Mariana Puentes (she/her)

Mariana Puentes (she/her/ella)

LCSW, PMH-C

Psychotherapist

-Feminist relational therapist, trained in various evidence-based treatments for trauma including Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Certified in PerinatalMental Health (PMH-C), utilizes strengths based and person-centered approach to support you in reaching your goals

-Specializes in women’s mental health, trauma, anxiety, depression, grief/loss, interpersonal violence, life transitions, acculturation and race-based stress, and Latinx community

-Provides services to individuals and groups in English and Spanish 

Background

I am a bilingual/bicultural Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Perinatal MentalHealth Professional (PMH-C) dedicated to supporting individuals through healing, growth, and connection. Over the past decade, I’ve worked in community mental health, trauma recovery, and social justice–oriented spaces across Chicago. My work has included providing therapy, reflective supervision, and organizational wellness support. I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside survivors of violence, immigrants, and families navigating major life transitions and complex systems. My personal journey into motherhood has also deepened my understanding of the courage it takes to seek help and the importance of compassionate, culturally attuned care.

Why I Am a Therapist

I became a therapist because I believe in people’s capacity to achieve their goals when they aremet with empathy, safety, and understanding. Throughout my life and work, I’ve witnessedhow transformative it can be to feel truly seen and supported during moments of pain andchange. In therapy, I strive to create a space that feels grounding and collaborative—a placewhere clients can explore how their experiences and identities shape their relationships andsense of self. My goal is to help people reconnect with their power, find meaning in theirstories, and move toward a more balanced and authentic life.

Education & Training

I hold a Master’s of Social Work from the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois Chicago. During my graduate studies, I completed a practicum at Erie Neighborhood House, where I provided supportive therapy and wrote clinical letters for immigrants applying for U-Visa and VAWA. I also trained in feminist relational therapy during my second practicum at Chicago Women’s Health Center.I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where I volunteered in the Cultural Heritage and Racial Identity Lab researching the impact of cultural centers on students of color’s mental health. I also served as a student and teaching assistant for the Community Advocacy Project, supporting survivors of domestic violence in theUrbana-Champaign community.I am trained in several evidence-based treatments for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD),including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), and the UnifiedProtocol (UP). I am certified in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) through Postpartum SupportInternational and continue to expand my training in trauma-informed and culturally responsive modalities.

Areas of Specialization

I am a bilingual and bicultural (English/Spanish) therapist specializing in women’s mental health, trauma recovery, interpersonal violence, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and acculturation- and race-based stress, particularly within the Latinx community.