meet celia kokoris
celia’s credentials and philosophy
licensed social worker (lsw) - clinical license 150.112032 - pronouns (she/her/hers) - individuals & couples - english
I believe that successful therapy is like gardening: You must provide the best-growing conditions with good soft soil, warming sunlight, and consistent water. Whether you are new to therapy or a long-time participant, let’s imagine that we are just two people planting seeds together and watching them grow. I am determined to ensure that my clients are given a safe, comforting space to delve into their therapeutic process. As a therapist who works extensively with people who have experience trauma, my first priority is to maintain a safe space so that clients can explore what lies beneath the surface of their daily lives. Because of this, I believe that the relationship between therapist and client is of the utmost importance.
I practice from various modalities depending on the individual's specific needs; I recently completed a fellowship at The University of Chicago in Contextual Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, am a practicing CADC (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor), and have professional and lived experience working in treatment programs, such as IOP's and also hospital settings, as well.
Some of my Intersecting Identities are:
Fourth-generation Greek-American - in recovery - lgbtqia+ allied - daughter of parent with chronic illness - cat mom - avid reader - world traveler
specialization
celia’s areas of focus:
PTSD - CPTSD-substance use - gambling disorder - disordered eating - chronic illness - moving through the death process / assisting in palliative care - narcissistic abuse recovery - neurodivergence - grief and loss
celia’s approach:
contextual dialectical behavioral therapy / dialectical behavioral therapy (CDBT/DBT) -acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) - psychodynamic - trauma informed -internal family systems informed (IFS) - EFIT (Emotional Focused Individual Therapy) - somatic interventions
education
The University of Chicago Crown School of Social Work
Masters of Arts social work
The University of Chicago Crown School of Social Work
Trauma-Informed Certification
The University of Chicago Crown School of Social Work
CDBT (Contextual Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Fellow)
The University of Chicago Crown School of Social Work
Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor - 2023
OUR approach to therapy
integrative — collaborative — inclusive
Ready to talk?
Feel free to email me at celia@balancepsychotherapy.com or fill out the form.