773-659-9207
laura@riverrocktherapy.com
4753 North Broadway
Suite 608
Chicago, Illinois 60640

Teens In Transition

When teens are struggling with their gender identity, it's not only difficult for them, but it affects the whole family. Often parents struggle with their own learning curves. How do you know if it's right for your teen to begin physically transitioning? What does physically transitioning even include? What things should you consider? Where do you find competent medical care? These are only some of the questions you're beginning to consider. Families often feel like their left on their own to figure out how tell extended family and friends, and either educate their current healthcare providers, or search for trans-competent healthcare providers alone.

About Laura Grimes

Laura Grimes, LCSW

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I received my Bachelor of Science in psychology from Illinois State University and then went on to obtain my Master’s in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago, where I now am a Clinical Instructor within the MSW program. I work with individuals, couples, and families (whether by blood or chosen). I don’t subscribe to one particular theory or way that therapy should “work”. I don’t believe that any one theory can explain anything and everything about an individual’s experience, any more than I believe there is one “right way” to live our lives. I’m eclectic in my approach and believe in a strengths perspective. Focusing on how you have done things well, what you are proud of, and how you have made it thus far in your life is as important, if not more so, then what you feel may be wrong at this point. I strive to help people feel better, more connected, and more in tune with themselves and those around them.

I have over 15 years of experience in community mental health, working with individuals who were diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

I am trained a sex therapist by Dr. Domeena Renshaw and I provide sex therapy around a wide range of issues including but not limited to: sexual intimacy problems, low sex drive, or differing sex drives in relationships, BDSM/kink, polyamorous or non-monogamous relationships, sexual issues related to chronic illnesses such as cancer, stroke, HIV/AIDS & depression. For many years I ran cancer support groups through LCCP & Gilda’s Club of Chicago.

As a consultant and trainer, I am passionate about educating medical providers to be culturally competent, specifically as it relates to gender & sexuality issues, so that no person feels like they have to educate their health care provider themselves in order to receive competent services.

Social Networks

Visit our Facebook page. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our Google+ page. Read Laura's blog. Send us an email.

Online Support Communities

  • The Chicago FTM Yahoo Group: A community of support for FTM people in the Chicago area.
  • The FTMFIT Yahoo Group: A community of FTM persons sharing information on physical fitness.
  • The Transgender Boards: A community of help, support, and information for people affected with Gender Dysphoria, Gender Identity Disorder, or GID, and their significant others, family, and friends.

Tahoe

Tahoe the emotional support and therapy dog

Tahoe is a two-year-old standard poodle. He was adopted from a shelter in Wisconsin when he was only a few months old. He's been trained to be an Emotional Support Animal and a therapy dog. Because he is a poodle, he does not bother people with any allergy issues. He does, however, offer great affection when you want it and is calming and gentle in anxious situations.

Venues

We have trained and presented to over 2000 providers in large and small settings. Speaking and training venues have included, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Illinois Department of Public Health, Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Programs
  • Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine
  • Loyola University School of Social Work
  • Chicago Department of Public Health
  • Midwestern Medical University
  • Howard Brown Health Center
  • DePaul University
  • ACCESS Community Health
  • Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC)