Dr. Fabiola Montiel (she/her)

I provide culturally responsive individual psychotherapy to adults of all ages. I work collaboratively with clients from a relational/psychodynamic framework, but I am also skilled working in a more structured way to address specific and short-term goals. Above all, I believe the relationship between client and therapist is the central element in treatment. The relationship is the medium by which therapy helps clients foster a strong sense of self-worth and identity, increase happiness and life satisfaction, improve the quality of their relationships, and understand their feelings, motives, and behavior. I work with people from diverse backgrounds, including racial, cultural, sexual and gender minorities, graduate and professional students, professionals rethinking their careers and work/life balance, people with intersecting identities navigating multiple cultural spaces, and universities seeking consultation. A common thread among my clients is that their wishes for a better life, fulfillment, and meaningful connections all benefit from self-understanding, action, and professional support. Please see below for the range of clinical issues I treat. Therapy is very much like a journey, and in that journey, the therapist plays a key role as a fellow traveler, a guide, a companion, and a witness, among others. This is why it is crucial to find the right person to be your partner on this journey. To see if we are the right fit, please call or email to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. More About Me Before private practice, I held clinical and administrative roles at university counseling centers for over a decade. Most recently, as the Director of Clinical Services at Northwestern University’s Counseling and Psychological Services where I trained and supervised future psychologists, provided mental health consultation for the community, and led a team of remarkable clinicians, in addition to providing direct psychotherapy, clinical assessment, and crisis intervention to adult clients. Apart from my work in college mental health, I have also gained professional experience in a variety of inpatient and outpatient mental health settings, in the U.S. and Mexico (e.g., hospitals, clinics, and community mental health). Formal Education & Training Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, Chicago School of Professional Psychology. M.A. in Clinical Psychology, Chicago School of Professional Psychology. M.A. in Social Sciences, University of Chicago. B.A. in Psychology, Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. Postdoctoral Fellowship: Northeastern Illinois University, Student Health and Counseling Services. Doctoral Internship: Northern Illinois University, Counseling and Consultation Services.