Karen Villanueva

Do you feel like you’re trying to stay connected to yourself or others, but keep getting caught in patterns that leave you feeling uncertain, overwhelmed, or alone?

I don’t believe our struggles happen in a vacuum. Our relationships, families, culture, and life experiences all shape how we see ourselves and how we show up with one another. When we slow down and look at these patterns, we can start to understand not just why we’re struggling, but how to actually shift things.

As an Associate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I work with individuals, couples, and families navigating changes in their relationships, their sense of self, or their circumstances. Maybe you’re having a hard time communicating with a partner, feeling distant from someone you love, or noticing the same conflict come up again and again. Maybe you’re dealing with anxiety, low self-esteem, or a big life transition, starting adulthood, changing careers, divorce, becoming a parent. Or maybe you’re navigating family conflict or a shifting relationship with a child, sibling, or parent. Whatever brings you in, I want to help you slow down, understand what’s really going on underneath, and find new ways of relating to yourself and others.

My approach is collaborative, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive. I trained in Integrative Systemic Therapy at The Family Institute at Northwestern University, and I draw from Emotionally Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Internal Family Systems–tailoring the work to you rather than fitting you into one model. As a Latina therapist, I’m especially passionate about working with BIPOC clients, and I understand firsthand how culture, family expectations, and identity can shape the way we relate to ourselves and others. I also offer sessions in Spanish and welcome Spanish-speaking individuals, couples, and families.

More than anything, I want therapy to feel like a place where you’re genuinely heard, where you can be honest, even messy, and know you’re not being judged. Together, we’ll build on the strengths you already have, get curious about the patterns that feel stuck, and work toward real, lasting connection, with yourself and the people who matter most to you.