Onion River Counseling
About Onion River
The name Onion River Counseling reflects both the nature of therapeutic healing and a deep connection to the land we call home.
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Throughout history, onions have been valued for their medicinal and cleansing properties—qualities that mirror the restorative work of therapy. Human beings are inherently multilayered, carrying history, defense mechanisms, and lived experiences. The process of counseling involves gently unlayering those experiences to reach what is authentic underneath. This work honors that peeling back layers can be uncomfortable and may bring tears; in a trauma-informed space, emotion is never viewed as weakness, but as a natural and necessary part of processing stress, difficult experiences, and nervous system overwhelm.
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Rivers offer a complementary truth: they are an adaptable, patient force of nature, constantly moving around obstacles and carving new pathways over time. When trauma, chronic anxiety, or burnout leaves us feeling stuck or frozen, therapy can help restore our natural psychological momentum—reminding us that quiet, consistent movement holds immense power to reshape our lives.
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The onion and the river also have a connection to Chicago itself. The name Chicago is generally understood to be a French rendering of the Miami-Illinois word Shikaakwa, referring to wild onions or related plants that grew in abundance in the area.
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That history is profoundly important, as Onion River Counseling is located on the ancestral homelands of Indigenous peoples, including the Council of Three Fires (Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi), Miami, and Illinois, whose communities, cultures, and relationships with this place long predate the city of Chicago, and whose land was taken through colonization.
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The onion and the river have a longstanding connection here. Onion River Counseling carries that connection forward as a grounded, compassionate space where natural growth, gentle processing, and your authentic self all have room to unfold.
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Onion River Counseling is ultimately about layers and movement: understanding where we've come from, making space for what we're carrying, and finding ways to keep moving forward. It is a name rooted in both the work of therapy and the place where that work happens.
About Me
My path to therapy grew out of my own life experience and a deep respect for the therapists who helped me along the way. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 10 years of experience, I strive to offer that same steady, supportive space to you—using nonjudgmental language and thoughtful inquiry to help you learn more about yourself, at your own pace.
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Seeking therapy can feel like a daunting step, but you don't have to navigate life's challenges alone. Whether you're experiencing chronic anxiety, working through workplace burnout, managing a major life transition, or processing past trauma, I work with adults to help you peel back what's weighing you down and move toward greater clarity and confidence.
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No two people are the same, and I believe care should be tailored specifically to you and your lived experience. My practice is explicitly trauma-informed, anti-racist, LGBTQIA+ inclusive, and anti-ableist. I recognize that our individual well-being does not exist in a vacuum: culture, identity,Â
discrimination, systemic inequities, and other social and environmental factors can shape our experiences of stress, safety, relationships, and mental health. These realities are welcome in the therapeutic space, and I approach them with curiosity, humility, and respect.
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I offer a collaborative, client-centered approach grounded in warmth and respect. You set the pace and priorities; I provide the support and guidance. Together, we'll identify what matters most, set meaningful goals, and build practical tools so you can move forward with more peace of mind, self-compassion, and resilience. In our work, I draw on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and other compassionate, evidence-based techniques to help you recognize unhelpful patterns and align with your core values.
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I am also a trained EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapist—a specialized, research-backed approach for processing trauma and distressing experiences. Like the other layers we work through together, EMDR can help us gently access and reprocess experiences that continue to affect you, creating space for new ways of understanding and responding.
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Feel free to reach out using the consultation form on the contact page or contact me directly with any questions. You don't need to have everything figured out before you begin. Sometimes the first step is simply having a conversation about what you're going through and whether we might be a good fit.
Sean Elliot
Clinical Social Work / Therapist, LCSW