Inspire Counseling Center

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Inspire Counseling Center Counseling & psychiatry for kids, teens, adults & couples (ages 3–100). Anxiety, ADHD, depression, trauma, OCD & more. In- & out-of-network insurance.

Offices in Kenilworth, Evanston, Northbrook & Lake Forest. Call (847) 919-9096 x1 or book online. INSPIRE Counseling Center provides world-class counseling services for children, adolescents, adults, and couples to the Kenilworth, IL area.

09/29/2026

Halloween drama has already started… and it’s not even October. 🎃

Every year, we hear from parents whose child wasn’t included in the group costume… wasn’t invited to trick-or-treat… or suddenly realizes everyone else already has Halloween plans.

And Halloween can make friendship struggles feel especially painful.

Because unlike a sleepover or birthday party, there isn’t an obvious limit.

You can trick-or-treat with one kid… or 20.

So when your child is the one left out, it can feel VERY personal.

And as parents, our instinct is often to FIX it.

Text the other parents. Find out what happened. Make new plans. Tell them those kids aren’t worth their time.

But before you fix anything… listen.

Try:

“That really hurts. I can understand why you feel left out.”

Sometimes these painful moments give us an opportunity to connect with our kids in a way we can't when everything is going well.

And then — as hard as this part is — let them experience some of the discomfort.

Because one of the most important things kids and teens can learn is:

“I can go through something hard… and I can handle it.”

We don’t build resilience by making sure our kids never feel rejected, disappointed, embarrassed, or left out.

We build it by staying beside them while they move through those feelings.

Halloween might feel huge right now.

But knowing, “I can handle hard things”?

That lasts a lot longer than Halloween. ❤️

09/24/2026

Is your kid's friend group changing? 💔

When you hear, “They don’t like me anymore” does your heart skip a beat? Do you get fired up? Most parents feel something in the fight-flight range of reactions. We want to protect our kids from all pain.

Maybe your daughter comes home crying. Her best friend is suddenly hanging out with someone else. She wasn't added to the new group chat. Maybe everyone was invited somewhere except her.

And every parental instinct in you says:

FIX IT.

Should you call another parent? Contact the school? Tell her those girls aren't worth her time?

Sometimes the best first step is actually much simpler:

Listen and connect.

Friendships can change during the tween and teen years. Kids are figuring out who they are, where they belong, what they value in relationships, and how to navigate conflict, rejection and repair.

That doesn't make the heartbreak any less real.

Instead of immediately jumping into problem-solving mode, try:

💛 “That sounds really painful.”
💛 “Do you want me to listen, or would you like help figuring out what to do?”
💛 “What do you think happened?”
💛 “What would you like to happen next?”

Giving your child room to navigate age-appropriate friendship struggles can help them build confidence, boundaries, communication skills and resilience. So they can navigate age-appropriate struggles as they grow older.

But stepping back doesn't mean ignoring everything.

If you're seeing persistent bullying, harassment, threats, online cruelty, significant school avoidance, increasing isolation, or major changes in your child's mood or behavior, it may be time for adults to become more involved.

Perhaps one of the hardest parts of parenting is recognizing that our job isn't to protect our kids from ever experiencing rejection.

It's to help them realize they can handle it, and they are resilient. Also, they can learn that you are a safe person they can return to when it happens. ❤️

09/23/2026

“I love my child…but I don’t fully understand.”

If your child or teen tells you they’re LGBTQ+, you may experience a lot of emotions at once. ❤️

You may worry about saying the wrong thing. You may have questions. You may need time to understand what your child is experiencing.

You don’t have to have all the answers to be a safe, supportive person in your child’s life.

Start with:

🌈 Listen before trying to solve
🌈 Stay curious
🌈 Ask what support looks like to them
🌈 Educate yourself rather than expecting your child to explain everything
🌈 Repair and try again when you get something wrong
🌈 Most importantly, remind them that your love isn’t conditional

Sometimes the most powerful thing a parent can say is:

“I may not understand everything you’re experiencing yet, but I love you, I’m listening, and we’re going to figure this out together.”

Our therapist Shannon Sabol, MS, has a special passion for supporting children, teens, young adults, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Shannon is an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist with professional experience supporting transgender and gender-nonconforming clients in both therapy and neuropsychological settings.

She also works with parents who want a supportive place to ask questions, learn, and strengthen their relationship with their child.

✨ Shannon is accepting new clients at our Evanston office and virtually.

Read Shannon’s full blog, “How Can I Support My LGBTQ+ Child—Even If I Don’t Fully Understand?” at the link in our bio.

Homecoming isn't fun for everyone. 💛While some teens are excited about dresses, dates, pictures and the dance, others ma...
09/04/2026

Homecoming isn't fun for everyone. 💛

While some teens are excited about dresses, dates, pictures and the dance, others may be quietly worrying:

• What if nobody asks me?
• What if I don't have a group?
• What if my friends make plans without me?
• What if I hate how I look?
• What if I don't know what to do at the dance?
• What if everyone else is having more fun than I am?

And thanks to social media, teens don't just hear about what they missed anymore—they can watch the pictures, parties and group plans unfold in real time.

For parents, it can be tempting to say, “It's just Homecoming!” or “Just go and have fun!”

But to a teenager, Homecoming can feel like something much bigger: a very public measure of whether they belong.

So if your teen is struggling, try this instead:

💛 “I can understand why that hurts.”

💛 “What part are you most nervous about?”

💛 “Do you want me to listen, or do you want help figuring out what to do?”

And remember: A great high school experience doesn't require a picture-perfect Homecoming.

Our latest Inspire blog shares more about Homecoming anxiety, FOMO, friendship groups, dating pressure, body image—and how parents can help without trying to fix everything.

Read: “My Teen Is Anxious About Homecoming. How Can I Help?”

09/02/2026

Could your son be feeling lonely? It's easy to miss.

Your teenage son can have friends, teammates, a busy social life—and still feel lonely. 💙

Research shows that boys want close, meaningful friendships just as much as girls do. But as they move through adolescence, many begin receiving messages—spoken and unspoken—that being “strong” means being independent, keeping things to themselves, or not showing too much emotion.

And sometimes, loneliness doesn’t look like loneliness.

It can look like irritability. Withdrawing to his room. Spending more time on his phone. Losing touch with close friends. Throwing himself into sports or school. Or simply answering, “I’m fine,” when you know something feels off.

As parents, we don’t have to force our sons to open up. But we can create an environment where they know it’s safe to.

💙 Ask questions without immediately trying to fix things.
💙 Help him put words to what he’s feeling.
💙 Remind him of the strengths you see in him.
💙 Normalize vulnerability and asking for help.
💙 Encourage friendships where he can truly be himself.

Boys shouldn’t have to choose between belonging and being emotionally healthy.

Our therapist Langston Myers, ALMFT, is passionate about helping teens and young adults navigate loneliness, friendships, relationships, anxiety, self-esteem, family conflict, and life transitions. As a Marriage & Family Therapist, Langston also helps parents and families better understand and support one another.

✨ Langston is currently accepting new clients at Inspire's Evanston office or virtually.

Read our newest blog to learn more about teenage boys, friendship, and the male loneliness epidemic.

08/27/2026

💛 **WELCOME TO INSPIRE, JENNA!** 💛

We’re so excited to welcome **Jenna Szczepanski, MSW** to our Northbrook office!

Jenna works with **adolescents, young adults, and adults**, bringing a warm, compassionate, and down-to-earth approach to therapy.

Having experienced the value of therapy herself at a young age, Jenna understands how meaningful it can be to have someone in your corner who listens without judgment, helps you make sense of what you’re feeling, and gives you practical tools to move forward.

Jenna especially enjoys helping **teens and young adults** navigate all the things that can make these years feel like A LOT:

✨ Anxiety & Depression
✨ ADHD
✨ School & Academic Stress
✨ Friendships & Relationships
✨ Self-Esteem & Confidence
✨ Family Conflict & Changes
✨ Parents’ Divorce
✨ Social Pressures
✨ Major Life Transitions
✨ Grief & Loss

Before joining Inspire, Jenna worked with a nonprofit grief organization, supporting children, teens, adults, and families through **grief, loss, and major life changes**.

She understands that grief isn’t only about losing someone we love. Kids and teens can also experience a very real sense of loss through **divorce, changing family dynamics, moving, friendships ending, relationship changes, or other unexpected transitions.**

Jenna’s goal is to create a space where clients can show up exactly as they are — while building coping skills, confidence, and a greater belief in their ability to handle whatever life brings next. 💛

A Chicagoland native, Jenna grew up in Long Grove and is excited to be back home serving her community.

And when she’s not in the therapy room? You’ll likely find her spending time with family and friends, staying active, or walking her Golden Retriever, **Phoebe!** 🐾

✨ **Now accepting new clients in Northbrook!**
Adolescents • Young Adults • Adults

Welcome to Inspire, Jenna! We’re so happy you’re here. 💛

08/26/2026

💛 WELCOME TO INSPIRE, LANGSTON! 💛

We’re so excited to welcome Langston Myers, ALMFT to our Evanston office!

Langston is a Marriage & Family Therapist and Level 2 trained in the Gottman Method who works with adolescents, college students, young adults, couples, and families.

And if you’ve never heard of the Gottman Method, it’s kind of a big deal when it comes to couples therapy. 💛

Based on more than 40 years of research on relationships, the Gottman Method gives couples practical, evidence-based tools to:

✨ Communicate more effectively
✨ Navigate conflict in healthier ways
✨ Rebuild trust
✨ Strengthen friendship & emotional connection
✨ Better understand each other

Langston works with couples at all stages of relationships — from premarital counseling and strengthening an already healthy relationship to navigating conflict, disconnection, discernment, separation, or divorce.

