Andrea Bercos , LCSW

Andrea Bercos is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor in Illinois with 21 years of professional experience supporting individuals and families. As an LCSW he has advanced training in assessment and psychotherapy, and his credential as a certified alcohol and drug counselor reflects specialized work in substance use treatment. Over two decades Andrea has worked across community mental health, substance abuse treatment centers, domestic violence and sexual assault programs, the public school system, and private practice, bringing broad clinical experience to each setting.

He works with a wide range of concerns including childhood trauma and abuse, addictions, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, relationship and family issues, grief, intimacy-related difficulties, eating and parenting challenges, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes. Andrea also offers focused support around LGBTQIA topics such as gender dysphoria and the gender transition process, and addresses codependency, domestic violence, process and substance addictions, sexual assault and abuse, self-harm, and other sexuality-related concerns.

Andrea strives to create an open, nonjudgmental, and supportive space where thoughts and feelings can be explored honestly. He approaches work in an empathic, affirming, and empowering manner; clients have described him as safe, free of judgment, empathic, affirming, empowering, and warm. He recognizes that starting therapy takes courage and values each person who reaches out to begin this work.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Andrea frequently uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing in his work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify and gently change unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors that contribute to anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems. Trauma-Focused Therapy concentrates on processing traumatic experiences and building coping strategies to reduce the impact of past abuse or other traumatic events. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, goal-oriented style that strengthens a person’s own motivation for change and is especially helpful for substance use and ambivalence about behavior change.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Andrea works collaboratively with each person to determine which combination of methods best fits their needs, goals, and preferences, and he adjusts the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy options such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging offer practical flexibility for people balancing work, family, or mobility limits. These formats make it easier to maintain consistent contact with licensed professionals and therapists while fitting sessions into a client’s schedule and daily life.