Russ Myslewicz, lsw, cadc ()
Teen, Young Adult, and Addiction Therapy for Trauma, Identity, and Emotional Struggles in Oak Park and Chicago, IL
You’ve been trying to figure it out on your own for a long time, and you’ve hit a wall. Maybe you feel stuck in patterns you can’t explain, burned out from trying, or like you’re running out of options. A lot of the people I work with come into therapy feeling exhausted, stuck, or unsure if anything will actually help.
Why Do People Still Feel Stuck After Trying Everything?
Working with me is direct, honest, and grounded. I’m laid back, I bring humor when it fits, and I pay close attention to the patterns you’re describing — especially the ones that don’t make sense yet. I’ll help you slow things down enough to understand what’s actually happening underneath the surface, without judgment. Clients often tell me they feel seen in a way they haven’t before, and that I help them connect dots they didn’t know were connected.
How Can Therapy Help You Understand Patterns and Trauma?
My approach is relational and focused on helping you feel comfortable enough to do deeper work. We’ll check in on where you are emotionally and internally at the start of each session, and I’ll help you regulate and stay grounded as we explore harder things. Together, we look at how your past experiences, including family dynamics, systemic barriers, and trauma, may still be shaping how you feel, react, and relate today. From there, the work isn’t about “fixing” you, it’s about helping you understand yourself, feel more deeply, and build a life that actually feels meaningful to you.
What Does Child-Centered Play Therapy Help With?
I also work with children and teens, using child-centered play therapy to help them express and process experiences that may be hard to put into words — especially when trauma shows up at school, at home, or in behavior.
I also bring lived experience into my work when it’s helpful, including my own recovery from addiction and ongoing personal therapy. I’m especially passionate about working with people who feel burned by the mental health system — including those who have been through rehabs, residential programs, or court-ordered treatment and feel like nothing has really stuck.
We may be a good fit if you’re looking for support with:
Feel stuck in addiction, compulsive behaviors, mood disruptions, or patterns you can’t break
Have been through therapy or higher levels of care and felt misunderstood or failed by the system
Carry anger, resentment, or confusion about your past or identity
Feel disconnected from others, purpose, meaning, direction in life, or yourself
Are a child or teenager who has experienced trauma or is struggling at school or at home
Russ Myslewicz works with children, teens, and adults who feel stuck in patterns related to addiction, trauma, emotional overwhelm, or self-doubt, helping them better understand themselves and build more meaningful, connected lives. Their sessions are direct, grounded, and relational, blending honesty, humor, and emotional depth to help clients explore underlying patterns without judgment. Russ also uses child-centered play therapy with kids and teens and offers in-person therapy in Oak Park and Chicago, as well as virtual sessions across Illinois.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
What is it like to work with you?
Working with me is direct, honest, and grounded. I’m not overly formal, and I bring humor into sessions when it fits. I pay close attention to patterns and connections in what you share, and I’ll reflect those back so we can make sense of them in a way that actually feels useful and real.
Who do you help best?
I work best with people who feel stuck, burned out, or like nothing has worked before. This includes addiction (substance and behavioral), trauma, self-worth struggles, and people who have had frustrating experiences in therapy, rehab, or court-ordered treatment. I also work with kids and teens who are struggling at school, at home, or after difficult experiences.
What should I expect in the first session?
We’ll start by getting a sense of where you are right now, emotionally, mentally, and in your life. You don’t need to have everything figured out. The focus is on helping you feel grounded and understood first, rather than jumping straight into fixing things.
Do you work with addiction and recovery?
Yes. I work with both substance and non-substance addictions, including things like gaming, porn, and other compulsive patterns. I also bring lived experience in recovery, which helps me understand how complex and personal that process can be.
How do you approach deeper or painful topics?
We go at a pace you feel comfortable to handle. I help you stay grounded and regulated while we explore harder experiences, so it doesn’t feel overwhelming or out of control. The goal is to help you process things in a way that creates real change, not just talk about them.
What if I’ve had a bad experience with therapy before?
That’s something I take seriously. A lot of the people I work with have felt misunderstood or even harmed by past therapy or higher levels of care. We can talk openly about what didn’t work and build something different that actually fits you.