Eric Ornstein, LCSW

Eric works closely with clients experiencing conflict or distress. His approach is built on consistent, empathetic listening and compassionate support, helping his client identify options and prioritize goals as they find relief from pain. Eric specializes in depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, and life transitions.

Eric taps into a few key elements of the healing process – identifying strengths, finding new coping mechanisms, and bolstering resilience. All of this helps clients develop self awareness to help transform automatic behaviors into conscious deliberate choices. This methodology places a special emphasis on psychodynamic relational concepts, a framework his published articles were at the forefront of first integrating into the field of social work.

Eric served on the faculty of the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago as a Clinical Associate Professor for nineteen years prior to retiring from this role in 2011. During his academic career, he published eighteen articles on psychotherapy and clinical social work in peer-reviewed journals and presented at local, state and national conferences. In recent years, he has taught social work practice, psychopathology and group therapy courses at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration, The Institute for Clinical Social Work, and St. Augustine College. Eric also has served as President of the Illinois Society for Clinical Social Work where he has served since 2012.

In his free time, Eric enjoys listening to a wide variety of music and is a passionate Grateful “Deadhead.” He likes to take walks with his wife and catch up with his son on the latest technology.