What are the opening hours?

Monday 8:30am - 8pm Tuesday 8:30am - 8pm Wednesday 8:30am - 8pm Thursday 8:30am - 8pm Friday 8:30am - 6pm Saturday 8:30am - 4pm

The Family Institute at Northwestern University

Home
United States
Evanston, IL
The Family Institute at Northwestern University

The Family Institute at Northwestern University is a leader in relationship-based behavioral health We like to say we define family how you define family.

The Family Institute at Northwestern University (www.family-institute.org) is committed to strengthening and healing families, couples and individuals from all walks of life through clinical service, neuropsychological assessment testing, education and research. An affiliate of Northwestern University, The Family Institute is a relationally based mental health system of care governed by its own independent Board of Directors and responsible for its own funding. The Institute offers a wide range of high quality mental health counseling at four locations (Northbrook, Evanston, Westchester, Downtown Chicago) through our staff practice and our free Bette D. Harris Family and Child Clinic, where we are committed to serving at-risk, under-resourced communities. The Family Institute also operates two nationally-renowned graduate programs in marriage and family therapy and counseling psychology in affiliation with Northwestern University, and conducts cutting-edge research projects that lead to a better understanding and treatment of mental health issues.

10/18/2025

During OCD Awareness Week, we’re reminded that anxiety and OCD can often overlap. But anxiety doesn’t always look like panic or worry — it can sneak into daily life through indecision, procrastination, irritability, or feeling disconnected. 💭

🎙️ Grace Schmidt, M.S.W., LCSW, staff therapist at The Family Institute, shares 4️⃣ ways that anxiety can sneak up in our daily lives. She specializes in anxiety disorders — including OCD — and is currently accepting new clients.

🔗 Link in bio to learn more or request an appointment

10/14/2025

Everyone deserves care 🫶

10/13/2025

Today, , we recognize the strength and resilience of Native communities — and the systemic inequities that continue to affect their mental health and well-being.

According to the CDC, the su***de death rate for American Indian and Alaska Native people is 91% higher than the total U.S. population. This disparity reflects long-standing barriers to care, historical trauma, and the need for mental health services grounded in culture and community.

At The Family Institute, we are committed to making therapy more accessible for all communities through the Bette D. Harris Clinic.

10/07/2025

More than 1 in 10 children in the U.S. have ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder, according to the CDC.

October is — a time to acknowledge the millions of children, families, and adults navigating ADHD every day. Behind every diagnosis is a story, strengths, and a support system that can make a difference.

At The Family Institute at Northwestern University, we offer:
🧠 Neuropsychological evaluations to understand learning and attention challenges
👦 Child & adolescent therapy to build skills and self-confidence
🤝 Parent coaching to strengthen family communication and support

Our clinicians also provide individual and couple therapy for adults navigating their own or their loved one’s neurodiversity.

🔗 Get the answers to these FAQs: https://bit.ly/4nIkSdQ

09/30/2025

🌎 When current events feel overwhelming, you might find yourself asking: “How am I supposed to carry on as usual, when there is such tragedy and uncertainty in the world?”

Jocelyn Nelson, M.A., LCPC, reminds us that you deserve to take care of yourself — to go on a run, get dinner with your friends, read a book — because you are worthy of nurturing yourself in these ways. 💙

In this month’s Mental Health Tip, she shares ways to show yourself compassion, lean on your support systems, and focus on what’s within your control.

🔗 Read the full article at the link in our bio.

09/29/2025

💡 Is the U.S. living through national trauma?

Staff Therapist Melissa Prusko, Psy.D., NATC, explains:

“National trauma is a very broad term. National refers to the shared aspect of what is happening to us as a nation. Trauma refers to anything that violates what we expect to occur in the normal course of being human; it can be a threat to our lives or safety, or to the lives and safety of those around us.”

Dr. Prusko notes that it’s normal for our bodies to react to stress: “When our brains and bodies detect danger, they prepare us to fight, flee, or freeze. Over time, this can leave us feeling exhausted or run down.”

To cope, she encourages setting limits on news:

🗞️ Choose 1–2 trusted sources
⏲️ Consume for no more than 1 hour
🔕 Turn off notifications
🛏️ Avoid starting or ending your day with the news

09/26/2025

In a world that can feel increasingly divided, our disagreements don’t have to push us further apart.

