Merari Fernandez Castro, LCSW, PhD(She/Her/Hers)

If you find yourself struggling with repetitive relationship and behavioral challenges, not understanding why they are showing up in your life, traumatic situations you are trying to make sense of, and feeling like no one understands your experiences and pain, maybe it's time to consider working through these experiences in a carefully guided psychotherapy process with me.

I have seen clients who struggle with finding themselves in repetitive situations throughout their lives in unsatisfying relationship dynamics, family conflicts, and painful breakups, leaving them clueless as to the reasons for these painful experiences happening all over again, as if there were something wrong with them. We can untangle these painful experiences, make sense of them, create new meaning, and understand them beyond self-judgment and self-criticism. In this process, my clients have shared the feeling someone finally gets them and are thankful for my peaceful presence, emotional attunement, care, sensitivity, and careful consideration of their specific needs.

I have worked in various professional settings with trauma survivors facing domestic violence, sexual assault, childhood trauma, family conflicts, chronic pain, and health-related issues. I have also taught and developed a curriculum on psychodynamic theory and diagnosis at several universities. I am also a faculty member at the Institute for Clinical Social Work, where I taught courses on race and culture in psychodynamic theory. I am a member of their Continued Education Committee and lead a Consultation Group for Latinx Psychotherapists. I enjoy in-depth conversations about track and field, the arts, nature, and politics.

My office is located at 1603 Orrington Ave, Evanston, IL 60201. I am currently only accepting new online psychotherapy appointments.