Meet Christi Gardner – Therapist at CG Therapies
Christi Gardner, LCSW
Christi Gardner is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC), in Chicago, IL, specializing in the treatment of addiction, trauma, and depression and anxiety-related disorders. She is originally from Chicago and has extensive experience working with persons battling addiction, trauma, and serious mental illness. In 2008, she started her career in mental health working as a case manager for women in recovery, at Catholic Charities’ SAFE Housing program. She earned her Bachelor’s in Psychology from North Park University and her Master’s degree in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago, where she focused her studies on addiction and psychodynamic orientation. During her master’s practicum, she served as a staff therapist at Deborah’s Place, providing group and individual psychotherapy to women with serious mental illness. During her second practicum, she served as an addiction therapist at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois Women’s Residence. In 2014, Christi completed the yearlong intensive narrative therapy training, under Jill Freedman and Gene Combs, at the Evanston Family Therapy Center. In 2014, she joined the staff at Jesse Brown Veterans’ Administration Medical Center, where she furthered her skills in CBT, DBT, IPT, and other evidenced-based treatment. She currently resides there as a therapist in the Drug Dependence Treatment Center. Christi has also served as an educator and supervisor within Chicago and adjunct professor at Northeastern Illinois University. She is fully trained in EMDR as well as the DeTUR Protocol.
Christi believes that effective therapy occurs by tailoring a treatment approach to your unique desires, needs, and interests. Christi draws from narrative and psychodynamic approaches in treatment, but also utilizes evidenced-based treatments such as CBT (cognitive behavior therapy), and DBT (dialectical behavior therapy). There is no standard prescription in therapy. The therapeutic relationship, as well as treatment, are collaborations between client and clinician that, when in harmony, will promote the positive change that you desire. Christi promotes the use of concrete goals to address stumbling blocks in our path, but ultimately, you are in charge of the direction of treatment. An environment of empathy and support is always maintained; however, she will acknowledge when it seems you are triggering your own impediments. Christi believes that therapy is not intended to be an indeterminately long solution and there are clear indicators when goals have been accomplished and you are ready to move on.