Substance Use Therapists in Chicago, IL

I am a dedicated faith based therapist practicing at Solutions Counselling and Consulting Group. I have over 19 years of providing inpatient and outpatient services to those with Substance Use Disorders. Additionally I have worked with client that are in need of Mental Health therapy for 10 years. My goals are to help clients find solutions to the challenges impacting their mental, behavioral, social-emotional health and overall well-being. I work one-on-one and in small group settings in a safe, caring, and confidential environment.

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.

I specialize in identity development & life transition work, harm reduction for individuals with substance use issues, relationship issues, mood & anxiety challenges, and supporting individuals who have endured trauma. I am a kink and poly aware therapist who enjoys working with relationships. I relying on an Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) lens when working with relationship struggles. I am dedicated to serving Chicagoland’s LGBTQIA+ community and have a deep background in advocacy and direct service. I am especially dedicated to supporting TGNC individuals in the unique aspects of their journeys.

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.

As human beings, we all have a need to be seen, heard, and understood. Our relational needs are particularly important when in a place of struggle. As your therapist, I will strive to hold space, offer safety and relational connection as you reimagine and change your relationship with yourself, others, and the world around. I am experienced and passionate about working with individuals, groups, and queer couples. Areas of focus include LGBTQ identity work, becoming an anti-racist, embodiment, substance use, spiritual trauma, interpersonal and internal conflict, and anxiety.

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.

Sandstone Care Chicago ensures that you receive the correct diagnosis, and helps you find the proper and most effective treatment for your substance use and mental health conditions. We listen to your concerns and meet you wherever you are on your recovery journey.

I approach therapy with warmth, acceptance, and humor through a culturally humble, anti-oppressive lens. I will work with you to understand the intersection of your identities, values, and beliefs, with the understanding that they are multi-faceted. My goal is to meet you where you are and understand the context of your life (familial, social, cultural, environmental). Together, we'll identify what’s important to you and work together to empower your sense of self and improve your quality of life.

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.

As a Prescribing Psychologist, I am able to take a more comprehensive and individualized approach to your health and well-being. Whether it be therapy, medication management, or a combination, working together gives us multiple options to find what works best for you. Whether its depression, anxiety, dealing with past traumas, the struggles of substance use, anger management, personal or professional relationship difficulties, existential concerns, or simply the desire to know yourself better, they are all worthwhile endeavors. Regardless of the topic, I provide a supportive and collaborative environment, free of judgment.

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.

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.

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 received my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adler University along with an additional certifications in substance use counseling, trauma, advanced grief, and integrative sex therapy. I use a person-centered orientation to treat adults with a variety of mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, panic, life/relationship/education/career transitions, grief, trauma, struggles with interpersonal relationships, self-esteem, and body image, chronic mental health concerns, and maladaptive coping including challenges with substance use, avoidance, self-harm, isolation, and people-pleasing.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.