Therapists in Evanston, IL

My passion for being a Psychotherapist stems from the desire to help others reach their highest potential, no matter the obstacles in life. Individual therapy creates a confidential, caring, and safe environment that promotes self-discovery and growth. My philosophy aims to meet you where you are and to guide and support you by building hope, resiliency, and self–love. I will empower you by using therapeutic strategies that instill aspiration, courage, and progress. Couples treatment provides a safe and trusting environment where we can identify issues and achieve growth.

It's important that you find a therapist that is a right fit for you. I strive to create a safe holding environment where clients feel understood and encouraged to take their next step. I utilize a developmental framework and family systems approach, while viewing each client as a unique individual. I specialize in working with young children and families, providing individual, family, couples, and group treatment.

You’ve been carrying the anxiety and pain for far too long. No one really knows what it's like to be you. It feels utterly lonely. But you are at the point, where you want to find hope again and see if there is a chance that it doesn’t have to be this way. You are navigating relationships with your intimate partner and friends, and experiencing difficult lonely feelings about your life, family, health, and career. Whether you have a relationship or are starting a new one, planning a family or maintaining one, struggling at college, battling chronic pain or IBS, or moving into the empty nest syndrome, there is so much to worry about.

While I believe that most of us attempt to manage the best we can given our current circumstances, struggles and challenges can still seem insurmountable. I want you to know that change is possible, but doing it alone may feel like an added burden. I am hoping for the opportunity to work collaboratively with you to navigate the challenges at hand. Within the context of psychotherapy, I believe that healing begins by ensuring the goodness-of-fit of the therapeutic relationship; which is a connection that develops through a shared understanding of the experiences of the human condition.

Steve Schreiner is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Illinois who has been practicing since 2008. He has a BS in Education from De Paul University and an MA in Counselor Education from Northeastern Illinois University. Steve helps his clients by assisting them in identifying goals, as well as potential solutions to problems which cause emotional turmoil. Steve seeks to improve communication and teaches practical coping mechanisms which can help the client immediately to deal with their specific symptoms. Steve promotes behavioral change and optimal mental health.

Life can be an unexpected wave in the water that makes you feel unsteady, or it can be a giant wave that overwhelms you, and it keeps coming, and it is hard to regain your sense of balance. But when a helping hand reaches out, it can help you to find your strength and balance. Whether it feels like a big or small wave, I can be that support and guidance so when the waves come, you can brace them and keep going. I believe in providing empathetic care and guidance through a collaborative therapeutic relationship by navigating the unique experiences that influence each client’s life.

You've taken the first step toward a healthier, more fulfilling life, and I'm here to support you. If you are seeking individual therapy, I will help you explore effective strategies for handling stress, overwhelm, and burnout while balancing work and family responsibilities. For couples therapy, I will guide you and your partner in learning strategies for a healthier and happier relationship. Together, we will work through patterns and develop new ways to communicate and relate to each other.

This is all about you! I believe we are born with exactly what we need to be successful in this life, it’s just a matter of being willing to do the deep dive. I am passionate about helping people recognize and embrace their strength and hope. Seeking guidance and support on any leg of life’s journey takes courage, a commitment to truth, and an openness to vulnerability. One of my favorite quotes is from Brene Brown, Ph.D., “Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.” Compassion, humor, and vulnerability create a superpower that builds a foundation for lasting change.

Throughout life, we are faced with many challenges...some more severe than others, some harder to overcome, and some which we ignore for the moment. When we choose not to face our challenges, it can negatively impact our true being. My experience includes working with those struggling with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, grief and loss, substance abuse, trauma, parent-child relationships, crisis intervention, just to name a few.

Much like the character Hamlet says to his friend in the play by William Shakespeare “there is more in heaven and earth than is dreamt of in our philosophy”. There is so much about life and living, loving and losing than we can possibly understand. Whatever philosophical ideas we hold, there is so much that remains unknowable. Because it resonates with my own respect for and curiosity about the mystery of being alive, my clinical practice is informed by existential thinking. Why is this happening? How can I survive? What does it mean? These are the questions underlying our reactions to and feelings about our lives.

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, disconnected or stuck and powerless, I can help you find your strength and make your way to a more serene and satisfying life. Occasionally people are well aware of how their suffering has emerged, but often the cause is unclear. My aim is to partner with clients to help them understand themselves and confront any life-limiting beliefs. From there, we can facilitate changes that will bring relief and build a positive sense of self, which in turn, will enrich your relationships and your life.

Are you struggling with stress, sadness or conflict in your relationship? If so, we can help! The therapists at Lakefront Counseling Group have successfully worked with couples and individuals who want to grow, heal and feel more fulfilled in their lives. Through a collaborative approach, we help you to be an active part of your therapy as we work together to achieve your desired goals. We are seasoned, highly trained and doctoral level therapists who have a strong track record of success in helping you to increase self-awareness and life satisfaction and feel more successful in your relationships.

Through research, education and clinical services, The Family Institute at Northwestern University is one of the nation's leading relationship-based behavioral health organizations committed to strengthening and healing the whole family system by bringing together the right partners to support children, adults, couples and families across the lifespan. As researchers, educators and therapists, we work with our clients and PARTNER TO SEE CHANGE. By weaving together 175 therapists and therapists-in-training, we create a high quality, collaborative system of behavioral health care. One that gets results.

Does it sometimes feel like you are not living the life you thought that you would? Or that you could be more content with your situation? Or perhaps you are having trouble making decisions about what to do next? If so, therapy can help you clarify what is important to you and what is causing you to feel stuck. I am happy to work together with you to better understand your past while also finding new ways of moving forward in a meaningful way.

As co-founder of SpringSource Psychological Center, I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience. We have a fantastic team of talented doctors and therapists at SpringSource who are immediately available to help new clients in the Chicago area and surrounding suburbs. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, eating disorders, trauma, infertility, and relationship issues and provide care that is grounded in evidence-based treatments (including DBT, ACT, CPT, MBCT, and more).

My professional training in various theories and models led me to reflect on my beliefs about human nature, how problems develop within people, and their capacity to change. Taking an Adlerian approach allows me to counsel through my core beliefs: society/the dominant culture’s oppressive ways impact people and therefore a shift to a more egalitarian society needs to occur; with empathic, compassionate, and culturally responsive support, people can change, grow, and improve their lives for both self and social interest; and with culturally responsive education and support, society can do better with each other and for each other.

If I asked you to list 5-10 ways to decrease anxiety, improve your relationships, or reach your goals, I bet you could think of at least a few examples fairly quickly. Maybe, you've already tried those strategies yourself. Thankfully, Mental Health strategies and theories are not in short supply. However, just because you might know what you're "supposed to do" to feel better, change your thought patterns, or improve your family dynamics doesn't mean it's easy to actually do it. Humans are endlessly adaptive, yet persistently stubborn. We just need to figure out what works for you.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me! My ideal clients are looking for a strength-based approach where they are more than a "psychiatric diagnosis." My clients come from many backgrounds - they are children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families - and are dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, women’s issues, anger management, ADHD, autistic spectrum disorder, addiction issues, couples therapy, and working through LGBTQ+ issues. I partner with my clients in the change process and empower them through using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and other tailored approaches.

I am a Clinical Social Worker and have worked in a variety of different settings in the mental health field. I am experienced working with children, adolescents, and adults who are struggling with a wide range of psychological issues including depression, anxiety, relationship problems, grief and loss, parenting challenges, family conflict, anger and stress management, trauma and adjustment issues. I work collaboratively with clients to help them develop essential tools and coping skills that empower them while facing life's challenges. We work together to confront difficult issues and find ways to achieve positive change.