Nice to meet you

My name is Artesha “Tesh” Williams. I’m a licensed trauma therapist who helps descendants of slavery ascend from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to Post Traumatic Self Determination. I turn Black history and revolutionary thought into evidence-based practices to bring subconscious beliefs to the surface where we tackle them together head on.

I stress how childhood adversity/trauma, generational wounds, and systemic oppression influence the way that we develop our identity, perceive our problems, and navigate our world and relationships. I will challenge you to expand your emotional vocabulary and become comfortable talking about the feelings and thoughts you may try to avoid or numb away by self-medicating with drugs, alcohol, sex or even work. Ultimately, my goal in treatment is to make sure my clients feel empowered over their past narrative, present circumstance and future outlook so that they can choose a healed perspective to live in today.

I earned my Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work in 2015 from the University of Chicago Social Service Administration with a concentration in Violence Prevention. I have more than 10 years of professional experience providing violence/retaliation prevention to hospitals (Cook County Stroger Hospital’s Trauma Unit, University of Chicago, and Advocate Christ Hospital) and neighborhoods across the city. My work is inspired by the values of Black philosophers like Malcolm X, James Baldwin, and Assata Shakur.

Areas of Specialty

Complex PTSD, Depression and Anxiety

Interpersonal, Generational, and Racial Trauma

Spiritual and Religious Trauma

Betrayal Trauma (Intimate, Family, Peers)

Community Violence and Retaliation Prevention

Childhood Caregiver/Attachment Trauma

Childhood Physical and Sexual Abuse

Survivors of Female Pedophilia

Traumatic Grief & Loss

Incarceration & Police Brutality

Common Related Issues/Factors/Symptoms

• Chronic Impulsivity

• Anger

• Codependency/Trauma Bonding

• Family Conflict/Dysfunction

• Fatherhood/Motherhood/Parenting Issues

• Infidelity

• Legal Issues

• Premarital/Marital Strain

• Pre & Postpartum Stress & Depression

• Abandonment & Rejection

• Survivors Guilt

• Self Sabotage

• Hypermasculinity

• Hypervigilance

• Toxic Stress

• Sleep & Eating Disturbances

• Financial Strain

• Sexual Addiction & Promiscuity

• Substance Abuse

• Insecurity

• Mood instability

• Risky Behavior

• Victim mentality

• Psychosis and/or Dissociation

Common Related Goals/Outcomes

• Trauma symptom reduction

• Heightened self-awareness

• Self-determination

• Self-Control

• Resilience

• Post traumatic growth

  • Personal Strength

  • New Possibilities

  • Improved Relationships

  • Spiritual Growth

  • Appreciation for Life

• Adaptive Family Functioning

• Effective parenting

• Increased self-esteem

• Increased self-reliance

• Setting and Maintaining Healthy Boundaries

• Effective Goal Setting and Execution

• Healthy Masculinity

• Healthy Femininity

• Increased engagement in interests and hobbies

• Adequate and quality sleep

• Stress management

• Mood stability

• Substance use decrease & cessation

• Financial stability

• Increased sense of humor

• Improved quality of life

Go To Methods

EXPERIENCE

Behavior therapy

In behavior therapy, the main focus is on learning's role in developing both normal and abnormal behaviors.

Neurodivergent Psychoanalysis

In this form of psychoanalysis, we focus on changing problematic behaviors by understanding and healing the traumatized neural pathways in the brain that motivate and drive them.

Cognitive therapy

In cognitive therapy, the focus is on what people think rather than what they do.

Jungian Therapy

In Jungian therapy, the main focus is to explore and integrate the unconscious aspects of the psyche through dreams, symbols, and archetypes to achieve individuation and self-realization.

Evidence Based Interventions

• Eclectic Therapy

• Expressive Arts Therapy (Music, Art, Writing, Film)

• Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)

• Brainspotting

• Somatic Therapy

• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT)

• Prolonged Exposure (PE)

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

• Jungian Psychology

• Motivational Interviewing

• Inner Child Work

• Superhero Therapy

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

Music therapy

In music therapy, the main focus is incorporating the healing potential of music into the ways in which we reprocess memories, feelings and how we navigate triggers and ongoing stressors.

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