Dr. Steve Yousha is a Psychologist and Senior Consultant who has been practicing since 1990. In addition to his clinical practice, he is Principal at Strategic Talent Management Consultants LLP.
As a Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Steve Yousha specializes in the treatment of depression, anxiety, adjustment and relational problems, providing both individual and couples therapy. He also has extensive experience with multicultural populations. He is published in the areas of depression, adjustment difficulties, and performance enhancement. Incorporating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques within a relational and psychodynamic frame, Dr. Yousha offers both symptom- and issue-focused therapies. He is also Level II certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing), one of the most effective treatments for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Dr. Yousha has directed mental health clinical and training programs for several years, supervising clinicians and students from bachelor to post-doctoral levels of training across Clinical Psychology, Social Work, and Psychiatry disciplines. As a director, he has been able to set a clear strategic vision for his staff, develop and grow a clinical and training program, create one of only two CARF accredited refugee mental health programs in the State of Illinois, and helped expand the breadth and depth of clinical services offered in his program. He offers consultation for therapists who want support in the logistics of developing or growing a practice or who are seeking clinical guidance.
Having both a clinical and organizational background together with years of management experience enables Dr. Yousha to most quickly and accurately assess challenges executives face in their work, offering broader and more in-depth solutions and consultation to effectively work through these challenges, and providing guidance to enhance overall professional development. His complementary backgrounds and areas of training and experience also afford notable ability to assess employment candidates for job placement prior to hire. He uses a variety of standardized assessment instruments, including those only available to licensed practitioners, and is also certified in Lominger® and MRG® suite products.
As a manager and leader, Dr. Yousha served as Director of a multicultural health center, developing it into a fully accredited facility with a strong training program. He has managed a number of projects with the Department of the Navy in the areas of assessment, design, and implementation of protocols to reduce attrition in recruits, and performance enhancement during basic training and beyond.
Dr. Yousha is published in the area of skill enhancement in organizations, focusing on programs to increase effectiveness in stressful work conditions. He earned his undergraduate and master degrees at the Florida State University and received his Doctorate at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. He has worked with executives and managers from many organizations, including: Mckinsey & Company, Ernst & Young, Northwestern Mutual, Shure, Exelon, Federal Reserve Banks of New York & Dallas, Department of the Navy, McShane Corp., ChapterHouse, Hollister, SunGard HE, Zebra Technologies, and Grossinger Toyota.
Organizational psychologists can have varied educational and training backgrounds, although their common goal is in enhancing human effectiveness in the workplace. Organizational psychologists who are trained in clinical work and who have experience in management and consulting are able to offer the best of both worlds. In the clinical setting, they are able to better appreciate the difficulties clients may face at their jobs from a broader systemic level, and can offer a more informed business perspective on how to best manage the client through job-related stressors.
In the organizational setting, the clinically educated psychologist will more quickly discern aspects of the personality and personal issues that can possibly derail the executive from success in the workplace. But the psychologist can also help the executive leverage certain personality traits to accelerate leadership development and enhance effectiveness on the job. Furthermore, the psychologist can adapt strategies specific to the needs, learning style, and obstacles faced by the executive. Being mindful of the boundaries between Clinical and Organizational Psychology, the consultant coach will respectfully not get involved in the personal issues of the executive. However, they will be able to help direct the client on accessing parts of their personality or give them the tools to most effectively work through hindrances so that they can reach their potential in the organization. This all contributes to optimal executive development.