Dr. Michael Bricker’s approach:

“I believe each of us are hard-wired with emotions that play an important role in how we understand our world and how we function internally, as well as in our relationships with others. When used adaptively, our emotions can serve to alert and orient us to what is important in our lives and can help inform how we cope with challenges and conflict. In contrast, when we feel stuck in our emotions or lack awareness of them, we can feel depressed, anxious or generally unhappy in our life, relationships, and/or career. This lack of clarity can also leave us feeling stranded; struggling to make sense of why we are feeling the way we do or what we need to make things better.

By exploring underlying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in the context of a warm and empathic relationship, I assist individuals in learning how to use their emotional experience as a guide in recognizing, both generally and specifically, what they need from themselves and from others in order to feel content and resilient. This awareness also plays an integral role in helping them choose behaviors that are more satisfying and accommodating of their needs. In addition, I aim to help clients solidify a long-term framework for understanding how they organize and make sense of their world and relationships, while helping to ensure that they have the tools needed to achieve consistent and lasting improvements in their lives well after therapy has ended.”

Michael Bricker is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the State of Illinois and serves as Executive Director of Psychological Services, PC, a group private practice in Chicago, Illinois, where he provides Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) to individuals and couples.  Michael has had extensive training in EFT and experiential psychotherapy, including completing advanced graduate coursework, summer intensive trainings, and clinical supervision in such approaches.  Michael is active in conducting presentations and offering trainings on EFT to psychologists and other therapists, as well as advanced graduate students in-training – whether locally, nationally and internationally.  Michael also provides supervision and consultation in EFT to clinicians who are developing their skills in Emotion-Focused Therapy and/or who have a desire to work more experientially in their practice.  Dr. Bricker also has extensive education and experience in providing services to individuals with substance use/abuse concerns and currently holds senior level certification as an alcohol and drug counselor (CAADC) in the State of Illinois.

Although Dr. Bricker’s varied clinical experiences in hospitals, mental health centers, outpatient clinics and counseling centers have prepared him to work with individuals and couples from diverse racial/ethnic/cultural backgrounds, and with wide-ranging concerns/diagnoses, he has developed a particular specialty in areas including: depression, anxiety, couples/relationship concerns, LGBTQ issues, grief/loss, and concerns unique to graduate/professional students, as well professionals in demanding careers.