Hi, I’m Dr. Andrea Kosten.
I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, with my doctorate from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. My work is grounded in the belief that emotions are not problems to be fixed, but meaningful signals that help us understand ourselves and our relationships. Much of what we experience in adulthood is shaped by early emotional experiences, by the ways we learned to adapt, protect ourselves, or silence parts of who we are in order to belong. Therapy, as I see it, is a space to gently explore these patterns and reconnect with the parts of you that already hold wisdom and truth.
I strive to create a supportive, nonjudgmental space where clients feel emotionally held. I work from a trauma-informed, Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) lens, helping individuals and couples identify and heal the emotional wounds that shape how they relate to themselves and others. Our work often focuses on clarifying emotional needs, developing self-soothing capacities, and strengthening the ability to express needs with confidence and authenticity.
Many of the individuals I work with were raised in environments where their emotions were minimized or labeled as “too much.” Over time, this can lead to disconnection from one’s inner world and uncertainty about what is allowed to be felt. Therapy becomes a place where your experience is honored and where you can begin to trust yourself again.
I have known since eighth grade that I wanted to be a therapist, drawn to helping people heal wounds others don’t always see.
I’ve come to understand healing not as acquiring something new, but as returning to what already exists within—cultivating self-trust, inner knowing, and emotional clarity.
Following the pandemic, I felt called to create community-based spaces for women, noticing shared struggles around validation, self-expression, and connection. This work eventually evolved into The Sacred Vessel: Therapy and Wellness, an extension of my therapeutic philosophy and group offerings. Across individual therapy, couples work, groups, workshops, and retreats, my intention is to create spaces where people feel supported, empowered, and reconnected to themselves and one another.
If you are seeking a therapeutic relationship that values emotional depth, self-trust, and gentle exploration, you are welcome here. You do not need to have everything figured out to begin. Healing unfolds in safety, in relationship, and in moments of being truly seen.
My Approach
A central focus of my work is helping clients reconnect with their inner wisdom, often held in the inner child. This part of us carries important emotional truths and needs, yet is frequently silenced to meet external expectations. Together, we work to create safety around these parts, fostering compassion, self-validation, and meaningful self-care.
In 2020, I deepened my own healing through metaphysical practices including astrology and tarot, experiencing them as reflective tools that offer new perspectives on inner truths already present. When appropriate, and when clients are open, I thoughtfully integrate these experiential approaches alongside evidence-based therapy. They are always optional, never directive, and used to support deeper exploration and meaning-making.
