About Iwona Florianowicz

Iwona Florianowicz, LCPC (IL), LPC (AZ), CCTP-II, CSC

Founder/Clinical Director/CEO, Compassionate Healing Psychotherapy

🌿 Welcome — I'm Iwona

Hi, I’m Iwona. I’m so glad you’re here.

My journey to becoming a therapist began early on in my life in the quiet, confusing ache of my own lived experience.

I grew up in the midst of dysfunctional family dynamics, shaped by the silent wounds of emotional neglect, abandonment, and relational trauma. From an early age, I learned how to survive without having my needs fully seen or met. Those early experiences planted the seeds of my desire to understand human pain, resilience, and the pathways to healing.

In my teenage years, I migrated from Poland to the United States, - a major life shift that brought both challenge and growth. That experience planted the seed for what would become my life’s work: helping others feel seen, safe, and empowered as they navigate life’s most painful and transformative moments. The experience of crossing cultures while still holding unresolved emotional wounds added layers of complexity to my identity — and deepened my empathy for others walking similar paths.

As I moved into adulthood, I found myself repeatedly entangled in relationships marked by emotional and narcissistic abuse — dynamics that mirrored what I had known in childhood. Navigating through my own therapy, somatic healing, and parts work — I began to truly understand the profound connection between our emotional history and our physical well-being. I learned what it means to adapt, survive, and rebuild. That journey—of seeking connection, healing from past wounds, and learning how to trust yourself and others again—informs everything I do as a trauma therapist.

Becoming a therapist became more than a profession. It became a calling.

My Areas of Expertise and How I Work

My clinical expertise lies in helping individuals and couples navigate the layered impacts of complex trauma, - areas still widely misunderstood and underrepresented in traditional clinical training- particularly those rooted in early attachment wounds, narcissistic and emotional abuse, and chronic relational harm. I specialize in working with those who often feel unseen in traditional therapy settings — people whose experiences are complex, intersectional, and not easily captured by a diagnosis.

Much of my work centers on:

• Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)

• Childhood emotional neglect and attachment trauma

• Narcissistic, antagonistic, and covert emotional abuse

• Personality-related challenges, including traits associated with Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder

• Anxiety, depression, and dissociative symptoms stemming from long-term trauma

• Cultural displacement, intergenerational trauma, and identity integration — especially for immigrants and first-generation individuals

I’m particularly passionate about supporting survivors of narcissistic abuse and relational trauma — those who have endured gaslighting, identity erosion, and cycles of emotional manipulation. I understand the confusion, self-doubt, and physical toll these experiences can leave behind, and I provide a therapeutic space where survivors can reclaim their voice, trust their intuition, and rebuild their sense of self.

I understand the deep layers of confusion, grief, and identity loss that can follow these relationships, and I’ve dedicated myself to creating a therapeutic space where survivors feel seen, validated, and empowered in their healing.

My work is grounded in a holistic, somatic, and trauma-informed approach. I integrate modalities such as:

• Parts work/Internal Family Systems (IFS)

• Somatic therapy and nervous system regulation

• EMDR-informed strategies

• Attachment-based psychotherapy

• Mindfulness and self-compassion practices

• Culturally responsive, anti-oppressive frameworks

As both a clinician and a survivor of complex trauma, I bring a lived understanding of what it means to heal. My role is not to “fix” you — it’s to walk alongside you as you make sense of your story, reconnect with your body, and find safety within yourself. I believe healing happens in the context of safe, attuned relationship — and that therapy should honor all of who you are: your pain, your resilience, your culture, and your pace.

Whether you're recovering from emotional abuse, navigating identity and belonging, or seeking more depth and clarity in your relationships, I’m here to support you in doing the slow, transformative work of healing from the inside out.

My Path Through Education and Clinical Experience

My formal training began in the UK, where I completed my undergraduate studies in Counseling and Psychology. Early on I’ve developed deep understanding about the complexities of human behavior — particularly personality disorders and the roots of what society often deems “abnormal.”

