Meet Samantha Greenwald, LCPC, CADC
Hi, I'm Sam.
Over the years, I’ve sat with a lot of people at the moment they finally admit something to themselves: their drinking, or their use of something else, has quietly become how they cope. Not a rock-bottom moment. Just a quiet, uncomfortable realization that something they thought was harmless has become a habit they can’t quite explain away anymore.
I’ve also sat with the families around them, the ones trying to understand what’s happening and how to help, often without knowing what to say or where to start.
I’ve seen how much this affects people, not just the person using, but everyone around them. That’s what keeps me doing this work. Not because I have all the answers, but because I know how much it helps to have someone in your corner who isn’t shocked, isn’t judging, and actually knows how to help you build something different.
My Approach to Chicago Substance Use & Anxiety Therapy
I don’t think you need to hit rock bottom to deserve support. If you’ve noticed a pattern in yourself, a drink that’s become a habit, a way of numbing out that used to feel harmless and doesn’t anymore, that’s already enough of a reason to talk to someone. You don’t need a diagnosis. You don’t need to have tried and failed before. Noticing is the starting point, not the finish line.
My sessions are built around real tools, not just talking through your week and hoping something shifts. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which means we look closely at the thoughts driving your habits, the automatic ones you might not even notice anymore, and work on shifting them at the root, not just managing what shows up on the surface.
I also use motivational interviewing, which is really just a way of saying: you set the pace here. I’m not going to hand you a plan on day one and expect you to follow it. We’ll figure out what change actually looks like for you, what you’re ready for and what you’re not, and build from there together. Some weeks that means talking through a hard moment. Other weeks it means practicing something new before you need it.
LCPC & CADC Credentials in Illinois
I’m a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) in Illinois. I’ve spent over 10 years working with adults on substance use, anxiety, depression, and the kind of life transitions that knock you off balance even when nothing looks wrong from the outside.
My training gave me the clinical tools. My years in practice taught me how to actually use them with real people, not textbook cases. That combination is what shapes how I work with you.
A Chicago Therapist Who Knows This City
I’m based right here in Chicago, and I understand what daily life in this city actually demands of people, the pace, the pressure, the way stress piles up before you’ve even noticed it happening. Whether it’s a demanding job, a packed schedule, or just the general noise of city living, I get it, because I live here too.
My office is in Lincoln Park, and I see clients both in person and by telehealth. If telehealth works better for your schedule or your comfort level, that’s a completely valid way to do this work. You’ll just need to be physically located in Illinois at the time we meet.
Ready to Work With a Chicago Therapist Who Gets It?
You don’t have to have it all figured out before you reach out. You don’t need the right words, or a clear diagnosis, or a plan for what comes next. You just have to be ready to start, and be willing to be honest about where you’re at right now. That’s really all this takes.