Karina Melendez

Karina MelendezLPC

Therapist at Soleil Psychotherapy · Chicago

1700 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613

Counselors

About Karina Melendez

Karina Melendez is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Client Care Coordinator at Soleil Psychotherapy who uses a relational, strengths-based, trauma-informed approach. Her background in community mental health includes work with adult and child survivors of sexual violence and complex trauma, alongside depression, anxiety, performance anxiety, out-of-control sexual behaviors, self-esteem, attachment, and dissociation. She draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, narrative therapy, and relational-cultural therapy, and is sex-positive, kink/BDSM-friendly, and consensual non-monogamy-affirming. Karina earned her Master's in Counseling Psychology, concentrating in Latinx Mental Health, from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Her bio describes her as a second-generation Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Peruvian LGBTQ+ woman.

Also at Soleil Psychotherapy

Ashley Homa

Ashley HomaLCPC

Soleil Psychotherapy

1700 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613

Ashley Homa is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), certified yoga instructor, and supervisor at Soleil Psychotherapy. She works with individuals, couples, and groups on trauma, substance use, grief, depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, and major life transitions including infertility, postpartum struggles, and parenthood. As a sex therapist, Ashley addresses desire discrepancy, intimacy challenges, and sexual dysfunction, integrating mind-body and somatic techniques with ACT, CBT, and DBT. She creates a welcoming space for clients of all backgrounds and identities, including those from the LGBTQIA+ community, and is sex-positive, kink-friendly, and affirming of polyamorous relationships. Ashley holds a Master's in Counseling Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

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Julia Daniel

Julia DanielLPC

Soleil Psychotherapy

1700 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613

Julia Daniel is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) at Soleil Psychotherapy who explores desire and sexual expression through an art-therapeutic lens. She works with individuals on trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, sexual dysfunction, kinks, and fetishes, with particular skill supporting childhood and sexual trauma survivors, and is dedicated to creating a welcoming, affirming space for clients from LGBTQIA+ and sex worker communities. Julia draws on trauma-informed interventions, Emotionally Focused Therapy, somatic practices, attachment theory, and treatment for Out-of-Control Sexual Behavior, plus psychodynamic approaches. She is supervised by Rachel Berg.

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Ryan Curran

Ryan CurranLCPC

Soleil Psychotherapy

1700 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613

Ryan Curran is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and art therapist at Soleil Psychotherapy who uses creative and artistic exploration to help individuals and couples build connection and insight. Ryan supports clients navigating open relationships, polyamory, kink exploration, sex work, gender and sexuality, and disability-inclusive relationships, working from a strength-based, person-centered approach informed by the disability justice and pleasure activism movements. Ryan has several years of experience with clients experiencing complex disabilities, including neurodivergence, physical disability, or invisible illness, and holds a Master's in Art Therapy and Counseling from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

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Jess Thompson

Jess Thompson

Soleil Psychotherapy

1700 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613

Jess Thompson is a psychotherapist at Soleil Psychotherapy who works with individuals, relationships, and groups on anxiety, trauma, relationship struggles, emotional overwhelm, body image, self-worth, creative blocks, and life transitions. Jess also supports individuals and couples navigating sexual concerns, intimacy challenges, sexual pain, and questions around sexual identity and expression, embracing all expressions of gender and sexuality as a sex-positive, kink-friendly, poly-affirming counselor. Her integrative approach draws on Relational-Cultural Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Creative Arts Therapies, mindfulness, and DBT. Jess holds a Master's in both Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Art Therapy from Adler University and is supervised by Ashley Homa.

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Casey VanHecke

Casey VanHeckeLPC

Soleil Psychotherapy

1700 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613

Casey VanHecke is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) at Soleil Psychotherapy whose clinical work prioritizes LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent identities through a person-centered, strengths-based, relational approach. Casey works with concerns including identity development, transitioning, sexuality, sexual wellness, relationships, attachment, BDSM/kink, anxiety, trauma/PTSD, and grief, and is qualified to provide letters of support for gender-affirming care. Casey trained at Center on Halsted, gaining significant experience with the LGBTQIA+ community, and is sex-positive, sex-worker allied, kink-friendly, and enjoys working with LGBTQ+ and polyamorous clients. Casey holds a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The Chicago School and is supervised by Stephen Heintz.

