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About Us

Our Mission

We invite each client to experience holistic, empirically-based traditional and alternative treatment modalities through a diverse group of professionals. We specialize in the science of Deep REST, De-Stress & EQ Development. We strive to shift and transform the stress response in each person seeking relief and change. We aid in bringing forth the tools and skills necessary to pause and develop a new relationship with stress as you evolve the ways you relax, create wellness and develop resiliency.

We strive to shift and transform the stress response in each person seeking relief and change.

Our Team

Founder & Clinical Director

Dr. Howard K. Weissman

Dr. Howard K. Weissman is Clinical Director and Founder of The Chicago Stress Relief Center, Inc. (CSRC), a diversified holistic practice he began in 1993. He is a licensed Clinical Psychologist with a specialization in mind/body health and is a board-certified expert in the treatment of traumatic stress.

Dr. Howard K. Weissman is Clinical Director and Founder of The Chicago Stress Relief Center, Ltd. (CSRC), a diversified holistic practice he began in 1993. He is a licensed Clinical Psychologist with a specialization in mind/body health and is a board-certified expert in the treatment of traumatic stress. A native of Chicago area, Weissman graduated with a Doctor of Psychology in 1991. At that time, he also completed a specialization program in Health Psychology. While an undergraduate at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois in the 1980s, he published articles in both sleep and headache research. In 1992 he began teaching neuropsychological assessment at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology as an Adjunct Professor and in 2001 he began volunteering at The Marjorie Kovler Center for Treatment of Survivors of Torture. More recently, Dr. Weissman provided virtual mental health first aid to Israelis post October 7th. His professional experience includes a position as staff psychologist at Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago (January 2005 – February 2007). Dr. Weissman served as Director of Psychological Services at the Advanced Reproductive Health Center, Ltd., in Orland Park, Illinois for over a decade. Since 2016, he began with Chiefs Lead the Way and is a Regional Trainer, Ambassador and Presenter for Badge for Life, a mental wellness and suicide prevention program geared towards inspiring hope and contributing to the health and wellbeing of law enforcement personnel. Dr. Weissman expanded his expertise through participation in studies and resolution treatment for individuals diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD), often concurrent with the use of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). He was part of the first groups trained in EMDR by Dr. Francine Shapiro, and has an extensive background in both traditional and alternative healing. Dr. Weissman is a certified practitioner of the LifeLine Technique and other energy medicine-based treatment modalities. His approach is integrative and holistic aiding those with chronic illness and medically related challenges. Over the past 30 years, he’s developed competencies in herbal, homeopathic, and nutritional intelligence to support and enhance his client’s health and wellness goals. His integrative center in Northbrook offers state-of-the-art holistic treatment including floatation therapy, clinical massage, and detoxification via far infrared saunas. A sought-after lecturer with a long-standing commitment to educating the public on mental health issues, Dr. Weissman presents workshops on stress management in the workplace. He currently manages an expanding holistic based private practice specializing in both OCD and the treatment of traumatic stress disorders and provides individual, couple and family therapy for victims of animal attacks, victims of stalking and domestic violence, recovery post vehicular accidents, and medically related traumatic stress.
Clinical Associate

Abby Kwayzer

Abby is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with a philosophy focused on providing skilled, quality, solution-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. Abby’s approach believes in tailoring individualized treatment based upon each client’s needs while applying a variety of empirically based therapeutic techniques gleaned from her education, clinical training, and varied experiences. Abby works to assist and guide people in the process of recognizing and exercising their own personal power to change, grow, and more effectively cope through the therapeutic process.

Abby is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with a philosophy focused on providing skilled, quality, solution-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. Abby’s approach believes in tailoring individualized treatment based upon each client’s needs while applying a variety of empirically based therapeutic techniques gleaned from her education, clinical training, and varied experiences. Abby works to assist and guide people in the process of recognizing and exercising their own personal power to change, grow, and more effectively cope through the therapeutic process. Her approach promotes an understanding of how thought patterns, choices, and behaviors contribute to both mental and physical stress related conditions. An individualized treatment plan is created to clarify and provide the steps necessary to obtain one’s health and wellness goals. Abby’s areas of expertise include anxiety related conditions, depression, adjustment challenges, relationship conflicts, body-image concerns, PTSD, and ADHD. Abby provides individual, couples, and family therapy and works with both adults and adolescents. You can call to schedule an initial consultation with Abby by calling our main office at 847-412-0922 or emailing her at abbyk.lcpc@gmail.com.
Michelle Lee
Graduate Student

Michelle Lee

Michelle Lee is a third-year graduate student at Trinity International University, pursuing a Mental Health Counseling degree. Michelle provides sliding scale fees and has openings either in-person or telehealth. Michelle is interested in helping adults and teens experiencing symptoms of stress, trauma and depression, and values providing a safe space for people to express themselves and experience empowerment through mind-body change strategies.

