Counseling for LGBTQIA+ Issues
LGBTQIA+ Affirming Counseling in Peoria, IL
Find Balance. Feel Seen. Be You.
At Life Balance Counseling Peoria, we provide a safe, affirming space for members of the LGBTQIA+ community to explore, heal, and grow. Whether you’re navigating identity, relationships, discrimination, or simply seeking a therapist who truly understands and respects your lived experience, our compassionate clinicians are here to help you find balance and peace.
Our Commitment to the LGBTQIA+ Community
We believe everyone deserves to live authentically and be supported without fear or judgment. Our therapists are trained and experienced in LGBTQIA+ affirming practices, providing care that honors your identity and experiences with empathy and respect.
We understand that members of the LGBTQIA+ community often face unique challenges — from coming out and family dynamics to discrimination, trauma, and self-acceptance. You don’t have to face those challenges alone.
Areas of Support Include:
Identity exploration and self-acceptance
Coming out and family relationships
Gender identity and gender-affirming support
Relationship and couples therapy for LGBTQIA+ partners
Coping with discrimination, bias, or workplace stress
Anxiety, depression, and trauma recovery
Grief, loss, and life transitions
Meet Our Affirming Therapists
Our team — including Amy Kelch-Cohen, LCPC, McKenzie Wilson, LSW, and Kat Griffith, LSW — are proud allies and advocates for the LGBTQIA+ community. Each therapist brings a compassionate, culturally competent approach to care, fostering a space where you can be fully yourself.
“We believe therapy should be a place where all parts of you are welcome.”
Why Choose Life Balance Counseling Peoria?
Inclusive & Affirming Care: We celebrate diversity and honor your journey.
Safe & Confidential Environment: Your story is yours — we provide a space where you can share it freely.
Specialized Expertise: Our therapists stay current on LGBTQIA+ best practices and mental health research.
Flexible Options: In-person sessions in Peoria or secure telehealth appointments statewide.
Take the First Step Toward Balance
Reaching out for help is a sign of strength — and you deserve support that affirms who you are. Whether you’re exploring your identity, processing past experiences, or seeking greater self-understanding, we’re here to help you thrive.
📞 Call (309)296-0078 or 💻 Schedule an Appointment today to connect with an affirming therapist.
-
Amy has worked in the field as a counselor for nearly a decade years. She has a passion for working with individual and their families struggling with addiction, trauma, and LGBTQ issues. She is a Peoria native and a Central High Lion graduate, she continues to call Central Illinois home. Amy is a personal model of resilience and lives out (more than most) the ability to reframe adversity into joy and strength. Amy graduated with her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Bradley University after completing a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Illinois State University. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. What that all means is she is dedicated to the craft of therapy, building safe, cohesive, and non-judgemental relationships where bonding and corrective attachment can take place. Amy learned this from her background in working with domestic violence and trauma. She understands intuitively that safety has to be the first step in healing. She also learned how trauma often leads people to misuse substances. As a result, Amy has also dedicated herself to helping people heal from the ravages of addiction. She has a passion for working with the LGBTQ population with compassion, grace, and openness. So, whether it’s depression, anxiety, addictions, gender issues, issues in your relationship or just general life transitions, Amy is here to help you become your authentic, true self, whoever that may be.
“I believe in treating the individual. There is no one concrete way to treat everyone. My job is to help you move forward in your life in a safe, nonjudgmental, therapeutic environment.”
Amy is credentialed by most of the insurance companies, including Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Aetna, United Healthcare, UHC for Caterpillar, TriCare, and Health Alliance. She is also credentialed with 4 different EAP’s. She looks forward to meeting you!
-
Feeling stuck, hopeless and lost due to addiction? Navigating sobriety & identity issues simultaneously? Facing end-of-life issues related to a chronic illness? Has people pleasing led to putting others first at a time for self-care or even exploitation? Feeling directionless and struggling to recognize what changes to make? Hitting a brick wall from trying to manage this new chaotic life? I can help! Together we can navigate your journey whether it be recovery from alcohol, drugs, or other addictions, dealing with a chronic illness or facing identity changes.
As a board member at Central Illinois Friends, I am dedicated to creating an inclusive & supportive environment where all clients feel truly seen, respected, & understood. My approach emphasizes shared experiences, especially as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, navigating identity acceptance, and building a sense of connection and belonging
As a kidney transplant recipient, I understand the unique challenges of those with chronic & terminal illnesses: constant awareness of medication timing, bloodwork, having an invisible illness, fatigue, isolation & withdrawal from people, end-of-life issues, managing family and relationship dynamics, and overcoming societal pressures and expectations.
-
McKenzie is passionate about walking alongside teens, adults, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community as they navigate life’s challenges. She has a special focus on working with anxiety, depression, identity exploration, sex and relationship issues, and women’s issues. McKenzie believes that therapy should be a safe and affirming space where clients can show up as their authentic selves without fear of judgment.
A Central Illinois native, McKenzie earned her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Bradley University after completing her Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Illinois. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and is committed to continued growth in the field of mental health. McKenzie has experience supporting clients through multicultural concerns, relationship struggles, trauma, and major life transitions.
Her counseling style is collaborative and empowering. She values building strong, trusting relationships with clients and draws on a range of evidence-based approaches tailored to each individual’s needs. McKenzie’s goal is to help clients discover resilience, cultivate self-compassion, and move toward a more fulfilling, balanced life.
“I believe each person is the expert of their own story. My role as a counselor is to provide support, tools, and a safe space to explore challenges while celebrating strengths. Together, we can create meaningful change.”
McKenzie is credentialed with Bluecross Blueshield, Atena, and Cigna and is accepting new clients. She looks forward to the opportunity to support you on your journey.
