The Family Institute at Northwestern University

The Family Institute at Northwestern University The Family Institute at Northwestern University is a leader in relationship-based behavioral health We like to say we define family how you define family.

The Family Institute at Northwestern University (www.family-institute.org) is committed to strengthening and healing families, couples and individuals from all walks of life through clinical service, neuropsychological assessment testing, education and research. An affiliate of Northwestern University, The Family Institute is a relationally based mental health system of care governed by its own independent Board of Directors and responsible for its own funding. The Institute offers a wide range of high quality mental health counseling at four locations (Northbrook, Evanston, Westchester, Downtown Chicago) through our staff practice and our free Bette D. Harris Family and Child Clinic, where we are committed to serving at-risk, under-resourced communities. The Family Institute also operates two nationally-renowned graduate programs in marriage and family therapy and counseling psychology in affiliation with Northwestern University, and conducts cutting-edge research projects that lead to a better understanding and treatment of mental health issues.

When the world around us feels unpredictable — from rising costs to challenges in our communities — it’s easy to feel ov...
11/11/2025

When the world around us feels unpredictable — from rising costs to challenges in our communities — it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

Join The Family Institute at Northwestern University for a free, live webinar:

🧠 From Worry to Action: How to Manage Uncertainty in Today’s World
📅 Thursday, Nov. 13 | 🕛 12–1 p.m. CT

Our expert therapists will share tools to help you:
✅ Manage stress and anxiety in challenging times
✅ Strengthen relationships and communication
✅ Build confidence and take action when things feel out of your control

🔗 Register today: https://bit.ly/3XHYS5X

10/31/2025

Good news! 🎉 Starting December 1, we’ll accept United Behavioral Health/Optum insurance plans in addition to Blue Cross Blue Shield — creating opportunities for more individuals and families to partner with our 100+ therapists 💙

We also have options for out-of-network and self-pay.

Link in bio to learn more or get started 🔗

10/30/2025

💡 Wondering if your child might have ADHD?

ADHD can show up in different ways — some children struggle more with attention and focus, others with hyperactivity or impulsivity, and some with both. Staff therapist Stacey Austin, Psy.D., shares several key signs that it might be time to consider an ADHD evaluation for your child.

Remember: every child is unique. They don’t need to show all these behaviors to benefit from an evaluation or support. Watch to learn more about what to look for. 👀

✨ Dr. Austin, who recently joined The Family Institute, is accepting clients.

10/29/2025

Think you’ll really just start it later? 👀
That’s a “procrastination fib” therapist Jocelyn Nelson, LCPC, says we all fall for.

Her advice for breaking free:

🛑 Stop beating yourself up — self-compassion helps you move forward
🧠 Notice the discomfort and do it anyway
🌳 Ground yourself when the urge to quit creeps in

Read more of Jocelyn’s evidence-based tips in our latest article. Link in bio 🔗

ADHD doesn’t end in childhood — it grows and changes with us. In adulthood, it can show up in daily routines, emotional ...
10/28/2025

ADHD doesn’t end in childhood — it grows and changes with us. In adulthood, it can show up in daily routines, emotional regulation, and even in the spaces between partners.

As couples therapist Aaron Cohn, Ph.D. LMFT, a clinical lecturer at The Family Institute at Northwestern University reminds us, the work isn’t about “fixing” a brain — it’s about understanding how yours operates and finding new ways to stay connected, consistent, and supported.

With the right tools and partnership, growth is possible. 💛

🔗 Start your journey with us today: https://bit.ly/3FMMPxc

10/18/2025

During OCD Awareness Week, we’re reminded that anxiety and OCD can often overlap. But anxiety doesn’t always look like panic or worry — it can sneak into daily life through indecision, procrastination, irritability, or feeling disconnected. 💭

🎙️ Grace Schmidt, M.S.W., LCSW, staff therapist at The Family Institute, shares 4️⃣ ways that anxiety can sneak up in our daily lives. She specializes in anxiety disorders — including OCD — and is currently accepting new clients.

🔗 Link in bio to learn more or request an appointment

Everyone deserves care 🫶
10/14/2025

Everyone deserves care 🫶

Today, , we recognize the strength and resilience of Native communities — and the systemic inequities that continue to ...
10/13/2025

Today, , we recognize the strength and resilience of Native communities — and the systemic inequities that continue to affect their mental health and well-being.

