Meet Sanna Stella, LCPC, NCC, CTP
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) · Illinois
National Certified Counselor (NCC) — National Board for Certified Counselors
Sanna Stella, LCPC, NCC, CTP
A therapist who brings her whole self to the work
As someone who chose a new purpose in midlife by becoming a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, I layered specialized trauma and adoption research and clinical training on a foundation of rich lived experiences. I am based in the Chicago area and founded Seeing Your Light Counseling to support people with unique and often invisible challenges — where identity, health, family, and public visibility impact life in ways that most therapists haven't encountered, let alone lived.
I bring both clinical training and personal experiences to my work with those affected by adoption, chronic illness, advocacy work, or being known to the public in some way. I understand how deeply these aspects affect every part of our lives, even if it seems unrelated on the surface. These challenges benefit from a therapist who can see the connections, patterns, and roots of your struggles.
Sessions are available in-person in Chicago and Oak Park, and via telemental health throughout Illinois.
Clinical skills & knowledge, personal purpose
LCPC
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, State of Illinois. Graduate degree with honors in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University. Trained in various psychotherapeutic treatment modalities and assessments.
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Trauma
Trauma-informed as a Certified Trauma Professional (CTP) and through completion of the Traumatic Stress Studies Certificate by the Trauma Research Foundation. Worked with different kinds of often severe trauma.
Adoption
Specialized training through Rutgers School of Social Work Adoption Certificate, qualitative reunion and reculturation research studies at Northwestern University, peer-reviewed published author and professional presenter. Lived experiences as an international transracial Korean adoptee.
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Chronic Illness
Chronic illness advocate with lived experiences of invisible health conditions, disability, challenges in navigating the medical system, clinical research studies, and creating a new identity and life path with meaning and purpose while caring for chronic health conditions.
Public Life & Advocacy
Professional experiences working with public figures such as performing artists, religious leaders, advocates, and activists. Enhanced by personal experiences as a health advocate.
Therapy that connects with your heart, body, and mind
My approach is integrative, holistic, and multicultural: drawing from trauma-informed practice and integrating elements from depth-oriented, psychodynamic, and existential theory and practice to see, understand, and work with your history and relational patterns; to elements from evidence-based treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT); to humanistic and person-centered skills to be aware of and work with the here-and-now. This approach creates a space that is both clinically grounded and deeply human. It works with lifelong patterns and in-the-moment crises, intrapersonal and interpersonal conflicts. I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all model or manualized therapy. My approach is to use what is most appropriate for you, and finding that together is part of and always in process. My multicultural perspective comes from both working with diverse people and having lived in Asia, Europe, and the US.
Sessions are collaborative and paced according to your needs. You set the goals and I use my clinical skills to support you in moving in that direction. Come as you are. Bring the messy, the unfinished, the contradictory — that's exactly what this space is for.
I work with children, adolescents, adults, and elderly either in-person in Chicago and Oak Park, or via telemental health throughout Illinois. I see individuals, couples, and families. I also offer groups at times. I can provide therapy in English and German.
Book a Free ConsultationSanna's selected publications & media appearances
Health Advocacy
Adoption
Liberating Our Ancestors, Finding Ourselves: Colombian Transnational Adoptee First Family Reunion Experiences
Adoption Quarterly · February 1, 2023
⤓ Download PDFChicago in-person session office
