Clare Thoele

Clare is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a master’s in social work from DePaul University and a bachelor’s degree from Scripps College. She offers a trauma-informed, relational approach that centers safety, authenticity, and connection. Her work is grounded in the belief that the behaviors we bring to therapy often represent protective parts of ourselves—coping strategies developed to help us survive. 

Clare works with children and adults navigating complex trauma, medical trauma, emotional dysregulation, anxiety, and OCD. She is especially passionate about supporting neurodivergent individuals—including those on the autism spectrum and those with ADHD—and those living with chronic illnesses. She understands that clients navigating medical or neurodivergent experiences—especially those with intersecting marginalized identities—often face unique challenges that negatively impact mental health. Clare also works with parents and family members of neurodivergent individuals, helping them understand their loved ones from a strengths-based perspective while exploring how their own upbringing informs their parenting.

Drawing from a warm, humanistic presence, Clare centers safety, compassion, and curiosity. Her approach is collaborative and flexible, always responsive to each person’s unique needs, pace, and lived experience. She incorporates Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and has received advanced training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Parts Work. In sessions, Clare supports clients in exploring the origins of their protective strategies—many of which were formed in response to societal pressures such as racism, sexism, and ableism. Rather than rejecting these parts, clients are invited to engage with them with curiosity and respect, understanding their purpose and offering them compassion. Through this process, old patterns can begin to shift, making space for meaningful, lasting change.

As a neurodivergent, white, cisgender woman living with invisible chronic illnesses, Clare embraces the complexity of her identities—holding space for the lived experience of marginalization while acknowledging the privileges she carries. She offers a space where people can show up authentically and feel supported in the full depth of their lived experience, and is committed to creating an affirming environment where they feel seen, validated, and empowered in their healing journey.

In her free time, Clare enjoys spending time with her family (including her two one-eyed cats), tending to her indoor garden, and exploring nature within the city.