Brian Navitsky, MHP, Clinical Intern
Kids, Adolescents, 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 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 by years of community-based work and personal experiences that showed me the importance of having the right support during difficult moments. Those experiences helped me recognize how meaningful it can be to walk alongside someone as they navigate challenges, discover their strengths, and grow into a more confident version of themselves.
I view therapy as a collaborative process rooted in connection, honesty, and trust. My approach is supportive, collaborative, and strengths-based, and my goal is to create a space where you feel genuinely heard, understood, and accepted without judgment. You can expect warmth, empathy, directness, and encouragement, along with a space where you can show up as yourself while also being challenged in ways that support meaningful growth.
I incorporate techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based approaches to help clients recognize unhelpful thought patterns, better understand and manage their emotions, develop practical coping skills, and feel more confident navigating challenges. I believe insight is important, but lasting change often comes from learning how to take what we discover in therapy and apply it to everyday life.
Working with Boys & Young Men
I especially enjoy working with adolescent boys and young men who may be struggling with anxiety, confidence, self-esteem, friendships, school pressures, identity, emotional regulation, or simply figuring out who they are and where they fit.
For many boys, opening up about emotions doesn’t always come naturally, and sitting down with a therapist can feel uncomfortable or intimidating at first. My goal is to meet them where they are, build trust at their pace, and create a relaxed, judgment-free environment where they don’t feel pressured to have the “right” things to say.
As a former college football player, I understand the pressures young men can experience around performance, competition, confidence, toughness, and expectations from themselves and others. I use a supportive and strengths-based approach to help boys better understand what they’re feeling, recognize what they already do well, develop practical coping and communication skills, and build confidence both in themselves and in how they handle life’s challenges.
Athletes & Former Athletes
I also have a particular interest in supporting athletes and former athletes experiencing performance anxiety, pressure, injury recovery, identity changes, or the emotional challenges that can come with stepping away from a sport.
Having played college football myself and unexpectedly retiring after an injury, I understand firsthand how deeply athletics can become intertwined with identity, confidence, self-worth, relationships, and mental health.
Whether you’re trying to manage the pressure to perform, struggling after an injury, or wondering who you are without your sport, therapy can provide a place to work through those challenges while recognizing that the qualities you’ve developed as an athlete can continue to serve you far beyond competition.
I work with clients navigating anxiety, depression, relationship stress, self-doubt, identity concerns, major life transitions, and other challenges that can leave us feeling stuck or overwhelmed. Together, we can work toward 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 don’t take that trust lightly. My goal is to create an environment where you feel supported, empowered, and able to grow in ways that feel authentic to you.
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.