Michael Han, LPC

Hi, folx!

My name is Michael Han, and I am Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Illinois. I completed my BA in Communication at the University of Illinois at Chicago with a minor in psychology and received my MA in Clinical Psychology at Roosevelt University. Like many other clinicians, my path to becoming a therapist wouldn’t be complete without a twisting origin story. Before stumbling upon psychology, I meandered between several career trajectories including medicine and teaching. Despite having dabbled my feet in a variety of potential professions, I found myself uninterested, anxious, and ultimately unfulfilled. It wasn’t until I began my own therapy journey that I realized my passion for mental health.

As a queer, second-generation Korean American raised in a religious immigrant home, I am no stranger to the challenges that come from navigating cultural confusion, emotional repression, and polarizing identities. Through therapy, I learned the beauty of my intersectionality and the power that comes in reclaiming identities snuffed out by oppressive forces. What started off as a personal passion for my own healing developed into a heart for helping others that experienced similar struggles. With newfound conviction and clarity, I pursued a career as a therapist and here I am now!

I am a process-oriented therapist, specializing in anxiety and depression; perfectionism and shame; religious trauma; and sexuality/identity development. I utilize various therapeutic modalities in my work including narrative, acceptance and commitment, compassion-focused, and person-centered therapy. Through our work together, we will process emotions, explore relationships and past experiences, and establish meaning making – all with purpose to help deepen insight, identify thinking- and behavioral patterns, and improve the relationship with the self.

My approach to therapy is casual, direct, collaborative, culturally sensitive, and trauma informed. I believe in providing a warm, affirming environment that focuses on the clients’ needs, highlighting their strengths, and embracing their complexities. Change is scary, uncomfortable, and at times painful. Therefore, I strongly believe it is my role to establish a strong, supportive relationship between client and therapist as the foundation from which we explore, learn, grow, and heal.

When I take off my therapist hat, you can find me playing video games, focusing on fitness, dancing in my apartment, dabbling in photography, as well as yapping with my loved ones.

Office Locations: 

155 N Michigan Ave. Suite 444, Chicago, IL 60601

Email: info@empoweredtherapy.org AND

mhan@empoweredtherapy.org

Website:

https://empoweredtherapy.org/michael-han/

Phone: 312-722-6932

Areas of Practice:

• Anxiety
• LGBTQ+
• Trauma
• Depression
• Identity Development
• Asian American
• Relationship Issues
• Life Transitions
• Grief
• Attachment
• High Stress

Language(s) Spoken

• English
• Some Korean

Insurance Accepted

• BCBS PPO
• Aetna (in process of being panelled)
• UIC Campus Care (Physicians Group - HMO)