According to the CDC, the su***de death rate for American Indian and Alaska Native people is 91% higher than the total U.S. population. This disparity reflects long-standing barriers to care, historical trauma, and the need for mental health services grounded in culture and community.

At The Family Institute, we are committed to making therapy more accessible for all communities through the Bette D. Harris Clinic.

More than 1 in 10 children in the U.S. have ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder, according to the CDC. Octob...
10/07/2025

More than 1 in 10 children in the U.S. have ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder, according to the CDC.

October is — a time to acknowledge the millions of children, families, and adults navigating ADHD every day. Behind every diagnosis is a story, strengths, and a support system that can make a difference.

At The Family Institute at Northwestern University, we offer:
🧠 Neuropsychological evaluations to understand learning and attention challenges
👦 Child & adolescent therapy to build skills and self-confidence
🤝 Parent coaching to strengthen family communication and support

Our clinicians also provide individual and couple therapy for adults navigating their own or their loved one’s neurodiversity.

🔗 Get the answers to these FAQs: https://bit.ly/4nIkSdQ

09/30/2025

🌎 When current events feel overwhelming, you might find yourself asking: “How am I supposed to carry on as usual, when there is such tragedy and uncertainty in the world?”

Jocelyn Nelson, M.A., LCPC, reminds us that you deserve to take care of yourself — to go on a run, get dinner with your friends, read a book — because you are worthy of nurturing yourself in these ways. 💙

In this month’s Mental Health Tip, she shares ways to show yourself compassion, lean on your support systems, and focus on what’s within your control.

🔗 Read the full article at the link in our bio.

💡 Is the U.S. living through national trauma?Staff Therapist Melissa Prusko, Psy.D., NATC, explains:“National trauma is ...
09/29/2025

💡 Is the U.S. living through national trauma?

Staff Therapist Melissa Prusko, Psy.D., NATC, explains:

“National trauma is a very broad term. National refers to the shared aspect of what is happening to us as a nation. Trauma refers to anything that violates what we expect to occur in the normal course of being human; it can be a threat to our lives or safety, or to the lives and safety of those around us.”

Dr. Prusko notes that it’s normal for our bodies to react to stress: “When our brains and bodies detect danger, they prepare us to fight, flee, or freeze. Over time, this can leave us feeling exhausted or run down.”

To cope, she encourages setting limits on news:

🗞️ Choose 1–2 trusted sources
⏲️ Consume for no more than 1 hour
🔕 Turn off notifications
🛏️ Avoid starting or ending your day with the news

In a world that can feel increasingly divided, our disagreements don’t have to push us further apart.The next time you’r...
09/26/2025

In a world that can feel increasingly divided, our disagreements don’t have to push us further apart.

The next time you’re in conflict, try these simple shifts:
💬 Use “I feel…” instead of “You always…”
👂 Reflect back what you’ve heard before responding
🤝 Remember “we” — not “you vs. me”

Arguments don’t have to end in distance. When handled with care, they can lead to understanding and stronger connections.

Learn more from clinician Alyssa Campbell, Ph.D., LMFT about how to disagree with kindness: https://bit.ly/4myc8Wg

Address

618 Library Place
Evanston, IL
60201

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 8pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 8pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 8pm
Thursday 8:30am - 8pm
Friday 8:30am - 6pm
Saturday 8:30am - 4pm

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+18477334300

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Our Story

Established in 1969, The Family Institute at Northwestern University is committed to strengthening and healing individuals, children and adolescents, couples and families through clinical service, education and research. 2019 marks The Family Institute’s 50th year of offering high quality mental health counseling, facilitated through a team of more than 70 clinicians practicing in four different Chicagoland locations: Chicago, Evanston, Northbrook and Westchester. Also committed to serving at-risk, under resourced communities, The Family Institute offers affordable care through the Bette D. Harris Family and Child Clinic.

The Family Institute conducts cutting-edge research to better understand mental health issues and treatment, operating two nationally-renowned graduate programs at Northwestern University in Counseling Psychology, and Marriage and Family Therapy.

For more information, visit www.family-institute.org.