Clair Miller

She/Her/Hers

Chicago

Clinical License

Illinois LCPC 180.013536

Prolonged Exposure (PE) Trained, 2020

Education

MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Wheaton College Graduate School, Wheaton, IL

BS Psychology, BS Sociology, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC

A green decorative plant in a wooden vase.

Specialities

EMDR
Trauma & PTSD
Attachment & Family Of Origin
Loss & Grief

Techniques

Trauma Treatment: EMDR & PE
Trauma Treatment: Prolonged Exposure
Strengths Based Approach
Person-Centered Therapy
Play Therapy

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Trauma Recovery

I’ve specialized my counseling training and experience in supporting healing for those who’ve experienced trauma and may have symptom manifestations as PTSD. Much of my work has additionally narrowed in on supporting individuals who have been through interpersonal trauma, like abuse or a sexual assault. Looking for a therapist is a challenge for most people, but when you have a history of interpersonal trauma it can be significantly tougher. Choosing to reach out to someone is a scary and brave choice, and working from a trauma-informed approach I am both committed to honoring that and partnering with you in a way that feels safe and intentional.

Adolescents & Teens

I am also passionate about adolescents and teens getting the resources they need. That’s why I work closely with parents and children; just being a kid or a teen in today’s world can be scary. Navigating family life, school responsibilities, extra-curricular activities, social relationships, personal growth and development… that’s a lot of work by anyone’s standards! As children live out their formative years, they may encounter something that feels too difficult. Kids may not know what it is, or they may not be able to name it, but there are often deeper issues hidden behind behaviors.

"I don't think I could say enough good things about Clair. I struggled to even name what I was feeling, and she helped guide me through it in a patient and insightful way. She's easy to develop a rapport with, and I always felt like I had her full attention. She was receptive to me guiding the conversation, and was willing to guide it when I didn't know where to go. Her insights and observations were matter-of-fact in a way I really appreciated."

“I’m very thankful for the time I got to work with Clair. She understood where I was coming from and cared about me, and helped me deal with the darker stuff in my past.”

“We are seeing changes in our daughter’s behavior here at home, and she looks forward to going to school and therapy! She has the tools she needs.”

“Clair helped me cope with my anxiety, and opened my eyes to root issues that I wasn’t aware of. I feel like I can better focus on my work, and I know what to do when I start to feel the anxiety creeping in.”

“I was nervous about seeing a counselor, but it ended up being very helpful. Clair provided great insight but also challenged me, and worked with me through the difficult aspects of my relationship.”

Reviews

Our Clients' Stories

What brings you joy?
My name is Clair. I’m a therapist at Optimum Joy. All kinds of little things bring me joy. I love spending time with friends. I love watching movies and reading books and being on the water is probably the surest thing for me. That’s been a consistent outlet for me where I feel like I always find joy and rest.
What first interested you in counseling?
I think what first interested me in counseling was hearing stories of resilience and the potential for resilience. One of the areas within therapy that I’m interested in is trauma and trauma recovery. And so hearing these stories of tremendous suffering and pain coming from these beautiful, strong, joyful people and just wondering how did they get here and came to find out that often counseling was a part of that process.
And so I think life can be incredibly difficult and we experience so much pain. And the fact that we as humans can go through so much difficulty, so much trauma and come out on the other side stronger and often more whole than before is wild to me. And so I love just being a part of that process.
Who is counseling for?
I would want people to know that counseling is for everyone. I think I can’t tell you how often people come into the office and say, “I wasn’t sure if I should come in because what I’m dealing with is not that difficult” or “I know people have it so much worse than me.” And then on the other hand, some people come in and say, “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do counseling because what I’m dealing with feels too big and too complicated.”
And the reality is there are probably always going to be people who have been through something worse than you. And there are probably always going to be people who seem to have it more together than you. I think part of the stigma that’s around mental health issues and counseling is that it’s a specific kind of person with a specific kind of problem that should be going to counseling. And that is just not the case. We’re all dealing with something and counseling truly is for everyone.
How do you find the right therapist?
I think I would want to encourage people to really take their time and find a therapist that is a good fit. I think it is so important to find a therapist that you feel comfortable with and that you feel like you connect with. So if you try a therapist and you feel like you don’t have a good experience, don’t feel like you get along well with this person, that’s okay. And it’s okay to try a couple until you find someone that you feel like you’ll be able to open up to.
What would you say to someone considering therapy?
If people are considering seeking counseling, I think I would want to just say way to go is not an easy thing to commit to counseling. So if someone is even thinking about it, that says bravery to me, that is a tough thing to do. To be willing to step into a room and share your life with someone to be willing to take that step towards wellness can be really scary. So I would just want to encourage people. I’m always glad and impressed when I hear that they’re considering seeking counseling, because it is such a big and difficult step in a good direction.

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