Stephen Tompkins LCPC

Most men I work with reach out after hearing they shut down or “don’t have enough emotional intelligence,” and it’s hurting their relationship. Usually they’ve been told what’s wrong but never shown what to do about it. I help men understand where the shutting down comes from and learn to stay present with their partner and kids. I’m a dad myself, and I’m direct but gentle. You won’t get lectured here.

Most of the trauma I treat started in childhood and never got dealt with. It often doesn’t look like PTSD on TV. It shows up as shutting down, anger, trouble trusting people, or feeling like something is wrong with you. I specialize in complex PTSD (C-PTSD). The work happens through a steady, honest relationship over time, not a quick fix. If you’ve tried EMDR or another short-term method and it didn’t fully stick, this may be a better fit.

I see alcohol and weed use most often, and I’m comfortable with gambling, porn, and video game addiction too. I don’t use one rule for everyone. If your use is causing serious harm, we’ll likely talk about stopping. If it’s more of a creeping problem, harm reduction is a good place to start. Either way, you don’t have to commit to quitting to walk in the door. We’ll also look at what the drinking or using does for you, because that’s where real change starts.

In 12+ years as a therapist, much of my work has been with people in the middle of their trauma. In community mental health at Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare, that included crisis and risk assessment work. Now at Brookhaven Counseling Group, most of my clients carry childhood trauma that never got dealt with. I treat it with a steady, relational approach grounded in psychodynamic training. It takes longer than a protocol, and it’s built for trauma that’s been part of your life for a long time.

Addiction is where I started. My first role in this field was an undergrad internship at an addiction center, and I’ve worked with substance use ever since. I’ve completed extensive addiction training, plus several dedicated harm reduction trainings. That background lets me meet people where they are: harm reduction when use is starting to slip, abstinence when it’s gotten severe. You don’t need to have it all figured out before you reach out.

My psychodynamic work is rooted in training from the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis (CCP), including several years in its Fellowship Program and regular continuing education. Today I’m Associate Faculty at CCP, where I supervise newer therapists. My approach is relational. We look at the patterns underneath what’s going wrong, where they started, and how they show up in your relationships now. That’s what helps change stick instead of fading after a few weeks.

My psychodynamic work is rooted in training from the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis (CCP), including several years in its Fellowship Program and regular continuing education there. Today I’m Associate Faculty at CCP, where I supervise newer therapists. My approach is relational. We look at the patterns underneath what’s going wrong, where they started, and how they show up in your relationships now. That’s what helps change stick instead of fading after a few weeks.

In 12+ years as a therapist, much of my work has been with people in the middle of their trauma. In community mental health at Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare, that included crisis and risk assessment work. Now at Brookhaven Counseling Group, most of my clients carry childhood trauma that never got dealt with. I treat it with a steady, relational approach grounded in psychodynamic training. It takes longer than a protocol, and it’s built for trauma that’s been part of your life for a long time.

Addiction is where I started. My first role in this field was an undergrad internship at an addiction center, and I’ve worked with substance use ever since. I’ve completed extensive addiction training, plus several dedicated harm reduction trainings. That background lets me meet people where they are: harm reduction when use is starting to slip, abstinence when it’s gotten severe. You don’t need to have it all figured out before you reach out.