Nora Sipchen, MHP, Clinical Intern
Kids (3-10), Adolescents (10-18),
Anxiety, OCD, ADHD, Depression, Self-Esteem, Trauma, Behavioral Challenges, Disordered Eating, Stressful Life Transitions
Hi there! My name is Nora Sipchen, and I am currently completing my Master’s degree in Counseling at Northwestern University’s Family Institute with a specialization in Child and Adolescent Counseling. I was born and raised in Chicago, and grew up in the Roger’s Park area before moving to Lakeview with my cat, Edith.
I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), where my interest in psychology grew into a passion for counseling and understanding how people heal, grow, and make sense of their experiences. Working with children and adolescents felt like a natural fit for me both personally and professionally, and it ultimately led me to pursue Northwestern’s child and adolescent counseling program.
My interest comes from my own experiences with therapy growing up. As a kid, therapy eventually became a space where I felt understood, supported, and able to process difficult emotions more openly. Because of that experience, I understand how important it is for young people to have a counselor that they genuinely connect with and feel comfortable around. I know that therapy can feel intimidating, especially for kids and teens, and I strive to create an environment that feels warm, relaxed, authentic, and free of judgement.
I also grew up with three younger siblings, including one who is ten years younger than me, which deepened my appreciation for the emotional worlds of children and adolescents at different developmental stages. Prior to college, I worked closely with children through babysitting, day camps, and other youth-centered roles and experiences that strengthened my natural connection with kids and reinforced my passion for supporting them through difficult moments.
What Clients Can Expect
When working with me, clients can expect a compassionate, supportive, and nonjudgemental environment where they are encouraged to show up exactly as they are. I endeavor to create a space that feels grounded, collaborative, and emotionally safe while helping clients better understand themselves and navigate life’s challenges with greater confidence and support.
I also value collaboration with parents and caregivers and believe supportive relationships play an important role in a child’s emotional well being and growth. Starting therapy can feel overwhelming, and I deeply respect the courage it takes to reach out for support. Whether you are seeking therapy for yourself or your child, I would be honored to be a part of that process.
Children & Adolescents
I am especially passionate about supporting children and adolescents experiencing anxiety, OCD-related patterns, ADHD, emotional overwhelm, behavioral challenges, self-esteem struggles, perfectionism, and difficult life transitions. Many young people are navigating significant social, academic and emotional stress, and I value helping clients better understand themselves, build emotional awareness, and develop coping skills in ways that feel supportive, realistic and manageable rather than overwhelming.
I understand that opening up in therapy can sometimes feel uncomfortable or intimidating, especially for children and adolescents who may not always have the language to fully express what they are feeling. My approach is warm, collaborative, and developmentally sensitive, and I value building trust at a pace that feels comfortable for each client. I believe meaningful growth happens when clients feel emotionally safe, genuinely understood, and able to show up authentically without a fear of judgement.
Creativity and Self-expression
Creativity has always been an important part of my life. I have long been drawn to artistic and expressive outlets such as painting, drawing, crocheting, clay sculpting, visiting museums, and reading. Because of this, I am especially interested in expressive and art-based approaches in therapy. I believe creative expression can help children and adolescents process emotions, communicate experiences, and explore themselves in ways that feel more natural, accessible, and empowering than words alone. I heavily value creating a space where clients can express themself authentically while building confidence, emotional awareness, and connection.
Anxiety, OCD, and Emotional Overwhelm
I am particularly interested in supporting children and teens struggling with anxiety, overthinking, perfectionism, intrusive thoughts, emotional regulation difficulties, and OCD related patterns. Many clients experience intense pressure to “figure things out”; replay situations in their minds, or constantly analyze their thoughts, emotions, and interactions with others. Over time, these patterns can become exhausting and isolating, especially when it feels difficult to slow the mind down or step away from self-criticism.
I endeavor to help clients better understand these experiences while building healthier ways to cope with stress, uncertainty, and difficult emotions. I aim to create a supportive space where clients feel emotionally safe, genuinely understood, and supported without judgment. I recognize how important it is for children and adolescents to feel a sense of autonomy and connection within therapy, and I intend to build trust at a pace that feels comfortable for each individual client. My goal is to help young people develop greater self-understanding, emotional confidence, and trust in their ability to navigate challenges more effectively.
For Fun…
