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.
Rachel Santellano, LSW is a Chicago therapist who works with neurodivergent teens, young adults, parents, and adults navigating anxiety, emotional regulation, school stress, life transitions. and relationship/family stress. Her work blends practical skill-building, emotional insight, and collaborative family support to help clients function better in real life. Rachel offers both in-person and telehealth therapy.
How I Help Clients at Modern Therapy Alliance
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
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.
Why this matters: Support for teens and parents who want to communicate better, reduce conflict, and work together through school, emotional, and developmental challenges.
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.”
Why this matters: Specialized support for ADHD and neurodivergent teens and adults, focused on skills, emotional regulation, and identity — not just coping.
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.
Why this matters: Therapy for moments when life didn’t unfold the way you expected, including school, career, relationship, and major personal changes.
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.
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rachel’s approach to therapy?
Rachel’s style blends warmth with honesty. You’ll feel supported and understood, but the work doesn’t stop there—sessions focus on patterns, accountability, and practical steps that translate into real life.
Who is a good fit for working with Rachel?
Rachel is a strong fit for clients who want more than a place to vent—people who want clarity, meaningful feedback, and steady progress in relationships, mood, communication, or life direction.
How is Rachel’s style different from therapy that’s mostly validation?
Validation can be an important beginning. Rachel’s goal is to help you build on that foundation—so insight turns into action, and your life starts to feel different outside the therapy room.
What does the first session with Rachel look like?
The first session is conversational and practical: what’s going on, what you’ve tried, what you want to change, and what would make therapy feel useful—then you’ll start building a realistic plan forward.
Do you work with teens and parents together?
Yes. Rachel often works with teens while also involving parents in a way that supports progress at home—improving communication, setting healthier expectations, and building accountability without turning therapy into blame.