Courtney Schwabauer
LCSW
She | Her | Hers
Grief & Loss | Anxiety | Depression | Life Transitions | Trauma | Gender & Sexuality
Virtual
My Background
My name is Courtney Schwabauer, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). I have been working in outpatient practice in Chicago since February 2021 after completing my master’s in social work at the University of Michigan. I developed a passion for mental health early in life through my own experience with anxiety. In my practice, I’m guided by the social work values of the inherent worth of every person, the importance of human relationships, and dedication to social justice. I am excited to have recently completed Level 1 Training for Internal Family Systems (IFS) through the IFS Institute.
I work with adults across the lifespan who are interested in self-exploration and gaining a better understanding of themselves. I support clients around managing symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and ADHD. I also support clients around processing grief and loss, exploring their gender and sexual identities, managing chronic health issues, working through body image concerns, addressing relationship issues (with friends, family, and partners), and navigating life transitions (such as pregnancy and career changes). My goal as a therapist is to provide a supportive and compassionate environment for my clients to process their emotions around past and present experiences and engage in meaningful introspection.
One of my top priorities when I begin working with a client is establishing a collaborative relationship where the client feels heard, understood, and unconditionally accepted. I treat clients as the expert on their own lives and experiences, and I tailor my approach to each client based on their feedback about what is most useful. I utilize an eclectic approach that includes a combination of a few therapy modalities, including IFS, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and Grief Therapy.
I offer an empathetic environment that will help you gain new insights and perspectives, reflect on strengths that already exist within you, and encourage you to grow. I value authenticity, curiosity, and humor, and I bring all of those to the therapeutic space. I feel honored to do this work, and I look forward to connecting with you.
A fun fact about me: My favorite thing about living in Chicago is being close to the lake. Walking along the lakeshore is my favorite way to decompress and reconnect with nature (even in the winter)!