Licensed to practice in Illinois and accepts 32 insurances. Specializes in Anger Management, Anxiety, Men's Issues and 6 more.
Often rebooked
Clients say this provider is
I offer collaborative, practical telecounseling services for men wrestling with anger and resentment and couples navigating conflict. My approach is straightforward. I help men and couples manage stress, repair trust, rebuild dreams, resolve conflict, communicate more effectively, and tackle the real-life problems that matter most. Together, we develop practical strategies and implement action plans designed to improve their lives, relationships, and emotional well-being. No jargon. No fluff. Just straight talk and practical strategies—delivered with humor, candor, and the hard-earned insight of a guy who calls himself a “Frequent Flyer to Hell and Back.”
Our first session is about connection, conversation, and getting to know each other — while also making some important decisions together. I respect the courage it takes to do what I call "The Therapy Two-Step": making the appointment, then actually SHOWING UP. Research consistently shows that the relationship between counselor and client is one of the most important factors in successful therapy — and I agree. I want to understand what has brought you to this point in your life where counseling feels like an option worth considering. Together, we’ll explore the current narratives of your life and the stories, stressors, and experiences driving your desire to seek therapy. We’ll discuss your goals, what you hope to gain from the counseling experience, and the type of therapeutic process that may best fit your needs. I’ll also share my approach, philosophy, and style so we can decide together whether I’m the right person to support you on your journey. If we connect, and you feel confident that our work together will be productive and meaningful, we’ll schedule another meeting. If not, we can discuss other options and resources to support your continued growth and healing.
I am a strengths-based counselor who works to normalize what we all call “life” — the challenges, changes, losses, and chaos that come with being human. Using humor and a narrative, life-story approach, I help people build the psychological fitness skills needed to improve the quality of their lives and relationships. I’ve faced my own share of struggles: recovery from addiction, rebuilding after financial devastation, keeping my marriage alive and thriving, raising two amazing and confident children, surviving two open-heart surgeries, and grieving the loss of two of my four children. These experiences, combined with my clinical training, professional background, and a personality grounded in honesty, resilience, and humor, shape the way I connect with clients. My clinical work includes experience in emergency rooms, community mental health, and private practice, along with years of teaching and keynote speaking — sharing stories and insights drawn from both lived experience and professional counseling work. All of these experiences inform my mission: helping people reframe their struggles, embrace life’s challenges, strengthen their relationships, and design a life they want to live with greater confidence, resilience, purpose, and meaning.
I work with men (individual counseling) and couples to identify, understand, and heal the roots of resentment and conflict — what I describe as “anger and anxiety in stereo.” When anger, resentment, and relationship conflict take over, life can start to taste like a cardboard dirt sandwich with a side of sawdust. I work with men and couples to identify what they truly want from life, clearly define what they desire, and create practical action plans to move toward it. Anger is the sound of hurt and fear leaving the soul. It’s not the problem — it’s a signal. Anger often shows up as outbursts, withdrawal, irritability, or turning to substances when we feel wounded, overwhelmed, or afraid. By uncovering the pain and fear beneath the anger, we can begin to shift behaviors and regain control over emotional life. Conflict is often the result of misalignment between people — differences in expectations, values, perceptions, needs, agendas, coping styles, and problem-solving approaches. Conflict resolution is not about agreement; it’s about alignment. I help clients advocate for themselves while also practicing empathy, reflective listening, and collaboration. These skills reduce conflict, strengthen relationships, and make life more enjoyable. Anxiety often impacts highly intelligent and creative people. Why? Because it takes imagination to worry about what hasn’t happened — or may never happen at all. I help clients rethink how they interpret, predict, and prepare for the world so anxiety becomes more manageable instead of overwhelming. There’s a cultural myth that says, “Men don’t go to therapy.” I understand why many men feel that way. Traditional therapy can sometimes feel irrelevant, overly clinical, or disconnected from how men naturally think and process experience. My approach speaks to the male brain and soul, offering a practical, direct, and no-nonsense path toward emotional wellness.
Cash - $75 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Lucent Health
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Medicare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Anthem
AvMed
Blue Cross Blue Shield
EAP:UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Golden Rule
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Surest (formerly Bind)
UMR - Advocate Aurora Health
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Complete Care (C-SNP)
UnitedHealthcare Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicare
Narrative Therapy helps us separate who we are from what we struggle with. Problems are problems. People are people. We are not the problem—and neither are the people we love. Through exploring life stories—past, present, and future—I help clients step back from dysfunctional behaviors, difficult emotions, and frustrating outcomes. From that distance, they can see more clearly, respond more intentionally, and begin to rewrite their story in a way that aligns with who they truly are.
Reality Therapy is built on four practical steps: Plan. Do. Check. Act. Simple in concept—powerful in application. Improving the quality of our lives requires more than insight. It requires action. We begin by creating a clear, realistic plan. Then we put that plan into motion. From there, we evaluate—what’s working, what’s not—and make the necessary adjustments. Plan. Do. Check. Act. This process helps clients develop stronger coping, problem-solving, and communication skills—not just in theory, but in real, everyday life. Because meaningful change isn’t accidental. It’s intentional, measurable, and adaptable.
Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy teaches a simple truth: we think, we feel, and we act. In therapy, these are often discussed in a linear way. Life isn’t linear—it’s process-driven. Our thoughts shape our emotions, our emotions drive our behaviors, and our behaviors reinforce the outcomes which then the process. Understanding this process is key to improving mental wellness. When we change how we think, we influence how we feel. When we shift how we feel, we change how we act. And when we change how we act, we create different—healthier—outcomes and better lives for ourselves.
Motivational Interview is grounded in a simple reality: if a baseball bat actually motivated people to change, I’d use it. But it doesn’t. Change is hard. And often, it’s not very appealing. Deciding on and making change is WORK! Motivational Interviewing respects where people are, without pressure or force. Together, we explore what change might look like, what makes it difficult, and what makes it worth it.
Person Center is a foundational, holistic approach grounded in one essential truth: the relationship matters most. Research consistently shows that the therapeutic relationship between counselor and client is the single most important factor in effective therapy. In session, I show up as myself—warts and all. I strive to be authentic, genuine, and transparent, and I invite my clients to do the same. Because meaningful change happens through real connection, honest conversation, and a space where people feel seen, heard, and understood.
11 ratings with written reviews
August 16, 2026
Bob is a great guy with a lot of wisdom. From the very beginning I felt comfortable with him and felt like I could open up and be honest. Bob is like a great friend I’ve known for a long time but I’ve only talked to him a couple times.
June 3, 2026
Made my first session very easy to open up and had a lot of helpful advice to start off
June 3, 2026
Great speaking with Bob, hope this continues and I see the growth for myself.