Do I have to be sober to start therapy?

No. You can begin wherever you are. We will assess your safety and medical needs first, and if detox or a higher level of care is appropriate I will help you access it. Many clients start therapy while still deciding what they want their relationship with alcohol or drugs to look like.

Is this an outpatient program or individual therapy?

Affirm Behavioral Health provides outpatient individual, couples, and family therapy. Sessions are typically weekly, and I collaborate with intensive outpatient and residential programs when a client is stepping down or stepping up in care.

Will my employer or anyone else find out?

Your treatment is confidential and protected by federal and Illinois privacy law. Nothing is shared without your written authorization, except in the rare situations required by law, which we review together in your first session.

Co-Occurring Conditions

Co-Occurring Disorders & Dual Diagnosis Therapy in Downers Grove, IL

Name: Affirm Behavioral Health, PLLC
Address: 5120 Main St., Suite 105, Downers Grove, IL, 60515, US
Telephone: (708) 990-1174
Price range: $75 – $225

Specialized therapy for substance use disorders alongside anxiety, depression, trauma, or grief. Assessment, relapse prevention, and ongoing recovery coaching from a clinician with expertise in chemical dependency and addictions since 1991.

Request a Free Consultation (708) 990-1174

A man sitting thoughtfully on a couch with his hands clasped, reflecting during a therapy session

Integrated care may be right for you if

You drink or use to manage anxiety, low mood, or memories you’d rather not have
Past treatment addressed either your mental health or your substance use, but never both
Sobriety has felt fragile because the underlying pain was never treated
A relapse followed a loss, a diagnosis, or a stressful life change
You’re in early recovery and want support that goes deeper than meetings alone
A family member’s substance use is affecting your own mental health

Why treating both conditions together matters

Unlike most therapists who focus exclusively on either mental health or addiction, I specialize in dual diagnosis therapy, helping clients address the full picture of their emotional and behavioral health. When substance use is treated without addressing the anxiety, trauma, or depression underneath it, relapse becomes far more likely. When mental health is treated while substance use is ignored, progress stalls. Integrated care works because it is honest about how these conditions interact.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor, I can provide assessment, psychotherapy, and substance use counseling within a single, coordinated plan. You will not be bounced between providers or asked to tell your story twice.

What co-occurring disorder treatment includes

Treatment is structured, nonjudgmental, and evidence-based. We move at a pace that protects your recovery while making real progress on the issues driving it.

Comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment of substance use, mental health, medical history, and support systems
Motivational Interviewing to resolve ambivalence and strengthen your own reasons for change
CBT and DBT skills for cravings, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance
Trauma-informed care that never forces disclosure before you are ready
Relapse-prevention planning and recovery coaching for the long term
Family sessions, when helpful, to repair trust and build a healthier home environment
Coordination with physicians, psychiatrists, and treatment programs with your consent

Who I work with

I see adolescents (13+), adults, and older adults, including first responders, veterans, healthcare workers, and professionals whose careers make privacy and discretion essential. I also work with people whose substance use began during cancer treatment, chronic pain, or caregiving, where medical complexity requires a clinician who understands both sides.

Frequently asked

Questions about co-occurring disorders therapy

A co-occurring disorder, also called dual diagnosis, means a person is experiencing a substance use disorder and a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, or bipolar disorder at the same time. Each condition can intensify the other, which is why integrated treatment is recommended.

Why clients choose Affirm Behavioral Health

Dual-specialty care for mental health and substance use, with medical insight most therapists don’t offer.

Christine Stryjewski is both a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor, with advanced oncology social work training and years of experience in medical care. That means anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, and medical stress can be treated together in one coordinated plan.

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