Michelle Lee is a third-year graduate student at Trinity International University, pursuing a Mental Health Counseling degree. Michelle provides sliding scale fees and has openings either in-person or telehealth. Michelle is interested in helping adults and teens experiencing symptoms of stress, trauma and depression, and values providing a safe space for people to express themselves and experience empowerment through mind-body change strategies. Her therapeutic approaches include CBT, DBT, mindfulness techniques, narrative therapy, and motivational interviewing. You can schedule an initial consultation with Ms. Lee by calling our main office at 847-412-0922.
Clinical Massage Therapist

Ewa Gut, LMT

Ewa initially graduated in 2000 as a physical therapist from Krakow Academic in Poland and specialized in medically related physical challenges from orthopedic- based to neurological in nature. Since 2002, she has been a licensed massage therapist. She also has extensive experience working with sport injuries. As a clinical massage therapist with training as a physical therapist, Ewa is known for her deep tissue and whole-body stress relief massages.

Ewa initially graduated in 2000 as a physical therapist from Krakow Academic in Poland and specialized in medically related physical challenges from orthopedic- based to neurological in nature. Since 2002, she has been a licensed massage therapist. She also has extensive experience working with sport injuries. As a clinical massage therapist with training as a physical therapist, Ewa is known for her deep tissue and whole-body stress relief massages. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings including chiropractic and functional rehabilitation clinics. Her passion and expertise for clinical massage is evident the moment she lays hands on you. She believes that clinical massage is not only a powerful tool for helping people to relax but also to eliminate pain and restore greater functioning. Don’t hesitate to ask Ewa for specific exercises and strategies to support you in your health and wellness goals.
Licensed Massage Therapist

Cielo “CiCi” Gonzalez, LMT

CiCi has practiced clinical massage since 2011 and has been part of our clinical massage team for over a decade. Her background as a massage therapist coupled with years of collaborating with both chiropractic physicians and spas has given her a uniquely rounded and compassionate approach.

CiCi has practiced clinical massage since 2011 and has been part of our clinical massage team for over a decade. Her background as a massage therapist coupled with years of collaborating with both chiropractic physicians and spas has given her a uniquely rounded and compassionate approach. She values holding a safe space with each client and educates the client about their bodies by carefully listening to each client’s goals while easing the resistance from the multiple holding patterns that the body naturally engages in. Her bodywork combines clinically based deep tissue, myofascial, and stretching techniques to calm, reset, and deeply relax the body/mind. Additionally, CiCi does prenatal, lymphatic, hot stones, cupping, reflexology, Reiki and Access Bars.

“I just LOOOVE floating. It is the ultimate self care practice. If you can’t seem to meditate this is the perfect introduction to the feeling of bliss of meditation. I go in and out of consciousness but mainly I’m always present and aware with thoughts floating in and out. I’m able to process my week/month/life while in this state.
I love that you have control over lights so if you don’t want it super dark.
Overall amazing experience! Def part of my every other month routine now”.

Masha V.Verified 5-Star Review on Google

Why We Exist

Specializing in holistic stress and pain management along with other medically related stress conditions including traumatic stress, obsessive compulsive spectrum, depression, anxiety, phobias and infertility related stress.

With the professional team at The Chicago Stress Relief Center, Inc. (CSRC) you find a variety of natural ways to transform the stress that binds you. We encourage each person to consider a consultation with a member of our team to better understand their specific relationship to STRESS and it’s impact on one’s body and on one’s life. After a thorough evaluation, an individualized approach is developed with the goal of assisting you to achieve your personal wellness vision. Our holistic philosophy aims at empowering you to calm the often chaotic forces that can hijack the mind and negatively impact the body. By developing a new relationship with stress, our strategy helps you find your passionate purpose as you develop a healthier balance and greater personal satisfaction.