Last edited 03/27/2026

Headshot of Deborah Drlich Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Deborah Drlich

She / Her / Hers

Accepting New Clients
Online in Illinois and Indiana
Headshot of Deborah Drlich Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Slide
Identifies As
She / Her / HersWomanWhiteHeterosexual
Get To Know Me
Location
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Specialties
Specializes in
DepressionAnxietyWork StressLoss/GriefPanic attacks & panic disorder
General Expertise
Work StressRelationship IssuesSelf-EsteemSocial AnxietyAcademic challengesAddictionAbuse/Survivors of abuseAnger managementCaregiver stress & supportDependence issuesDivorce & separationPost-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)Self HarmStressSuicidal ideation
Treatment Approaches
Strength Based TherapyMindfulness PracticesEclectic TherapyCognitive Processing TherapyNarrative TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Motivational Interviewing
Clientele
Types of Therapy
Individual Therapy
Serves Ages
Adults (25-65)
Languages
English
Insurance & Fees
Insurances Accepted
CignaUnitedHealthCare (UHC)Cigna EAP
Cash Pay Rates/Out-of-Pocket
First Session:$150
Individual Therapy:$150
Professional Background
LicensureIllinois, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, 149.029801Indiana, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, 34012179A
Training/CertificationsCAMS
Education
George Williams School of Social Work - Aurora University, Master of Social Work, Clinical Social Work, 2003 — George Williams College of Aurora University — MSW George Williams College has a long legacy of social justice-rooted clinical training, grounding me in both the science and humanity of mental health care. My thesis explored anxiety in individuals with chronic mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders — research that sharpened my ability to look beneath presenting symptoms and understand how anxiety weaves through even complex clinical pictures. My internship at the Counseling Center of Lakeview from 2001–2003 put that training to work immediately in a high-acuity outpatient setting in Chicago, building a clinical foundation in working with clients navigating serious mental illness and dual diagnoses.
Work HistoryAfter completing my internship at the Counseling Center of Lakeview, I stayed on in a series of roles that gave me a comprehensive view of what it actually takes to support someone through serious mental health challenges. As an outpatient therapist I worked directly with clients week after week. As a clinical case manager I helped people navigate a system that wasn't always designed with them in mind. As a residential coordinator and program manager I learned how environment, structure, and support intersect with recovery in ways that one-on-one therapy alone can't always address. By the time I left in 2009 I had seen mental health care from nearly every angle. From there I spent nearly a decade working in mental health advocacy — at the nonprofit, local, and state levels — working alongside legislators and community organizations to push for better access, better funding, and better policy for people who needed care but couldn't get it. That work gave me a deep understanding of the systemic barriers that keep people from getting help, and a lasting commitment to making sure therapy feels accessible rather than intimidating. In 2018 I returned to what I love most — sitting with people and helping them work through what's hard. That full arc of experience is what I bring to every session.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s not uncommon to have questions before starting therapy. Deborah Drlich, LCSW, has answered a few of the questions they receive most often from new clients.