Amara Smith Speights, ALMFT

Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Email: amarasmithspeights@core-chicago.com
Tel: (224) 714-2412 (Evanston)

Amara Smith Speights is an Associate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (ALMFT) in the state of Illinois. She received her master’s degree in Child, Youth, and Family Studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she specialized in marriage and family therapy. She also received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Ethnic Studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Amara takes a trauma-informed and collaborative approach to therapy, helping individuals, couples, and families feel empowered and in control of their journey. She values cultural humility, sex positivity, and inclusivity to cultivate an environment where clients feel comfortable expressing and embracing their authentic selves. Amara supports clients in identifying and deconstructing harmful narratives that have been created in relation to their racial/ethnic idenities, sexuality, gender, and other lived experiences. She applies evidence-based approaches like Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems, the Gottman Method, and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in her practice.

Amara’s work also integrates Dr. Helen Neville’s concept of joy as a form of resistance to the hardships, oppression, and identity-based wounds that clients may be facing. With this, Amara works alongside clients to discover the spaces, people, and activities that can bring joy and deep healing into their lives. 

Outside of therapy, Amara enjoys bowling competitively, traveling the world, trying new restaurants, and going for walks around the city.

“Rarely if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion.” - bell hooks

Amara has the following Professional Certifications:

• Attachment Based Family Therapy

• Gottman Method Couple’s Therapy - Level 1