Brian Navitsky, MHP, Clinical Intern
College, Young Adults, Adults
Anxiety, Depression, Self-Esteem, Identity Development, Sports Anxiety, Men’s Issues
Hello, I’m Brian. I am a graduate student and counselor-in-training currently completing Northwestern University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Originally from New Jersey, I completed my undergraduate studies at Indiana University before moving to Chicago to pursue my clinical training.
My path toward counseling was shaped through years of community-based work and personal experiences that showed me the importance of having support during difficult moments. Those experiences helped me recognize how meaningful it can be to walk alongside people as they navigate challenges, growth, and change.
I view therapy as a collaborative process rooted in connection, honesty, and trust. My goal is to create a space where clients feel genuinely heard, understood, and accepted without judgment. When working with me, clients can expect warmth, empathy, directness, and encouragement — a space where they can show up fully as themselves while also being challenged in ways that support meaningful growth.
I work primarily with college students, young adults, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, relationship stress, self-doubt, identity concerns, and major life transitions. I also have a particular interest in supporting athletes and former athletes struggling with performance anxiety, identity shifts, injury recovery, and the emotional challenges that can come with stepping away from sports. Having played college football myself and unexpectedly retiring after an injury, I understand firsthand how athletics can shape identity, self-worth, and mental health both during and after competition.
I believe insight is important, but lasting change often comes from learning how to apply that insight in everyday life. Together, we can work toward building greater self-awareness, emotional understanding, confidence, and healthier ways of navigating life’s challenges.
I genuinely appreciate anyone considering therapy and recognize that reaching out for support can feel vulnerable. I do not take that trust lightly, and I strive to create an environment where clients feel supported, empowered, and able to grow in ways that feel authentic to them.
For Fun…
Outside of counseling, I enjoy staying active, watching and playing sports, and spending time with friends and family. Balance and connection are important to me, and I try to bring that same mindset into the work I do.
Benefits of Working with a Clinical Intern
If you’re searching for a therapist, don’t overlook the opportunity to work with one of Inspire’s Clinical Interns. Many clients are surprised to learn that Clinical Interns often bring a unique combination of enthusiasm, specialized training, individualized attention, and extensive supervision that can create an exceptional therapy experience.
Some of the benefits of working with a Clinical Intern include:
- Personalized Attention: Clinical Interns typically maintain smaller caseloads, allowing them to devote more time, energy, and focus to each client.
- Current Training and Evidence-Based Approaches: As graduate students, Clinical Interns are immersed in the latest research, clinical interventions, and best practices in the mental health field. This allows them to bring fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to therapy.
- Extensive Supervision and Support: Clinical Interns receive significantly more supervision than many practicing therapists. At Inspire, interns receive supervision through their graduate programs, as well as weekly individual and group supervision from experienced clinicians. This means multiple professionals are invested in supporting your progress and ensuring high-quality care.
- Passion and Commitment: Clinical Interns are often highly motivated, eager to learn, and deeply invested in helping clients achieve meaningful growth and positive outcomes.
- Collaborative Care: Because of their close supervision and training environment, Clinical Interns frequently benefit from additional consultation and feedback, providing clients with the advantage of multiple clinical perspectives.
- Diverse Life and Professional Experience: Many of our Clinical Interns come from established careers and bring years—even decades—of experience in business, education, healthcare, parenting, leadership, and other professions. This real-world perspective can deepen their understanding of life’s complexities and challenges.
- Excellent Client Outcomes: Research consistently demonstrates that Clinical Interns achieve strong therapeutic outcomes, often comparable to those of licensed clinicians when supported by quality supervision and training.
At Inspire, we are highly selective in choosing our Clinical Interns. Each intern undergoes a thorough review and interview process before joining our team. We seek individuals who demonstrate exceptional clinical potential, align with our values, and are interested in building a long-term career with Inspire. Many of our interns continue with Inspire well beyond their internship experience.