About Us
We work with individuals and couples navigating a wide range of challenges — anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship difficulties, life transitions, self-esteem struggles, and addiction. We utilized a combination of evidence based approaches and we take the time to understand each client’s unique history, needs, and goals before building a path forward together.
We also draw heavily on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which equips clients with practical tools for changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors in real time. Our therapists tailor treatment to each individual, blending approaches as needed and always keeping the therapeutic relationship at the center of the work. We create a warm, non judgmental space where clients feel safe to explore difficult emotions, ask hard questions, and take meaningful steps forward.
We accept Blue Cross PPO, Blue Cross HMO (Amita/Ascension group), United Healthcare, Cigna, and Aetna, and offer flexible payment options for those without insurance coverage.
Mark has worked in the mental health field for over 25 years, in a variety of settings. After years of solo practice, he founded Sheridan Counseling Group in 2017. His approach to therapy is eclectic and deeply individualized, but grounded at its core in client-centered and psychodynamic principles. Mark believes that the therapeutic relationship itself is one of the most powerful agents of change — that feeling truly heard, understood, and respected by your therapist creates the conditions for real growth.
Over the course of his career, Mark has worked with clients across a broad range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, and life transitions. He brings both clinical depth and genuine warmth to his work, and has built Sheridan Counseling Group around the same values that define his own practice: compassion, curiosity, and a commitment to each client’s wellbeing.
Mark sees clients in person at our Chicago office and via telehealth throughout Illinois.
Renee Demarchi, LCSW
Renee Demarchi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 20 years of clinical experience working with adults from diverse backgrounds. Her background is distinctive in the field — she spent a significant portion of her career working in medical settings, which gave her a deep appreciation for the profound connections between physical and mental health. That perspective informs everything she does in the therapy room.
Renee combines psychodynamic therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients explore the emotional roots of their struggles while also developing practical skills for managing them. She brings a warm, thoughtful presence to her work and is committed to creating a space where clients feel safe to be fully themselves.
Renee works with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, life transitions, grief, and relationship challenges, and is available for in-person and telehealth sessions.
Dori Geil, LCPC
Dori Geil is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with extensive experience in individual and couples therapy. She is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), making her especially well-equipped to work with clients who have
experienced trauma. She also has specialized training in addictions, bringing a nuanced, non-judgmental understanding to clients navigating substance use and behavioral addictions.
Dori’s therapeutic style is interactive and empathetic. She is dedicated to building a genuine connection with each client and believes that a strong therapeutic relationship is the foundation of meaningful progress. Whether working with individuals or couples, Dori helps clients identify the patterns keeping them stuck and develop new, healthier ways of relating — to themselves and to others.
Dori sees clients in person at our Lakeview office and via telehealth throughout Illinois.
Sarah Springer, LCPC
Sarah Springer is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor whose approach to therapy is as warm as it is effective. She brings a client-centered philosophy to her work, placing genuine rapport, humor, and a deep understanding of her clients’ daily lives at the heart of the therapeutic relationship. Sarah’s clients often describe sessions with her as a rare combination of comfort and progress — a space where they feel genuinely understood while also doing meaningful work.
Sarah specializes in working with adults navigating depression, anxiety, and loss, and draws on a range of therapeutic modalities tailored to each individual. She works virtually with clients throughout Illinois, making her an excellent fit for those who prefer the convenience and accessibility of telehealth therapy.
Brianna Smith, LCSW, CAADC-DP
Brianna Smith is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC-DP), bringing specialized expertise in addiction treatment alongside broad clinical training in mental health. Her dual credentials allow her to work with the full complexity of clients’ experiences — understanding addiction not as an isolated problem, but as something deeply connected to underlying emotional pain, trauma, and unmet needs.
Brianna approaches her work with compassion, directness, and a genuine belief in her clients’ capacity for change. She creates a non-judgmental space where clients struggling with substance use, alcohol dependence, or behavioral addictions can explore what’s driving those patterns and begin building a sustainable path toward recovery.
Brianna sees clients in person in our Chicago office and via telehealth throughout Illinois.
Experience you can trust. Our team brings a combined total of decades of clinical experience across a wide range of specialties. You’ll work with a licensed professional who has seen and supported people through challenges similar to yours.
A genuinely individualized approach. We don’t use cookie-cutter treatment plans. We take the time to understand your history, your goals, and what hasn’t worked before — and we build something tailored to you. Our approach is warm and conversional.
A team that fits your needs. With five therapists on staff, we’re able to thoughtfully match clients with the provider who is the best fit for their specific concerns, personality, and goals.
In-person and telehealth options. Our Chicago therapy office is located in Lakeview, and is convenient for clients across Lincoln Park, Andersonville, Roscoe Village, Bucktown, and the surrounding North Side neighborhoods. We also see all Illinois based clients via telehealth — so you can access quality therapy in the way that works best for your life.
Insurance accepted. We accept Blue Cross PPO, Blue Cross HMO (Ascension) United Healthcare, Cigna, and Aetna, and offer flexible payment options.
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