About Marcia
Marcia attended Indiana University and graduated in 1987 with a double major in Psychology and Sociology. She received her M.A. in Community Counseling from Loyola University of Chicago in 1991. She became a National Certified Counselor (NCC) in 1993. In 1995 the State of Illinois initiated licensure for Clinical Professional Counselors and Marcia was in the first group to sit for the exam (LCPC). In 2004 Marcia earned her certification as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC).
Marcia began working as a counselor in 1988. Upon receiving her M.A. she began counseling individuals, couples, families and adolescents in an outpatient therapy setting through 1997. During that time, Marcia also supervised crisis intervention services for a community mental health center between 1994 and 2010.
In 2000, Marcia began working in a community substance abuse agency in the adolescent program. She developed a family education group and worked with parents to adapt their parenting techniques to meet the developmental changes of their teens. Marcia also counseled adolescents involved with alcohol, drugs and high risk behaviors.
In 2006 Marcia became supervisor of the substance abuse program of a small suburban agency. She counseled adults with a variety of issues, while continuing her work with adolescents and parents.
In 2009 Marcia joined the Hazelden Chicago clinical team. She developed the Women’s Intensive Outpatient Program and served as lead counselor. Marcia's unique lectures and groups focused on improving coping skills, healthy relationships, communication, boundaries and relapse prevention. Her groups helped clients overcome challenges, improve confidence and enjoyment in their lives.
The participation and popularity of the program exceeded expectations and feedback from the recovery community was overwhelmingly positive. Marcia received corporate wide recognition for her efforts in creating the Women's IOP at Hazelden Chicago
Marcia expanded her part time private practice to full time in the fall of 2011. In 2012, Marcia attended the first training to become an Emotionally Focused Therapist. The following year, she took the advanced training and in 2016 she became the fifth Certified EFT Therapist in the Chicagoland area and in the Midwest. Marcia continued her training in EFT and was Certified as an EFT Supervisor in 2019.
Marcia's passion for Emotionally Focused Therapy led to her involvement with the Chicago Center for EFT (ChicagoEFT) where she serves as the Vice President and Training Director.
Marcia's Specialties
Substance Abuse
In therapy, Marcia helps her clients anticipate and prepare for the distorted messages that lead to relapse. This is done through a process of learning about the disease and how it affects the mind of each client. Without such an understanding, resisting the compulsion to relapse is difficult. In addition to knowledge of the disease, the need for improved coping skills is an essential part of relapse prevention, because poor coping is the primary reason for relapse. Marcia identified an area of breakdown in coping that is common in addicts. Clients learn detailed strategies that will enable them to cope more effectively, and improve their overall functioning.
Couples
Marcia is a Certified EFT Therapist and Supervisor. She was the fifth therapist in the Chicagoland area to be Certified in EFT. In EFT relationship problems are viewed as the result of problematic cycles of interaction that have an underlying emotional component. Neither partner is viewed as the cause of the problem. The problem is the cycle that keeps them from connecting in a satisfying way. Therapy focuses on the couple's negative cycle and the emotions that drive it. The goal is for the couple to replace the old cycle with new patterns of interaction that reinforce their connection and the creation of a safe bond. For more information on Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples, refer to (http://www.rebeccajorgensen.com/what-is-eft/.)
Women's Issues
Women often think that healthy boundaries are a bad thing. A woman’s interpretation of her role as mother, spouse, caretaker, friend and household organizer can quickly erode personal boundaries. Without these normal boundaries, codependency may develop. When taking care of others interferes with taking care of oneself, resentment, depression, anxiety and a variety of other symptoms appear.
The healing process involves working on healthy boundaries and includes redefining one's role as an individual and within relationships. This is done by getting in touch with needs, wants and disappointments in life. Clients learn to identify options, many times, in areas they weren't aware they had choices. Improving communication skills is another step in the process and involves taking part in productive communication, avoiding power struggles and pulling out of escalating interactions. Clients report an increased sense of empowerment, feeling more respected by others and more in control of their lives.
For Family Members: Why can’t they just stop?
From the viewpoint of a loved one, the senseless behavior of the addict can be maddening. A solid understanding of the disease and the way it affects the addict is an important element in the family recovery process. The disease of addiction has an overwhelming effect on an addict's thought process, and, is generally misunderstood by loved ones. Marcia helps family members learn about the disease which helps make sense of the dishonesty, sneaking, resistance and other destructive behaviors they have witnessed. With better understanding, loved ones can focus energy on healthy changes they are able to make, rather than on anger, blame and feelings of betrayal that stand in the way of healing.
Parenting Issues
Parents occasionally need guidance and support when facing challenges with their child. They may feel a lost sense of authority with concerns about disrespectful, manipulative or acting out behavior. This can happen with children of all ages, including adult children. Parents of troubled emerging adults may find themselves with a child whom is failing to launch. Parents of a child actively abusing substances may struggle with all these issues and more. In most cases, healthy change must be initiated by the parent but doing so can be difficult. Marcia helps parents establish healthy boundaries which involves the redistribution of appropriate role responsibilities from the parent to the child. Marcia works with parents on establishing clear expectations, setting consistent limits and enforcing consequences. This promotes healthy decision making, and increased independence in the child.
