Substance Use Therapists in Chicago, IL

I am a solution-focused therapist with a collaborative, non-judgemental, and client centered approach to treatment. My goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment for individuals to explore their challenges and make progress towards creating healthy and satisfying lives. I am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and other empirically validated treatments such as prolonged exposure (PE) and ERP. I have experience working with diverse populations in a variety of settings providing treatment for depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, panic disorder, and social anxiety.

I have experience working with both adolescents and adults, providing individual therapy and group therapy in private practice, outpatient treatment, and inpatient treatment settings. I believe that healing and growth is possible when we are met with support, compassion, and accountability. I take a holistic and non-judgmental approach to help my clients meet their goals, explore their relationships, and feel more confident in their decisions.

My expertise is working with adults who need support in overcoming challenges that have become overwhelming to deal with on their own. I have been working in the field for over 13 years and during that time have worked in a variety of settings including residential, homeless shelters, jail, intensive outreach, therapy, and internationally. I've been blessed to work with people as they go through suffering to become at peace and able to accept themselves within the changes that can be made in their circumstances. I work from a strength-based approach that focuses on instilling hope and belief that change is possible.

I have been working in the behavioral health field for over 10 years and am very passionate about working with individuals struggling with behavioral health concerns and life stressors. I utilize cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and solution-focused therapy practices in my work with clients. I have spent a great deal of my career working with clients struggling with substance use disorders, chronic and terminal illness, and mood disorders such as depression and anxiety.

I use both talk therapy and art therapy to assist clients in building insight into thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, as well as developing skills to cope with difficult life stressors. I strongly believe that practicing kindness and self-compassion does not contradict with personal growth and self-improvement. I view the client as the expert in their own life when identifying areas to work on and setting goals, and I see myself as a "fellow traveler" who, through non-judgemental collaboration and support, can help guide the client towards living a life that feels in line with their personal values.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 15 years of experience working with diverse populations of various ages, cultures and backgrounds. I have come to tailor my clinical practice toward assisting clients in discovering their true and unique values that can lead to a life worth living. I combine elements of dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, solution focused therapy and unified protocol to create specific treatment planning based on each individual client's needs.

Is life becoming increasingly unmanageable, leaving you feeling empty, or as if you’re just going through the motions? Do you find yourself using substances to cope with difficult emotions or stressors? The ups and downs that come with the human experience can often be difficult to navigate, especially when we feel as though we have to face these challenges alone. I’m here to tell you that you’re not alone in what you are going through. I believe that there is always hope, even in life’s darkest moments.

Leah O'Brien (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor specializing in anxiety, depression, adjustment to trauma, eating concerns, interpersonal problems, life transitions, and substance use. Ms. O'Brien is integrative in her treatment approach, often combining cognitive-behavioral, emotion-focused, and motivational interviewing approaches. She prioritizes collaborating with clients to create individualized treatment interventions, tailored to the identified goals of each client, with an emphasis on creating a warm, safe, and nonjudgmental therapeutic environment.

Jenna Jablonski received her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling along with an additional Certification in Substance Use Counseling from Adler University. Jenna uses an integrated, person-centered orientation to treat adults with a variety of mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, panic, couples counseling, life/education/career transitions, trauma, struggles with interpersonal relationships, weight management, self-esteem and body image, chronic mental health issues, and maladaptive coping including challenges with substance use.

Are you looking for treatment for trauma and substance use? Are you exploring gender or sexual identity? Are you managing chronic mental health concerns, family or origin issues or co-occurring mental health and physical health concerns? I have been practicing in the field of social work for 25 years. My approach is holistic and strength-based. I aim to create a safe space for you to explore personal struggles and experiences. I seek to help you gain increased awareness of your emotions and to cope safely and effectively. I believe in the power of individuals to create change through exploration and relationship.

The past few years have been incredibly difficult for everyone, regardless of background or finances. In my practice I strive to create a warm and welcoming space where we can curiously and compassionately explore your concerns. I genuinely believe that you are the expert in your own life, and my goal is to assist you with discovering and deciding how to live your best life. Throughout the pandemic I was specializing in working with people struggling with depression, anxiety, substance use, isolation, interpersonal conflict, and grief.

I am a firm believer that the success of a therapeutic relationship can be determined within the first two sessions. A strong alliance between the practitioner and client is essential for the success of treatment. As such, I place a strong emphasis on creating an environment that fosters comfortable conversation, safety, and openness between us as partners in the therapeutic process. By doing so, and allowing conversation to flow naturally, I believe that a more authentic alliance can begin to develop. I adhere mainly to cognitive behavioral theory to serve as the backbone for the therapeutic techniques that I employ.

Life has no textbook, no classes, no teachers to teach how to be a human being in our world. Oftentimes, we find ourselves struggling to figure out how to navigate the things life throws our way. Therapy can be a great tool to understanding yourself and the world around you. Each session will be personalized to your unique needs and identity, using approaches such as CBT, DBT, harm reduction practices, and more! I offer weekend and evening sessions to work around your busy schedule.

As a first generation American with a multifaceted cultural background and personal identity, I understand just how unique every individual is. For this reason, I find it important to meet clients where they are at and create a supportive and safe space where they can be their true authentic selves. I use an integrative approach to therapy based in multicultural, person-centered, and psychodynamic frameworks. I enjoy using a narrative approach to empower clients to re-author their life story, make more informed choices, and create positive change that will help them to live in a way that reflects their true goals and values.

The issues that I help folks with include substance use, co-occurring disorders, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, trauma, body dysmorphia, & interpersonal relationships. I firmly believe that evidence-based psychotherapy, focused on one’s identity and their own experiences, can provide individuals with the agency they need to live the best version of their lives. It is critical to me that those I work with know that their uniqueness is part of what contributes to their strengths. Furthermore, it contributes to the strength-based approach I believe best helps individuals learn to love themselves in society today.

I approach therapy with the aim of fostering a healthy and strong therapeutic alliance to create a genuine and collaborative relationship to address life’s challenges together. I establish a non-judgmental and communicative space that allows us to explore challenging topics such as past trauma, stigma, emotional difficulties, and overwhelmed feelings. Together we will identify the impact of past experiences on current functioning, exploring the interplay of the physical, mental, and emotional.

I offer collaborative psychotherapy for anxiety, depression, and substance use, using naturalistic research-supported approaches that enhance awareness, access strengths, and build skills. These approaches - which vary according to individual needs and preferences - include mindfulness, depth-oriented counseling, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Existential Psychotherapy. Particular concerns may include worry, panic, obsession, procrastination, grief, esteem, frustration, habits, and/or motivation. The overarching model promotes psychological growth, transcendence of purpose-limiting "world views," and personal empowerment.

I have worked with many clients who feel that everything they do, everything about them is just "wrong", not enough, not worthy. I strive to help clients understand that they are deserving of connection, acceptance and peace regardless of what past experience, other people, or even their own mind might be telling them. My approach is collaborative, incorporating curiosity, authenticity, openness and humor. It is through this collaborative process that I am able to help individuals gain insight into long held beliefs and patterns of behavior and to ultimately develop new ways of relating to themselves and others.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience working with substance use, codependency, relationship issues, shame, grief/loss, and disordered eating. I am specifically passionate about working with adults in the LGBTQ+ community. I utilize a strengths-based, solution-focused perspective and offer therapeutic interventions with warmth, humor, and directness.