Chicago Therapists

Open Avenue is a group of Chicago therapists, counselors, and psychiatric partners that specialize in relationship and couples counseling, drug and alcohol treatment, and in various forms of addiction counseling (common reasons people seek our services).

Jake Colton LCSW CADC | Sarah Raskey LCPC ATR | Maryam Basmenji LCSW | Rebecca Levinson LCSW


Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors

Our certified alcohol and drug counselors have experience working with many forms of addiction and provide outpatient therapy and drug education. Alcohol | Alcohol - Chicago | Adderall | Cocaine | Crack Cocaine | Ecstasy | GHB | Heroin | Heroin - Chicago | Ketamine | Marijuana | Crystal Meth | Nicotine | Motivational Interviewing | Addiction Videos


Chicago Couples Therapists

When a person has a drug or alcohol problem typically it affects not only the individual, but also puts strain on couples, families, and other relationships. Our Chicago counselors recognize the importance of involving the support group in the process as much as possible. Our counselors are trained to facilitate communication between couples so that each person feels understood and committed to the change process. Active Listening | Cognitive Empathy vs Emotional Empathy | Communication and Anger | Common Reasons for Miscommunication | Communication - Verbal for Long Term Success | Codependency and Relationship Addiction

Couples Counseling

The Couples Counselor as Mediator

Couples CounselingAll couples experience conflict at one point or another and couples counseling can help mediate that conflict. Open Avenue couples counselors are trained to be unbiased and nonjudgemental, and therefore act as a neutral and trustworthy source to help couples resolve their issues.

The couples counselor structures the session by setting guidelines and rules. Couples must take turns speaking and listening. They must take turns sharing their emotions and understanding their partners feelings. The counselor intervenes to redirect the couple when one or both people are criticizing the other, becoming defensive, and/or shutting down. Couples counseling provides a safe and comfortable environment while also pushing for growth and resolution to the couples concerns.

The couples counselor must be an emotionally intelligent mediator. One aspect of being emotionally intelligent is to be aware of the emotions that each person is experiencing (whether stated or not). This includes accurately assessing both the intensity of the emotion and the person’s maximum capacity for the emotion before he/she becomes overwhelmed. A flooding of emotions makes it very difficult for the couple to communicate respectfully, listen openly, to acquire skills, and learn new information.



Skill building in Couples Counseling

The couples counselor needs to help the couples to build skills in order to overcome their presenting issues and maintain positive changes over time. One core skill to the couples counseling process is active listening. It is not a simple skill and many people misunderstand what it is and how to use it. Active listening is critical not only in validating your partner, but it can be extremely helpful in de-escalating arguments, rebuilding trust, and opening up sensitive topics.

Distress tolerance, anger management, and other forms of emotional regulation are also core skills to the couples counseling process. The skills must be acquired before the couple can refrain from maladaptive tendencies such as attacking the other or shutting down.



Goal Setting in Couples Counseling

The couples counselor gives homework so that couples can deepen intimacy, rebuild trust, improve communication skills, and ultimately address the issues and concerns initially presented. Often each member of the couple struggles with a different issue and they will be guided to compromise development in that particular area. For example, one person may agree to work on their budgeting if the other person agrees to set a goal towards drinking in moderation.



Ultimately, the couples counseling process is not about assigning blame, but seeking solutions. The couples counseling environment should be nonjudgemental, and validating to allow each person to see their partner as a teammate rather than an adversary. Progress, not perfection. With consistent effort and optimism it will soon be high fives and hugs all around!

Mens Addiction Recovery and Support Group

This group is for men that are struggling with addiction and common problems associated with that particular addictive behavior such as family issues, employment problems, anger issues, difficulty developing trust, intense boredom, anxiety and depression, and difficulty starting and maintaining intimate relationships.

To join the group clients must be committed to recovery from their target addictive behavior (e.g. binge drinking, gambling, etc). However, relapse is often part of recovery and group members will not be kicked out of the group for relapse as long as they are willing to explore and learn from their mistakes while make a recommitment to recovery.

This group is run by Jake Colton LCSW CADC who has extensive experience working with clients around addiction issues. He also teaches a group counseling course at DePaul University.


What to expect from the Mens Addiction Recovery and Support Group?

Although every group takes on a life of it’s own, the following stages are a brief guide for what to expect during the group therapy process.

Stage 1 – Addiction Group Formation
Group members are oriented to the group process, set goals, and begin a “here and now” experience which is guided by the group leader.

Stage 2 – Addiction Group Tension
Group members are directed by the group leader to share honest opinions about the other group members and respectfully challenge each other for the sake of growth and learning. Inevitably, group members will feel some discomfort, but the group leader will manage the tension so that group members experience transformative, not traumatic, group experiences.