She also has a special passion for working with teens, college students, and young adults, helping them navigate anxiety, depression, identity, friendships, family dynamics, relationships, and major life transitions.

One thing we especially appreciate about Langston? She doesn’t shy away from the hard conversations.

Langston has experience supporting adolescents and young adults struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts and works to create a space where clients can talk honestly about what they’re experiencing without judgment or pressure to pretend everything is okay.

Originally from Memphis (so you might hear a y’all or two in session! 🤠🤍), Langston earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Georgia and her Master’s in Marriage & Family Therapy from The Ohio State University.

📍 Now accepting new clients in Evanston
💛 Teens • College Students • Young Adults • Couples • Families

08/25/2026

✨ WELCOME TO INSPIRE, SAMARA! ✨

We’re so excited to welcome Samara Whitney, MA, ALMFT to the Inspire team in Northbrook! 💛

A Glenview mom and Marriage & Family Therapist, Samara brings a warm, thoughtful, and down-to-earth approach to therapy — along with a wonderfully unique background spanning the arts, education, child advocacy law, and entertainment law.

Samara works with children, teens, adults, couples, parents, and families, with special interests in:

🌿 Anxiety & Depression
🌿 Emotional Regulation
🌿 Pregnancy, Postpartum & Motherhood
🌿 Parenting Stress & Family Relationships
🌿 Couples & Relationship Stress
🌿 Grief & Loss
🌿 Trauma & Life Transitions
🌿 Women’s Issues
🌿 Faith-Based Counseling

As a wife and mother herself, Samara is especially passionate about supporting moms and parents through the beautiful, complicated, and sometimes overwhelming seasons of growing and raising a family.

She also loves working with couples to strengthen communication, navigate conflict, deepen emotional connection, and feel more understood by one another.

And for our younger clients, Samara brings years of experience with children through her background as a theater teacher and in child advocacy law. She understands how powerful it can be for kids and teens to have a safe adult in their corner. 💛

Samara believes that meaningful change begins when people feel genuinely seen, understood, and supported — and that healthy relationships are built intentionally, not perfectly.

📍 Now accepting new clients at Inspire's Northbrook office
✨ Children • Teens • Adults • Couples • Parents • Families

We’re so happy to have you at Inspire, Samara! 💛

08/17/2026

Does anyone else feel like back-to-school season goes from 0 to 100 overnight? 😅🎒

One minute it’s summer, and the next you’re managing earlier bedtimes, morning routines, homework, practices, carpools, lunches, school events—and approximately 47 different sign-up requests.

And while you’re trying to hold all of that together, you may also be helping a child who is nervous about a new teacher, friendships, academics, sports, or simply going back to school.

Back-to-school anxiety isn’t just for kids. Parents feel the transition, too.

So here’s your reminder as we head into another school year:

💛 You don’t have to volunteer for everything.
💛 Your child doesn’t have to sign up for everything.
💛 Your new routine doesn’t have to be perfect on Day 1.
💛 Your child’s anxiety doesn’t always need to be “fixed.”
💛 And taking care of your own mental health matters, too.

Give your family permission to ease into the school year rather than racing into it.

And before adding one more thing to the calendar, ask yourself:

Does our family need more right now—or could we use a little less?

Sometimes the healthiest thing you can add to the calendar is nothing at all. 💛

🔗 Read our latest blog for more therapist-informed tips for navigating back-to-school stress and anxiety. Link in bio.

07/23/2026

☀️ Don't Let August Steal Your July 🌿

Fall is just around the corner, but it's still July!! Have you noticed how quickly our minds jump ahead?

Even though it's still July, many of us are already thinking about school schedules, sports practices, homework, lunch packing, and everything the fall season brings.

Planning ahead is important—but don't let tomorrow's worries steal today's joy.

Summer is made up of ordinary moments that often become our favorite memories:
🍦 Ice cream after dinner
🚲 Family bike rides
🌅 Late sunsets
💦 Splashing in the pool
😂 Laughing with friends
📖 A quiet afternoon with nowhere to be

If you find your mind drifting toward your to-do list instead of the moment you're in, try one of these grounding techniques:

🌿 Take 3 slow, deep breaths.
👀 Notice 5 things you can see, 4 you can feel, 3 you can hear, 2 you can smell, and 1 you can taste.
📱 Put your phone away for a few minutes.
☀️ Focus on one small detail—the warmth of the sun, the sound of laughter, or the breeze on your skin.
💛 Ask yourself: "What's one thing I don't want to miss about this moment?"

The best way to prepare for a busy season isn't by rushing into it—it's by fully enjoying the season you're in.

Here's your reminder: August will come soon enough. Today is still July. ❤️

Address

400 Green Bay Road
Kenilworth, IL
60043

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 9pm
Tuesday 9am - 9pm
Wednesday 9am - 9pm
Thursday 9am - 9pm
Friday 9am - 9pm

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