Carol Irons, LCSW
My name is Carol and I have been a practicing clinical social worker for over 50 years. I have worked in many different settings, including juvenile court, governmental systems, behavioral health, addiction programs, and corporate Employee Assistance. Most recently, I have been providing counseling at a group private practice for over 8 years.
My Education and Experience
I have a master’s in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Chicago and bachelors of Liberal Arts (BA) from UCLA in Anthropology. I like things culturally unique and different.
I began practicing at Cook County Juvenile Court teaching youth offenders skills for managing their emotions and then moved into Addiction work at Grant Hospital in Chicago seeing how the disease of addiction led to poor decisions that greatly impact the lives of individuals and families. Next, I learned to market EAPs (Employee Assistance Programs) to small businesses and then to the government. At Cook County Government, I set up an EAP for 23,000 employees and their families. After growing that EAP to six staff, I left for Amoco Corporation for a ten-year period providing clinical and contract management. During Amoco’s transition to BP, I learned a great deal about both large and small transitions for the organization and their people. I chose to take their severance package, joining many in the past thirty years who’ve experienced that kind of limbo. After a sabbatical of a year, I returned to Addiction treatment for 10 years working with adults and teens.
This brings me to the past 8 years with Samaritan Counseling Center. This has been a time of enriching growth, keeping me current with changes in the psychotherapy field. Our new practice endeavor rises out of that personal decision to continue hope and healing for those we can serve.
How I Help my Clients
Whether running groups for troubled adolescents or mediating with a unit of corporate lawyers, my approach is one of respecting each person and searching for and building on their strengths. Social work practice has taught me to consider each person within their space, from family unit to communities of affiliation. Everyone is within their “place” however they have defined it. Sometimes that place has held some back or led to uncomfortable or distorted beliefs about themselves. Working with clients often feels like sharing a journey of discoveries. Although I was originally trained in psychodynamic theory of practice, I’ve found the incorporation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) often helps my clients overcome negative or distorted thoughts more effectively. CBT has been used extensively within addiction treatment, along with Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Mindful Meditation practice. Currently, I am training in the application of the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) using scientific music-based therapy to help address issues of extensive anxiety and sensory processing disorders.
My Specialties and Passions
Addiction services on many levels of care has been a career focus and passion for me. For some clients, I want to support their early recovery and guide them in establishing stable sobriety. For other clients, I help them examine the significant dysfunction in their lives due to alcohol or drugs. The decision to change problem usage is often difficult and frustrating for all involved. An additional path for supporting this shift and one I greatly enjoy is working with significant others of those with addictions. If their partner or family member can succeed in stopping enabling behaviors, they can help their loved one overcome obstacles to change.
Stress, Depression and Anxiety are frequent presenting problems in my practice. My approach is focused on learning an individual's strengths and building with new tools for emotional regulation. Mindful Meditation is often helpful along with seeing thoughts with new frameworks for positive change.
Transitions later in life are a major area of interest for me. I enjoy helping people deal with things like aging together with your spouse, facing the challenges of physical decline, and coping with the loss of social support as you age.
Grief counseling is a need most recognized with the death of a loved one. However, it is also attached to many transitions in life and can show up in therapy underneath many different presenting problems. When clients want to discuss the spiritual dimension of grief or any other loss, this is a special interest of mine. Spirituality is also a significant aspect of addiction recovery for many individuals. I help clients explore their unique beliefs and how to utilize those beliefs as a guide and grounding force in their lives.
More About Me Personally
Born in Minneapolis, I grew up in Southern California, attended University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and then moved to the Midwest to attend the University of Chicago graduate school of social work. I decided to stay in Chicago and have spent 40 years living in Chicago in several neighborhoods. Wanting a change, I moved northwest to the Barrington area and have been here for 18 years. I enjoy reading and have been in the same book club for 40 years! I enjoy golfing and belong to a women’s league that fosters socializing as well as playing together. Also, I am a Mary Kay consultant that enjoys making women feel good about their appearance. The fellowship of other women I have met through this business has become increasingly important to me. It provides an atmosphere of positivity and personal growth that gives balance in my life.
Carol Irons currently sees clients in person and via teletherapy. If you are interested in seeing Carol, feel free to contact her directly through our website or by phone (847)754-3838 ext. 3.