Do you provide DUI evaluations or court-ordered treatment?

Please contact the office to discuss your specific situation. I can clarify what services are available and provide referrals when a specialized evaluation is required.

Can I do addiction counseling online?

Yes. Secure telehealth sessions are available to clients anywhere in Illinois, which many people in early recovery find easier to keep consistently.

Personal Addiction Counseling

Addiction & Substance Use Counseling 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

Whether you are questioning your relationship with alcohol, in early recovery, navigating relapse prevention, or supporting a loved one, I offer structured, nonjudgmental, evidence-based support designed to promote sustainable change and long-term wellness.

Request a Free Consultation (708) 990-1174

Four friends standing with their arms around each other watching a sunset, representing support in recovery

Addiction symptoms and behaviors include, among others

Feeling the need to use regularly, which can be daily or multiple times a day
Intense urges or cravings that crowd out other thoughts
Needing more over time to get the same effect
Making sure you always maintain a supply
Not meeting work, family, or financial obligations
Doing things you wouldn’t normally do to get or use the substance
Spending more and more time and energy on getting and using
Withdrawal symptoms when you stop
Failed attempts to cut back or quit

How addiction takes hold

More often than not, substance use starts with experimental use in social situations. For some people, use becomes more frequent. As time passes, a person may need more of a drug to get the desired effect, and soon may need it simply to feel “normal.” If you can relate to any of the symptoms above, it may be time to consider addiction counseling. Reaching out is not an admission of failure. It is the first act of recovery.

What makes a CADC different

As a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor (CADC), I am professionally trained and credentialed to provide assessment, counseling, and treatment for alcohol and substance use disorders. This certification ensures specialized knowledge of the psychological, behavioral, and physiological aspects of addiction, evidence-based approaches to relapse prevention, and treatment of co-occurring mental health conditions. I have worked in chemical dependency and addictions since 1991, and I bring that experience to every session.

As an addiction counselor, I address the symptoms of your addiction and the related areas of impaired functioning, and together we structure the time and content of your ongoing recovery.

Many paths to recovery

I believe there are many paths to successful recovery that will work with your goals and desires. Some clients choose abstinence; others begin by reducing harm and reassessing along the way. Some find community in 12-step programs; others prefer secular or faith-based supports. We will build a plan that fits your values and your life, and adjust it as you grow.

Substance use assessment and personalized treatment planning
Motivational Interviewing for ambivalence and early change
Cognitive and behavioral tools for cravings, triggers, and high-risk situations
Relapse-prevention planning and recovery maintenance
Treatment of co-occurring anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief
Support and education for spouses, parents, and adult children of people with addiction

Support for families

Addiction affects everyone close to it. If you are supporting a loved one struggling with alcohol or drugs, I offer individual and family sessions to help you set healthy boundaries, communicate effectively, and care for your own mental health along the way.

Frequently asked

Questions about addiction & substance use therapy

High-functioning substance use is still substance use. If you have tried to cut back and could not, if drinking is how you manage stress or sleep, or if the people close to you have expressed concern, a confidential assessment can give you clarity without pressure.

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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