Makai Dorfman, LMFT
Restoring Connection and Wholeness
One Thread at a Time
Who I Help
Individual and
Couples Therapy
in Chicago, Illinois
Guided by Internal Family Systems (IFS), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and somatic and mindfulness-based practices, Makai supports clients in healing from trauma, embodying their authentic selves, and cultivating more fulfilling relationships
How I Help
Do you find yourself wanting to become free from patterns that keep you stuck in life? Or perhaps you long for closeness in your relationships, yet feel unsure of what's getting in the way?
Well, you have come to the right place. Whether you are navigating a stressful time, seeking to repair connection after a breach of trust, or trying to break habits that hold you back, I am here to help.
​
I view the work we do together as a sacred calling—to bear gentle witness to the pain you carry, tend to it with compassion, and allow it to release and transform.
​
Our work draws on the intelligence of your body, the wisdom of your emotions, and the clarity of your inner system. Rooted in Internal Family Systems (IFS), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and somatic and mindfulness-based practices, I guide you in accessing your Core Self and the inner resources that help your parts feel seen, supported, and integrated—so you can live more freely, authentically, and connected.
​
Through this work, you will come to better understand yourself and learn to cultivate greater compassion and courage to release emotional burdens and trauma that keep you stuck. Together, we will seek to uproot what no longer serves you and move toward a fuller embodiment of freedom, contentment, and fulfillment in your life.
Makai Dorfman
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
I’m someone who believes deeply in the possibility of repair and reconnection. From early in life, I came to know both the beauty of belonging and the pain of feeling different — how connection can nourish us, and how experiences of betrayal or rejection can leave us carrying shame and insecurity that shape how we move through the world. Yet I’ve also learned that, with presence, connection, and care, even our most tender places can be met and transformed. Healing becomes possible when we relate to our pain with curiosity and tenderness, rather than turning away from it.​
​
Over the years, I’ve spent a significant amount of time exploring my inner world—through meditation, my own therapy, and spiritual practice. These experiences guide how I accompany others. In our work together, you can expect a space of steady, nonjudgmental presence—grounded in curiosity, compassion, and care. A place where your full humanity is welcome: your pain and your hopes, your questions and your desires.
​
Our pace will always be set by you. I understand that sharing from a vulnerable place takes courage, especially when there has been trauma or loss. My intention is to move gently, with consent and respect, so you can feel safe as we explore what arises.
​
It would be an honor to join you on your journey. Together, we’ll reweave the threads of your experience—moving toward a place where healing is possible, clarity emerges, and more authentic, secure connections can take root.​​​
Education and Training
-
M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy (UW-Stout)
-
Internal Family Systems Level 1 (IFS Institute)
-
Emotionally Focused Therapy Externship
-
Emotionally Focused Therapy Core Skills
-
Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program (Sounds True Institute and UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center)
Areas of Focus
