Meet Dr. Howard Weissman of The Chicago Stress Relief Center in Northbrook

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Howard Weissman.

Dr. Weissman, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I began The Chicago Stress Relief Center in 1994. My vision was to incorporate holistic and empirical based mind body practices that could shift the stress response pattern naturally and open the client to a shift in consciousness. Toward this vision, my early years were spent studying with chiropractors, acupuncturists and integrative doctors. Becoming versed in natural herbs and homeopathy, I learned to offer many alternatives including Lifeline therapy and Nero-emotional Technique to the standard of care that always included psychopharmacology for depression and anxiety. Additionally, nutritional intelligence was incorporated and I began to advocate how food was a natural medicine and could energize or deplete the system based upon the quantity, quality and frequency ingested. Not before too long, I brought on my first acupuncturist and massage therapist. Partnering with an allied group of professionals allowed us to work together in a non-traditional but holistic manner helping people become unstuck, empowered and freed to create the life they most desired. 7 years ago this month, I added the first flotation tank to the center. It was this unique sensory reduction environment that opened the door to increasing the positive outcomes we were getting for chronic pain and intractable anxiety and depression. We are now in the process of adding another Ocean Float Room, a Far infrared sauna and an updated clinical massage room where we offer a myriad of body work including deep tissue, cupping, cranial sacral, zen shiatsu, swedish, reiki and more…

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Interestingly, the stress relief business seems immune to the ups and downs of the economy. As a result, we have maintained a steady rise each year in our growth, leaving us busy and needing time to exhale and breath to take extra time to utilize self-care strategies. In the stress relief business, we understand that no one is immune to burnout, which is a perk for our team who are all welcome to float for free.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Chicago Stress Relief Center – what should we know?
I am the clinical director and founder of The Chicago Stress Relief Center. I am a licensed clinical psychologist and a health psychologist and I’m a board certified expert in traumatic stress conditions. I am known for treating people with chronic pain, stress, PTSD both complex and single episodes, all types of OCD, phobias and depression. As a health psychologist, I also evaluate and treat those struggling with infertility stress and are seeking advanced reproductive medicine to aid in their capacity to conceive. I am most proud of the holistic strategies we offer especially flotation therapy as we are one of the only float centers in the country led by a clinical psychologist offering flotation therapy for clinical populations and lay people alike.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Compassionate understanding. My early training was in existential psychology which fueled my desire to not fall prey to labels but rather seek a deeper understanding of a person’s experience within the context that their symptoms and challenges evolved.

Pricing:

• 60 Minute Floatation Therapy & Rain Shower $79
• 60 Minute Clinical Massage $100
• 60 Minute Stress Assessment with treatment plan $125
• 30 Minute Far Infrared Sauna and Rain Shower $45

Contact Info:

• Address: 1440 Techny Road,
  Northbrook, IL 60062
• Website: www.stressreliefcenter.com
• Phone: 847-412-0922
• Email: drhweissman@stressreliefcenter.com
• Instagram: stressdoc22
• Facebook: @stressreliefcenternorthbrook
• Twitter: @StressReliefDr
• Yelp: The Chicago Stress Relief Center

Image Credit:
Dr. Howard Weissman
Sara Rose Pillars (FIR Sauna)
Michael Fine (Cupping)

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