I volunteered with organizations supporting women who had lost their children under traumatic circumstances, as well as in government programs that provided care for individuals living with borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder. These experiences gave me a grounded, real-world perspective on how trauma and systemic neglect intersect with mental health — and how often those struggling are left without compassionate, specialized care.

I pursued a Master’s degree in Counseling and Psychotherapy with a specialization in trauma. My internship work took place in community-based settings serving migrants, refugees, and individuals experiencing extreme poverty and complex trauma. Many of the clients I worked with lived with diagnoses such as PTSD, paranoid or suspicious personality structures, and dissociative symptoms — and had struggled for years to find therapists who understood the nuances of their lived realities.

These early clinical experiences affirmed what I had already come to know in my bones: that healing is not one-size-fits-all. It requires cultural sensitivity, trauma awareness, somatic attunement, and a deep commitment to meeting people exactly where they are — with no expectation that they perform wellness in a way that makes others comfortable.

My post-graduations clinical experience as a psychotherapist, land me in diverse setting including privately owned practices, community mental health centers, emergency department, and state organizations in different countries. As a bilingual professional, English and Polish, I’ve provided therapy to adolescences, adults, and couples from all walks of life, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, across the U.K, Canada, and the U.S.  

I had an opportunity to work with a wide range of individuals navigating trauma in its many forms - providing care to first responders and individuals experiencing PTSD following serious automobile accidents, and survivors of traumatic crimes — many of whom had lost loved ones to violent circumstances. These experiences deepened my understanding of the nervous system’s response to trauma and the long journey toward reclaiming a sense of safety.

What I’m Like Outside of the Office

While I’m deeply passionate about my work as a therapist, I also believe in living a life rooted in joy, rest, and connection — the very things I encourage my clients to nurture in themselves. I live with my husband, our white Labrador Haku (the sweetest goofball you’ll ever meet), and our curious Bengal cat Akira.

I’m a mother of two incredible adult daughters, and a die-hard fan of crime shows like Criminal Minds and CSI Las Vegas. And yes, I still cry during nature documentaries—animals get me every time.

Outside of the office, I’m someone who values solitude and soulfulness. I find peace in nature, especially during long walks, time by the water, or grounding moments under the sun. I enjoy music, cooking nourishing meals, reading anything that blends psychology, spirituality, and culture, and spending quality time with people who feel like home.

I’m always growing — whether it’s through continued learning, creative expression, or simply slowing down and listening to what my body needs. Healing isn’t just something I support others through; it’s something I remain committed to in my own life.

I value realness, laughter, intentional rest, and meaningful connection. I’m not perfect — and I don’t believe anyone needs to be. What I strive for, both in and out of the therapy room, is presence, integrity, and the ability to show up as my full, human self.

Credentials & Training:

• Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the state of Illinois

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Arizona

• Certified Clinical Supervisor (CSC) in the state of Illinois

• Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP-II)

• Certified Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician (NATC)

• Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP-II)

• Trained in EMDR via EMDRIA

• IFS, DBT, Somatic work , Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples and individuals and other trauma-informed interventions

• Advanced trauma training with Dr. Arielle Schwartz, Dr. Ramani Durvasula, Dr. Frank Anderson, and others

• Trained in Mindfulness and Meditations

• Post-graduate Credits in Counseling, Governors State University, Chicago, IL

• MSc (Master of Science), Counseling and Psychotherapy, University of Salford, U.K.

• BSc (Honours), Counseling and Psychology, University of Bolton, U.K.

• Certified in Counseling Concept: ABC Level 2

• Access to Higher Education, Psychology and Social Studies, University of Bolton, U.K.

• Trauma Research Foundation – (7 months post-graduate studies, led by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, a leading trauma expert).

Want to Work Together?

I offer a free 15-minute consultation so we can explore whether we’re the right fit. Therapy is a deeply personal journey, and finding the right therapist matters. If you're navigating the impact of trauma, identity shifts, relationship pain, or just feel overwhelmed and unseen—I’m here.

Together, we can work toward a future that feels grounded, safe, and whole.