Kooper Gordon, LCSW
(he/him)
Go ahead, ask me about my tattoos.
I’m a huge foodie. Give me a new restaurant or a recipe to try and I am in foodie heaven.
Coffee is my oxygen. I’ll take a cup of a single origin black coffee over a caramel Frappuccino any day. But I’ll never be above stopping at a gas station for coffee in a pinch.
A show I have binge watched recently is The Bear. Yes, Chef!
My dog’s name is Bruce Wayne, after Batman, who's been my fav superhero since I was a kid. Also, Christian Bale was the best Batman. Fight me.
When I want to zone out, I like to read comics, build Lego sets and play video games, like the Legend of Zelda. Nintendo all the way!
I grew up playing basketball, and love the connection sports can bring. I’m from the Chicagoland area, so go Bulls!
I’m a bonus parent to two boys (11 & 13), so I am living my best preteen nerd life.
How I Got Here
My love for working with kids can be traced all the way back to the 6th grade when I began volunteering at my church leading activities for Vacation Bible School. I enjoyed interacting with the kids and being able to help them gain meaningful knowledge and insight. When I decided to pursue a career, I knew that I would want to focus on working with kids. The experience of working with kids fills my heart more than any other work I’ve done.
The experience of being a transracial adoptee from Cambodia was another major motivation for me wanting to get into this field and work with other adoptees. I know how it feels to be the only minority in my school and to grow up in a household of people who look different than me. My personal experiences of being adopted allows me to connect with other adoptees and their unique experiences and challenges that they may face.
Early in my career, I worked as a Recovery Advocate in a teen male substance use treatment center. I loved connecting with kids from all different backgrounds and was fascinated learning about their stories and what circumstances in their lives led to them using alcohol and drugs. While in graduate school, I worked with a community based mental health agency serving kids from lower socioeconomic backgrounds in their schools and homes. Throughout my career, I have helped kids struggling with things like anger, anxiety, ADHD, depression, challenging behaviors, family issues and trauma.
How I Do Therapy
Therapy is most effective when there is consistency and connection between the therapist and client. I value the relationship I establish with my clients and focus on ensuring they feel safe and comfortable to be themselves in our sessions.
I take a simplified, casual, and direct approach to therapy that helps in making sessions not feel like therapy and caters to those who may believe therapy "isn't for them.”
I may not always have the answers and will never pretend like I do. I’m committed to being a lifelong learner and love to research and learn about new things. I frequently collaborate with my colleagues to get other professionals’ input and feedback.
I’m a passionate advocate for male mental health and specialize in working with other males of all ages. As a man, I understand the difficulties men can have in expressing, navigating and connecting with their thoughts and emotions.
Sessions with me are client-centered and I integrate various evidenced based modalities of therapy, such as CBT, ACT, DBT and Motivational Interviewing based on the client’s needs.
Experience and Education
Degrees
Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from the University of Texas
Masters of Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington
Licensure
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (License #108608)
Certifications & Trainings
Certified Trauma Professional (CTP)
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Anger Management for Kids & Teens
Anxiety Treatment for Children & Adolescents
ADHD Treatment for Children & Adolescents
Trauma & Attachment Treatment for Children & Adolescents
Grief Counseling for Children & Adolescents
