Annabeth Chickering, LCPC, NCC

Empathy is the capacity to think and feel oneself into the inner life of another person — Heinz Kohut

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Annabeth Chickering, LCPC, NCC's style

Why Annabeth Chickering, LCPC, NCC chose to be in the helping profession

My first career was in dance, where I felt deeply passionate about helping people express themselves in ways that did not rely on words. I have always believed that dance is not about technical ability, but about the ability to express oneself authentically and fully. Over the years, I choreographed and taught dance to a wide range of individuals, including adults, children, the elderly, adults with intellectual disabilities, and children with physical disabilities. These experiences shaped my understanding of how powerful expression can be, even in the absence of language. They also taught me to meet people where they are, and to recognize the many different ways people communicate who they are.

As I grew older and became a parent, my perspective began to shift and expand. I came to recognize the importance and necessity of language, and how words can help people feel truly seen and heard. I noticed that the most meaningful and fulfilling moments in my days were often found in conversation, in being present with others as they shared their experiences. This realization is what ultimately led me to become a therapist. Today, I feel both grateful and privileged to do this work, and to support others in finding their voice and expressing themselves in ways that feel honest and meaningful to them.

Annabeth Chickering, LCPC, NCC's approach

At Inner Choice Psychotherapy, my colleagues and I strive to provide culturally sensitive care to all. I believe deeply that the relationship between therapist and client is at the very core of meaningful therapy. It is both my privilege and my responsibility to listen to each client’s experiences with respect, openness, and without judgment. I aim to create a space where clients feel safe enough to be themselves and to share what matters most to them. This foundation of trust and care is what allows the work to unfold in an honest and meaningful way.

I work together with my clients to build a relationship that serves as a steady and supportive base. Within that space, I help clients learn to trust their own voice, honor their inner wisdom, and strengthen their personal insight. We explore how to listen to the body, access personal stories, and bring meaning to past experiences in a way that feels grounded and empowering. Through this process, clients are able to make sense of where they have been while also finding hope for where they are going. My role is to walk alongside them in that process with care, curiosity, and respect.

What you can expect from sessions with Annabeth Chickering, LCPC, NCC

At Inner Choice, we treat people, not diagnoses. You can expect to be met with respect and a deep regard for your autonomy, with the intention of helping you decrease your distress and strengthen your ability to live your life in a way that feels true to you. We believe that each person’s experience is unique, and that care should reflect that. Our role is to support you in a way that honors who you are, rather than fitting you into a label or category. From the very beginning, we aim to create a space where you feel seen, respected, and understood.

All of our therapists will personally reach out to connect with you and find a time that works for both you and your therapist. Sessions are individualized to meet your needs and draw from psychodynamic, existential, and somatic approaches, depending on what feels most helpful and relevant for you. We also recognize that larger systems can have a powerful impact on both psychological and physical health, and we take that into account in our work. When there are immediate or acute concerns, we focus first on helping you navigate those needs with care and stability. From there, we can begin to explore more deeply the root causes of pain, at a pace that feels supportive and manageable.

Annabeth Chickering, LCPC, NCC's experience working with the Jewish community

Since graduate school, I have felt that the specific psychological needs of the Jewish community were often left out of the educational process. That realization stayed with me and became a driving force in my work. It grew into a passion to create a space where Jewish people, my people, can receive care that is truly culturally sensitive and attuned to their lived experience. Founding Inner Choice Psychotherapy was a way to bring that vision into reality and to center it in everything we do. At its core, this work is deeply personal to me and grounded in a strong sense of responsibility and care.

I have extensive experience working with the Jewish community as well as with other marginalized groups. I support people who are exploring identity development, including gender and sexual identity, and those who are working to make meaning in their lives. I also work with individuals navigating anxiety and depression, including postpartum experiences, as well as childbirth, loss, and the complexities of parenting and relationships. My experience includes supporting those with histories of childhood abuse and trauma, including medical trauma, and helping clients work through family conflict and questions of work and life balance. Across all of this, my focus remains on meeting each person where they are and helping them move toward a life that feels more grounded, meaningful, and their own.\

Annabeth Chickering, LCPC, NCC's Book Recommendation Zone

• Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving
  By Pete Walker
• The Body Is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love
  By Sonya Renee Taylor
• Wounds into Wisdom: Healing Intergenerational Jewish Trauma
  By Rabbi Tirzah Firestone

Approaches

• Attachment-based
• Existential
• Psychodynamic Therapy
• Somatic Therapy

Concerns

• Anxiety
• Bereavement & Grief
• Depression
• Divorce/Separation
• Emotion regulation
• Gender Identity Issues
• LGBTQIA, gender, & sexuality topics
• Life purpose and meaning
• Mood Disorders
• Parenting
• Perimenopause & Menopause
• Postpartum depression
• Prenatal, perinatal, & postpartum mental health
• Relationships
• Religious Identity Issues
• Stress management
• Transitions & Change
• Trauma

10 years in practice

Licenses

• LCPC by IDFPR Exp; 2027. License number 180.012955
• NCC by NBCC Exp: 2030
• LPC by Virginia Board of Counseling Exp 06/2026. License number 0701014355
• Florida Telehealth provider

Degrees

• MA in Counseling Psychology by The Chicago School of Professional Psychology 2017

Trainings

• Trauma Resiliency Model levels 1 and 2 by Trauma Resource Institute 2018 & 2020
• Perinatal Mood Disorder: components of care and Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy by Postpartum Support International 2019 & 2023
• Reiki levels 1,2 and 3 by IDFPR 2021&2022

Affiliations

• American Counseling Association current
• Illinois Counseling Association current
• Postpartum Support International current
• Association of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness current

Average costs per session

$150 - $175

Payment Methods

• Sliding Scale
• Free consultation
• Credit Card

Insurances

• Anthem
• BlueCross and BlueShield
• Blue Shield of California
• Cigna
• Empire BlueCross
• Optum
• United Healthcare