Aida Kaewwilai

ALMFT, LPC

She | Her | Hers

Family Therapy | Couples Counseling | Relationship Conflicts | Emerging Adulthood | First-Generation Stress | Anxiety | Depression | Trauma

My Background

I attended Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU), where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Social Work. I later continued at NEIU onto receiving my Master of Arts in Family Counseling. I am an Associate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, as well as a Licensed Professional Counselor. A lot of my training was on working with couples and families in addition to individuals. I have always been empathic by nature and was always interested in learning why people think and behave in certain ways, especially within a relational system. I was usually the person that friends would talk to while undergoing stress and was told that I was a good listener. I have experience of working in community health settings, which includes crisis work. While there, I often implemented safety plans and assessments, while also providing long-term outpatient therapy. 

I specialize in working with couples and families by helping them create an alliance with each other. I guide couples and families into focusing on the present, using various approaches to help them recognize their patterns, improve communication, and set goals for change. I focus on how different life experiences influence and affect their current relationship. I progress at each person’s pace, creating a safe space to allow them to express vulnerable feelings to each other, which helps them to feel more connected.  While working with individuals, my approach is similar, but focusing on the individual and helping them understand their unique experiences.  I enjoy working with people from many different cultures and helping them understand how culture plays a big role in their development. I help them better understand their struggles of living in between more than one culture.  

My approach to this work starts with building a therapeutic alliance by creating a safe space for exploration of vulnerable feelings that are often difficult to sit with. I provide emotional support and feedback to help gain a new sense of awareness, while also validating your experiences. I use a combination of different therapeutic approaches that best fit your needs to help you explore your past, present, and/or future.  Some of these approaches include Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Gottman Method, Family Systems, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Solution- Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT).  We will work together as a team, where I help you process your emotions and figure out solutions. I provide honest feedback with warm support along the way to ensure emotional safety. We will progress at each step, creating trust and time for readiness before taking the next steps.

Outside of the office, I enjoy staying active, mostly by going on daily jogs around different parks. I also love traveling, going to concerts, and spending time with friends and family. Lately, I have been getting into trying new cooking recipes at home, especially desserts!