Tovah Means, MS, LMFT

Tovah Means, MS, LMFT is a relational, systemic therapist who has a passion for helping clients experience vitality and joy in both their relationships and lives. Tovah received her Master’s of Marriage and Family Therapy from The Family Institute at Northwestern University and is uniquely trained to work with individuals, couples, and those recovering from trauma. Tovah uses her knowledge of attachment, family of origin relationships, mindfulness, trauma theory, and culture to help her clients navigate complex issues.

I am trained in Systems Theory and so look at things contextually and holistically. I have unique training in the Feminist Relational model for treating complex trauma. I use concepts from mindfulness, interpersonal neurobiology, plasticity, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Internal Family Systems. I am also trained in EMDR.

I use these various modalities as tools to address the inevitable consequences of traumatic experience — affective dysregulation, distress intolerance, flooding, dissociation, hyper-arousal, etc. I also continue to learn about the most up to date research on trauma. In particular, implicit memory, plasticity, mindfulness, and non-narrative/somatic treatments. Trauma is a disorder of the mind, body, and emotions and so I try to utilize not only the therapeutic relationship and talk therapy, but interventions and modalities that can address the trauma on a body/affective level as well.

I have worked with survivors in both private practice and residential settings for the last 5 years. I am the owner of a private practice in downtown Chicago, Watch Hill Therapy, that specializes in the treatment of trauma. I am also a post-graduate fellow at Womencare Counseling Centers, a practice that specializes in the Relational Treatment of trauma.