Our own inspiring story

Theresa was recently featured as an inspiring story in the online magazine Voyage Chicago. In the article, she discussed how Quantum Counseling got its start! Read the full article at this link or keep reading below.

Meet Theresa Burback of Quantum Counseling in Downers Grove and Lincolnshire

Today we’d like to introduce you to Theresa Burback.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When I graduated from grad school, I began working with court-mandated substance abuse clients. It was ironic because I had originally said I did not want to work with this population. I then said I did not want to work with adolescence but then when I got a job as a counselor at a hospital, they started me in the adolescent program. I eventually learned to love working with both populations and gained skills working with many diverse groups of people. I have learned over the years to allow myself to stretch and grow, challenging my fears, and never letting them hold me back. I have a desire to help people to work through the difficulties of life and to live a happy, fulfilling life. I have come to cherish working with my clients and developed as a therapist. Once I had this experience, I started Quantum Counseling while also working full time at the hospital. At first, I only saw a few clients per week but gradually the numbers increased until I was working two full-time jobs. At that point, I decided to take a risk by leaving my hospital job and venturing out as a full-time private practice therapist. Each year we have grown and we now have eight therapists working for Quantum Counseling and serve individuals and families with many different needs.

Has it been a smooth road?
While it was difficult to work two full-time jobs and also raise a family, I think the struggles were worth it. My husband was very supportive and played a major role in working together as a team to accomplish starting Quantum. It was scary to quit the secure hospital job and to go into private practice because I never knew if I would keep getting new patients or not. But with my friends and family's support, I took the leap, not letting the fear stop me.

Some other struggles have been working with insurance companies. There are many times we have people call our office who have extremely high deductibles and cannot afford to use their insurance. We still try to work with people and either give them a reduced rate or work out a payment plan. The reason we at Quantum became therapists is because we have a heart to help people and so we do our best to provide services to everyone.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Quantum Counseling Inc. is a group of counselors and therapists dedicated to providing the highest quality expert treatment with a caring, individualized approach. We use a combination of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients manage their emotions and identify what their values are. Then working together, we develop treatment goals and skills to build on individual strengths and improve their lives. We have built our reputation by providing treatment that is supported by research, is effective, and individualized to each client’s specific needs and circumstances. We strive to provide an atmosphere that is respectful, caring, and supportive setting clients on the path to achieving the life they desire.

Quantum Counseling is a small psychotherapy private practice. We currently have eight counselors seeing clients seven days per week at our two locations in Downers Grove and Lincolnshire. Our counselors work with a very diverse group of clients, from young children to elderly adults, who are struggling with a wide range of problems. Each of our therapists specializes in different areas including Anxiety, Depression, Mood disorders, Personality disorders, Self-injury, Parenting issues, Chronic illness, Couples counseling, Substance abuse, and Trauma, just to name a few.

I am most proud of our therapists’ genuine caring for their clients and willingness to meet them where they are.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I love our locations! In Downers Grove (near Oak Brook) we are only about 25 minutes from the Chicago Loop. We are close to many area hospitals and are easy to get to. We noticed a need in the northern suburbs and so opened our Lincolnshire office to meet those needs.

Mental health issues affect about 1 in 5 people each year, according to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). There is a great need for quality, caring help to overcome these issues. There remains a lot of stigma in our society preventing people from seeking out mental health services. That is why we at Quantum Counseling view our clients as courageous for doing so.

I think our city is a good place for doing business and that there is a need for more services like ours. We recommend others to start businesses and regularly train interns in counseling to help increase the number of people in the mental health field.

I grew up in the Chicago area and love the city, everything from the lake to the festivals at any time of year.