Start Your Second Story with Support tailored to the Avondale community. We offer experienced therapy for individuals, couples, and families navigating life transitions in the Northwest Side.
Quick Contact Information
- Address: 655 W Irving Park Rd, Suite 204, Chicago, IL 60613
- Phone: 773.528.1777
- In-Network Insurance: Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO
- Make Contact Form: [Schedule A Free 15-Minute Consultation]
Navigating Change and Community in Avondale
Avondale is a neighborhood defined by its rich history and its rapid evolution. Living in 60618—a community straddling tradition and a booming artistic scene—brings unique pressures: managing family dynamics, balancing work in the city, and dealing with the constant changes of the neighborhood.
At 2nd Story Counseling, we provide therapy that understands the particular rhythm of Avondale life. We are experts in helping individuals and couples navigate life transitions, work-life balance, and relationship challenges stemming from the fast-paced nature of Chicago. We also specialize in offering counseling to LGBTQ persons.
Though our office is just 15 minutes away in Lakeview, we are deeply committed to serving the Northwest Side, offering both convenient in-person sessions and flexible virtual counseling options for our Avondale neighbors.
How To Get Here: Directions from Avondale to Our Office
Our office is located at 655 W Irving Park Rd, offering a direct and simple commute from Avondale.
🚇 By Public Transportation (CTA)
We are easily reached via a simple transfer or direct bus route:
- CTA Blue Line Connection: If you are near the Belmont or Addison Blue Line stops, take the train eastbound. Transfer to the #80 (Irving Park) bus. The bus runs directly from the Blue Line to our office address.
- Bus Routes:
- #80 (Irving Park): This is the most direct route. The bus stops directly in front of or across the street from our building on Irving Park Road.
- #77 (Belmont): From the western edge of Avondale, take the #77 bus east and transfer to the #151 (Sheridan) or #36 (Broadway) buses for the final segment to our office.
🚗 By Car & Parking Information
The drive from Avondale is usually direct, primarily following major cross-streets:
- Route: From the heart of Avondale, travel east on Addison or Belmont, then north on Lake Shore Drive or east on Irving Park Road.
- Parking: Street parking is available near our office, but it often requires metered payment or a City of Chicago Residential Permit (Zone 383). Please allow extra time before your appointment to secure a spot.
🗺️ Need Assistance?
Use the link below to get directions directly from your location, or call our office if you have any trouble finding us!
[View Directions on Google Maps]
Specialized Services for the Avondale Community
We offer evidence-based therapy that addresses the core needs of Avondale residents, from young families to established professionals.
| Service Focus | What We Offer | Service Offered |
| LGBTQ Related | Support for people who identify as LGBTQ. Relationship challenges, self-esteem, work stress and trauma. LGBTQ affirming care that respects you and your life situation. | LGBTQ Focused Therapy |
| Stress & Burnout | Specialized focus on the pressures of a changing economy, career anxiety, and managing an active social life. | Therapy for professionals Avondale |
| Trauma & PTSD Treatment | Advanced therapies like EMDR and Trauma-Focused CBT for healing complex trauma and adverse experiences. | Trauma therapist Chicago 60618 |
| Life Transitions & Grief | Compassionate support for navigating major life changes, including loss, relocation stress, and changes in career or identity. | Individual therapy Avondale |
| Advanced Modalities | We integrate proven methods like DBT (for emotional regulation) and IFS (Internal Family Systems) to ensure deep, lasting change. | DBT therapist 60618 |
🏳️🌈 LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapy Near Avondale
Therapy should celebrate who you are. Our practice offers expert LGBTQ+ mental health support—helping queer and trans individuals with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, family conflict, and navigating life’s transitions with affirming, knowledgeable care.
♂️ Gay Men’s Therapy in Chicago
Get support from therapists who truly understand. Whether you’re addressing performance anxiety, exploring ethical non-monogamy, dealing with chemsex recovery, or processing discrimination’s toll—find culturally competent care tailored to gay men’s experiences.
LGBTQ+ Affirming Care
Navigate identity exploration, coming out, relationship dynamics, and systemic minority stress in a deeply affirming, supportive environment. We offer a dedicated, professional sanctuary tailored to the lived experiences of the Avondale queer community.
CBT for Anxiety
Break free from persistent overthinking, generalized anxiety, and the internal pressure to perform flawlessly. Our structured Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps Avondale professionals identify negative thought patterns, manage stress, and quiet a racing mind.
Grief & Loss Support
Navigate the heavy, complex, and unpredictable waves of bereavement, sudden loss, or major life transitions. We provide a gentle, compassionate space to process your pain, honor your unique timeline, and help you slowly rebuild a sense of meaning.
Men's Counseling
Address the unique societal pressures, professional challenges, and emotional expectations modern men face. Gain actionable, practical tools to manage high-stakes career burnout, navigate relationship dynamics, and build emotional resilience.
College Students & Young Adults
Manage the unique academic stresses, social adjustments, identity challenges, and career decisions that come with young adulthood. Build a resilient mental health toolkit to navigate life transitions and establish long-term independence confidently.
IFS Therapy
Explore your inner world using Internal Family Systems. Safely identify and heal protective, wounded, or anxious "parts" of your personality to resolve deep-seated inner conflicts, reduce emotional distress, and foster long-term personal harmony.
Our Approach: Professionalism Meets Compassion
- Clinical Excellence You Can Trust: Our clinicians are not just listeners; they are trained experts in evidence-based, integrative therapy. This means we customize approaches like CBT and Psychodynamic methods specifically to your personal challenges, ensuring your time and investment lead to measurable growth.
