5 Chicago Substance Abuse Therapists Ready for Hire
If you're struggling with substance use, you know how it affects every part of your life—your relationships, work, mental health, and overall well-being.
Recovery is possible, but finding the right therapist who understands addiction and offers compassionate, evidence-based treatment makes all the difference.
At Feel Good Counseling Center, our diverse team of therapists brings specialized training in trauma, behavioral issues, and mental health challenges that often co-occur with substance abuse.
Here's your guide to our addiction-informed clinicians who are ready to support your recovery journey with practical tools and genuine care.
Meet the therapists
Best for comprehensive trauma-informed care: Jaqueline McCarvill
Best for improving self-esteem and self-care: Kelly Wargo
Best for co-occurring anxiety and OCD: Jennifer Coghlan
Best for LGBTQ+-affirming care: Sophia Julio
Best for neurodivergent-affirming care & therapy in Spanish: Stephanie Garcia
Why trust us?
Our team brings decades of combined experience and training in evidence-based approaches like CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed care. We also accept all Illinois Medicaid plans and offer flexible scheduling seven days a week, making quality addiction treatment accessible when you need it most.
How we selected
We chose to highlight these therapists for their expertise in treating the mental health challenges that often accompany substance use—trauma, anxiety, depression, behavioral issues, and relationship problems. Each clinician also brings unique strengths to support your whole-person recovery so you can find your best fit.
Meet the therapists
Jaqueline McCarvill
Best for comprehensive trauma-informed care:
| Good fit for: | Not a fit for: |
|---|---|
| Underlying trauma, mood disorders, & anxiety | Medication-assisted treatment |
| Couples & families impacted by addiction | Group substance abuse counseling |
| Medicaid & BCBS PPO | Other insurance plans |
Treats addiction ✓
Clientele: Children, adults, couples, families
Location: Park Ridge, IL
Virtual therapy?: Yes
Suzanne specializes in trauma, relational conflict, and mood management—all critical factors in addiction recovery. Her transformative approach, including EMDR, helps clients address the deeper emotional wounds that often fuel substance use while rebuilding damaged relationships and developing emotional regulation skills.
Kelly Wargo
Best for improving self-esteem and self-care
| Good fit for: | Not a fit for: |
|---|---|
| Young adults | Children and teenagers |
| Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach | Psychodynamic approach |
| Medicaid | Other insurance plans |
Treats addiction ✓
Clientele: Adults
Location: South Barrington, IL
Virtual therapy?: Yes
Kelly’s approach focuses on learning practical coping skills and building a self-care practice so you can develop healthy habits that support recovery. She uses a person-centered, CBT and DBT-informed approach to help people shift their behavior and manage the underlying stress, anxiety, and depression that often co-exist with addiction.
Jennifer Coghlan
Best for co-occurring grief and trauma
| Good fit for: | Not a fit for: |
|---|---|
| Adults | Couples |
| Holistic approach | Strictly behavioral approach |
| Medicaid | Other insurance plans |
Treats addiction ✓
Clientele: Adults
Location: Park Ridge, IL
Virtual therapy?: Yes
Jennifer combines her experience treating grief, loss, and trauma with evidence-based techniques that work together to work through addiction. By tailoring her approaches for each client, she is able to address a wide range of concerns.
Sophia Julio
Best for LGBTQ+-affirming care
| Good fit for: | Not a fit for: |
|---|---|
| Anxiety, depression, trauma, & grief | Those uninterested in exploring social justice & systemic issues in their recovery |
| Those seeking a Latinx therapist | In-person sessions |
| Medicaid & BCBS PPO | Other insurance plans |
Treats addiction ✓
Clientele: Children, adults, couples, families
Location: Illinois
Virtual therapy?: Yes
Sophia brings a social justice lens to addiction treatment, specializing in trauma and depression while creating affirming spaces for marginalized communities. Her integrative approach addresses systemic factors that impact substance use and recovery.
Stephanie Garcia
Best for neurodivergent-affirming care & therapy in Spanish
| Good fit for: | Not a fit for: |
|---|---|
| Autism & behavioral issues | Autism assessments |
| Therapy in English & Spanish | Those seeking a male clinician |
| Medicaid & BCBS PPO | Other insurance plans |
Treats addiction ✓
Clientele: Children, adults, couples, families
Location: South Barrington, IL
Virtual therapy?: Yes
Stephanie has experience working with clients with autism, making her a good fit for those who want to understand how their neurodivergence and substance use issues are related. Her person-centered, mindfulness-based approach helps clients develop self-awareness and healthy coping strategies in recovery. Stephanie also offers therapy in both English and Spanish.
FAQs about substance abuse counseling
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Therapy addresses the underlying mental health issues—like trauma, depression, and anxiety—that often fuel addiction. You'll develop practical coping skills, rebuild relationships that may be affected by your use, and create a sustainable recovery plan tailored to your life and goals. Our therapy services are also available to those impacted by a loved one’s addiction.
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We support clients with alcohol dependency, drug addiction, prescription medication misuse, and behavioral addictions. Our team also addresses co-occurring mental health conditions like trauma, depression, and anxiety that commonly accompany substance use disorders.
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Yes, we offer support for family members and loved ones affected by addiction. We provide individual therapy to help you cope with stress, set boundaries, and navigate relationship challenges. We also offer family therapy to improve communication and heal relationships damaged by addiction.
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We use evidence-based treatments like CBT, DBT, ACT, and trauma-informed care to address both substance use and underlying mental health issues. Therapy with us blends emotional processing with tangible skill-building to give you a comprehensive path toward recovery, tailored to your unique needs.
We also take great care to match you with a therapist who you can trust. Our team speaks four languages and comes from various cultural backgrounds, so we can truly meet you where you are.
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Recovery is a journey, not a destination. We'll start by learning more about your unique situation, substance use patterns, and what's driving your addiction. Early sessions focus on building trust and developing immediate coping strategies to manage cravings and triggers.
As we progress, we'll process underlying trauma, depression, or anxiety that may fuel your substance use. We'll also work together to rebuild relationships, develop healthy habits, and create a personalized relapse prevention plan.
Throughout the entire process, you can expect honest conversations, practical tools, and consistent support as you navigate both setbacks and victories in your recovery.
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No, you don't need to be sober to begin therapy. We meet you wherever you are in your journey—whether you're actively using, trying to cut back, or completely abstinent. Therapy can actually help you work toward sobriety by addressing underlying issues and developing coping strategies.
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Our practice may be a good fit if you value cultural sensitivity, flexible scheduling, and comprehensive insurance acceptance. Our diverse team speaks four languages and accepts all six Illinois Medicaid MCOs, plus BCBS PPO—rare in the Chicago area. We offer sessions seven days a week, from morning to evening appointments, both in-person and virtual. If you need trauma-informed addiction treatment, have co-occurring mental health issues, or want therapists who understand systemic barriers to recovery, we're designed for you.