Randall O'Neill
he/him
Therapy is a tool to help one live a healthier, more fulfilling life by tending to the mind, body, and spirit – with the understanding that those three aspects of our humanity are intimately and irreversibly connected.
Therapy is different for each person, but for all, therapy is a path to become better attuned with one’s emotional and spiritual self. It is a way to identify what stops us from living our lives, honestly and authentically. It helps one let go of those things that hinder emotional wellbeing by embracing that which allows us to thrive and live truth to its fullest.
My role as a therapist is not to offer advice or tell my clients what to do – rather, I serve as a listener and an observer. The next step I take depends on the needs of each client. It is always my intention to help clients find a path to a healthier emotional life through personal commitment, flexibility, resilience, and (above all) rigorous self-honesty. With all of that in mind, I work to identify clients’ strengths and how those strengths can be used to make meaningful and long-lasting changes in their lives.
Specialties:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Relationship issues
- Trauma & PTSD
- LGBT & queer
- Substance abuse
- Sex & sexual dysfuntion
I have extensive experience working with LGBTQ+ adolescents and adults struggling with identity and the issues surrounding it. I have supported individuals across the spectrum of gender and sexual identity as well as those who are at different stages of gender affirmation. I also work extensively with anxiety, depression, grief and loss, as well as trauma and issues related to shame and self-worth. In addition, I have significant experience working with individuals suffering from addiction and find deep meaning in that particular work.
I take great pride in providing a safe, non-judgmental, sex- and gender-positive space where my clients and I can explore together their unique needs and how best to find and create an emotional equilibrium. My overall approach is client-centered, strengths-based, and rooted in mindfulness. With each client I utilize motivational interviewing to help them understand themselves in relation to the world around them and the issues they wish to address.
There is no “one-size-fits all” therapeutic template, so I utilize elements from a number of therapeutic approaches: Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, among others.
I hold a master’s degree in Social Work from Loyola University of Chicago. I have spent several years working in various capacities with the LGBTQ+ communities. And, as a licensed high school teacher, I also have a significant background in working with and volunteering for adolescents through numerous organizations in New York City and Chicago.