Dr. BJ Rudd, Psy.D., LCPC

Preferred Pronouns: He/Him/His

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

Dr. Rudd is a postdoctoral fellow at CORE. He earned his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) from Roosevelt University, his Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with a minor in Sociology, from Greenville University. Additionally, Dr. Rudd is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the state of Illinois.

Dr. Rudd has clinical experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of settings, including private practice, community mental health, college counseling, and the emergency department of a hospital. In these environments, he has provided crisis intervention, psychological assessment, and individual, family, and group therapy. His work has often centered on supporting LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC populations, with a strong emphasis on creating spaces where individuals feel safe, affirmed, and able to show up as their most authentic selves.

Dr. Rudd believes that in order to truly understand an individual, it is essential to consider the systems in which they live and the impact these structures have on well-being and mental health. Drawing from Relational-Cultural Theory, he views meaningful connections and a sense of belonging as gateways to self-understanding and personal growth. His style of therapy is warm and intentional, and he enjoys incorporating humor into his work with clients to help them feel at ease, build trust, and engage openly in the therapeutic relationship. His clinical interests include life transitions, relationships, trauma, perfectionism, self-acceptance, self-expression, grief, social justice, and concerns unique to gender- and sexually minoritized communities.

Outside of his clinical work at CORE, Dr. Rudd is the host of the podcast Black People Go To Therapy, Too!, which aims to normalize and celebrate mental health care in Black communities. He is especially committed to making healing accessible for marginalized and underserved communities, approaching each client with cultural sensitivity and deep respect for their lived experiences. Dr. Rudd has also worked as an adjunct professor at Roosevelt University, teaching the courses “Stress Coping & Mindfulness”, “Psychological Study of Racism”, and “Human Sexuality”. Central to his work is a passion for the decolonization of mental health, advocating for approaches that honor cultural knowledge, lived experience, and community-based healing.

“So often, when we feel lost, adrift in our lives, our first instinct is to look out into the distance to find the nearest shore. But that shore, that solid ground, is within us. The anchor we are searching for is connection, and it is internal.” - Brene Brown, Atlas of the Heart