MEET
ILYSSA HOFFMAN
Licenced Clinical Social Worker
what you'll get from me.
Therapy works best when there is a genuine and trusting relationship between you and your therapist.
i will be real.
I will be laid-back, warm, and approachable. I genuinely want to know how your week was. I will laugh with you. I will probably ask you for recs of the best binge worthy shows. I will most definitely mention how *perfect* my dog is on a regular basis.
I will listen to you without question or doubt.
Judgment has no place in therapy. I will make sure you feel heard, supported, and validated.
I will be honest.
I’m not afraid to talk about the hard or awkward stuff, and I’m certainly not afraid to remind you to give yourself grace.
I will empower you to design your own life.
I am not here to tell you what to do. Instead, I will give you room to access your own wisdom - because you are the expert of your life. I’m simply trained to ask the right questions and provide the right tools to help you create the changes you desire.
I won’t pretend to know it all.
I fully embrace that I am human and I will make mistakes. I am constantly learning, and am committed to growing together.
We will be a team.
I will work with you to identify things that are working for you and things that are holding you back. I will help you better understand your thoughts, emotions, and behavior in a way that is relatable and easy to understand. Together, we will develop applicable strategies to help you reach your goals.
meet ilyssa.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and owner of Thoughtflow Therapy.
I earned my undergraduate degree in Journalism and Psychology at Indiana University (Go Hoosiers!) and my graduate degree in Clinical Social Work at The University of Chicago. I worked full-time as a high school social worker for almost a decade, before deciding to follow my passion full-time, as a therapist in private practice.
I am an obsessed dog-mom, an avid reader of any “thriller” book, and a self-proclaimed “self-compassion enthusiast.”
A born and raised Floridian, I now live in the chilly Chicago suburbs with my husband and *perfect* pup, Theo.
treatment methods.
My approach to therapy is authentic, collaborative, and strength-based.
I draw from a variety of treatment modalities, with a primary focus in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, & trauma-informed treatment.
Feel free to reach out if you'd like to know more specifics about my treatment style!
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*perfect* pup, Theo
i believe...
we all have something to work through.
Shit happens. Circumstances change. Life is hard sometimes. Everyone can benefit from empathy, support, & a listening ear.
the key to change is through acceptance.
Once we are able to fully understand and accept our emotions, we gain the power to make the changes we desire.
progress is not linear.
The healing process includes setbacks. Progress does not equal perfection.
your experience is valid.
Someone will always have it worse than you do. Someone will also always have it better. These two truths do not make your experience any less valid, real, or challenging. These truths do not make you or your needs matter any less.
life comes in a series of waves.
Some hit hard. We can’t stop them from coming, but we can certainly learn to ride them.
life is tough.
But so are you.
