John Fiene, LCSW

There are many reasons begin therapy. At first, it can be hard to know what the experience will be like, how the process will go, or how you will benefit. The main determining factor for successful therapy is the ability to form a genuine therapeutic alliance, competently organized around your developmental needs, goals and aspirations.

I am a clinical social worker and psychoanalytic candidate at the Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute. I’ve provided long-term psychotherapy to individuals, families, couples and groups in Chicagoland for 10 years. My experience providing clinical mental health services in medical, educational, and legal settings informs my ability to help people navigate the complexities of life.

Currently, I offer assessment for psychotherapy for people along the lifespan, family therapy, group therapy for men, and psychoanalysis for adults.

I’m experienced in helping clients with a number of challenges—

  • Connecting and maintaining relationships (attachment)

  • Feelings of sadness or loneliness

  • Emotional withdrawal and isolation

  • Emotional pain manifesting in physical form

  • Patterns related to relational trauma or traumatic events

  • Overwhelming anxiety about future events or daily life

  • Low motivation and procrastination

  • Chronic irritability, frustration, and disappointment

  • Feeling empty or meaningless

  • Anger, rage and moral injury

People with no previous therapy experience are welcome to inquire. Individuals with previous psychiatric diagnosis and treatment and multiple negative treatment outcomes are welcomed as well. Long-term psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapy has been proven to yield moderate to substantial effects in reducing a wide range of symptoms and effecting personality changes that persist long after therapy has concluded.

Family work can also create lasting, mutually-satisfying changes. Families have a lifecycle and developmental trajectory all their own. Entrenched patterns of conflict, grief and loss, or major life transitions have implications for the developmental process of the entire family. Not every family is ready for therapy. A consultation will help me learn more about your unique and individual family.

Group psychotherapy provides a context for change found nowhere else. My studies in psychoanalysis, social work, and sociology help shape my vision for groups. My 13 years of group facilitation experience in clinical, academic, and community settings has expanded my understanding of groups across class, culture, and the spectrum of identity. My own journey as a group member has been transformative, fueling numerous changes throughout my personal evolution and deeply informing my approach as a facilitator.

John Fiene - CV (December 2024)

An initial appointment and period of assessment allows for us to explore our possibilities together. Use the Contact Us link to set up a time to talk.