Starting therapy can feel like a big step. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, navigating a major life transition, struggling in your relationships, or simply feeling stuck, you don't have to figure it all out on your own.

I believe therapy is most effective when it feels both supportive and purposeful. My approach is warm, collaborative, and individualized, with the goal of helping you better understand yourself, develop practical tools, and create meaningful change that lasts beyond the therapy room.

I earned a Masters in Social Work at University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, where I received extensive clinical training in evidence-based psychotherapy. My work draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, I work collaboratively with each client to understand their unique experiences, strengths, values, and goals.

Before founding Paz Psychotherapy, I worked in community mental health, supporting adults and couples through a wide range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, relationship difficulties, and major life transitions. These experiences have shaped my belief that people are capable of meaningful growth and change when they have the right support and a therapeutic relationship where they feel genuinely understood.

In our work together, you can expect a space that is compassionate, nonjudgmental, and honest. I won't simply tell you what you want to hear—I will help you gently explore patterns that may be holding you back while giving you practical tools to navigate what you're facing.

Whether you're working through a difficult season, wanting to feel more confident and grounded, or hoping to build healthier and more connected relationships, therapy can be an opportunity to better understand yourself and move toward the life you want.

You don't have to have everything figured out before you begin. We can start exactly where you are.

Avia Paz, LCSW