Hifza Ayaz (she/her)
EMDR Therapist
Hifza@ChicagoEMDR.com
773.236.0498

I received my Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from DePaul University, Chicago followed by a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. I am passionate about integrating creative approaches to counseling, such as writing and drawing, as a way of fostering self-expression and creative freedom. I believe that learning to hold space for our inner sense of self is integral to healing, and that this is precisely the dimension human beings experience the most difficulty accessing. If you are struggling with a self-critical approach due to symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma or navigating major life changes, I want to provide you with a safe space that allows you to experience self-compassion through developing a nonjudgmental attitude towards the way that you have learned to survive. 

I seek to encourage a space that allows for meaning-making, borrowing from Humanistic, Psychodynamic, and Narrative frameworks that allow clients to develop insight and clarity regarding their past and present experiences. My work is largely focused on holding a space that allows clients to regain agency, develop a sense of meaning, and reclaim a connection with themselves through engaging with their story. I deeply enjoy working with individuals navigating challenges encompassing attachment, low self-esteem, intergenerational trauma, and identity issues. I also have experience in providing counseling services and resources for individuals struggling with personality disorders. 

I am trained in EMDR Therapy and am here to support you on your journey towards healing, self-discovery and peace. If this speaks to you, please reach out to me. 

“Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you by the way your mind looks at what happens.” 
-Kahlil Gibran