Amy Steinhauer, Clinical Social Worker in Evanston, 60201

Amy Steinhauer, AM, LCSW, ACSW, CST

Profession(s):
Clinical Social Work, Psychotherapy
License Status:
I'm a licensed professional.
Primary License:
LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) - 149-007533

My Approach to Helping

I am an experienced therapist providing specialist care in the areas of sex therapy, couple and relationship therapy, and trauma treatment, including sex therapy for trauma survivors. My approach to therapy is eclectic, depending on the needs of my clients. But what centrally defines my approach is the relational perspective. I have come to value relationships as integrally important to healing: partner, family, and friend relationships, as well as a good quality therapeutic relationship. My approach is active, direct, and empathic. I understand that coming to therapy is a vulnerable experience, and I will be in it with you.

I see each person as a culture of one, and I want to understand your micro cultureâ��what your values are, what works for you, how you best function. I assume and celebrate differences and want to collaboratively develop a treatment plan that deeply honors who you are.

I work from a stance of curiosity and respect to cultivate a safe environment for sensitive therapeutic work. What moves me most as a therapist is the privilege of accompanying clients as they claim their voices and move into increasing authenticity.

More Info About My Practice

I am an out-of-network provider. For clients who wish to use insurance, I encourage that they check their benefits. I request payment at the time of service, and am happy to provide a monthly statement that clients may submit to their insurance company to seek reimbursement based on their particular plan. I feel that working outside the managed care system, while it can have some drawbacks, offers the most freedom, privacy, and the ability for my client and I to make all of the decisions about therapy.

Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With

One of my niche areas is working on sexual issues with trauma survivors (individual or couple work). My work is informed by in-depth training in both trauma treatment and sex therapy, and I have many years experience balancing these lenses to support the sexual healing of survivors. I have also led workshops in this area for survivors, for partners of survivors, and for couples, and I have trained and consulted to other professionals on these topics.

My View on the Purpose of Psychotherapy

I see psychotherapy as a process of healing and supporting wellness and growth. Depending on the particular needs of the person or the couple, this may include insight, \'symptom reduction,\' developing new skills, finding ways to shift challenging behaviors, or a new experience of relationship.

What I Usually Need to Know to Help

I often start with the present, with what is the current experience or concern. I fill in the history as we go (sometimes more intensively in the first session to two). I am curious about a person\'s historical experience and the narratives that arise from it, and I am curious about how a person works: how they function best, what is meaningful to them, what they know about themselves. I also check in with people as we go about how the process is feeling, and what seems possible or not possible, helpful or unhelpful.

On the Fence About Going to Therapy?

I respect ambivalence. I like to understand what the specific concerns are, and sometimes I will then have information that is helpful or clarifying. I sometimes suggest that the person may consider contracting briefly, say for 3 or 6 sessions, to experience the process and see if it feels like a right thing for them to further commit to or not. I also do single-session consultations, which includes me laying out directions for possible therapy, and can help someone decide if they want to continue or not.

Had a Negative Therapy Experience?

As with ambivalence, I respect the impact of negative therapy experiences. I like, when possible, to understand more about what went badly in the past. Sometimes it was a poor fit, sometimes I hear of serious ethical breaches. I try to speak to the experiences that I hear, and am transparent about my own style and how I might handle a comparable situation.

Important Factors for Choosing a Therapist

I see a good quality therapy relationship as key, and depending on the specific needs of the client, well-matched expertise and experience can also be very important. It is essential that a person feel respected and that both therapist and client are active participants in the creation of a therapy plan and in the process of therapy.

Theoretical Influences that Guide My Work

I was initially trained in feminist therapy, where some of the central tenets are viewing problems in the context of the environment and culture: not all problems are intra-psychic. This approach holds a particular awareness of issues around power and privilege and the impact of these on a person\'s life experiences. I might name the next important layer as the relational/relational-cultural therapy of Jean Baker Miller and her colleagues at the Stone Center. This approach values relationship as central and sees connectedness rather than autonomy to be the goal of human development. This is relevant both for the therapy relationship and for the exploration of the important relationships of a client\'s life. I am a certified sex therapist as well. This work has classically been quite cognitive-behavioral, however, my belief is that one must first be a solid therapist and couple therapist to be a good sex therapist. My approach to sex therapy is a relational one, attending to feelings, thoughts, beliefs, experiences, and relationship, not just to sexual functioning. Most recently, I have been training in depth in Sue Johnson\'s Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. I find that this is an excellent addition to the relational theory that grounds my work. This approach values the central importance of securely attached love relationships in adulthood. It looks at conflict and distress through the lens of each person\'s needs around connection and interpersonal safety. The

Importance of the Client-Therapist Alliance

The client-therapist relationship is one of the central factors of healing. The relationship should be safe, have well-defined roles, and has the potential to offer a reparative experience of relationship. My clients can expect me to be respectful, non-shaming, and collaborative. Consistency and follow-through are important to me: I do what I say I\'m going to do. I welcome questions and value the expertise of my client on his or her own life and experience.