Wicker Park Therapy Group
Therapy for a more connected, fulfilling life
Our therapists offer personalized care for those seeking clarity, healing, and connection. Whether you’re working through a life transition, relationship challenges, or personal growth goals, we’re here to help.
Now scheduling new appointments
Welcome from John & Laura
We founded Wicker Park Therapy Group with a shared commitment to providing compassionate, effective care rooted in deep listening and a respect for each client’s unique story. Our work is grounded in the belief that real change comes from understanding—not just managing—your inner world.
We help clients uncover and address the deeper sources of emotional distress—those long-standing patterns, unspoken fears, and unconscious beliefs that can quietly shape your life. Many people who come to us are looking for more than symptom relief; they want a deeper understanding of themselves, stronger relationships, and lasting transformation.
At Wicker Park Therapy Group, we place training and lifelong learning at the heart of our work—going beyond the minimal requirements common in many practices. Our therapists engage in rigorous psychoanalytic study, ongoing supervision, and continuous personal development, ensuring that our clinical depth and skill keep evolving in service of our clients.
John Fiene, LCSW
John provides assessment, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, and clinical supervision. He works with adults, couples, and families to uncover the origins of unsatisfying relational patterns and to help clients develop greater emotional flexibility, creativity, and resilience. His approach is both depth-oriented and practical, supporting clients in making meaningful changes.
Laura Fiene, LCPC
Laura works with adults navigating anxiety, depression, family-of-origin issues, and relationship concerns. She incorporates the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) to address and heal the effects of trauma, guiding clients toward self-understanding, vitality, and emotional balance. Her style is warm, collaborative, and attuned to the complexity of each person’s inner life.
Why Clients Choose Us
Many of our clients come to us after finding that other approaches, while helpful in the short term, did not bring the lasting change they were seeking. Our work is different because it goes beyond coping skills and surface adjustments—we address the root causes of distress. We help clients:
Break free from repetitive, unsatisfying relationship dynamics.
Understand and transform the unconscious patterns that limit emotional freedom.
Develop a steadier, more coherent sense of self.
Foster resilience, creativity, and a renewed sense of possibility.
We offer a space where it is safe to bring your whole self—including the parts that feel conflicted, hidden, or hard to talk about. This is the foundation for meaningful change.
Our Approach
Our work is anchored in psychoanalytic theory and guided by the conviction that growth happens when there is space for honest exploration, curiosity, and reflection. In therapy, we slow down enough to notice patterns that may otherwise be overlooked:
Relational patterns that repeat in different areas of life, often tracing back to earlier experiences.
Unconscious influences—beliefs, feelings, and memories outside of awareness that shape how you feel and behave today.
Transference, the ways old emotional experiences get re-enacted in the therapy relationship, offering a direct and immediate path to insight.
Self-integration, the process of bringing together fragmented or disowned aspects of your inner life, allowing for a more coherent and flexible sense of self.
Rather than following a script or offering one-size-fits-all tools, we see therapy as a living, evolving dialogue. The work often includes exploring dreams, fantasies, emotional reactions, and stories from your life—not as abstract ideas, but as meaningful clues to how you experience the world. Over time, therapy can expand your capacity for emotional freedom, deepen your ability to connect with others, and open new possibilities for living with purpose and creativity.
Frequently
Asked
Questions
-
Therapy is for anyone seeking self-understanding, emotional clarity, or more fulfilling relationships. You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit. Many of our clients explore recurring relational patterns, feelings of emptiness, or transitions in life or career. Our therapists in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood provide a space for meaningful exploration and growth.
-
You can read our therapists’ bios on the Wicker Park Therapy Group website, schedule a consultation call, or reach out to discuss your needs. We match clients with therapists who align with their goals, offering therapy across Chicago from our welcoming Wicker Park office.
-
We are an in-network provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO. We are considered out of network with other insurance providers, however, it’s possible for you to use your out of network insurance. At the time of service, we bill you for our full rate, and provide a superbill, which you can submit for reimbursement by your insurance carrier.
-
Therapy begins with a comprehensive initial evaluation over 2–3 sessions. During this time, we learn about your concerns, history, and aspirations. We explore your family and cultural background, past experiences with therapy, and the patterns you notice in your relationships. This in-depth assessment allows us to recommend a treatment plan tailored to your needs and goals. We also discuss how we feel about working together.
-
We usually recommend weekly sessions to establish trust and continuity. In psychodynamic work, the relationship itself is part of the healing—regular attendance allows it to deepen. Some clients choose more frequent sessions for intensive work.
-
The duration depends on your goals. Some people come for months to address a specific challenge; others stay for years to explore and heal deeper relational and emotional patterns.
Our Location
We are located in the historic Flatiron Arts Building at the intersection of Damen, North, and Milwaukee Avenues—just steps from the Damen Blue Line CTA. Built in 1918, this three-story terra cotta landmark houses a vibrant community of artists, with open studios and gallery nights each month.