Open Avenue Therapist – Rebecca Levinson LCSW

rebeccalevinson Rebecca’s approach is to provide a comfortable, nurturing, and safe environment for clients to explore what is holding them back from leading a happier life. The therapy provided will help develop strengths and find the tools needed to create your sense of self-awareness. Therapy can help clients have richer and more secure relationships, develop confidence and self-understanding, and stabilize mood and anxiety. Facing problems can be viewed as challenges that can be overcome, with the right attention and support. Life can be very challenging and finding the right therapist can be an important step in the ability to self-reflect and grow.

Experience and Specialties
Rebecca has worked in several different environments including outpatient treatment centers, medical and psychiatric hospitals, therapeutic high schools, and correctional facilities, She has provided affirming, empathic and engaging individual, group, and family therapy, focusing on the client’s strengths. Rebecca has extensive experience working with the following client populations and issues:

Adults diagnosed with anxiety or depression
Adults coping with previous trauma or abuse
Adults seeking forgiveness from themselves or others
Drug and Alcohol Addictions
Relationship Issues
Anger Management/Coping Skills
Client Dealing with Chronic Illnesses
Eating Disorders
Children and Adolescents with Behavioral Issues and Learning Disorders
Foster Care/Adoption

Treatment Philosophy
Rebecca has been trained in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectal Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI). Rebecca’s compassionate approach coupled with these frameworks help to supply clients with skills to become more mindful of their thoughts, while decreasing judgment, increase their ability to tolerate distress, learn how to strengthen and improve relationships, and discover on how to regulate emotions, by decreasing the negative emotions and increasing the positive. Rebecca’s warm, understanding, and supportive nature, lends to being committed to helping clients experience personal transformation and find peace within themselves.
Per the client’s request, therapeutic visual arts and music exercises can be incorporated into sessions, enhancing self-expression through creativity and building a bridge between inner experiences and the outside world.
In addition, mindfulness mediation, a form of relaxation is also a helpful therapeutic technique. Clients are encouraged to explore their personal balance and continue on a roadmap of a mindful life. This process is intended to help relax both the mind and body, encouraging a greater ability to concentrate and take note in the subtle joy of the living moment.

Education and Training
Rebecca graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology, where she was on the Dean’s List and in Phi Eta Sigma Honorary Society.

She obtained her Masters degree in clinical social work and counseling from The University of Chicago.
Rebecca has received extensive training in CBT and DBT and has lead trainings on Skillstreaming. This is a CBT component which encourages learning of appropriate skills through modeling, role-playing, performance feedback, and generalization. Rebecca has also trained non-mental health professionals on Trauma Informed therapy which acknowledges and understands the effects of trauma on the client’s presenting issues, such as drug/alcohol abuse, anxiety, and depression.