John Dinauer, LCSW

Licensed in Illinois · 30 years in practice

John Dinauer is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and addiction.

License and registration

LCSW, Illinois: 149007147 · expires November 2027
NPI: 1003853789 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 30
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check any license with the state board and any NPI with the national registry.

About John

John Dinauer is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and addiction. He works with clients facing life transitions and supports those in the LGBT community. He brings 30 years of experience to conversations about coping, purpose, and painful changes.

He focuses on practical, down-to-earth strategies. Sessions often center on problem solving, building routines, and developing ways to handle urges and intense feelings. He also addresses relationship and communication challenges and concerns tied to aging or chronic illness.

Background and approach

John pays attention to the whole situation around a concern. That means looking at habits, daily stressors, and the kinds of supports a person already has. He uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques to guide change rather than relying on a single method.

People meet him for help with process addictions, drug and alcohol problems, sex and BDSM-related issues, and the loneliness that can come with illness or life shifts. He also assists those dealing with abandonment worries, midlife questions, and struggles around sexual health including HIV or AIDS-related concerns. Sessions are offered in English and take place with a licensed professional in Illinois.

John’s practice includes video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. He works with each person to set realistic goals and build skills that fit their daily life.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything John lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Stress, Anxiety
Addictions
LGBT
Depression
Coping with life changes
Abandonment
Aging and geriatric issues
BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
Chronic pain, illness, and disability
Communication problems
Drug and alcohol addiction
HIV / AIDS
Isolation / loneliness
Life purpose
Men's issues
Midlife crisis
Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
Sex addiction

Online support

Approaches that guide online work

John uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques to help people change unhelpful habits and handle strong emotions. One common approach focuses on skill building for stress and anxiety management, teaching breathing, pacing, and simple behavioral changes that reduce worry and improve daily functioning. Another approach targets addiction and process behaviors by examining triggers, building alternative routines, and using step-by-step plans to reduce harmful patterns.

Choosing the right approach is collaborative. The therapist will listen to what matters most, try methods that match those goals, and adjust over time based on what helps. Clients and the therapist decide together which techniques fit the person’s needs and lifestyle.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone sessions need less bandwidth and can be a shorter check-in, and messages or live chat work well for ongoing processing or when a quick exchange is helpful. These options give flexibility and make regular work more manageable for many people.

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Questions people ask

What concerns does he address?

He supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, and addictions. Additional focuses include LGBT issues, chronic illness, aging, and relationship communication problems.

What is his therapeutic style?

He uses straightforward, practical work that focuses on routines, coping strategies, and problem solving. Sessions aim to build skills clients can use between meetings.

How much experience does he have?

He has 30 years of professional experience working in clinical settings and with individuals facing addiction, life transitions, and mental health challenges.

Where is he based and what are his credentials?

He is based in Illinois and holds a Licensed Clinical Social Worker credential, abbreviated as LCSW.

Which languages are offered?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.

How does cost and billing work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with him?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

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