Jocelyn Kressler

Bio

Hi there! Whether this is your first time seeking therapy or you are looking for your next clinician, I want to acknowledge how difficult it can sometimes be to reach out for assistance and the strength it takes to do so. With that said, go ahead, it’s okay to give yourself some props for taking this big step!

Let’s be honest, while we may not prefer it, stress, struggles, and/or challenges are common parts of life that we all experience from time to time. However, when these emotionally painful experiences repeatedly occur or are ongoing, feelings such as depression, anxiety, emptiness, or numbness, may start to negatively impact our day-to-day lives or get in the way of our goals. These feelings may also lead us to feel overwhelmed, drained, and consequently function on auto-pilot.

Working from a strengths-oriented approach, I help empower clients to feel better able to face and overcome challenges experienced. I offer an authentic, lighthearted, and safe environment for clients to openly explore their distress without feeling judged or invalidated. Together, we collaborate to help you identify how these painful experiences have deterred you from your goals, what your goals would like to be, and how to get you closer to them. To reach those goals, I utilize an integrated trauma-focused approach which enables me to tailor treatment to meet your unique needs and goals. I have comprehensive experience providing cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), individual psychology, and a variety of trauma-focused psychotherapies, including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Skills Training in Affect and Interpersonal Relationships (STAIR).

I completed my undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After moving to Chicago, I pursued my Master’s and then Doctorate degrees. I received a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with dual specialties in traumatic stress psychology and substance abuse counseling. I have a strong clinical background in providing treatment to diverse adult populations with complex clinical presentations, including PTSD, complex trauma, substance use disorders, personality disorders, adjustment concerns, and grief and loss.

I believe that a strong therapeutic relationship is crucial in the work that we do together and I would be honored to be a part of your treatment journey.

In-network insurances

Blue Cross Blue Shield • Self pay • Aetna • Cigna

Specialties

Addiction/Substance Abuse • Adjustment Disorder • Alcoholism • Anger Management • Anxiety • Bipolar Disorder • Daytime Sleepiness • DBT/CBT • Depression • Grief and Loss/Bereavement • LGBTQIA+ • Life Coaching • Life Transition • Major Depressive Disorder • Mindfulness • Mood Disorders • Occupational Difficulties • Personality Disorder • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - Trauma • Relationship Issues • Sadness • Self Esteem • Social Anxiety • Stress/Worry • Suicidal Thoughts

Education and training

• Adler University, Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
• Adler University, Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology

Professional memberships

• American Psychological Association (APA)
• Illinois Psychological Association (IPA)
• International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS)
• North American Society of Adlerian Psychology (NASAP)
• Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (SCEH)

Honors and awards

• Kressler, J. A. (2020). The Lived Experience of Parents of Adolescents with Co-Occurring PTSD and Substance Use Disorder (Doctoral dissertation, Adler University).

Languages spoken

• English

Pronouns

• she/her/hers