About Us: Meet Jeff VanDenBussche, LCPC

Jeff VanDenBussche, LCPC

I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, but I am often thought of as a calm and curious listener. My clients experience me as an ally who can lighten the load. From as far back as I can recall, I was not only that person with the bendable ear, but one that was curious about what people wanted to change, what they had been, and what they wanted to become.

How I Help…

Often people choose to start therapy due to feeling stuck and needing some sort of change. Sometimes they might not even know what aspects of their lives need changing. Fears, anxieties, or other obstacles get in the way. Clients often grow frustrated with our inability to create change themselves. This frustration may come out in their uncertainty as to whether they want to continue in their career path. Frustration may also come out when frequently fighting with their significant other and needing something to change their relationship or move on.   I work with my clients to collaboratively examine their lives and to see where action can be taken to relieve that stuckness. Throughout our work together, what is often discovered are ingrained habits and thinking that have repeatedly led to unfulfilling results. Changing these habits and ways of thinking can also often lead to more fulfilling relationships.

I understand not every type of therapy works for every person and will work with you to develop a therapeutic plan that meets your individual style and needs.  I utilize skills founded in evidence-based therapies including Strategic, Solution-Focused, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

When you are having issues with your significant other, it can often affect all aspects of your life, your work, and your social relationships. It can often feel as if your whole world is coming crashing down. The choice to come to couples therapy is never an easy one. I will work to help normalize the process for you and aim to create a neutral and safe environment. One in which both partners feel empowered to express themselves and make changes in their relationship. When working with couples, I use a blend of Emotion-Focused Therapy, as well as Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Imago, and Love Language concepts. We work together to uncover current unhelpful relationship patterns and replace them with patterns that help both partners feel understood and respected by one another.

My Background…

I was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where I attended Western Michigan University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education, with a major in mathematics and minors in music and computer science. After graduating, I spent four years working with children in residential treatment facilities, first in Kalamazoo, and then in Chicago. After taking a career detour into information technology, I returned to school and received a Master of Arts degree in Family Therapy from Northeastern Illinois University.

After graduating, I worked in a practice with a specialty in couples, completing over a thousand hours of working with couples, in addition to adult individuals with a focus on family and relationship issues. Helping couples resolve their relationship stressors has made me realize how each couple is unique, with each partner bringing in their own individual backgrounds and experiences into the relationship. I am a lifelong learner and I am currently completing a fellowship at the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis.

On a more personal note…

I love living in a large city like Chicago. It gives me the opportunity to meet people from all over the world, hear lots of great music, see lots of theatre, and taste really interesting foods. Considering myself a ‘music school dropout’ I enjoy playing classical guitar. Being physically active is important to me and I enjoy running, tennis, biking, and volleyball.

See my full bio by clicking below.