Stage 3 – Addiction Group Cohesion
Group members inevitably begin to feel attached to one another as “real talk” deepens and progresses. In this stage group members obtain important skills and insights which organically generalize to other relationships in their lives.

Stage 4 – Addiction Group Termination
Group members complete treatment goals and evolve beyond the necessity of the group. Group members are guided to summarize and integrate the experience. They also learn how to end relationships in a healthy manner and are able to resolve past feelings of loss and abandonment.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy approaches to solving mental health and emotional problems are more goal-oriented, systematic, and present focused than other traditional forms of treatment (e.g. psychodynamic).

There is empirical evidence that CBT approaches are effective for the treatment of a variety of problems, including depression, anxiety disorders, anger management, phobias, social skills deficits (e.g. extreme shyness), sex addiction, compulsive gambling, and alcohol and drug abuse.

Cognitive behavioral therapy does not exist as a distinct therapeutic technique. The term “cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)” is a very general term for a classification of therapies with similarities.

There are several approaches to cognitive behavioral therapy, including Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Open Avenue – CBT in Action

At Open Avenue we utilize an eclectic therapeutic approach which incorporates several cognitive behavioral techniques including:

- identifying cognitive distoritions and modifiying them to more objective perceptions of reality
- reconditioning malapative emotion and teaching skills to understand and manage feelings
- behavioral awareness and reconditioning to replace destructive behavior patterns with new ways of acting and being

What is Art Therapy?

Art Therapy – The beginning
Art Therapy – Who is it for?
Art Therapy – Only for artists and creative types?
Art Therapy from the clients’ perspective
Sarah Raskey – A few words

Art therapy is the therapeutic use of art making, within a professional relationship, by people who experience illness, trauma, or challenges in living, and by people who seek personal development. Through creating art and reflecting on the art products and processes, people can increase awareness of self and others, cope with symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences; enhance cognitive abilities; and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of making art.

Art therapists are professionals trained in both art and therapy. They are knowledgeable about human development, psychological theories, clinical practice, spiritual, multicultural and artistic traditions, and the healing potential of art.

The American Art Therapy Association, Inc. (AATA) sets educational, professional, and ethical standards for its members. The Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc. (ATC, an independent organization, grants credentials. Registration (ATR) is granted upon completion of graduate education and post-graduate supervised experience.

How Did Art Therapy Begin?

Visual expression has been used for healing throughout history, but art therapy did not emerge as a distinct profession until the 1940s. In the early 20th century, psychiatrists became interested in the artwork created by their patients with mental illness. At around the same time, educators were discovering that children’s art expressions reflected developmental, emotional, and cognitive growth.

By m i d – c e n t u r y , hospitals, clinics, and rehabilitation centers increasingly began to include art therapy programs along with traditional “talk therapies,” underscoring the recognition that the creative process of art making enhanced recovery, health, and wellness. As a result, the profession of art therapy grew into an effective and important method of psychotherapy and treatment with children, adolescents, adults, families and groups in a variety of settings.

Who is Art Therapy for?

It’s for people…

- who are generally stressed and overworked with mental health and/or physical health problems
- who are experiencing creative blocks or in need of inspiration
- who would benefit from self exploration
- who are struggling with addictions
- in relationships and families who need help communicating with each other

What skills do you need for Art Therapy?

The simple answer is none. Art therapy requires no artistic ability. The Art Therapist offers guidance and support and the opportunity to explore issues of concern using a variety of art materials.

Some clients views on Art Therapy…

It’s not about being an artist, it’s about using visual symbols to explore feeling and emotions…..it’s about seeing feelings, making them visible to yourself”.

“There’s a beauty that is free to grow, an expression that can be extended, a space that is fun, safe and good to be in, that’s art therapy”.

“It is the process that is important, not the product”.

“I’m interested to see how my mind works – that part of my mind I’m not conscious of.”

Sarah Raskey on Art Therapy…

“Art therapy is a most effective method as it addresses the body, mind, and spirit. Art can be instrumental in promoting new ways to creatively gain insight, heal, face the unknown, and rediscover who we are and how we spend our time here.

Art has the potential to change lives in profound ways based on the belief that when words are not enough, we can turn to images, symbols, and other artistic means to more fully express ourselves in uncensored ways, leading to self actualization.

In telling our stories through art making, we find a direct path to emotional recovery, and ultimately transformation. Over time we are better able to identify a deep sense of purpose, and develop meaningful connections with those around us.” — Sarah Raskey LCPC ATR