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Christina Carbone

Christina CarboneLPC

Soleil Psychotherapy

1700 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613

Christina Carbone is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) at Soleil Psychotherapy with a holistic, strength-based, integrative clinical orientation rooted in mind-body connection. She works with individuals, couples, and families on trauma, anxiety and depression, self-esteem, relationships, and sex therapy, using ACT, DBT, Internal Family Systems, and attachment-focused approaches. Christina is sex-positive, kink-friendly, and affirming of polyamorous relationships and LGBTQIA+ clients. She earned her Master's in Counseling Psychology, specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy, from Wayne State University, graduating with honors, and is supervised by Rachel Berg.

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Anna Welch

Anna Welch

Soleil Psychotherapy

1700 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613

Anna Welch is a psychotherapist at Soleil Psychotherapy who works with adults navigating trauma, anxiety, relationship concerns, body image, self-worth, family-of-origin dynamics, and codependent patterns, using a relational, strengths-based, trauma-informed approach grounded in person-centered and feminist perspectives. Before becoming a therapist, Anna worked in sexual health advocacy and reproductive healthcare, experience that continues to shape her practice. She is LGBTQIA+-affirming, sex-positive, kink-friendly, and affirming of consensual non-monogamous relationships. Anna holds a Master of Education in Mental Health Counseling from Hunter College and is supervised by Stephen Heintz.

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Colie Smigliani

Colie SmiglianiLCPC

Soleil Psychotherapy

1700 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613

Colie Smigliani is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) at Soleil Psychotherapy who takes a holistic, existential approach incorporating sex therapy, somatic practice, narrative therapy, feminist theory, DBT, and ACT. Colie has a background working with young adults, families, couples, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, supporting clients through trauma, sexuality, family-of-origin issues, PTSD, depression, anxiety, attachment concerns, LGBTQ and gender exploration, and anger management. She is LGBTQIA+-affirming, sex-positive, and kink- and poly-friendly. Colie earned her Master's in Counseling Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

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Aisling Byrne

Aisling ByrneLCPC

Soleil Psychotherapy

1700 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613

Aisling Byrne is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) at Soleil Psychotherapy, working with adults and couples on anxiety, relationship and communication difficulties, intimacy and sexuality concerns, body image, and life transitions. She provides an LGBTQIA+ affirming, sex-positive, and ENM-affirming space for clients to explore identity and relationships, grounded primarily in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy alongside CBT, DBT, the Gottman Method, and person-centered therapy. Aisling brings an intersectional, internationally informed lens and incorporates mindfulness and mind-body practices. She earned her Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adler University, with coursework in Human Sexuality.

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Stephen Heintz

Stephen HeintzLCPC

Soleil Psychotherapy

1700 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613

Stephen Heintz is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and Director of Employee Enrichment at Soleil Psychotherapy, with a clinical emphasis on individuals, couples, and relationships. He works with clients facing depression, anxiety, anger, trauma, self-esteem, grief and loss, and life transitions. Having trained through the program at Center on Halsted, Stephen has specialized experience working with the LGBTQIA+ community, and his specialties include LGBTQ-affirming care, attachment, and family-of-origin issues. He is also sex-positive, kink-friendly, and affirming of polyamorous relationships. Stephen holds a Master's in Counseling Psychology, with a concentration in marriage and family therapy, from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

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Catherine Santo

Catherine SantoLCSW

Soleil Psychotherapy

1700 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613

Catherine Santo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and certified integrative mental health practitioner at Soleil Psychotherapy. They provide LGBTQIA+ and poly-affirming, trauma-responsive care, specializing in support for clients with chronic pain, complex disabilities, childhood abuse, infertility, anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, and relational issues. Catherine uses person-centered therapy, solution-focused therapy, emotionally-focused therapy, mindfulness, and somatic experiencing to help individuals and couples repair the disconnection between mind and body. Catherine earned a Master's in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and has worked across community and medical settings.

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Gabrielle Soe

Gabrielle Soe

Soleil Psychotherapy

1700 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613

Gabrielle Soe is an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist at Soleil Psychotherapy who identifies as LGBTQ. She supports individuals and couples navigating relationship challenges, family concerns, sexuality, intimacy, life transitions, body image, self-esteem, sexual abuse, and childhood trauma, drawing on Emotionally Focused Therapy, sex therapy, trauma-informed and somatic practices, and Socioculturally Attuned Family Therapy. An active member of AASECT and AAMFT, Gabrielle is sex-positive, kink-aware, and poly/ENM-affirming. She holds a Master's in Psychology from Purdue Global and a Master's in Couples and Family Therapy from Purdue University Northwest, and is supervised by Stephen Heintz.

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