Meet Mariana

Hi, I’m Mariana Bednarek, 

I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor who is passionate about getting to know people from different walks of life. I have experience working with adults living with anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, and more. I am committed to curating an empathic, non-judgmental space where you feel accepted for who you are. As an LGBTQ+ and neurodiversity-affirming therapist, I believe everyone deserves to feel safe, validated, and loved regardless of how they identify.

I am deeply passionate about working with the LGBTQ+ community. My work with this population began when I started volunteering with the Trevor Project. Through this wonderful organization, I supported LGBTQ+ youth when they were in crisis, struggling with suicidal ideation, or just needed someone to listen. I had the privilege of providing a safe, affirming space for these youth, and I was able to transfer many of my foundational skills to my clinical internship at Center on Halsted. At this prominent LGBTQ+ community center, I completed a year-long specialized training program in LGBTQ+ issues, which helped deepen my understanding of and connection to this diverse community.

I realized that I was both queer and neurodivergent later in life. As a result, I have a strong clinical interest in supporting neurodivergent adults in the LGBTQ+ community living with various issues, including depression, anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, and more. As an LGBTQ+ and neurodiversity-affirming therapist, I believe everyone deserves to feel safe, validated, and loved regardless of how they identify.

I believe therapy is not one-size-fits-all, and that meaningful change can come from different places. My approach is integrative, incorporating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), along with psychodynamic and feminist perspectives. In our work together, this may look like gently exploring patterns in your thoughts and behaviors, making space for difficult emotions, understanding how past experiences have shaped you, and recognizing the impact of the systems you move through. My goal is to collaborate with you in a way that feels supportive, empowering, and aligned with your unique needs.