Stephanie Brenner is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has 13 years of experience working with clients with chronic illnesses. Through her journey as a chronic illness patient and clinician, she has developed a passion for helping people with health challenges live their lives to the fullest. When working with her clients, she uses cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, medical hypnotherapy, psycho-education, and a strengths-based approach. She sees children and adults from age 5 through adulthood. She has a special interest and advanced training in treating gastrointestinal conditions. Stephanie received her undergraduate degree in Elementary and Special Education from the University of Iowa. She taught students with severe autism in the Chicago Public Schools for three years before earning her Master’s degree in social work from Loyola University Chicago in 2010. She worked as an outpatient oncology social worker and research assistant at NorthShore University HealthSystem in the Kellogg Cancer Center for six years. During this time, she co-founded Oak Park Behavioral Medicine, where she worked for six years with patients with chronic illnesses. In 2018, she ventured out to establish her own practice in Evanston. She has spoken at various conferences both nationally and internationally, and served on the advisory team for the Pediatric Crohn’s Guidebook published in 2021. She was also on the Recruitment committee for the Rome Foundation’s GastroPsych organization, which is dedicated to providing a space for psychosocial GI providers to gain more competence and training in helping GI patients thrive.