Banan Said , LCPC

Banan Said is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) practicing in Illinois with six years of clinical experience. She specializes in youth development and works with young individuals, couples, and families to address a broad range of mental health concerns, including stress, anxiety, relationship and family issues, grief, and parenting challenges.

Known for an empathetic and nonjudgmental approach, she meets clients where they are and creates an open environment that respects cultural and faith values. Proficient in Arabic as well as English, she brings particular experience supporting Muslim youth, young professionals, and their families, combining cultural awareness with clinical care.

Banan focuses on helping people navigate attachment and abandonment concerns, communication and control issues, guilt and shame, isolation and loneliness, and life transitions such as midlife challenges, pregnancy and childbirth, and parenting. She also supports those coping with panic attacks, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and struggles around self-love and life purpose. Banan considers it a privilege to accompany individuals, couples, and families as they work toward greater understanding, resilience, and personal growth.

Evidence-Based Approaches and Online Care

Banan applies evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical skills and relational patterns. One approach emphasizes skills-based work that helps people identify and reshape unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can reduce symptoms of anxiety, panic, and stress and improve daily functioning. Another approach is attachment-informed work that explores relationship and family dynamics, helping clients address abandonment, communication problems, and patterns that affect intimacy and parenting. A trauma-informed perspective is also used when relevant to help clients process painful events and build coping strategies for post-traumatic stress and related symptoms.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Banan works with each person to understand their goals, preferences, and life context, and adapts methods over time to find the best fit. This partnership helps ensure the work aligns with the client’s values and cultural needs.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for scheduling and access. These formats make it easier for clients to receive consistent care around work, school, or family responsibilities and to continue therapy through life transitions and busy periods.