NASW Member
Chamber630 MemberMental Health
Anxiety, depression, mood disorders, trauma and PTSD, stress and burnout, and the transitions that unsettle everything.
Downers Grove, IL · Telehealth across Illinois
Therapy that meets you exactly where you are.
Evidence-based, trauma-informed care for anxiety, depression, substance use, grief, and the emotional weight of serious illness, from a clinician with more than three decades in behavioral health.
- Accepting new clients
- In-network with major plans
- Afternoon & evening hours
- In person or online
Christine H. Stryjewski
MBA, MSW, LCSW, CADC
Accepting new clients
BBB Accredited Business NASW Member Chamber630 Member Licensed in Illinois · LCSW & CADC Downtown Downers Grove, near the Main St. Metra
Three areas of focus
Care that treats the whole picture, not one piece of it.
Most practices treat mental health, medical stress, and substance use in separate silos. Affirm Behavioral Health was built to address them together, because that is how they show up in real life.
Oncology & Chronic Illness
Counseling for cancer diagnoses, chronic and terminal illness, caregiver stress, and anticipatory or ambiguous grief, informed by advanced oncology social work training.
Substance Use & Recovery
Alcohol and drug counseling, co-occurring disorders, relapse prevention, and family support from a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor with experience since 1991.
Services we provide
Specialized therapy for the things that are hardest to carry alone.
Christine H. Stryjewski
MBA, MSW, LCSW, CADC
Why Affirm Behavioral Health
A rare combination: clinical expertise, medical insight, and recovery credentials.
Before becoming a therapist, Christine worked in ophthalmology providing medical care. She went on to earn a master’s degree in healthcare social work with oncology specialization, certification in addiction counseling, and an MBA. The result is a therapist who understands how physical health, emotional health, and substance use intersect, and how to treat them together.
“You won’t just sit and talk. Together, we’ll uncover what’s holding you back, understand the patterns affecting your life, and build practical tools for meaningful change.”
- LCSWLicensed Clinical Social Worker
- Diagnoses and treats the full range of mental health concerns, from anxiety and depression to trauma and grief.
- CADCCertified Alcohol & Other Drug Counselor
- State-certified substance use treatment, with experience in chemical dependency since 1991.
- APOSOncology Social Work Training
- Advanced training through Aurora University and the Association of Oncology Social Work for cancer and serious illness.
- MBAExecutive Healthcare Management
- Loyola Quinlan executive certification and an MBA bring practical, organized problem-solving to therapy.
- 35+
- years in behavioral health
- 2
- credentials, one clinician, one plan
- 15
- minute free consultation
- 12–8
- PM weekday hours
What to expect
A clear path from first call to lasting change.
You don’t need to know exactly what you need before reaching out. Here is how the process unfolds.
- 01
Initial contact
Call, email, or send a request online. A free 15-minute consultation helps us decide whether we are a good fit.
- 02
Screening & scheduling
A brief screening clarifies your needs and we book your first appointment, in person or by telehealth.
- 03
Paperwork & benefits
Complete intake forms online. The office verifies your insurance benefits so there are no surprises.
- 04
First intake session
A collaborative conversation about your history, concerns, and goals that becomes your treatment plan.
- 05
Regular sessions
Weekly or biweekly sessions with practical skills between them. Progress is reviewed together regularly.
- 06
Discharge & follow-up
When goals are met, we plan for maintenance and leave the door open for check-ins when life shifts.
Conditions we treat
Whatever you are carrying, you can bring it here.
AddictionADHDAging ConcernsAnger ManagementAnxietyBehavior IssuesBereavementCancer & OncologyCareer CounselingCaregiver FatigueChronic IllnessChronic ImpulsivityCouples CounselingDepressionDivorceDual DiagnosisFears & PhobiasFirst RespondersAddictionADHDAging ConcernsAnger ManagementAnxietyBehavior IssuesBereavementCancer & OncologyCareer CounselingCaregiver FatigueChronic IllnessChronic ImpulsivityCouples CounselingDepressionDivorceDual DiagnosisFears & PhobiasFirst Responders
Grief & LossInfidelityJob StressLGBTQIA+ IssuesLife TransitionsMedical TraumaPanicPersonal GrowthPersonality DisordersPTSDRelationship IssuesSelf-EsteemSocial PhobiaStress & BurnoutSubstance UseVeterans & MilitaryWomen’s IssuesGrief & LossInfidelityJob StressLGBTQIA+ IssuesLife TransitionsMedical TraumaPanicPersonal GrowthPersonality DisordersPTSDRelationship IssuesSelf-EsteemSocial PhobiaStress & BurnoutSubstance UseVeterans & MilitaryWomen’s Issues
Insurance & fees
In-network with major plans. Sliding scale available.
Sessions $75 – $225. Out-of-network receipts provided. See rates & insurance
- Aetna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
- Cigna / Evernorth
- Magellan Behavioral Health
- Optum
- United Behavioral Health (UBH)
- UnitedHealthcare
- Medicare (pending)
- Medicaid (pending)
Office location
Visit us in downtown Downers Grove.
Our Main Street office is a short walk from the Main Street Metra station, with street and municipal parking nearby. Telehealth appointments are available statewide.
- Affirm Behavioral Health, PLLC
5120 Main St., Suite 105
Downers Grove, IL 60515 - Two blocks from the Main Street Metra station (BNSF line)
- Monday – Friday: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PMSaturday: By appointmentSunday: Closed
- (708) 990-1174
- christine@affirmbehavioralhealth.com
Questions
Common questions before a first session.
Everything from insurance to what the first appointment feels like.
Yes. Christine offers secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth therapy to clients located anywhere in Illinois. Online therapy provides flexibility and privacy while maintaining the same level of clinical care as in-person sessions. It is especially helpful for busy professionals, individuals with chronic illness, clients undergoing medical treatment, and caregivers with limited time.
From the blog
Plain-language guidance on therapy, recovery, and coping.
Getting Started7 min read
How to Choose a Therapist in Downers Grove, IL: 7 Questions to Ask
Searching “therapist near me” returns hundreds of names. Here is how to narrow the list to someone who actually fits what you need.
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Recovery6 min read
What Is a CADC? Why Dual-Credentialed Care Matters for Co-Occurring Disorders
Roughly half of people with a substance use disorder also live with a mental health condition. Here is why treating both at once, with one clinician, changes outcomes.
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Health & Illness8 min read
Coping After a Cancer Diagnosis: How Oncology-Informed Therapy Helps
Nobody prepares you for the emotional weight of hearing the word cancer. Here is what oncology-informed therapy offers at each stage, and when to reach out.
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Begin today
Let’s start working together.
Reaching out can feel difficult, but you don’t have to navigate this alone. Request a free 15-minute consultation or call the office today.