Art of living Providers
The Art of Living Counseling Center is a group of clinicians focused on creating therapeutic environments where clients are invited deeper into their personal story for purposes of healing and empowerment.
We believe life is best understood as an Art Form rather than a series of accomplishments. Consequently, we focus on the craft of becoming a better human. We call this craft; The Art of Living. We use the dynamic metaphor of Story to help guide and organize the therapeutic process for individuals, couples and families.
Using this narrative approach, clients come to understand that they were given powerful stories that shaped and guided their development as a person. And that ultimately they get to choose what narratives to keep and which ones they want to edit or discard. The better you know your story, the more you can step into the fullness of who you are becoming.
Cyndi Mesmer, LCPC
Co-Owner & Clinical Director
About Cyndi
“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves…Live the questions now. Perhaps you will gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”
– Rainer Maria Rilke
Cyndi Mesmer, LCPC identifies as a white cisgender, able-bodied, straight woman. She is the clinical director and co-owns, with her husband Steve, The Art of living Counseling Center in Crystal Lake, IL. She worked as a teacher, supervisor and trainer at The Allender Center in Seattle WA. Cyndi has worked in all levels of care for mental health.
She has about 30 years of experience working with individuals, families and groups. She primarily works with clients working through trauma, both past and present. She sees the world through the lens of story and invites others to engage their stories in a way that brings more freedom and life, both personal and communal. She is a seeker of racial justice and advocate for other oppressed groups believing that there should be equal rights and flourishing for all humans.
Cyndi's Fee Structure
- Initial Appt. $220/session
- Individual $170/session
- Family/Marital $190/session
- Group $80 ($40 per hour) per 2 hr session
- Consultation $225/session
Cyndi's Zoom Link
Steve Mesmer, Lcpc
Co-Owner & Therapist
About Steve
“Therapy only works when we have a genuine desire to know ourselves as we are, not as we would like to be.”
– Bryan Fuller
Steve received his Masters in Counseling Psychology from Trinity International University in Deerfield, IL in 1995. He is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and has 22 years of experience in outpatient settings working with adolescents and adults. In 2004, Steve, with is wife Cyndi, founded The Art of Living Counseling Center. Steve completed his advanced certification in Trauma and Abuse from the Allender Center in Seattle, WA. and has extensive experience helping individuals dealing with childhood trauma and abuse.
One of Steve’s areas of expertise and passion is using counseling and teaching to help couples transform their fragile and conflictual relationship into one that is rugged and alive; a relationship that can handle the stress of careers, children, the unexpected, the daily grind, and the difference between sexes. Just like any worthwhile endeavor, marriage can be fantastic or burdensome. Together, though coaching and therapy we can stack the odds in favor of fantastic results.
Steve also has extensive experience and training in men’s issues, anxiety disorders, OCD, divorce recovery, and spiritual formation. Besides running and operating The Art of Living Counseling Center, Steve, along with his wife Cyndi, also have the privilege and challenge of parenting 5 wonderful children.
Steve's Fee Structure
- Initial Appt. $220/session
- Individual $170/session
- Family/Marital $190/session
- Group $80 ($40 per hour) per 2 hr session
- Consultation $225/session
Briana Kuhl, MSW
Therapist
About Briana
“Self-compassion tells us that it’s ok to err and to be human. That it actually is okay to experience what we experience without contorting ourselves. We are deserving of compassion by virtue of being human.” – Kristin Neff
Briana is passionate about helping clients build fulfilling lives that embrace their unique paths toward healing, freedom, and hope. Her clinical specialization is working with adolescents and adults, focused on emerging adulthood, identity-based oppression, and self exploration through a trauma-informed approach. Briana focuses on providing personalized care that focuses on partnering with each person to reach their individual goals. Briana seeks to offer a welcoming environment that prioritizes self-compassion and whole-person focused counseling.
Briana has experience working with individuals who have experienced trauma, depression, anxiety, addiction, ADHD, grief, interpersonal distress, mood disorders, child-parent relationships, and work issues. Her previous experience includes working in crisis response, group and individual counseling, substance abuse treatment, and case management for families and individuals.
Briana has her Master’s in Social Work, with a specialization in mental health from Loyola University Chicago. In her free time, Briana enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and collecting house plants.
Briana's Fee Structure
Specializations
The Art of Living Counseling Center’s experienced and diverse clinicians specialize in treating life’s most challenging struggles and circumstances.
Depression
Anxiety
Trauma
Sexual Abuse
OCD
Eating Disorders
Self-Injury
PTSD
Abuse Recover
Men’s Issues
Substance Abuse
Pre-Marital
Marital
Grief & Loss
Divorce Recovery
Spiritual Formation
Christian Counseling
Life Transition
Personality Disorders
Spiritual & Church Abuse
Contact us today!
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