- Affirming and Inclusive Care: We provide an explicitly safe, LGBTQ+ affirming, and culturally informed environment for all clients. We prioritize working with the diverse fabric of the Avondale community, ensuring every story is heard without judgment.
- Flexible Scheduling: We offer flexible scheduling with both convenient in-person appointments at our Lakeview office and secure, HIPAA-compliant Telehealth sessions, allowing you to prioritize your mental health without the stress of Chicago traffic.
Frequently Asked Questions About Avondale Therapy
Q: Do you offer a sliding scale or accept my insurance?
We are proudly in-network with Blue Cross Blue. We reserve limited sliding scale slots to ensure access to care for our neighbors in the Avondale and surrounding Northwest Side areas.
Q: What is the first step in scheduling a session?
Click the button below or call our care coordinator. We will match you with a therapist who specializes in your core concerns (e.g., family stress, grief, or anxiety) and is trained to help you navigate your journey.
Q: Can I see a therapist online?
Yes, we offer secure, HIPAA-compliant video counseling for all clients, perfect for days when you prefer to stay home in Avondale.
Q: Do you offer specialized LGBTQ+ affirming care for the Avondale community?
Yes, we provide explicitly safe, deeply supportive, and LGBTQ+ affirming mental health therapy tailored to the lived experiences and identity milestones of the Avondale and Northwest Side queer communities.
Meet Our Therapists Serving the Avondale Community
Check out our Chicago Therapists page to see the bios and backgrounds of the various counselors with 2nd Story Counseling. [See our Chicago Counselors and Therapists Here].
Don’t wait to start the next chapter. Contact 2nd Story Counseling today.
[Schedule A Free 15-Minute Consultation]
2nd Story Counseling, Lakeview Office 655 W Irving Park Rd, Suite 204 Chicago, IL 60613 [Google Maps]
Services: Individual Therapy, Couples Counseling, Trauma Treatment, CBT, DBT, Family Counseling, Grief Counseling, Addictions. Serving: Avondale, Logan Square, Irving Park, Lakeview, and the Northwest Side.
More Frequently Asked Questions: Therapy in Avondale, Chicago
🏙️ Do you have a therapy office in Avondale?
Our office is located at 655 W. Irving Park Road, Suite 204, Chicago, IL 60613 in Lakeview — about 15 minutes from Avondale (60618). The commute is straightforward via the #80 Irving Park bus, which runs directly to our building, or by car along Irving Park Road. We also offer secure, HIPAA-compliant Telehealth sessions for clients who prefer to stay home.
🔄 What kinds of life transitions do you help with?
We work with Avondale residents navigating a wide range of transitions: career changes, relationship shifts, relocation stress, loss of a loved one, identity changes, and the pressures of living in a rapidly evolving neighborhood. Our therapists provide compassionate, goal-focused support to help you move through change with clarity and confidence.
🌈 Is your practice LGBTQ+ affirming?
Yes. We are an explicitly LGBTQ+ affirming practice. Our clinicians provide knowledgeable, respectful care for gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, queer, and questioning individuals — including support around relationship challenges, self-esteem, workplace stress, family conflict, and trauma. Every client is welcomed without judgment.
💼 Can therapy help with work stress and burnout?
Absolutely. Work-related stress, career anxiety, and burnout are among the most common reasons people seek therapy in the Avondale area. Our therapists use evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help you manage pressure, rebuild motivation, and set healthy boundaries at work.
💳 Do you accept insurance or offer a sliding scale?
We are in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO. We also reserve a limited number of sliding-scale slots to ensure access to care for clients in Avondale and the surrounding Northwest Side neighborhoods. Contact our care coordinator to discuss availability and what your plan may cover.
📅 How do I get started with therapy?
You can schedule a free 15-minute consultation online or call us at 773-528-1777. Our care coordinator will match you with a therapist who specializes in your primary concerns — whether that's anxiety, grief, life transitions, trauma, or LGBTQ-related issues — and who understands the Avondale community.
💻 Can I do therapy online from my Avondale home?
Yes. We offer secure, HIPAA-compliant Telehealth video sessions for all clients in Illinois. Virtual therapy is a great option for busy professionals, parents, or anyone who prefers the convenience and privacy of meeting from home in Avondale or anywhere in the 60618 area.
🧠 What therapy approaches do you use?
Our clinicians take an integrative approach tailored to each client. We draw from CBT, Internal Family Systems (IFS), DBT, psychodynamic therapy, mindfulness-based methods, and trauma-focused modalities including Trauma-Focused CBT and EMDR. The right approach depends on you — your goals, your history, and your strengths.
Accessible Counseling & Therapy in Avondale Situated right in Chicago’s vibrant and evolving Northwest Side, our counseling services are designed to match the diverse, fast-paced lifestyles of Avondale professionals, creatives, and families. While many neighborhood residents take advantage of our secure, premium telehealth platform to bypass a commute entirely, our physical office offers exceptional, direct accessibility. Whether you are traveling from near the historic Belmont Avenue corridor, commuting from the residential bungalow blocks, or living close to Elston or Milwaukee Avenue, reaching care is entirely straightforward.
For those coordinating face-to-face sessions, our office is located just minutes away in Lakeview. The commute is a breeze via a quick rideshare, a drive straight down Irving Park Road, or a direct trip on the CTA #80 Irving Park bus which stops right at our building, making it effortless to anchor therapy into your weekly routine.
Proudly serving residents across the entire 60618 zip code, including Avondale, Logan Square, Irving Park, and the surrounding Northwest Side neighborhoods.