Alex Czop

What is my approach to therapy and my clients?

Hey my name is Alex Czop. Thanks for looking into my bio! As an overview of who I am as a person, I would have to start with my family which includes my wife Jennifer and our daughter Ember who was born in May of 2023. I am originally from Naperville where I was raised in a Polish migrant family and have been in the Chicagoland area my entire life. In my free time I particularly enjoy training for marathons and winter sports. I am bilingual (Polish and English) and invest in my cultural background through family traditions and international travel. Finally, A favorite vacation spot of mine is going to Mackinaw City in Michigan and watching all the traffic go by through and under the Mackinaw bridge.

Get to know Alex

Why did you go into the profession of counseling?

I pursued the field of counseling for both personal and academic reasons. I am from an immigrant family where communication was different whether I was inside or outside the home. This brought up challenges in socializing and meeting expectations and would create dissonance within me. Therefore, I wanted to better understand myself through a bio-psycho-social model due to the complexity of my upbringing which I found in the field of psychology.

Professionally I am passionate about developing trusting relationships with my clients through the application of psychological theories which I am always learning about through a variety of texts that I read on a daily basis. Learning to develop these and other psychological skills continues to draw me into my profession with a great purpose.

What is your approach to spirituality in counseling?

My approach to spirituality in counseling is that I am open to incorporating all aspects of any faith that the client is in need of including and/or processing. I also understand that spirituality is not everyone's cup of tea. I attended Wheaton College for my Master's degree in Counseling and have experienced and been educated on the integrative approach to counseling through a Christian background. Learning and being curious on where the client stands on these and other related subjects is part of the relationship building process.

What is your stance on incorporating psychotropics to the counseling process?

My stance on incorporating psychotropics in the counseling process is supportive as well as person centered. Ultimately, the decision to take medication is the client's decision and responsibility which has inherent value. I am open to working with your medical providers to support and recommend treatment paths/goal that will offer you a healthier mental state which includes, but is not limited to, taking psychotropic medication.