Kiessa Hamilton: Mental health therapist, dedicated caregiver, youth supporter

Having worked in the social work field since 1999, NorthShore Health Centers Mental Health Therapist Kiessa Hamilton has always had a heart for helping people. From working in private practice to transitioning to her current role at NorthShore in August 2024, Hamilton has dedicated her career to serving others.

“I’ve always liked helping people; it’s something I’ve always done,” Hamilton said. “Even prior to graduating from college, I worked at daycares, and I did a lot of volunteer work supporting victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and things like that. This is something that I’ve naturally been drawn to, and I’ve been through a lot of things in my life growing up.”

Equipped with early experiences in social work prior to her education, Hamilton eagerly studied a double major in psychology and adolescent development at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale before going back home to serve as her mother’s caregiver. During that time, she continued her education at community college, studying childhood education. Once she completed community college, she attended DePaul University, where she graduated with a psychology degree. After working in the social work field, she enrolled at Indiana University Northwest in 2015, receiving her master’s degree in psychology in 2018. She also plans to reapply for her clinical license.

Hamilton’s dedication to her education stems, first and foremost, from her desire to improve her toolkit so she can better assist others with their mental health. While implementing the healthy mental practices and guidance that Hamilton supplies is up to the individual, she is proud to support them in their journey.

“The whole goal is to help people heal and become their best selves. I am there to be a good facilitator. Getting better is really up to them, but I facilitate their healing. The goal is to meet them where they are and help them get to where they desire to be. I have seen changes in people for the better,” Hamilton said.

Since she first began volunteering and working in the social work field, Hamilton has consistently enjoyed supporting youth and young adults. While she has not worked with the Department of Child Services, she knows many children who were in the system, and she still helps them now in their 20s. One day, she hopes to open a transition home to help young adults transition into adulthood and decrease their struggles as they move out of the system.

“I want to have a young adult transition home for kids who are not healthy, stable, or well in their own natural environment,” Hamilton said. “It would be for homeless youth or youth transitioning out of foster care. They get to a certain age and they don’t have homes to go to or they’re not ready to have their own apartment or just not emotionally ready to be on their own. The goal is to have a home to help them transition where they’ll get case management, therapy, and other services that are needed to help them become self-sufficient.”

While she is laser-focused on mental health therapy and keeps busy serving others, Hamilton does enjoy being with her grandson, acting, writing poetry, and resting any chance she gets.

To learn more about NorthShore Health Centers, please visit northshorehealth.org.