Angela Oviedo

Hi, I’m Angela, but I go by Gio! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who believes therapy should be a space where you can genuinely be yourself without judgment, pressure, or the expectation that you have everything figured out.

I previously served in the Illinois Army National Guard, and I value creating a space that is welcoming and affirming to people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. I am LGBTQ+ affirming and welcome clients of all identities, beliefs, and backgrounds.

I welcome children, adolescents, and adults into my practice. My clinical background has primarily involved working with adults, including individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, relationship and interpersonal concerns, emotional regulation, serious mental illness, co-occurring concerns, and involvement with the criminal justice system. I am passionate about expanding my work with children and adolescents and incorporating developmentally appropriate and play based interventions to help younger clients express themselves, build skills, process emotions, and work toward meaningful goals.

Meeting clients where they are is at the center of how I practice. I do not believe people come to therapy because they need to be fixed. My role is to work alongside you, providing education, practical tools, support, and new perspectives that can help you better understand yourself and improve your quality of life. Treatment planning is collaborative because your goals should reflect what matters to you and what you would like to gain from therapy.

My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and straightforward. I draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused Therapy, psychoeducation, trauma informed care, and developmentally appropriate play based techniques. I enjoy helping clients understand what they are experiencing, recognize patterns that may be affecting their lives, develop practical skills, and use that understanding to create meaningful change.

I also have a strong interest in animal assisted therapy and am currently pursuing additional training in this area. I am in the process of training a canine companion who may be present during in office sessions as part of their training. Their presence is always optional and based on each client’s individual comfort and preference. As my training progresses, I hope to thoughtfully incorporate animal assisted interventions into my clinical practice when appropriate and beneficial to the client.

Therapy with me can include serious conversations, practical problem solving, education, learning new skills, creative and play based activities, challenging unhelpful patterns, and sometimes humor. Above all, I strive to create a space where you feel heard, respected, and supported while still being appropriately challenged and encouraged to grow.

I have a puppy i want to train for AAT & would like to bring her to the office to clients interested in having a dog (puppy in training) present.

I have experience providing therapy for adults on probation / involved in the legal system.

Make an appointment today by calling us on (888) 870-1775 or by filling out our Contact Form.

SPECIALTIES

• ADD/ADHD
• Adjustment Disorders
• Anger Management
• Anxiety
• Behavior Issues-Kids
• Child Welfare
• Court Evaluations
• Depression
• Divorce
• Eating Disorders
• Family Conflict
• Grief and Loss
• Gender Identity
• Learning Disabilities
• Obsessive Compulsive
• Phobias
• Premarital/Marital Counseling
• Pregnancy
• Postpartum
• PTSD
• Relationship Issues
• Severe Mental Illness (Bipolar, Schizophrenia, etc.)
• Sex Offenders
• Spirituality
• Stress Management
• Trauma and Abuse
• Weight Loss
• Work-Life Stress/Transitions
• First Responder (Police,Fire, EMT)
• Other specializations (Legal issues & Court ordered therapy)

METHODS

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Play Therapy
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Brain Spotting
• Brief Therapy
• Mindfulness
• Psychodynamic Therapy
• Existential
• Motivational Interviewing
• Person-Centered
• Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
• Strength Based
• Exposure Therapy
• Mentalization-based therapy (MBT)
• Other Specializations (Animal assisted therapy dog in training not certified & Art therapy)