps—not just rehashing the same fights.
Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy
Neurodiversity-affirming therapy for adolescents and adults navigating ADHD, learning differences, sensory sensitivity, emotional overwhelm, and the hidden anxiety or shame that often builds over years of trying to “keep up.”
Adolescent & Young Adult Therapy
Therapy for teens and young adults, with parent involvement when helpful, focused on communication, accountability, emotional regulation, and forward movement—especially when school, motivation, or launching has gotten stuck.
Life Transitions
Support for young adults navigating major life transitions—starting college, moving out, beginning a new job, relocating to Chicago, getting engaged or married, or adjusting to unexpected change—while staying grounded and making thoughtful decisions.
Relationships (Individual Work)
Individual therapy focused on relationship concerns such as communication patterns, dating struggles, commitment anxiety, jealousy, sexual issues, and recurring conflict, without requiring a partner to attend.