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Jakub Owca
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Dr. Owca is the founder and executive behind Quintess Counseling, where his dedication to mental health shines through his work. His journey in this field is backed by a comprehensive education in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University, complemented by a wealth of experience from various mental health environments.

 

Therapy with Dr. Owca is a deeply personal and engaging process, underpinned by the belief that self-exploration is crucial to healing. He is especially committed to supporting the LGBTQI+ community, addressing complex trauma, and helping individuals navigate the challenges of anxiety and depression. His therapeutic approach is relational, aimed at symptom relief through meaningful connection.

 

Dr. Owca also excels in solution-focused strategies, particularly for those dealing with specific concerns such as phobias or panic attacks. Central to his practice is the establishment of trust, a critical element that paves the way for effective collaboration between him and his patients on their path to well-being.

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Dr. Owca sees client exclusively online.

Dr. Jakub Owca, PhD

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Clinical Counselor

Clinical Supervisor

Consultant

Board Certified Counselor

Erik Schuster

Erik Schuster, LPC
 

Clinical Counselor

Clinical Supervisor

Consultant

Erik is a therapist at Quintess Counseling, LLC. He earned his Master’s degree in Clinical Professional Psychology from Roosevelt University. He has experience treating children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families in an outpatient setting.

 

Erik also has experience providing in-home counseling to families with open DCFS cases and has conducted mental health crisis intervention in urban communities.

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Erik’s engages his patient’s presenting concerns using techniques that promote insight into the thoughts and behavior patterns that perpetuate distressing symptoms. The process of therapy encourages patients to primarily examine the barriers that prevent one from experiencing a more enriching relationship with themselves, loved ones, and their social environment. His highly interactive process promotes growth in the emotional, social, and behavioral areas of a person’s life.

 

Erik works with individuals and couples that may struggle with depression, anxiety, communication, or lack of motivation. You may find yourself run down by balancing the demands of work and relationships. Maybe you lack the desire to feel more fulfilled in life. Or, perhaps you create goals for yourself in your career, physical fitness, or simply improving your relationships, but you frequently feel weighed down by unwavering stress and a lack of cooperation from your environment that impedes your motivation. You are entitled to experiencing gains in the areas of your life that you deem important-you may even consider bringing your life partner into sessions to address these concerns. Erik is capable to help you develop the skills necessary to enact your most effective self.

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Erik sees clients in person at our Loop location as well as online.

Claire McGrotty
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Dr. Openshaw has experience working with diverse populations who present with various degrees of mental health concerns, mental illness, and substance abuse. She specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, grief and loss, as well as trauma, just to name a few. She adopts a Client-Centered and Adlerian approach – this includes a focus on trauma-informed and mindfulness practices, where unconditional positive regard, fine-tuned empathic understanding, and radical respect are used to building a safe, responsive, and caring therapeutic environment.

 

You may be at a point in your life where you feel lonely, disconnected, or conflicted about what to do next. You may be struggling to go about your day due to feeling tired, or you are simply feeling too overwhelmed to complete the most basic of tasks. Dr. Openshaw employs several approaches that help ease such feelings by embracing a strength-based perspective. This therapeutic style commends clients for their coping methods, survival strategies, and inner wisdom that they have already implemented in their daily lives. She believes in the body’s capacity to heal and grow from struggle and her hope is to help her clients tap into and strengthen its natural healing tendencies.

 

Dr. Openshaw is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. She is a Professor in the Addictions and Behavioral Health department at Governors State University, as well as a QPR and Mental Health First Aid Instructor. Dr. Openshaw has conducted research on the topic of fear of flying and human trafficking and has presented nationally as well as internationally in areas of ethics, sexual misconduct, human rights, trafficking, addiction, and youth suicide.

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Dr. Openshaw sees clients in person at our Northshore location as well as online.

Dr. Claire Openshaw, PhD

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Clinical Counselor

Clinical Supervisor

Consultant

Connor McInerney
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Connor McInerney, LCSW

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Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Clinical Supervisor

Consultant

Connor is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and psychotherapist. He started in the mental health field working for a crisis hotline, where he discovered his passion for helping others when they may need it most. Connor earned his Master’s degree in clinical Social Work from the University of Houston, and worked for three years with a nonprofit agency for the LGBTQ+ community, where he received his post-graduate training. Connor has experience providing outpatient psychotherapy for adults, couples, and groups.

 

Connor specializes in helping clients work through traumatic life experiences, anxiety, depression, suicide, addiction, substance use and harm-reduction, sexual wellness, gender identity and sexual orientation exploration, and building strong relationships including polyamory and consensual non-monogamy. Connor’s therapeutic approach is eclectic in nature, drawing from client-centered, mindfulness, empowerment, somatic, Internal Family Systems Therapy, and Eidetic Image Therapy.

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As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Connor has a unique perspective on what it is like to be different from what society dictates. In American culture today, we often experience profound disconnection from ourselves and other people. We receive messages that we are not enough, and that to be worthy of love and connection we must earn money, look beautiful, and not break a sweat doing so. Connor recognizes that one’s social environment plays an enormous role in their wellbeing and their freedom to be who they want to be. When we have been abused or neglected as children or adults, we can struggle to feel accepted and whole. The inherent pain of such rejection may leave us feeling, empty, unmotivated, tired, nervous, on-edge, depressed, suicidal, unable to feel joy and satisfaction or even to just feel “okay.” Connor’s work focuses on every person’s innate potential for strength, growth, and happiness.

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Connor sees clients in person at our Loop location as well as online (available for residents of Illinois and Texas).

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Request an appointment with Connor

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Katty Li, LPC

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Clinical Counselor

Katty holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a graduate degree from Adler University. Her journey into counseling was inspired by years of volunteering with children and youths. Specializing in working with adults, Katty addresses a spectrum of challenges including depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, and interpersonal relationships.

 

In the therapeutic space, Katty strives to cultivate authenticity, empathy, and collaboration to provide individuals the freedom to explore their identities. Rooted in curiosity, she encourages introspection to unveil the reasons behind actions and believes that self-exploration leads to self-fulfillment. Katty is dedicated to accompanying clients on a journey towards courage and  addressing root issues together.

 

As an Asian American from an immigrant family, Katty places high value on cultural and identity nuances. She understands how background and experiences shape thoughts and behaviors. Katty is committed to fostering a trusting environment where clients can provide feedback and explore the impact of their identities on their present selves.

 

Katty sees clients in person at our Loop location as well as online.

Katty
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