The people you'll sit across from.

Ankur Varma, LCPC, is the founder of Culturoots Counseling & Consulting and a licensed psychotherapist who has spent more than a decade working alongside people in Chicagoland communities, schools, and group practices. His approach is both evidence-based and culturally attuned — especially for clients navigating ADHD, anxiety, mood challenges, trauma, cultural identity, men's health, and the weight of expectations that come from carrying multiple worlds.

Ankur works with his clients to instill hope and confidence as they navigate life challenges and changes. He also recognizes a need to build trust as you work toward your goals, using a relatable and sometimes even humor-based approach to connect and support you through this process.

Ankur uses a holistic perspective to engage all aspects of health in the therapeutic process, including emotional, cognitive, and physical health.

Ankur also co-founded Brown Man Therapy, a nonprofit organization focused on normalizing dialogue and advocating for action for South Asian men's mental health, and uses the platform to promote education, awareness, and community-building.

Previously, Ankur has worked in education and various leadership positions, including as a clinical supervisor, Training Director, and Program Director in numerous Chicagoland communities.

Outside of the therapy room, Ankur is usually cooking, traveling with his family, or watching soccer. Ankur is of Indian heritage and has made Chicago home after growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Wanting Walker, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor who works with adults and teens (14+) navigating depression, anxiety, trauma, parenting stress, and relationship challenges — including couples and parent-child dynamics. Her approach is deeply relational, culturally informed, and built on the belief that individual growth often creates the ripple effects that change families.

Wanting draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and Gottman-informed couples work. She is especially skilled at helping clients build confidence, set boundaries, and reconnect with joy when life feels stuck. Her clients describe her as empathetic, patient, funny, and insightful — someone who can hold the hard stuff while still making room for lightness.

She occasionally presents on mental health topics to the Taiwanese Asian community, and brings a culturally attuned perspective that many clients find refreshing. Her path to counseling began after college, when an internship focused on families revealed how powerful one person's growth can be. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, gardening, cycling, and watching movies.