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  • Amy Steinhauer
  • Krista Wilson
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Amy Steinhauer

pronouns: she/her/hers

I found the social work field when looking for ways to actualize my social justice values. It appealed to me right away: the bio-psycho-social perspective, starting where the client is, seeing the person in the context of their environment. I gravitated to the direct service and psychotherapy side of social work because it was the best and most intuitive fit for me and my natural skill set.

For 30 years, I have provided individual, relationship, and group therapy, led workshops, and trained and supervised professionals. Like most therapists I know, my approach to therapy is eclectic: I draw from a number of schools of practice: emotionally focused therapy (EFT), relational therapy, feminist therapy, family systems, some aspects of cognitive and behavioral therapies, sex therapy, depending on the needs of my clients. But what centrally defines my approach is the relational perspective. I have come to value relationships as central to healing: the integral importance of partner, family, and friend relationships, as well as the importance of a good quality therapeutic relationship.

I am an active and collaborative therapist. I understand that coming to therapy is a vulnerable experience, and I will be in it with you. I have lots of questions and I like to think together with people. I will share my perceptions in the moment and check them out with you. I will attend to shifts in the room to help us both track your experience: your feelings, thoughts, and reactions in the moment, which can give us lots of information to deepen the work. I am gentle, direct and empathic, and I work from a stance of respect and curiosity to cultivate a safe environment for sensitive therapeutic work.

To work well with you, I want to really understand you—what your values are, what works for you, how you best function in the world, what cultures you come from and claim. I assume and celebrate differences, and I want to work with you in a way that deeply honors who you are.

I am LGBTQ-affirmative and welcome people of all genders, sexual orientations, relationship configurations, and lifestyles.

I acknowledge the realities of racism, embrace an antiracist stance, and strive to be culturally sensitive and honoring of intersectional realities. I also recognize that this is a work in progress for all of us, and invite dialogue if I err. I have an ongoing commitment to educate myself in these areas.

Education and Credentials

• AM (Masters Degree in Social Work), 1992, University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration
• LCSW (Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker), #149-007533
• ACSW (Academy of Certified Social Workers, a national social work credential)
• CST (Certified Sex Therapist—American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists)
• Certified EFT Therapist (Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy – The International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy)

Professional Affiliations

• National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
• International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT)
• Chicago Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy (ChicagoEFT)
• American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT)
• The Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR)
• The National Vulvodynia Association (NVA), professional member

 

To contact me, please call 847-425-1500, ext. 1, or email amy@evanstonrelationalpsychotherapy.com.