Substance Use Therapists in Arlington Heights, IL

I believe that every individual has the ability to achieve their personal goals and live the life they aspire to lead. Often individuals find themselves in a situation that has them stuck in one place, I can help you move forward. I help my clients identify the challenges that are preventing them from achieving their goals, help create a unique and specific plan for each individual, and assist with any obstacles that might get in the way. Committing to change can be challenging, but you do not have to do it alone.

" What consumes your mind, controls your life" Are you or someone you know dealing with something right now that does not seem to end? Feeling like giving up? Frustrated? Afraid? Feeling confused and needing direction? Maybe you have been feeling like no one understands, or that you can handle it on your own. As much as we would all like to handle it on our own, the truth is everyone can use someone to talk with. I am a believer in experiences making you who you are. These experiences can either consume you, or shape you.

Perhaps you’re overwhelmed right now and are looking for help addressing stress, anxiety or grief. Maybe you’re depressed and you’d like to see improvement in your mood. Perhaps it’s the loss of a relationship or problems with the one you’re currently in that brought you here. Maybe you want to be heard and understood and improve communication in your relationships. You might even be noticing that your drinking has increased and that concerns you. In therapy, you'll get support in managing concerns like these. You probably want someone who is easy to talk to, who will listen to you and guide you, yet without judging you.

"I appreciate that you are down to earth and real. You have a passion for life, for my life". If these are qualities you would appreciate in your therapist, then contact me. I will guide you through identifying and exploring your core concerns and issues, utilizing the expertise developed in 20 years of practice. My style of therapy is respectful, non-judgmental, practical, soothing and solution focused. Collaboratively we will create new, adaptive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to enhance the quality of your life and your relationships.

I have been functioning as a clinical art therapist in the Chicago area since 2010. Throughout my career, I have actively engaged with diverse communities and cultures. I am passionate about working with adolescents, teens, young adults, and individuals of all ages. Currently, I am in the process of establishing my Art Therapy studio and am primarily operating virtually from home. However, please do not hesitate to reach out to discuss meeting in person for therapy.

I am a licensed clinical professional counselor who works with adults, couples, adolescents, and families having difficulties with anxiety, depression, relationships, stress management, chronic pain, and chronic illness. I use a cognitive behavioral approach supplemented as needed with interpersonal skill building, and education. I am solution focused. I provide clients with the tools they need to better themselves and/or their circumstances.

When personal stresses mount, I believe in meeting the client where they are to listen with an empathic ear and provide coping skills to help clients more effectively navigate difficulties. I realize people need support to get by in their daily lives when career difficulties occur or relationships begin to break down or perhaps it is just hard to cope with personal or external expectations. I work with mind-body awareness and may introduce some relaxation techniques to aid clients overcome anxiety.

Primarily interacting with adolescents and adults, my main focus while working with clients have encompassed challenges regarding, but not limited to, feelings of anxiety, depression, grief, and self-esteem. As clients and I explore and analyze the underlying causes of their life stressors, we work on various coping skills and strategies to move through these obstacles, allowing clients to discover and maintain health habits and lifestyle choices.

The therapeutic relationship and the experiences it fosters serves as a type of mirror—it’s a safe space to explore oneself. My role is to hold space, ask pertinent questions, and listen to you completely. My approach is one of collaboration. I might be an "expert" in mental health, but you're the expert of YOU. We'll co-create therapeutic goals, partner together in devising a plan to achieve your goals, and give space for your expansion and evolution.

Lu is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor who works with children, adolescents, adults and their families. She has experience working with individuals with Anger Management, Anxiety, Depression, Eating Disorders, Self-Injury and Substance Abuse. Lu utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to assist patients in achieving positive changes in mood, thought process and their behavior.

Couples therapy has been found to be least effective of all therapies, thus it is important for clients to seek out therapists who are versed in the latest research on couples and marital therapy. The unique couples approach I co-created with my wife, called the Couples Synergy model, has helped thousands of couples internationally for over 25 years.

You can feel better! Imagine what life would be like if you felt free of anxiety, anger, and depression. Any difficult emotion or situation you may be struggling with can cause you to feel "stuck" and helpless. The negative thoughts and unhelpful behavior patterns you fall into create obstacles and challenges in your life. All of that can be changed. You can meet your goals and live a happy successful life. I would like to help you make that happen. Together we will identify the thoughts and behaviors that create misery instead of happiness.

You're someone who's been through the trenches of life, battling demons that seem insurmountable. You may be grappling with the weight of addiction, haunted by past traumas, or shackled by the chains of anxiety and depression. Despite the darkness that surrounds you, there's a flicker of hope within—a longing for something more, a yearning for healing and transformation. Beneath the surface, there lies a deep-seated pain—a tapestry of traumas that have left scars on your soul, begging to be healed. Anxiety and depression have become unwelcome companions, clouding your mind and stealing your joy.

Congrats on taking a step to help your mental health! You are someone who is struggling with a relationship, and need support and validation from someone who is not a friend or family. Families can be hard to navigate and I provide an inviting, non-judgmental space to process the challenges that are present with a strength-based, solution-focused approach.

I believe that we all have some area of our lives that we would like to change. My passion is to walk with individuals who want or need this change. For change to take place in treatment we need clear direction with measurable goals, a strong sense of hope, and a good fit between the therapist and client. I take a holistic approach to counseling that addresses the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, ethical, and spiritual needs of the client. I would love to be a part of your change process.

Guiding others to discover meaning and value in their experiences is something I take great pride in. We can often learn more about ourselves and I believe we can more effectively adjust to our unique circumstances through this discovery. It is critical to have an understanding of the beliefs we have of ourselves, others, and the world, as well as where these beliefs began and what purpose they serve. Through increased awareness, we can learn to navigate challenging thoughts, emotions, and sensations in the body with less of a challenge.

Successful therapy is not about doing something for our client but rather being someone for our client. Clients need someone who can listen, support or guide them through their life journey. I’m a bilingual Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with over 10 years of experience working in the mental health and substance abuse field. I’m certified in anger management and perinatal mental health. As a first-generation immigrant from Poland, I also provide support to clients struggling with acculturation and cultural differences. I believe each client is unique and has their own journey to share.

I am passionate about walking with, and supporting folks who, despite their successes, are confused by their lack of true joy or meaning in this life. So many of us wrestle with feeling deeply unfulfilled and real difficulty finding lasting and nourishing connection with others. Far too many of us then struggle privately, which rarely leads to less struggle. My mission is to create a space that feels safe and accepting where your individual struggle can be seen, accepted, understood, and worked out in a way that brings you a sense of peace.

Look at you! You’re taking steps to improve yourself by searching for a therapist. You want to understand yourself better and that is something to celebrate.