Megan O’Brien, MA, LPC
Children, (7-10), Early Adolescents (11-13) Late Adolescents (12-18), College (20-22), Young Adults
Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, Emotional Difficulties, Friendship Struggles, Relationships, Behavioral Issues, Learning Challenges
If you work with me, you’ll get a mix of excellent clinical experience with a down-to-earth, compassionate understanding.
My work has been focused on helping people with emotional, social, behavioral, and learning challenges. My clinical experience comes from inpatient hospitals, partial day programs, private practice counseling and in-home care.
For the past several years, I’ve worked in private practice providing psychotherapy, evaluation, and assessment to a wide variety of patients on the North Shore. I use Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT) to improve negative thoughts and behaviors to better control emotions using specific coping skills.
Behavioral Therapy
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 appropriates social behaviors, and improve focus, memory, and academic achievement. I love helping people reach their full potential to succeed at school, home and in the community.
Trauma and Crisis 
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’ 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 in relation to diversity and inclusion that I bring to work each day.
College Counseling
As a college counselor, I helped students plan their future career success with personal, professional, academic, and financial guidance. I motivated them by finding their aspirations, strengths and possibilities. I gave candid insights to their personal, professional and behavioral norms during challenges and setbacks.
Together, with students, I’d set goals and celebrate progress with regular check-ins and help them stay on track with their goals.
For Fun …
Outside of counseling, I am passionate about leadership and volunteer services. 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 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, skiing, and spending time with family and friends along Lake Michigan.
To contact Megan directly, email [email protected]
or call (847) 919-9096 ext. 57.
