Mark a Myers

Mark Myers is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor (CADC). He started out in the mental health field working at a boys group home in the City of Chicago. From there he sought out his Master's Degree in Social Work at Loyola University. At that time, first-year students were not given many choices as to where they would spend their internship.

He was placed at the Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital. Five other students were also assigned to the VA. " On the first day, a supervisor asked our group where we wanted to be placed. Not knowing what exact services were offered at the hospital, or where I would wind up, I anxiously tried to come up with a decision. Fortunately for me, she started from right to left and I was the last one on the left. I had noticed a sign above the entrance to a hallway with an arrow pointing to a Substance Abuse Unit. I am not sure how much time elapsed between me recalling that sign and being called upon by the instructor. When I blurted out my answer, the supervisor seemed pleased with my decision. Thinking back, I wonder if I had not noticed that sign, or if she had gone from left to right in her questioning, what direction my career would have taken. Nonetheless, from my first day in the unit, I started on my career journey."

Mark's journey has included working in inpatient, intensive outpatient, and aftercare components of substance abuse treatment centers. He has designed substance abuse programs as well as additional programming regarding mental health and substance abuse. He has his own group private practice, Myers Counseling Group, in Crystal Lake, IL for over 19 years. At Myers Counseling Group he works with families, individuals, teens, and children addressing mental health and substance use disorder issues. Mark also is a Professor at Aurora University. He has taught substance abuse classes and social work classes for Bachelor and Master level students.

His wife, Janet, is a coauthor on Falling Trees, as well as working with him at Myers Counseling Group. They have three children who are all attending college. Mark and Janet also share a passion for animals, as is evident by them sharing their home with their three dogs, three rabbits, and a Cockatiel.