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Make an Appointment: 312-768-8172 | info@amyzavada.com

Amy Zavada, PhD, LMFT

While relationships are a vital part of our lives and bring so much joy, they can also be incredibly complex. I believe relationships take work to survive and need nurturing to grow. Yet despite years of formal education and professional training, many women have had little opportunity to truly learn relational and emotional skills. Simply put, our culture doesn’t prioritize these skills—or foster their development.

I also believe in people’s power to change and transform their lives. And I get to witness it happen every day. Therapy is rarely easy or quick, but it provides a space to slow down, reflect, make connections, and learn more satisfying ways of being.


My Experience

I have been working with individuals, couples, and families since 2002, and I am passionate about the field of couple and family therapy. I’ve also served as a professor and clinical supervisor, helping train therapists to develop the skills needed to support real change, and I’ve presented at national and international conferences.

While my professional experience is extensive, I also bring Amy into the room. My own life experiences—filled with joys, challenges, contradictions, and growth—shape what I bring to therapy. I am a first-generation college graduate, granddaughter of a shoe factory worker, and a “later-in-life mom” raising a multiracial family in Chicago. I’ve been a Peace Corps volunteer, university professor, fast food worker, and camp counselor. I’ve sailed around the world and lived across Africa, Europe, and many parts of the United States.

All of these experiences have deepened my understanding of how people navigate complexity, difference, and change—and remind me daily that everyone carries a story worth exploring. Regardless of background or circumstance, most people yearn to be seen, heard, and valued in their relationships, and that is exactly the space I aim to create in therapy.

My Approach

I combine evidence-informed approaches with a warm, collaborative, and individualized style. My work is informed by attachment theory, experiential methods, and relational approaches, and I tailor interventions to meet each client’s unique needs. Whether we are focusing on personal growth, relationships, family life, or career challenges, I bring curiosity, empathy, and a deep respect for your journey.

Licensure & Specialized Trainings

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist State of Illinois, License No. 166.000963
  • Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy Externship
  • Gotten Bringing Baby Home Educator
  • Certified Happiest Baby Educator
  • Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator
  • Therapy Level I
  • Filial Play Therapy
  • Cornell University Certificate – Women and Leadership

Education

  • Doctorate of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy, Syracuse University, 2009
  • Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, Syracuse University, 2004
  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, minors in Human Biology and Chemistry, Hood College, 1999

Associations

  • AAMFT Clinical Fellow
  • AAMFT Approved Supervisor

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