The next time you’re in conflict, try these simple shifts:
💬 Use “I feel…” instead of “You always…”
👂 Reflect back what you’ve heard before responding
🤝 Remember “we” — not “you vs. me”

Arguments don’t have to end in distance. When handled with care, they can lead to understanding and stronger connections.

Learn more from clinician Alyssa Campbell, Ph.D., LMFT about how to disagree with kindness: https://bit.ly/4myc8Wg

09/18/2025

👟 For runners, stress isn't just physical—it's mental, says Dr. Michele Kerulis.

The clinical associate professor at The Family Institute at Northwestern University shares valuable insights on how runners can overcome their biggest mental challenges. From dealing with injury worries to managing pre-race anxiety, these tips can help you find more joy and less stress in your runs.

🔗 Read the full article in Runner's World: https://bit.ly/4nwTyyx

09/15/2025

Today, on the first day of , we celebrate this year’s theme “Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future.”

We honor the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities — while also recognizing the challenges many face today. In recent months, families already burdened by inequities in access to care have experience heightened levels of stress, fear, and trauma.

According to NAMI, only 35.1% of Hispanic/Latinx adults with mental illness receive treatment each year, compared to the U.S. average of ~46.2%. Language, stigma, financial barriers, and fear around immigration status all contribute to lower access to support.

At The Family Institute, we believe honoring the past means acknowledging these realities — and inspiring the future means helping to create change. That includes offering Spanish-speaking therapists and working toward more equitable, culturally sensitive mental health care for all. 🧡

09/10/2025

Every life matters. Every conversation can make a difference. 💛

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day. If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, you are not alone. The Family Institute offers therapy and resources to help individuals and families navigate life’s most difficult moments.

Think you can’t access therapy? Our Bette D. Harris Clinic at Northwestern University provides no-cost therapy to those who cannot otherwise afford it.

🔗 family-institute.org/therapists-locations/get-started

📱In crisis? Dial or text 988 for the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline, 24/7.

09/08/2025

Motherhood is often shown online as an “either/or” — you’re either a high-achieving “girl boss” or a stay-at-home “trad wife.” But real life doesn’t look like that for most families.

“The ‘versus’ way of framing motherhood really frustrates me,” says Emily Klear, LMFT, Director of Adult Psychotherapy Services at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. “It puts us in a position of competition… as if there’s a ‘right way’ or ‘wrong way’ to be a mother.”

For USA TODAY, Emily shares why these unrealistic expectations can be harmful — and what parents actually need to thrive.

👉 Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3KdePik

08/30/2025

🕊️ Today is National Grief Awareness Day.

Grief is something we all experience, yet it rarely looks the same from one person to another. Our culture, religion, family traditions, and even gender roles all influence how we express and process loss. Some grieve privately, others with their community. Some cry openly, others find strength in silence.

In our latest article, Dr. Markeeta Parker explores how cultural differences shape the way we mourn — and how we can support one another with empathy and understanding.

👉 Read more: https://bit.ly/3UP8zj9

Address

618 Library Place
Evanston, IL
60201

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 8pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 8pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 8pm
Thursday	8:30am - 8pm
Friday	8:30am - 6pm
Saturday	8:30am - 4pm

Telephone

+18477334300

Website

https://www.family-institute.org/request-appointment

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Family Institute at Northwestern University posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to The Family Institute at Northwestern University:

Shortcuts

Address
Telephone
Opening Hours
Alerts
Contact The Practice
Claim ownership or report listing

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Evanston?

Our Story

Established in 1969, The Family Institute at Northwestern University is committed to strengthening and healing individuals, children and adolescents, couples and families through clinical service, education and research. 2019 marks The Family Institute’s 50th year of offering high quality mental health counseling, facilitated through a team of more than 70 clinicians practicing in four different Chicagoland locations: Chicago, Evanston, Northbrook and Westchester. Also committed to serving at-risk, under resourced communities, The Family Institute offers affordable care through the Bette D. Harris Family and Child Clinic.

The Family Institute conducts cutting-edge research to better understand mental health issues and treatment, operating two nationally-renowned graduate programs at Northwestern University in Counseling Psychology, and Marriage and Family Therapy.

For more information, visit www.family-institute.org.