Meet Duane

Duane Freeman

LPC, MEd

I am a Licensed Associate Counselor who specializes in supporting adolescents, young adults, and adults.   

I support my clients with short- and long-term models, and help them in working through anxiety, ADHD, bereavement, divorce, self-harm, family dynamics, social coaching, OCD, school refusal, drug use, adoption, depression, parent/child communication. My training is rooted in person-centered therapy and my sessions focus on cceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and solution focused brief therapy.

My experience spans more than 20 years, working predominantly in independent private schools, meeting with individuals, developing and implementing social emotional learning curriculum, collaborating with various other psychologists and psychiatrists to support students, creating parent presentations on child development, social dynamics, parent-child communication, and running leadership, social, and divorce groups. I have a Bachelor's Degree from Columbia College (2000) and a Master’s Degree in Human Services and Counseling from DePaul University (2008).  

I use humor and improv to lower defenses, teach social cues, practice interpersonal skills, and approach difficult topics in a playful, yet direct way.  I have directed various summer camps, led faculty training, facilitated diversity and leadership retreats, and run innumerous community events.  I have a team building and community connection business called “Olympics of the Absurd” which collaborates with nonprofit organizations, schools, and corporations on building and maintaining a positive and inclusive community culture. I truly believe that people are inherently good and want to strive to be better.  I work closely with families to discuss the family unit and help them form parent-child teams and set behavioral routines that can support the well-being of their children.  During our therapy sessions, I help my clients build self-awareness, formulate a self-care routine, develop social literacy, practice mental flexibility.  Over time, I have built strong bonds with my clients and their family’s, and I am very fortunate to be a valuable part of their lives, growth, and development.  

Currently, I offer one-to-one individual counseling for adolescents and young adults and look forward to meeting them and their family.