Aileen Kelleher, LCSW

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United States
Chicago, IL
Aileen Kelleher, LCSW

Therapist & Coach - Expertise: Giftedness, 2E, perfectionism

03/31/2026

03/26/2026

Being able to start tasks is one of our executive functions and it can be difficult for gifted and twice-exceptional people when the task is boring, repetitive, tedious, etc.

Here is one strategy to help yourself get started.
Aileen is a therapist and coach based in Chicago, who works with coaching clients across the globe. She helps gifted and twice-exceptional people (and their loved ones) understand their brains, embrace their differences and reach their goals. Head to the link in bio to learn more about services.

03/11/2026

Hygiene, executive functioning and sensory sensitivity struggles for gifted and twice-exceptional people.
Aileen is a therapist and coach based in Chicago, who works with coaching clients across the globe. She helps gifted and twice-exceptional people (and their loved ones) understand their brains, embrace their differences and reach their goals. Head to the link in bio to learn more about services.

01/15/2026

Thoughts on the “everyone wants a village but no one wants to be a villager” discussion that is going around right now.

Getting involved in your local disability rights organizations can be one way of addressing these structural issues!
Aileen is a therapist and coach based in Chicago, who works with coaching clients across the globe. She helps gifted and twice-exceptional people (and their loved ones) understand their brains, embrace their differences and reach their goals. Head to the link in bio to learn more about services.

01/13/2026

January feelings
Aileen is a therapist and coach based in Chicago, who works with coaching clients across the globe. She helps gifted and twice-exceptional people (and their loved ones) understand their brains, embrace their differences and reach their goals. Head to the link in bio to learn more about services.

12/17/2025

Giftedness and the concept of making an “effort” can be a loaded topic. Some call it gifted “underachieving” but I don’t think that’s completely accurate. It think it has more to do with gifted people getting stuck in an existential dilemma about what matters and what is worth the effort.

What do you think?
Aileen is a therapist and coach based in Chicago, who works with coaching clients across the globe. She helps gifted and twice-exceptional people (and their loved ones) understand their brains, embrace their differences and reach their goals. Head to the link in bio to learn more about services.

12/12/2025

Do you sometimes have trouble knowing/feeling the difference between the stories we tell about our reality and the real world itself?

Is your anxiety about what “could” happen overriding your ability to show up for your life?

This video explains why gifted and twice-exceptional people, who have imaginational intensity or “overexcitability” may struggle with anxiety.
Aileen is a therapist and coach based in Chicago, who works with coaching clients across the globe. She helps gifted and twice-exceptional people (and their loved ones) understand their brains, embrace their differences and reach their goals. Head to the link in bio to learn more about services.

12/01/2025

Memes for when you can’t do anything but scroll
Aileen is a therapist and coach based in Chicago, who works with coaching clients across the globe. She helps gifted and twice-exceptional people (and their loved ones) understand their brains, embrace their differences and reach their goals. Head to the link in bio to learn more about services.

11/16/2025

Perfectionism is trying to protect us from feeling. It keeps us moving, hustling and hypervigilant because it is afraid. It is afraid of pain.

Unfortunately the cost of running from pain is often higher than allowing ourselves to feel our pain. Sometimes we can only tolerate feeling it one small dose at a time. That’s okay.

It’s okay to struggle. It’s okay to feel pain. It doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong.
Aileen is a therapist and coach based in Chicago, who works with coaching clients across the globe. She helps gifted and twice-exceptional people (and their loved ones) understand their brains, embrace their differences and reach their goals. Head to the link in bio to learn more about services.

10/17/2025

09/28/2025

I hope this helps you find or create spaces that hold friendship and belonging for all of us.
Aileen is a therapist and coach based in Chicago, who works with coaching clients across the globe. She helps gifted and twice-exceptional people (and their parents) understand their brains, embrace their differences and reach their goals. Head to the link in bio to learn more about services.

Address

Chicago, IL
60609

Website

http://linktr.ee/aileen.imagines

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About Me

I know firsthand how hard it can be to care for a child or teen who has so much potential but struggles to manage their high intelligence with unique learning needs.

The frustration of dealing with systems and professionals who are often unhelpful and misinformed. The exhaustion of looking for an answer in books, articles and the well-meaning but sometimes judgmental advice of others. The helplessness at seeing your child cry, scream or meltdown while having no way to fix or control the situation.

I've been there. I was that child and I speak their language. I know what it's like to be called "gifted" while struggling in key areas that make you feel insecure and upset. To take out those feelings of confusion and anger on the people closest to you: your family. I saw how my parents had to struggle to get me the help I needed. I know what it’s like to fear that things will never get better, to resign yourself to the pain.

I also know there’s a way out. I have made it my mission to be trained in the most well-researched treatments for child and teen mental health (see my qualifications below). I have seen the transformative power of effective, compassionate therapy. I have seen children regain their confidence and ability to enjoy their childhood. I have seen families feel more connected and secure. It won’t be perfect, it will take hard work, but it will definitely be worth it. I believe that every child and family can have access to the hope, joy and fun that makes life worth living. Helping people get there has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life.