Joshua Afram, Licensed Professional Counselor

My work has always centered around being with people in the important and complicated parts of their lives. With a background in mental health and ministry, I especially appreciate creating space for people to explore relationships, identity, faith, and life transitions without feeling they need to arrive with the answers already figured out.

Do you offer virtual sessions? Yes. I offer both in-person sessions in Wheaton and telehealth for clients located in Illinois. What happens in the first session? The first session is a chance for us to understand what brings you to therapy, what has been feeling stuck, and what you hope might be different. We will also begin looking at the patterns and relationships that may be shaping what you are experiencing now. We'll identify your goals and create a roadmap for next steps. What do you focus on in therapy? I work primarily with couples and adults around relationship concerns, recurring conflict, disconnection, life transitions, family-of-origin experiences, and questions of identity. With couples, I primarily draw from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). How often will we meet? Frequency depends on your needs, goals, and circumstances. Clients usually begin with weekly therapy. We can discuss what makes the most sense for you as therapy begins. How do I know if we are a good fit? A good therapeutic relationship should feel collaborative and give you room to be honest without feeling that you need to edit your story. I encourage clients to ask questions and pay attention to whether they feel understood and comfortable doing meaningful work together. Finding the right therapist matters. If we decide I am not the best fit for you, I am happy to help you find someone who may be a better match. Can faith or spirituality be part of therapy? Yes, if you want it to be. With a background in ministry, I welcome clients who want to explore questions of faith, spirituality, or religious hurt. Those topics do not need to be part of therapy unless they are important to you.