Psychotherapy

With a focus on supporting health and well being, psychotherapists at Heartwood offer empowering and collaborative approaches that facilitate your natural abilities to heal and grow and live more fully. We are independent practitioners.

We have psychotherapists adept at addressing a wide range of issues including depression, stress, anxiety, trauma, co-dependency, addiction, grief, relationship challenges, making difficult decisions, and parenting. We can help you work though whatever you are up against, move past blocks, feel more balanced, have more ease in decision making and enjoyment in relationships.

We offer a variety of holistic psychotherapy approaches. We provide adult, adolescent, family, couples and group therapy, as well as training and supervision for mental health professionals.

At Heartwood psychotherapists work in a community with other professional health and wellness practitioners, from massage therapists to integrative physicians and we can assist you with any referrals you may want to support you with your health goals.

To learn more about our specialties and approaches, please refer to the psychotherapists’ biographies. When you are ready to schedule an appointment or need more information, please contact an individual therapist directly. We will be happy to answer your questions to help you select a provider who is appropriate for your needs.

Psychotherapy FAQs Psychotherapy Groups

To Schedule Your Appointment
Appointments are made by contacting practitioners directly at the numbers or email addresses listed.

Core Members

Dr. Matt Brown, D.O.

I am a child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist and psychotherapist. I specialize in the treatment of Anxiety Disorders such as OCD, PTSD, Panic Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I will also treat issues such as Depression or ADHD. 

In addition to medication/supplement management I provide ongoing 1:1 psychotherapy as well as medication assisted psychotherapy. In both instances the therapeutic approach I take is similar. It is conversational and more psychodynamic in nature with a goal of helping create both a map of understanding how things got to be the way they are in their brains as well as a structure or lens to be able to to work through them. While it might not make sense now, one of my mantras is that the path to finding a balanced mental state is being able to know where you are and what direction you are pointed in. 

Credentials: DO, MBA, ABPN, NBPAS, CPTR

Email | ‪(773)312-3858 | Website

Rainer Huemer
My goal is to assist each of my clients in becoming more of the author of his or her life. Whether your aim is coping, healing or change and transformation, my intent is to invite all of who you are into the therapeutic relationship and to deepen your experience of yourself in our sessions and ultimately in everyday life. Regardless of the mental health issue you are dealing with or the difficulty you may experience with specific life transitions, together we can work on changing the tone and the quality of your life. We will discover what you can control, and I will help you to relate more optimally to what you can not.
My orientation in therapy is humanistic, existential, experiential and body-centered. If these brief lines speak to you in any way, please call. I accept BCBS IL PPO and offer sliding scale fees as well.
Credentials: LCSW

847.323.1663 | Email

David Johnson

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with additional training in addictions, hypnotherapy, Gestalt therapy and Self Acceptance Training. I hold a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Chicago. For over 20 years, I have counseled individuals, couples and groups regarding issues including addictions and recovery work, identity, codependency, self-care, relationship issues, personal growth, and spiritual awareness. Recognizing that healing needs to take place in the mind, body, spirit and emotions, I utilize a holistic approach.  This includes special guided imagery techniques available for individuals with chronic illness. My available hours are Monday through Friday and Saturday mornings.

Credentials: LCSW

847.475.3017 | Email | Website

Janet Sushinski

With over 30 years of experience as a therapist, I have dedicated my career to helping individuals, particularly teenagers, navigate life’s challenges. My work is rooted in supporting clients through a wide range of issues including relationships, mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, family addictions, adoption, and identity exploration.

As a passionate advocate for inclusivity, I founded one of the first LGBTQ support groups in the Chicagoland area, demonstrating my deep commitment to helping people embrace their true identities. I also facilitated a support group for Children of Addicts for 25+ years, which taught me invaluable lessons about resilience and the healing power of community.

In our sessions, my primary goal is to create a space where you feel safe, understood, and genuinely heard. I believe that building a strong, authentic connection is essential for effective therapy, and I am committed to being transparent and honest as we work together.

Credentials: LCSW

Email | 224.505.8859 | Website

Theodora McClain-Cohen

I am a clinical therapist with over 8 years of experience in the counseling and community mental health space. I work primarily with adolescents and adults who are looking for support in managing depression, anxiety, or coming to terms with major life transitions. I also take a strong interest in assisting individuals work through burnout and establish an effective work-life balance. I believe that each person comes into therapy with unique and complex challenges, and as such I take a holistic approach to therapy. I draw particularly from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy when addressing depression and anxiety, and place a strong emphasis on self-compassion and radical acceptance. I utilize narrative therapy when assisting individuals develop an understanding of their experiences as part of their larger story when addressing trauma. My goal is to assist you in building a better understanding of yourself in a non-judgemental and empathic way. 

Insurance: BCBS PPO and United Healthcare

Credentials: LCSW

Email 

Virtual Members

Arielle Drescher
Are you constantly comparing yourself to others around you? Not feeling good enough, smart enough, attractive enough? Do you find yourself frequently frustrated about where you are in your life? I work with clients who are feeling stuck, anxious, and are tired of living on a hamster wheel of habits that no longer feel authentic to the person they want to become. I recognize that sharing and processing life events can be incredibly challenging and vulnerable. I show up for you, helping you develop skills to navigate difficult and necessary conversations. In session you can expect a dash of humor, a sprinkle of healthy confrontation, and a whole lot of navigating uncomfortable feelings. We’ll start by creating a plan based around your primary concerns, and identify everyday problems that have you feeling stuck and unsatisfied. Together, we can explore how to develop narratives and utilize tools to help you shift and reach your goals. I specialize in working with individuals struggling to manage feelings of “not enoughness”, chronic illness, work/life balance, self-esteem, anxiety, and dysfunctional relationships. I am passionate about helping you pivot. It’s OKAY to want to step out of old patterns that have you experiencing unsatisfying outcomes. Together, we can work to acknowledge the pain and discomfort without becoming it.

Our Reality LLC specializes in providing virtual and “walk and talk” psychotherapy services for tweens, teens, and twenty-somethings. Still have questions? Check out www.ourrealityllc.com for more information or email info@Ourrealityllc.com to schedule a free 15-minute phone or video consultation.
I look forward to connecting with you!

Credentials: LCSW, MSW 

847.440.4295 | Email | Website

Jessica Renner

As a clinician and empathic intuitive I work with adults and youth to provide treatment to those struggling with trauma impacts; from those who have used violence against others and those who have had violence used against them. My clinical approach is to use isomorphic and integrative therapies to treat the individual as a whole human being wherever they are on their path.

I am passionate about preventing violence, from a decolonized perspective, before it has created harmful consequences and impacts in our communities. I feel my purpose is to use my creative ambition and compassion to help others to align with their true authentic nature in order to live their happiest and healthiest life.

Areas of interest and expertise include: Trauma, Healing Body, Mind, Spirit, Empathic Intuition, Holistic and Integrative approaches, Prevention, Sexual Health and Pro-social values in sexual development, Vulnerability and Resilience, and Mindfulness and Mediation.

Credentials: LCPC, LSOTP, CEO

Email | Website