Isaac Samuelson, LCPC + Director of Clinical Operations
“It is important to challenge ourselves, so that we may understand ourselves, and in turn, understand those around us”
Insurance Taken:
- Aetna
- AMITA Health HMO (site # 197, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499, 500)
- Anthem
- Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO or Blue Choice
- Cigna, Cigna EAP, Evernorth
- Fox Valley Medicine HMO (site # 199)
- Humana
- Loyola Physicians Partners (LPP) HMO
- Meritain Health
- NU-SHIP
- Ravenswood Physician Associates HMO
- Resurrection Physicians Provider Group HMO
- United Healthcare, Optum, UMR, United EAP
- United Healthcare, Optum, UMR, United EAP
Specialties:
- Anxiety/OCD
- Caregiver Support
- Depression
- Difficulty Regulating Emotions
- General Life Stressors / Transitions
- Grief
- Identify Related Stressors
- Relationship Stressors
- Self Esteem / Self Doubt
- Trauma Work
Therapeutic Approach
You are the expert of your own experience; it’s what you know best. I am here to listen to you tell me what you know best. I partner with my clients; encouraging you to have a sense of freedom and ownership over your own mental health. The therapeutic relationship we create together can be the agent of change, and authenticity and genuine connection move your therapy forward. I promise to uphold my end and be 100% me while maintaining the boundaries of the relationship. My hope in doing so is that you can be 100% you without fear. We work together in the therapeutic space to help you progress toward what you want most for yourself. In our work together you can expect to deepen your relationship with your own feelings, to hear the information your feelings contain.
My perspective as a therapist is informed by feminist theory, which, simply put, is an effort to feel powerful in your skin. I want men to feel strength in their emotions. I want women to feel strength in their voice. I want gender non-conforming people to feel strength in their identity. I combine this perspective with NARM– which is a trauma-informed, relational model that focuses on your agency, and is particularly effective in treating complex trauma. Each therapeutic relationship is different, and requires a unique combination of tools to be the most effective. When addressing behavior specifically, I also pull from interventions such as mindfulness and CBT.
Biography
During my time at Chicago Institute for Change, I have received a year-long training in the NARM therapeutic approach. Prior to Chicago Institute for Change, I worked as a group therapist for the Second City’s “improv for Anxiety,” I completed a Fellowship at Live Oak, and my clinical internship was at Hartgrove Hospital.
Before becoming a therapist I was an actor, improviser, and clown. Transitioning from a performing arts background to a new career in therapy was not a huge leap. Understanding human behavior was what drew me to performing arts. I saw first hand the benefit of balancing communication between mind and body in order to grapple with difficult emotions. I bring with me the lessons I learned as a performer to help my clients address fear and strengthen their voice.
If you would like to hear me discuss my therapeutic perspective more, I was a guest on NARM’s official podcast, and you can listen to that here: