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Meet Your Therapist

Real Support for Real Life

Alisha Tapia, LCSW

Hi, I'm Alisha!

My path to mental health wasn't a straight line, but it was always driven by the same thing: empowering young people & their families. My journey started at DePaul University here in Chicago where I initially saw myself as a teacher but quickly realized I wasn't meant to stay in a classroom. My passion was holding space for the deeper, emotional moments that shape a person's life, something that teaching wouldn't always allow me to do. After earning my MSW from UIC's Jane Addams College of Social Work in 2018, I went on to spend nearly a decade in Chicago Public Schools providing individual & group therapy to children between the ages of 3 and 14. In this role, I routinely evaluate social-emotional needs for students and build comprehensive and individualized intervention plans to help them succeed emotionally and academically. That experience paired with years in Early Intervention and clinical supervision across Chicago's South and West sides, showed me firsthand the transformative power of early support, play therapy, & fierce advocacy for special education rights. Driven by the desire to do more, give more, and make a lasting impact, I created Thrive Collective by Tapia. It is the culmination of my personal resilience and clinical expertise, designed as a sanctuary for children, teens, adults, & families ready to unlock their fullest potentials.

& a quick hello

"The relationship is where it's at... always."

Looking back on my own personal therapy as a client, as well as the sessions I've facilitated as a therapist, the moments that mean the most are always the rawest ones... when we're holding back tears or sharing that deep tummy laugh, the moments where someone feels truly seen, loved, & understood. That's what I know I bring to the table... a blend of compassionate love and rich clinical expertise that sets children and teens up for success, while setting clear, measurable goals so both you and your child can see, track, & celebrate real progress. I know how to hype my clients up, make them feel welcome, and create a flexible, judgement-free space where they can be 100% themselves while simultaneously getting comfortable with being challenged and practicing new skills together. I genuinely and deeply care about this work, and your child will feel that & it will motivate them to keep going, keep striving, & keep reaching. My approach is rooted in meeting the child where they are, using evidence based tools like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy within a strengths-based, trauma-informed foundation. As a BIPOC-affirming and culturally sensitive therapist, I honor the unique identities and backgrounds of every family I support, & I am proud to offer full sessions in Spanish to make sure they feel at home.

Our Core Values

Culturally Responsive

We bring deep knowledge of youth development into a welcoming space, making therapy approachable for kids and giving parents insight & tools along the way.

Youth & Teen Specialist
Holistic & Strengths-Based

Your identity, culture, values, & lived experiences matter. I strive to create a welcoming and inclusive space where you can feel seen, respected, & understood without having to leave the important parts of yourself at the door.

Between school, social worlds, and big transitions, growing up can get heavy (and even messy). My work gives youth a place to feel understood, process their world, and build low-key, real-life tools to handle whatever comes next.

Your child is so much bigger than the struggles they're facing. I look at the whole picture, focusing on who they are, what they love, & the strengths they already carry. Together, we will build on what is working so they can thrive on their own terms.

Our office

Hours

Weeknights & Weekends

Address

213 W. Institute Pl. #210

Chicago, IL

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