Trauma-Informed Therapy and EMDR for Women in Illinois
Practical, compassionate support to feel calmer, kinder to yourself, and more connected at home.
Many of my clients are high-functioning women and mothers who hold it all together for everyone else.
How therapy can help
Feel more grounded and clear, so decisions do not spiral into overthinking
Respond instead of react when old triggers show up at home or at work
Be gentler with yourself and build confidence that lasts beyond a good day
Use EMDR to reprocess painful memories so current stress hits less hard
Strengthen connection with the people who matter most
Hi, I'm Samantha.
As a teenager, I experienced a traumatic event that rocked my world. I didn’t even know therapy was an option until I was 18, and learning I didn’t have to live with that pain forever changed everything. That experience gave me deep compassion and a quiet strength. It’s also why I care so much about what you’re carrying right now.
If you’re overwhelmed, second-guessing yourself, or tired of feeling stuck, you’re not alone. Many of the women I work with want to be more patient in their relationships, feel more confident as parents, and stop the loop of shame and self-criticism. You want support that is real, respectful, and focused on what actually helps in daily life.
We’ll slow things down, make sense of what’s happening, and build tools you can use between sessions. My approach is person-centered and trauma-informed, drawing from EMDR, IFS-informed work, polyvagal principles, and Exposure and Response Prevention when helpful. Clients describe me as warm, steady, and practical. I value integrity, fairness, and quality care over quick fixes.
If you're looking for grounded support and changes you can feel, let’s talk.
- Samantha McGann, LCSW, PEL
- NASW Endorsed Clinical Supervisor since 2022
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2015
- Professional Educator's License since 2012
- Master's degree in Social Work from University of Illinois at Chicago, completed in 2012
- Bachelor's degree in Human Services from Millikin University in Decatur, IL, completed in 2009
- Adults navigating parenthood
- Toddlers and emotional regulation
- Highly stressful life events and traumatic experiences
- OCD/Anxiety
- Anger management
- Surviving sexual assault
- EMDR
- Polyvagel-informed approach
- Parts Work
- Internal Family Systems
- Restorative Practices
- Trauma-Sensitive Care
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Exposure Response Prevention therapy
- Solution-Focused therapy
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Group Therapy
