Providing therapy for Evanston adults and adolescents

“Since I was a child, I have always been curious about what makes people tick — both learning about how the human mind operates and how experience impacts and shapes us all. My initial childhood curiosity has guided my passion of developing empowering relationships with clients while exploring emotions, experience, and meaning. As such, I view clients holistically and integrate biological, psychological, and social factors to tailor treatment. I take a collaborative and curious approach and understand that trust can take time to develop.
“Within my clinical work, I strive to create safe and respectful relationships that foster growth. I am easy going and love to use humor and creativity in the therapeutic space. I believe relationships act as agents of change, and interventions are the most effective when a client first feels safe enough to be vulnerable. I incorporate psychodynamic, relational-cultural theory (RCT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) modalities with a trauma-informed lens to aid clients in finding change-oriented strategies, broadening insight, and learning skills to better manage or reduce symptoms. My aim is to meet my clients where they are and work together to connect to values and accomplish goals.”
Specialties
Eating disorders, disordered eating and body image concerns, self-esteem issues, perfectionism, substance use disorders and substance use issues, self-harm, relationship concerns, anxiety and mood disorders, trauma, sexual assault/abuse survivors, women’s and feminist issues, life transitions, undergraduate/graduate school mental health, and stress management.
Do you want to schedule with Gabi?
Please fill out our scheduling form to get started!
For general inquiries, please fill out our contact form. You may also call us at 847-864-0600.
Background
Gabrielle (Gabi) Willey, Psy. D., (she/her/hers) graduated from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2023 where she was awarded her Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (Psy. D) degree. Dr. Willey completed her pre-doctoral internship at Captain James A. Lovell Federal Healthcare Center, with a focus on trauma, women’s issues, substance use, and chronic pain and behavioral health. She also received her undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at Indiana University. Dr. Willey has worked in a variety of mental health settings including: residential treatment centers, psychiatric hospitals, intensive outpatient (IOP) and partial hospitalization programs (PHP), Veteran Affairs, community mental health, and private practice. She is a postdoctoral fellow at Mindful Psychology Associates, which means that she is working toward licensure as a clinical psychologist and, as such, is directly supervised by Licensed Clinical Psychologist Michelle Gebhardt, Psy. D., CEDS-S.
Dr. Willey is available to see clients Monday through Friday, with evening hour availability throughout the week.
Insurance: Accepts self-pay, Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO, Aetna PPO. Dr. Willey offers several low-fee therapy slots for clients who may have no mental health coverage or who may be facing financial hardships.