Hannah Mason, LCSW

THERAPIST

Hannah Mason, LCSW (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker. Her primary practice areas are depression, anxiety, stress management, grief/life-stage transitions, trauma, substance abuse/addiction, and relational difficulties. Hannah holds a master’s degree in clinical social work from Smith College School for Social Work. She has worked as a mental health provider with clients from adolescents to elders, and has experience in a variety of community settings, including inpatient and outpatient medical care, substance abuse treatment programs, social services, and schools. In addition to her therapy experience, Hannah has worked as a medical social worker and case manager, and is familiar with issues of navigating chronic illness, the medical system, aging, caregiving, and serious mental illness. She is licensed in both Illinois and California.

Hannah believes that an open and connected therapeutic relationship is the most important means for healing and growth. To her, therapy is a partnership fostered through consent, input, and feedback as the process unfolds. Hannah takes particular interest in exploring clients’ early attachments and underlying emotional needs, while drawing in perspectives from trauma-informed approaches (client’s pace, identifying triggers, grounding techniques, self-compassion), mindfulness/imagery, exploring thought patterns, and harm reduction. Hannah practices with an anti-oppression lens, supporting clients to consider their relationship with dominant societal messages regarding race, class, culture, gender, sexuality, family structure, and body-image, while simultaneously doing her own ongoing (un)learning. Hannah is sincere, nonjudgmental, approachable, and practical as a therapist. She strives to help clients strengthen authentic inner truth, knowing, and self-love, while developing realistic coping skills and resilience for life’s challenges.

Hannah is honored to be a witness and companion alongside clients’ healing journeys, and values the worthiness of every person, no matter the starting point. Starting therapy (or finding a new therapist) takes courage and openness; Hannah will hold a gentle and warm space for you to share all of yourself and work towards unpacking underlying issues. The stuck-ness, the messiness, the confusion, the vulnerability, the (dis)connection, the joy and meaning - she is here for it. She strives to help you feel seen, safe, and open to new and nuanced perspectives. Ultimately, Hannah seeks to support you towards finding your way into a more grounded, peaceful and actualized version of yourself.

In addition to being a therapist, Hannah is a parent of two young kids. She enjoys spending time with loved ones, being outdoors (biking, camping, “forest bathing”), sewing quilts, kitchen projects, and learning her way around/trying not to get lost in Chicago as a relatively recent West Coast transplant.

You can reach Hannah by email at hannahm@headhearttherapy.com.