Megan O’Brien, MA, LPC
Children, (5-10), Early Adolescents (11-13) Late Adolescents (12-18), College (20-22), Young Adults, Adults
Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, Emotional Difficulties, Friendship Struggles, Relationships, Behavioral Issues, Learning Challenges
Everyone has challenges in this life, but no one should have to go through it alone. When you struggle mentally, it doesn’t just impact how you feel, but everything in your life–school, work, friends, family, and relationships. If you allow yourself to be supported, we can work together to create a personalized treatment plan to best fit your goals.
As a seasoned clinician, I offer a balance of guidance and a fresh perspective. Having worked in the mental health field since 2010, I have a deep background of knowledge and real-world experience. I’m also highly motivated and up-to-date on treatment modalities (CBT, DBT, Brief Solution-Focused Therapy, etc.) having graduated from my master’s program in 2021. This provides you with valuable insight mixed with modern research and skills.
I’ve seen firsthand the power that comes from an individual’s healing process. My goal is to assist you through your journey of self-discovery and support you to reach your potential. Please send me an email to schedule a FREE 15-minute consult to get started.
Parents & Adults
After extensive experience counseling children and adolescents, I’ve seen the incredible impact parents have on their kids at home. I’ve helped so many parents create strategies to maximize their impact at home with their kids and families. Beyond parenting, I know mental health is a challenge not only professionally, but personally. Whether it’s anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, ADHD, or navigating work-life balance – I love to help people find their freedom and peace.
Together we’ll focus on self-acceptance, navigating big feelings, building positive habits and a fresh mindset. I’ve successfully helped navigate young adults through the unexpected hurdles and transitions that come with this newfound independence and societal pressure. My motivation comes from watching how therapy changes the relationship young adults have with themselves to recognize their strengths and steer them toward a successful future ahead.
Adolescents & Children
My passion for working with children and adolescents comes from the years I worked as an Applied Behavior Analyst at the Great Lakes Center for Autism Treatment and Research through Residential Opportunities Inc. I used one-on-one Behavioral Therapy to improve social behaviors in children and adolescents (2-21 years old). My treatment was conducted in the inpatient hospitalization wing and partial hospitalization day program to assist with a wide variety of behaviors. I led social skills groups and reduced challenging behaviors through individualized treatment plans. My focus was to improve language and communication skills, role model appropriate social behaviors, and improve focus, memory, and academic achievement. I love helping people reach their full potential to succeed at school, at home, and in the community.
College Counseling
As a former college counselor, I know that support provides a huge benefit to make the most of college years. The transitions in college lead students to feel overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, and isolated. I’ve taught students how to cope with their emotions to meet academic pressures, and work, and family demands. I’ve assisted students in their future career success with personal, professional, academic, and financial guidance. Together, with students, we’ve set goals and celebrated progress with regular check-ins to stay on track.
I understand–personally and professionally–the importance of social life and how overwhelming it can be. I offer a wide variety of support with attachment styles, hookup culture, healthy communication, toxic relationships, and overcoming breakups. As Director of Sisterhood in my University’s chapter, and therapist over the years, I know friendship struggles can actually hurt as much, if not, more than relationship struggles. Dating and relationship conflicts or insecurities are a vital part of growth, self-reflection and confidence for emerging adults. I’ve been a nationally certified Sexual Health Educator since 2016. I’ve directed medically adequate comprehensive sexual health education seminars for numerous sororities on romantic and friend relationships.
Multicultural Experience
In 2018, I had the privilege to work in South Africa with a team of Doctors, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Counselors, and Spiritual Healers as a student at Nelson Mandela University. We shared the ambitious goal to improve the extreme healthcare duress from the serration associated with Apartheid.
I supported children and families with mental health who were experiencing trauma, poverty, violence, alcoholism, addiction, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS during the epidemic in the country.
I left my mark by creating a primary care mental health prevention program for children and families that was later continued in the community through the Public Health Department at Nelson Mandela University. My education provided me with extensive learning opportunities on multicultural awareness about diversity and inclusion that I bring to work each day.
For Fun …
Outside of counseling, I am passionate about leadership and volunteer service. During my time at grad school, I was President of Chi Sigma Iota (the international and professional academic honors society for counseling students, educators, and professionals.)
I also volunteered my time in the university’s Social Justice Leadership Academy and mentored first-generation community college scholars in the south side of Chicago. This was an effort to help accelerate their progress on career pathways to reach economic mobility to change the education landscape to impact future generational success.
When I’m not counseling or volunteering, I enjoy traveling, trying new restaurants, binge-watching reality TV (huge Bravo fan), yoga, skiing, and spending time with family and friends along Lake Michigan.