Upstream Therapy

Breaking Through the Current

to Achieve Transformative Healing

Providing therapy services in Chicago for trauma healing, rebuilding connection, and restoring emotional well-being

Our Services

  • Individual Therapy

  • Family Therapy

  • Child and Adolescent Therapy

Our Specialties

  • Anxiety is a natural response to stress, but when it becomes overwhelming or persistent, it can affect your daily life and well-being. At Upstream, we help individuals manage their anxiety by identifying triggers, building coping strategies, and fostering inner strength. Through compassionate support and proven therapeutic approaches, we guide you toward greater calm and confidence, empowering you to live a more balanced and fulfilling life.

  • Depression can feel like an overwhelming weight, affecting your mood, energy, and daily life. At Upstream, we provide a supportive space to explore the underlying causes of depression and develop personalized strategies for healing. We work to help you regain a sense of hope, purpose, and joy, empowering you to move toward a brighter, more fulfilling future.

  • Mood dysregulation can make it difficult to manage emotions, leading to intense or unpredictable reactions. At Upstream, we help individuals befriend their emotions. We support you in learning how to have emotions instead of pushing them away. This, in turn, can help guide you towards greater emotional balance, improve relationships, and increase your sense of self.

  • Life transitions, whether planned or unexpected, can bring both challenges and opportunities for growth. At Upstream, we provide guidance and support to help you move through these changes with increased bravery. Whether you’re facing career shifts, relationship changes, or personal milestones, our therapists are here to help you find clarity, strength, and a renewed sense of purpose.

  • Personality disorders can impact thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, influencing your relationships with others and yourself. At Upstream, we provide empathetic, tailored support to help you understand and manage these patterns. Our goal is to guide you toward healthier relationships, improved coping mechanisms, and a deeper sense of self-awareness, fostering lasting personal growth.

  • Trauma can leave lasting emotional, psychological and somatic impacts, affecting how you feel and interact with the world. At Upstream, we provide a supportive space to process and heal from traumatic experiences. Using empathic, evidence-based approaches, we help you rebuild your sense of self, fostering inner peace and personal growth as you move toward healing.

  • Family dynamics shape how we connect, communicate, and face challenges together. At Upstream, we help families understand their patterns of behavior, improve communication, and strengthen relationships. Through collaborative therapy, we support families in creating healthier, more harmonious connections that promote understanding, support, and growth for all members.

Owner of Upstream Therapy, Shana (Sanchez) Yovankin

Our Founder

Shana (Sanchez) Yovankin, LCSW

Shana founded Upstream with a heartfelt mission to empower individuals to harness their strengths and achieve meaningful healing. Guided by a deep belief in the transformative power of the therapeutic relationship, Shana emphasizes the importance of addressing attachment wounds as a foundation for breaking unhelpful patterns of behavior. This approach paves the way for profound and long-lasting growth.

Drawing from attachment and psychodynamic approaches, Shana is passionate about making these evidence-based methods accessible and approachable for everyone. Her commitment to creating a supportive, client-centered environment inspired the foundation of Upstream, where individuals and families can feel understood, valued, and empowered on their journey toward wellness.

Shana has worked in a variety of contexts and levels of care including outpatient, PHP/IOP, inpatient, and the ER. Through her work, she continues to lead with empathy and expertise, ensuring that every client receives personalized care grounded in trust and genuine connection.

Shana received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Children’s Studies from Washington University in St. Louis and Master’s degree from the University of Chicago Social Services Administration Program. She has received her Foundational Theraplay Practitioner Certification and is working towards her Registered Play Therapist Credential.

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