Marcia began working as a counselor in 1988. Upon receiving her M.A. she began counseling individuals, couples, families and adolescents in an outpatient therapy setting through 1997. During that time, Marcia also supervised crisis intervention services for a community mental health center between 1994 and 2010.
In 2000, Marcia began working in a community substance abuse agency in the adolescent program. She developed a family education group and worked with parents to adapt their parenting techniques to meet the developmental changes of their teens. Marcia also counseled adolescents involved with alcohol, drugs and high risk behaviors.
In 2006 Marcia became supervisor of the substance abuse program of a small suburban agency. She counseled adults with a variety of issues, while continuing her work with adolescents and parents.
In 2009 Marcia joined the Hazelden Chicago clinical team. She developed the Women’s Intensive Outpatient Program and served as lead counselor. Marcia's unique lectures and groups focused on improving coping skills, healthy relationships, communication, boundaries and relapse prevention. Her groups helped clients overcome challenges, improve confidence and enjoyment in their lives.
The participation and popularity of the program exceeded expectations and feedback from the recovery community was overwhelmingly positive. Marcia received corporate wide recognition for her efforts in creating the Women's IOP at Hazelden Chicago
Marcia expanded her part time private practice to full time in the fall of 2011. In 2012, Marcia attended the first training to become an Emotionally Focused Therapist. The following year, she took the advanced training and in 2016 she became the fifth Certified EFT Therapist in the Chicagoland area and in the Midwest. Marcia continued her training in EFT and was Certified as an EFT Supervisor in 2019.
Marcia's passion for Emotionally Focused Therapy led to her involvement with the Chicago Center for EFT (ChicagoEFT) where she serves as the Vice President and Training Director.
Marcia's Specialties
Substance Abuse
In therapy, Marcia helps her clients anticipate and prepare for the distorted messages that lead to relapse. This is done through a process of learning about the disease and how it affects the mind of each client. Without such an understanding, resisting the compulsion to relapse is difficult. In addition to knowledge of the disease, the need for improved coping skills is an essential part of relapse prevention, because poor coping is the primary reason for relapse. Marcia identified an area of breakdown in coping that is common in addicts. Clients learn detailed strategies that will enable them to cope more effectively, and improve their overall functioning.
Couples
Marcia is a Certified EFT Therapist and Supervisor. She was the fifth therapist in the Chicagoland area to be Certified in EFT. In EFT relationship problems are viewed as the result of problematic cycles of interaction that have an underlying emotional component. Neither partner is viewed as the cause of the problem. The problem is the cycle that keeps them from connecting in a satisfying way. Therapy focuses on the couple's negative cycle and the emotions that drive it. The goal is for the couple to replace the old cycle with new patterns of interaction that reinforce their connection and the creation of a safe bond. For more information on Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples, refer to (http://www.rebeccajorgensen.com/what-is-eft/.)
Women's Issues
Women often think that healthy boundaries are a bad thing. A woman’s interpretation of her role as mother, spouse, caretaker, friend and household organizer can quickly erode personal boundaries. Without these normal boundaries, codependency may develop. When taking care of others interferes with taking care of oneself, resentment, depression, anxiety and a variety of other symptoms appear.
The healing process involves working on healthy boundaries and includes redefining one's role as an individual and within relationships. This is done by getting in touch with needs, wants and disappointments in life. Clients learn to identify options, many times, in areas they weren't aware they had choices. Improving communication skills is another step in the process and involves taking part in productive communication, avoiding power struggles and pulling out of escalating interactions. Clients report an increased sense of empowerment, feeling more respected by others and more in control of their lives.
For Family Members: Why can’t they just stop?
From the viewpoint of a loved one, the senseless behavior of the addict can be maddening. A solid understanding of the disease and the way it affects the addict is an important element in the family recovery process. The disease of addiction has an overwhelming effect on an addict's thought process, and, is generally misunderstood by loved ones. Marcia helps family members learn about the disease which helps make sense of the dishonesty, sneaking, resistance and other destructive behaviors they have witnessed. With better understanding, loved ones can focus energy on healthy changes they are able to make, rather than on anger, blame and feelings of betrayal that stand in the way of healing.
Parenting Issues
Parents occasionally need guidance and support when facing challenges with their child. They may feel a lost sense of authority with concerns about disrespectful, manipulative or acting out behavior. This can happen with children of all ages, including adult children. Parents of troubled emerging adults may find themselves with a child whom is failing to launch. Parents of a child actively abusing substances may struggle with all these issues and more. In most cases, healthy change must be initiated by the parent but doing so can be difficult. Marcia helps parents establish healthy boundaries which involves the redistribution of appropriate role responsibilities from the parent to the child. Marcia works with parents on establishing clear expectations, setting consistent limits and enforcing consequences. This promotes healthy decision making, and increased independence in the child.
Marcia H. Vickman
mvickman@rivernorththerapy.com
847-660-3747
mvickman@rivernorththerapy.com
847-660-3747