About
About Cheri
Cheri Spiczka, MA, LCPC
My clients inspire me every day to appreciate the human spirit and its capacity to be resilient and strong. Nothing brings me greater joy than seeing them feel more empowered and content with themselves and their relationships. I believe we all have the ability to create happiness and fulfillment in our life. Sometimes we just need someone to help us figure out how to get there. People need someone to listen without judgment or bias and to assist in tapping into their strengths and improve weaknesses. My goal is to always be a compassionate, sensitive listener and problem solver. Helping people achieve their long-awaited and much deserved personal goals is an amazing thing to be a part of.”
– Cheri Spiczka
Most of us feel completely overwhelmed and we mistakenly believe we are the only ones in the world who feel this way. The act of sitting with my clients and communicating understanding and acceptance while helping them make sense of their thoughts and feelings can provide profound opportunities for growth. My clients begin to feel more relaxed and confident in the way they move through life.
Cheri Spiczka’s 20 years of experience in the field spans multiple settings. She is considered a warm, open, accepting and super-motivated therapist, who gives 150% of herself to the individual needs of each client. Therapy doesn’t start and end after 50 minutes, it moves beyond the safety of her office, as it should for it to be successful. “I am not only listening to people talk and explore themselves, I am helping people who want to change their lives and feel better. I take this very seriously and am honored to be on this journey with my clients”
Cheri loves her work with the teen population. Clients feel she is an ally in the quest to embrace the young person they are trying to become. Cheri is a skilled and effective substance abuse and addictions counselor. She understands just how difficult and overpowering a substance or addiction can be to the user, as well as how much this affects loved ones around them.
As a mother, daughter, sister and wife, Cheri is emphatically and sensitively connected to the issues and challenges that come with each dynamic. Many of her child and adolescent clients consider her a “feelings teacher,”� helping them explore what emotions they are having and why. Couples and/or parents who work with her love the tools they develop that make their home environment more positive and successful.
Adult clients who work with Cheri enjoy the sense of sensitivity she brings to the therapeutic relationship. The amount of support and encouragement she provides is immeasurable and ultimately can be powerfully transformative. Clients benefit from the compassion she brings to each session and feel empowered by it in a lasting way.
As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Art Therapist, Cheri is experienced in using several therapy approaches to help her clients communicate, explore and heal. Adding art therapy can provide a new avenue towards self-expression and exploration, which often makes it easier to uncover problems and identify solutions.
One of Cheri’s favorite sayings is: “Human life isn’t about perfection. It’s about accepting the flawed, the misguided parts of ourselves. We keep trying, we keep loving, we keep believing.”- Unknown
Testimonials
“I started seeing Cheri after a very loved one revealed he was struggling to overcome addiction. It was a very difficult time for both of us, and I knew I needed someone outside of the situation to talk to that wouldn’t judge me or him. Cheri provided me with exactly that, and more. Even after his battle subsided, I continued to see Cheri because I realized it is a huge relief to have someone that I knew I would be seeing once a week to talk to. Cheri understands that life isn’t always easy, and though she knows she can’t solve all the world’s problems, she makes it obvious that she will, and wants to, listen to them anyway. She always knows exactly when to chime in to present a perspective I might not have considered, or offer a compliment in tough times. She played a vital role in helping me put myself on the path I am on now. She is definitely one of the kindest women I have ever gotten to talk to.”
-Anonymous
“My teenage daughter and I saw Cheri to deal with anxiety and a health issue my daughter was having. Cheri did such an amazing job listening to both of our concerns and getting to the heart of the matter for each of us. She is patient, caring, but firm when she needs to be. She provided strategies for both of us to manage our stress while giving ourselves permission to feel what we were feeling. I highly recommend Cheri if you are looking for a caring compassionate therapist for yourself or your child.”
-Anonymous
“I worked with Cheri for just over a year- driving from the southwest suburbs through many a snowstorm. I can tell you, she was definitely worth it! What I appreciate most about working with Cheri is her level of expertise on the subject of narcissism/co-dependency as well as the warm, caring atmosphere she provided during our sessions. Cheri was especially supportive and gave me the insight and confidence to successfully navigate my dysfunctional relationship, focus on my own health and happiness and set clear boundaries with others. I finished my sessions with Cheri feeling positive and empowered in the world. That’s a remarkable gift!”
-Anonymous
“Cheri has helped my 7 year old son understand, in his level, how his body felt when he was feeling anxious and provided him with ways to calm himself. She worked with my son to help him see all the positive qualities he possesses which in turn improved his self-esteem so much that he began to make eye contact with others and he finally began to smile often. Her gentle, fun and nurturing ways where just what my son needed.”
-Anonymous
“Cheri’s calm demeanor, compassion and listening skills put me immediately at ease with her. She has an innate ability of asking the right questions in order to bring clarity to the issue at hand and yet is straightforward when needed. Through working with Cheri, I was empowered to make needed changes that have brought peace and happiness for me and my family. Cheri’s experience, commitment and caring nature makes her an asset. I highly recommend her as a therapist for children and adults.”
-Anonymous
“Cheri was not just attentive to my needs, but invested in me as a person which helped me to not feel so alone. I felt that Cheri really understood me and was empathetic in a way that helped me build my self-confidence and self-worth. Every week, I left with at least one piece of information that I was able to apply throughout the week which always resulted in positive changes. I am grateful for the insight, kindness, and strength Cheri has shared with me, which in turn has made me a stronger individual.”
-Anonymous