Elizabeth Birnkrant

Psychotherapist

LPC

elizabeth@innerchoicetherapy.com

312-248-3042

Therapeutic Approach

Elizabeth works relationally, as she believes that cultivating a nonjudgmental trusting therapeutic relationship between the client and clinician is the primary catalyst of change. Because she finds that the past frequently impacts one’s present, she works primarily with a psychodynamic approach to help clients increase insight and consider whether early developed coping skills are useful in their current circumstances. Elizabeth also incorporates existential principles, which honor the value of purpose and meaning to increase hope and manage human anxiety, isolation, and dread. Elizabeth recognizes the significance of culture, in that clients may have multiple intersecting identities, and may be impacted unequally by societal and systemic forces. Through this multicultural lens, Elizabeth helps clients increase their understanding of the past, identify aspects of their lives within their control, connect with their intuition, and take actions that align with their values.

Areas of Focus

Elizabeth enjoys working with adult individuals and couples of diverse ages, cultural identities, and life experiences, including men, Jewish clients, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. She values working with people experiencing unmanageable substance use and behavioral or process addictions. She also has worked with clients experiencing eating disorders, complex trauma, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, neurodivergence, schizoaffective disorder, and clients working through relationship issues. Elizabeth is well versed in the 12-step recovery model and enjoys working with members of varied recovery communities. She values harm reduction and is committed to meeting clients where they are by respecting their autonomy and their preferred approach to recovery. She incorporates Gottman principles into her work, helping couples and individual clients increase insight into their relational dynamics and learn skills to strengthen their connection with their partner. Elizabeth works collaboratively with clients to help them live authentically, increase their sense of wellbeing, and improve communication in their relationships.

Professional

Elizabeth earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology from The Chicago School, and a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature from The University of Chicago. Elizabeth is a professional actor and taught acting in Chicago for over a decade. She is a certified Bikram yoga instructor and has been teaching hot yoga since 2013. Elizabeth believes in the body’s deep inner wisdom and helps therapy clients increase their bodily awareness as an avenue to connect with their intuition. Elizabeth has also worked in property management, restaurants, arts administration, and retail management, and appreciates that her eclectic work experience helps her relate to individuals from many walks of life.

Personal

I come from generations of Jewish New Yorkers and have enjoyed living in Chicago for over two decades. Being able to hold multiple truths at once can be uncomfortable but necessary to live authentically; my experience of many fulfilling family relationships sits alongside more complicated family dynamics. These challenges have given me an appreciation for the importance of chosen families, and I value working with individuals who have created their own families out of friendships and found communities. Outside of work I enjoy going on yoga retreats, reading literary fiction and mysteries, traveling to parts of the world that are slower paced and immerse me in nature, and having long dinners with old friends.