Fran Gutstein, LCSW

Faith is the defeat of probability by the power of possibility.” — Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

Fran Gutstein, LCSW's style

Why Fran Gutstein, LCSW chose to be in the helping profession

When I began my training almost four decades ago, I wasn’t just choosing a profession. I was choosing a way of being in the world and a way of relating to people. I have always been deeply moved by people’s inner lives, by their resilience, their questions, their quiet strength, and even the ways they carry pain. That curiosity and respect for each person’s inner experience has stayed with me throughout my work. It continues to shape how I listen, how I understand, and how I sit with those who come to me.

In nearly 30 years of private practice, I’ve come to see that healing is not about giving advice or having the right answers. It’s about creating a space where someone feels truly seen and emotionally safe enough to explore their story. This includes the parts that feel stuck, overwhelming, or unfinished, the places that are often hardest to put into words. When that kind of space is present, something begins to shift naturally. People are able to connect more honestly with themselves and move toward a sense of clarity and relief.

My work is strongly informed by EMDR, which is grounded in the belief that the mind and nervous system are wired to move toward healing when given the right support. I don’t see people as broken. Rather, I understand that certain experiences can become unprocessed or feel frozen in time. With care, attunement, and a thoughtful therapeutic approach, those experiences can begin to shift. As they do, there is often a growing sense of integration, ease, and a renewed connection to oneself.

At its core, I see therapy as walking alongside someone as they reconnect with their own inner wisdom. I hold a deep trust that each person already carries within them the capacity for growth, insight, and truth. My role is to support that process with presence, steadiness, and respect. Over time, this work can help people feel more grounded in who they are and more able to move forward in a way that feels aligned and meaningful.

Fran Gutstein, LCSW's approach

My work is rooted in relationship. I believe healing happens within a safe, attuned connection, what I often think of as a gentle, responsive dance between therapist and client. Therapy is not something I “do” to you. It is something we move through together, with presence, care, and attention to what emerges in the room between us.

My foundation is relational and attachment-based. I pay close attention to patterns that developed in earlier relationships and how they continue to show up in your emotional world today. We take time to understand these patterns with warmth and curiosity, not judgment. The process is steady and respectful, allowing space for insight to unfold at a pace that feels manageable and grounded.

I practice psychotherapy in a thoughtful, integrative way. When appropriate, I incorporate EMDR to help process experiences that feel stuck, overwhelming, or unresolved. I don’t see EMDR as something separate or technical layered onto the work, but as part of a broader, compassionate framework that trusts the nervous system’s natural capacity to heal when there is enough safety and connection.

Above all, I aim to create a space that feels grounded, nurturing, and emotionally secure. A place where you can soften, explore what has been difficult to hold alone, and gradually move toward greater clarity, integration, and wholeness.

What you can expect from sessions with Fran Gutstein, LCSW

What you can expect from our sessions is a space that is truly yours.

I set aside a full hour for us, though we don’t have to use all of that time. We’ll move at a pace that feels right for you. There is no pressure to fill the space or to push into anything you are not ready for. The work unfolds naturally, based on what feels most present and important in the moment.

My intention is for you to feel seen, heard, and respected here. Your experiences, your emotional responses, and even your hesitations are all welcome. Nothing you bring is too much or not enough. We make room for the full range of what you are carrying, without judgment or agenda.

At the same time, we will gently clarify what feels most meaningful for you to work toward. We check in about your goals and adjust along the way so the process stays collaborative and grounded. You will not be led somewhere without your consent. We decide together what direction feels useful, and we stay flexible as things evolve.

This is your space. My role is to support you, offer guidance when it is helpful, and help you stay grounded and steady as we move forward.

Fran Gutstein, LCSW's experience working with the Jewish community

I have had the privilege of working closely with the Jewish community for many years, primarily within the Orthodox community. I approach this work with care, sensitivity, and deep respect for its values, rhythms, and traditions. Over time, I have come to deeply appreciate the joys, challenges, and unique dynamics of family and communal life, and I strive to honor each person’s experience within that context.

My work spans children, parents, and adults, and I have a particular love for supporting families and individuals across the lifespan. I work with a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, self-esteem, perinatal and postpartum issues, and the many transitions and adjustments that life brings. I hold all of this with an awareness of how cultural and religious values shape emotional experience and decision-making, and I bring that understanding into the work in a grounded and respectful way.

I also offer parenting workshops that focus on building healthy relationships, supporting child development, fostering self-esteem in children, and empowering parents. These are always offered within the framework of Jewish values and family life, with an emphasis on practical support that feels aligned and realistic for families.

Earlier in my career, I worked in school social work and domestic violence advocacy, experiences that deeply shaped my clinical perspective. They strengthened my understanding of the complexity families face and the many layers that can exist beneath what is visible on the surface.

Above all, my goal in every session is to create a space where members of the Jewish community feel seen, heard, and respected. A space where your voice matters, your pace is honored, and we work together toward feeling more empowered, supported, and steady in your life.

Fran Gutstein, LCSW's Book Recommendation Zone

• Slowing Down to the Speed of Life — Richard Carlson, Ph.D.
  A practical guide to reducing stress and overwhelm, helping readers notice and enjoy the small, meaningful moments in everyday life. It encourages slowing down, simplifying, and finding balance amid the busyness of modern life.
• Are We Having Fun Yet? — Mary Kay Willis
  A lighthearted and realistic take on parenting, emphasizing the importance of perspective, humor, and joy. It offers encouragement and practical insights for parents to navigate the challenges of raising children while still enjoying the journey.
• Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma — Peter A. Levine & Ann Frederick
  Explains trauma as something that gets “stuck” in the nervous system and uses accessible metaphors to describe why the body and emotions react as if danger is happening right now.

Approaches

• Attachment-based
• EMDR
• FLASH Technique
• Inner child work
• Psychodynamic Therapy

Concerns

• Anxiety
• Bereavement & Grief
• Depression
• Dissociative disorders
• Divorce/Separation
• Emotion regulation
• Gender Identity Issues
• Life purpose and meaning
• Panic attacks/panic disorder
• Parenting

28 years in practice

Licenses

• LCSW by Illinois. License number 149.006642
• LCSW by Florida

Degrees

• MSW

Certificates

• EMDR Certified Therapist

Trainings

• Flash Trained Therapist

Affiliations

• NASW
• EMDRIA
• NEFESH

Average costs per session

$175 - $250

Payment Methods

• Insurance
• Cash
• Check
• Credit Card
• Zelle Quick Pay

Insurances

• BlueCross and BlueShield