Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Olympia Fields, IL

Hi, I’m Stephany. I work with teens and adults who are navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and life stress that can feel overwhelming or hard to manage alone. Many of my clients come to therapy feeling emotionally drained, stuck in patterns they don’t fully understand, or unsure how to move forward.

I’m passionate about creating a space where you feel safe, heard, and genuinely understood. Clients often describe me as warm, thoughtful, and easy to open up to.

DIRECT AND TO THE POINT as well as on target for help client to reach their counseling goals

We are all travelers in this lifetime. Everyone is traveling to the same destination, but all benefit from a guide/professional support. I pass no judgment, I only meet people where they are at and where they wish to be. Let's get you to where you wish to be. I do encourage holistic and alternative methods to get to your goals, but am not against traditional approaches and in fact combining clinical with alternative have proven to have the best outcomes. Be prepared to put in the work. There will be homework, and it will be challenging. It could in fact be the most difficult thing that you do, but it is in your best interest.

For more than 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside individuals, couples, and families as they work toward healing, growth, and change. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor, and Substance Abuse Professional, I bring both deep clinical knowledge and a compassionate, down-to-earth approach to therapy.

I specialize in helping clients navigate life’s most personal challenges—including relationship and intimacy concerns, life transitions, grief and loss, trauma, and mental health struggles. I also provide substance abuse treatment, DOT/SAP evaluations, and recovery support using evidence-based approaches such as CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, Reality Therapy, Trauma-Focused CBT, the Duluth Model, and the Matrix Model.

I have a special commitment to serving Black communities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people living with HIV, re-entry populations, sex workers, and youth facing challenges. I understand how personal, cultural, and systemic factors shape each person’s story, and I create a safe, affirming space where clients feel truly seen and heard.

In our sessions, you can expect a respectful, judgment-free environment where your voice matters. I believe therapy works best as a partnership—we’ll set goals together, explore what’s holding you back, and develop practical strategies you can use in daily life a more fulfilling life. Whether you’re seeking support for a specific issue or simply want to invest in your personal growth, I’m here to help you take that next step.

So many people go through their day/week/month/ year without anyone really hearing or seeing them. It can be lonely and scary moving through the world with mental and emotional pain that you don’t know what to do with. Bring it to counseling. I’m Samantha, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. I create and hold a safe, supportive, and empathetic space for my clients. I am a somatic EMDR practitioner and specialize in treating trauma, supporting individuals with ADHD, depression, anxiety, and overwhelm.

Dr. Opelt earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at New Mexico State University after completing his Master’s of Science in Educational Psychology: Community Counseling from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. During his graduate training, he earned certifications in Trauma Counseling and Multicultural Knowledge Basis in Mental Health Practices, and a graduate minor in Integrated Behavioral Health. Dr. Opelt has completed postdoctoral fellowships in research in Rehabilitation Psychology, with an emphasis on Multiple Sclerosis, at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and in clinical Rehabilitation and Pain Psychology at MedStar Health National Rehabilitation Hospital. He has focused his clinical work on adults who have concerns about insomnia, cognitive impairment, addiction, LGBT+ concerns, caregiver support, transplants, burn survivors, cancer, musculoskeletal diseases like MS and Parkinson’s disease, and those who have amputations. He is a licensed psychologist in Maryland and Illinois.

Life can be difficult. We all need a little help sometimes navigating the peaks and valleys that come our way. My experience includes 19 years of working in both public and private therapeutic schools with children, adolescents and young adults. I enjoy helping those struggling with a variety of life challenges, particularly, with anxiety, depression, stress management, perfectionism and minimizing the occurrences of self-harm by providing clients with healthy replacement strategies.

My passion is helping others with their self-discovery. I do this by providing a safe and comfortable environment where you can be heard without worrying about judgment. I have worked with diverse populations from ages 12 and older, helping them resolve challenges in their everyday life.