Catherine Kleinmuntz, PhD, LSW

My Story

Are you worried about your child or teenager? Perhaps your child is struggling with anxiety, friendships, school pressures, self-confidence, family changes, or emotional challenges that have become difficult to navigate alone. Maybe you are finding that parenting has become more stressful than expected, or that family relationships feel strained and disconnected.

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Adults often seek therapy for different reasons. Some are facing anxiety, depression, grief, caregiving responsibilities, relationship difficulties, workplace stress, or major life transitions. Others may feel stuck, overwhelmed, or uncertain about how to move forward. Many are balancing significant professional, family, and personal responsibilities while trying to care for the people who depend on them.

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Whatever brings you to therapy, my goal is to provide a thoughtful, supportive, and collaborative environment where we can better understand the challenges you are facing and identify meaningful paths forward.

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I am a clinical social worker trained at the University of Chicago, where I earned both my Master's degree and PhD in Social Work. I began my career providing therapy and counseling in schools, outpatient mental health programs, and hospital-based settings throughout Chicago, including work with children, adolescents, adults, and families. My experience included work in children's services, outpatient psychiatry, and medical settings, where I worked with individuals and families facing emotional, developmental, family, educational, and health-related challenges.

These experiences taught me that people do not struggle in isolation. Children's emotional well-being is influenced by their families, schools, friendships, and communities. Adults are affected by their relationships, health, work environments, caregiving responsibilities, and life circumstances. Understanding these connections continues to shape the way I approach therapy.

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After my clinical work, I spent many years building and leading organizations, mentoring and coaching employees, and helping people navigate professional challenges, leadership responsibilities, workplace stress, and major life transitions. Those experiences broadened my understanding of human development beyond the therapy office and continue to inform my work today. I have particular interest in working with adolescents and adults facing high expectations, academic pressures, professional demands, perfectionism, and significant life transitions.

I returned to clinical practice because I believe the need for thoughtful, relationship-centered mental health care has never been greater. My approach is informed by psychodynamic, relational, developmental, and family systems perspectives. Together, we work to understand patterns, strengthen resilience, improve relationships, and develop greater confidence in facing life's challenges.

I provide individual therapy for children, adolescents, and adults, as well as family therapy. Areas of interest include anxiety, depression, family conflict, parenting concerns, school and academic pressures, relationship challenges, workplace stress, caregiving responsibilities, medical illness, grief, trauma, and major life transitions.

I currently have availability for new clients. Daytime appointments are available for adults, and evening appointments are available for children, adolescents, families, and working professionals. A limited number of sliding-scale appointments are available based on financial need.