Counseling Services / Family Therapy

Outpatient Counseling Services

For help in dealing with life’s challenges, patients in the southern suburbs have access to Northwestern Medicine Behavioral Health Services outpatient counseling services. Our expert therapists thoroughly understand the social, environmental and biological reasons people act and think certain ways. Using this expertise, they are committed to helping you find ways to live more healthfully and happily.

Improve Your Quality of Life

Many scientific studies show counseling helps you enjoy a better quality of life. Therapy can help you:

• Adjust to a life change, such as retiring, moving to a new city or seeing your grown children leave home
• Address a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety
• Grieve the death of a loved one or loss of a relationship
• Identify and address a possible addiction
• Improve family or marital relationships

What to Expect in Outpatient Counseling

In outpatient counseling, you schedule meetings with a therapist at times that are convenient for you.

After the intake interview, you and your therapist will discuss ways to address your problems and help you feel better. Together, you might identify lifestyle changes, different ways of thinking or problem-solving techniques that would benefit you. Your therapist may suggest small tasks to help you practice new skills, or recommend support groups that offer advice from people in your situation.

Group Therapy

Many people find great benefit from the ongoing feedback and support a group therapy session provides. Groups are led by behavioral health specialists. Sessions provide a safe, structured environment where you can discuss your experiences with a group of your peers and learn strategies to better manage your condition. Convenient day and evening group sessions are available.

Family Therapy

Family therapy can improve relationships among parents, children, siblings and other relatives. Because family dynamics affect each member’s thoughts, feelings and actions, therapy involving your whole family can also help improve one relative’s behavioral health issue.

A skilled family therapist can help when:

• A family member dies
• An in-law or extended relative moves into your home
• Children face school or legal troubles
• Siblings don’t get along
• You and your partner express different parenting styles
• You are raising children alone
• You separate, divorce or remarry
• You welcome a new baby or child into the family
• Your family is adjusting to a move