Individual &
Couples Therapy
“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”
- T.S. Elliot
Welcome to
My Practice
My specialty is providing counseling support to men, women, and couples who are seeking a richer, fuller life. My clients are of all types of personalities, of many ethnic backgrounds, straight and gay, religious and non-religious. While rich in their diversity, they share a willingness to risk new ways of thinking, relating, and living—all qualities for successful therapy.
The Need For Change
I believe deeply in the capacity of people to change. If we are struggling and feel stuck in some ways, it’s not because we want to be miserable or are in some way a “bad” person. We simply lack the right kind of support to find our way out.
A Way Out
Therapy provides a way out. The latest in brain research affirms what many therapists have known for some time—that empathic connection does in fact create change, as it literally rewires the brain in ways that stimulate new centers of initiative, confidence, and calm.
I Can Help
It is my privilege to provide the guidance for our work together. I bring the education, training and experience for the task. I invite you to browse my website to learn more about me and my practice.
I’m glad you found me. - George Beukema
George Beukema
LCPC Theoretical Influences Alfred Adler (Adlerian Psychology) and Heinz Kohut (Psychology of the Self) are the two primary influences that inform my approach to psychotherapy. In Adler we find the affirmation of every person’s inherent will to achieve fulfillment. While the obstacles to such achievement may be significant, one is never beyond the help that can come from proper encouragement. Kohut takes Adler’s idea of encouragement further by showing how the particular dynamics within the therapeutic relationship itself strengthen one’s confidence, self expression and self knowledge. Kohut’s ideas have made a world-wide impact on the practice of psychotherapy today.
Qualifications & Training
Licensure. I am licensed by the State of Illinois as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (lcpc). This license grants me the freedom to practice independently. It also holds me accountable to highest level of professional and ethical standards.
Masters in Counseling Psychology. This degree was awarded from the Adler School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, Illinois. The Adler School provided me with substantive training in Adlerian Psychology as well as the other major therapy modalities (cognitive-behavioral, family systems, etc.).
Doctorate in Transformative Education. This degree was awarded from Western Theological Seminary, Holland, Michigan. It reflects my interest in the connections between emotional support and personal transformation. This area of study continues to inform my work as a therapist, consultant and educator.
Masters of Divinity. This degree was awarded from Western Theological Seminary, Holland, Michigan. It reflects my interest in the ways in which religious experience connects to the human need for belonging and life-meaning. My background in the church helps me to connect effectively with clients who come with a particular religious history or religious struggle.
My Specialties
Individual Counseling
People seek therapy for different reasons. Some just want a professional to help as they work through a particular situation. Others want help in working through a long-standing struggle or problem. Increasingly, men and women are discovering that therapy adds value to their work, relationships, and overall quality of life. Some of the most common problems that individuals face are:
Relationship difficulties
Constant worrying - inability to sleep
Loss of energy and drive
Difficulty controlling certain behaviors
Job distress
Loss and grief
An overall feeling of being stuck
Disturbing or frightening memories
Schedule Visit
Schedule Visit
Couple's Counseling
Healthy relationships contribute significantly to a person’s health and well-being. But many struggle to experience the kind of connection they long for. Couples often get stuck in patterns that leave them feeling alone and frustrated. Couples therapy can help you make sense of the these patterns, which makes change possible. I have training and experience with a variety of couples counseling approaches such as EFT, Imago Therapy, The Gottman Method, and others. Some of the most common problems that couples face are:
Unmanageable conflict
Lack of intimacy
Conflict over lifestyles and value
Breach of fidelity
Relationship apathy
Dealing with a significant life change or crisis
Parenting issues or concerns
Working through a separation or divorce
Pre-Marriage counseling
Schedule Visit
Schedule Visit
Men's Counseling
I have particular expertise working with men. As men, we face our own kinds of challenges. Our inner strivings are easily thwarted by external pressures and expectations which can leave a void needing to be filled. Many of us have not had men in our lives that were able to model for us how to explore our internal world. We are often shamed for not being able to express our feelings, which only makes if more difficult to know ourselves and find healthy ways to get what we need. Our feelings must go somewhere so they often get expressed through outward actions and behaviors—sometimes harmful to us and to others. Some of the common behaviors men may struggle with are:
Heighten anger and agitation
Apathy or lethargy
Sexual promiscuity and/or impulsivity
Over working
Over using alcohol or other substances
Lack of direction or motivation
Schedule Visit
Schedule Visit
My Fees
My fee is $175.00 for an Individual Counseling Session and $200.00 for a Couples Counseling Session. The fee is collected at the end of each session. A credit, debit, HSA or FSA card is the preferred form of payment
Insurance
I do not take insurance, however, it is likely your insurance company will reimburse you for a portion of my fee through your out-of-network benefits. If you wish to submit for reimbursement, I will provide you with an invoice that will contain all the necessary information required by your insurance company and guide you through the process.
“People say that what we are seeking is a meaning of life. I don’t think this is what we’re really seeking. I think what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive.”
