Evangeline Meiling Wu, LSW

I believe genuine connection is at the heart of meaningful therapeutic work. I strive to create a warm, collaborative space where clients can slow down, better understand themselves, and reconnect with what matters to them. I approach therapy with curiosity, respect, and compassion, while recognizing the strengths and resilience within each person’s story.

Many of the people I work with are navigating the expectations that come from family, culture, relationships, and professional life. You may find yourself checking all the boxes, second-guessing your choices, or wondering whether the path you’re working so hard toward is actually what you want. In therapy, we can slow down together to explore what is truly yours, what you may have been carrying for others, and which patterns you may be ready to outgrow.

I grew up in China and came to the United States for my undergraduate studies in Psychology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison before returning to the Midwest for my Master of Social Work at the University of Chicago. My experience navigating different cultures, along with my earlier work in recruitment, university relations and talent training, shaped my passion for supporting people through periods of transition and identity exploration. I became especially interested in the process of figuring out not only what we want to do, but also who we want to become. These experiences continue to inform my culturally responsive and affirming approach to therapy.

I offer therapy in both English and Mandarin to adults navigating anxiety, burnout, identity, grief, relationships, and life transitions. I also provide Alcohol Moderation Counseling. My approach integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing, psychodynamic, and mindfulness-based practices. I tailor therapy to each client’s needs, experiences, and goals.

I hold a Master of Social Work from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. I am a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in Illinois.

Outside of my clinical work, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, exploring Chicago’s neighborhoods, discovering new coffee shops and bookstores, reading, taking dance lessons, traveling, and walking along the lake.

我相信，真诚的关系是有意义的心理咨询的基础。我希望为来访者创造一个温暖、协作且安全的空间，让我们能够一起慢下来，更深入地理解自己，并重新连接真正对自己重要的事物。在咨询中，我以好奇、尊重和共情的态度陪伴来访者，也相信每个人的经历中都蕴含着独特的力量与韧性。

我接触的许多来访者都在面对来自家庭、文化、人际关系和职业发展的期待。你可能一直在努力完成大家认可的“人生清单”，却仍然感到哪里不太对；也可能经常怀疑自己的选择，或开始思考自己努力追求的道路究竟是不是自己真正想要的。在咨询中，我们可以一起慢下来，探索什么是真正属于你的，哪些东西是你一直替别人承担的，以及哪些已经不再适合你的旧有模式，是时候放下或改变了。

我在中国长大，本科来到美国威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校学习心理学，之后回到中西部，在芝加哥大学取得社会工作硕士学位，并持有伊利诺伊州注册社会工作者（LSW）执照。这些跨越不同文化的个人经历，以及我早期在人力资源、高校招聘和企业人才培训领域的工作经历，让我逐渐形成了支持他人应对人生转折与身份探索的热情。我尤其关注这样一个过程：我们不仅在思考自己想做什么，也在探索自己想成为怎样的人。这些经历也持续影响着我在心理咨询中对文化的敏感与肯定。

我提供英语和普通话双语心理咨询，主要帮助成年人应对焦虑、职业倦怠、身份认同、哀伤、人际关系以及人生转变，也提供适度饮酒相关的咨询支持。我综合运用认知行为治疗（CBT）、辩证行为治疗（DBT）、接纳与承诺治疗（ACT）、动机式访谈、心理动力学治疗以及正念实践等方法，并根据每位来访者的需要、经历和目标制定个性化的治疗方式。

工作之余，我喜欢和朋友及家人共度时光，探索芝加哥不同的街区，寻找新的咖啡店和书店，阅读、上舞蹈课、旅行，以及沿着湖边散步。

Office: 333 N. Michigan Ave Ste 704, Chicago, IL 60601

Email: evangeline@chicagocompasscounseling.com

Website: https://chicagocompasscounseling.com/meet-our-team/evangeline-wu/

Areas of Practice:

• Anxiety & Burnout
• Life Transitions
• Grief & Loss
• Depression
• Stress
• Relationship Issues
• Identity and Lived Experience (Race, Culture, Gender, LGBTQ+)
• Alcohol Moderation Counseling
• Emotion regulation and self-compassion
• Life transitions and identity development
• Navigating early adulthood and emerging careers
• Cross-cultural experiences and bicultural identity
• Relationship and family dynamics
• Supporting international students and first-generation professionals
• Creating balance between personal values and external expectations
• Building self-trust and inner resilience

Language(s) Spoken

• English
• Mandarin

Insurance Accepted

• Anthem
• Aetna
• BlueCross and BlueShield