Yazmine Howard

My name is Yazmine Howard, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in the Chicagoland area and currently have a decade of experience working with primarily African-American adolescents, adults, and families. My experiences include crisis intervention, substance abuse treatment, group & individual therapy, along with family therapy. I utilize an integrative approach in my sessions and prioritize the therapeutic relationship and rapport that is developed with each client to increase the outcomes of therapy.

My approach

Every individual and situation is unique, and I strongly believe in tailoring my approach based on the needs of each of the clients I work with. As a therapist, I take an integrative approach to care, focusing on the understanding of the multiple systems at play in one's life while advocating for those struggling to find their place and voice within society. I utilize client-centered, strength-based coaching and talk therapy as an overall treatment model with clients.

My focus

Throughout my years of experience, I have found that my style and clinical approach are a good fit for adolescents and young adults who might be dealing with the frustrations of societal pressures. I have often found that this manifests itself in the form of depression, stress, anxiety, and family discord. My focus when working with my client is to help them develop a toolbox of resources and responses to both internal and external stressors, both present day and in the future.

My communication style

My communication style is calm and personable. I take the time to fully understand my client in effort to engage honestly and, most importantly, create a space where they feel comfortable, heard, and not judged.

My journey to mental healthcare

I came from a family of helping professionals and knew that my fulfillment in life would come from giving back and assisting others throughout life. In college, I thought that my calling was to become a doctor to deliver babies, but I quickly found my passion in Social Work, Sociology, and Gender & Women's Studies. My passion for giving back and, more importantly, being a support for those individuals who are many times left unheard, unseen, and unwanted drove my passion for becoming a therapist. It also helped that my family and friends would also come to me for that perspective!

My goals for you

Goals are the foundation of treatment! Goals set the tone and direction for the therapeutic journey. I work with my clients to define how they will perceive and determine what progress looks like during therapy. Before goals can truly be established, my client and I must first build a solid therapeutic relationship that is built on trust. Throughout the client's therapy journey, we will establish goals, conquer goals, and redefine goals in effort to track progress in the client's healing journey.

My first session with you

The first session will be unlike any session moving forward. I will spend the majority of the time listening and asking clarifying questions in an effort for me to gain a full understanding of the situations and events that brought my client to therapy. I like to say that the first session is where I get a little nosy; I allow this time for my client to speak their truth; I want to know how my client has been feeling and how those feelings might be impacting their perspective on life. The first session is all about developing an understanding of each other and making that initial bond that will aid me in developing a solid treatment plan. The initial session is the client's stage to present to me, their therapist, a picture of who they are.