Amy Kurz

Empowering individuals to overcome anxiety and OCD, Amy Kurz, MSW, LCSW, brings a wealth of experience and specialized training to her practice. With a passion for helping teens, tweens, and adult women, Amy focuses on creating a collaborative and supportive environment where clients can develop the skills needed to manage their mental health challenges effectively.

Amy's journey in mental health began with her bachelor's degree in psychology from Illinois Wesleyan University, followed by a master's degree in social work from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Licensed as a clinical social worker since 2009, she honed her skills working in foster care and with girls exiting sex trafficking before discovering her true calling in individual therapy.

Specializing in the treatment of OCD and anxiety-related disorders, Amy's expertise extends to social anxiety, generalized anxiety, phobias, panic, separation anxiety, and body-focused repetitive behaviors such as trichotillomania and excoriation disorder. She is also trained in EMDR (eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing), an evidence-based treatment for trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). With over eight years of experience focusing on anxiety and OCD, Amy has developed a deep understanding of these conditions and effective treatment strategies.

Amy's therapeutic approach is characterized by openness and collaboration. She welcomes questions and strives to ensure that her clients feel seen and understood. Her goal is to equip clients with skills and strategies they can apply independently, viewing therapy as an investment in their future. Amy acknowledges that while therapy can be challenging work, the results are invaluable for long-term well-being.

Clients working with Amy can expect a supportive and understanding environment. She particularly enjoys working with teens who are ready to tackle their OCD, college students grappling with social anxiety and perfectionism, and adult women with OCD who are learning to prioritize self-care. Amy's experience with phobias, especially emetophobia (fear of vomiting), allows her to offer specialized support for those struggling with specific fears.

Outside of her professional life, Amy enjoys simple pleasures like curling up with a cup of tea and a good book, listening to live music, taking walks in the park, playing with her dog, and watching HGTV. These personal interests contribute to her warm and relatable approach in therapy sessions.