Program: Human Services
Bruce Sewick, LCPC, CADC, wants his students to know they can make a difference in people’s lives.
As an adjunct faculty member in the Human Services program, Sewick draws on the diverse aspects of his career to train students. He is the CEO of Leyden Family Service and Mental Health Center (in Franklin Park) and the SHARE Program (in Hoffman Estates). The agency is a not-for-profit providing mental health and substance abuse treatment. Last year, they helped people in 98 counties across Illinois.
“My clients inspire me and my work with them,” he said. “They wake up every morning with a disability. Their resilience and hope make me work even harder on their behalf. It is very humbling.”
While the workload may seem overwhelming, Sewick is passionate about what he does and developed that passion as an undergraduate in the psychology field during the 1970s.
“Humanistic psychology was prominent and there was a lot of research being done that addressed the nature of consciousness,” he said. “This was all fascinating to me because the questions that were being asked were about the very nature of one’s being and consciousness. I felt if I was to choose a discipline, it should be the one that answers life’s most important questions. Many addicts and clients are searching for these answers and helping them get answers is part of counseling, so it all ties in.”
Sewick is proud to be training future clinicians to help others and educating them on what to expect in the field.
“I try to show them how my efforts and theirs make a difference in people’s lives,” he said. “I share real-life examples and help foster critical thinking skills so necessary for our work. We save lives by providing services and support to people who otherwise might not be able to live successfully without our help. I show them how their passion and resolve can remove obstacles and teach them how to do it. They learn by my examples of both personal success and failure. I share both with them. And they inspire and challenge me with their questions and enthusiasm.”