Dave Dennis, MSW, LCSW, SPC

Dave is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Co-Founder of Grow Sport Psychology & Performance Improvement who brings several years of experience working with athletes and performers to overcome a range of challenges. Particular areas of interest are in the treatment of athletes and sports performance, anger management and anxiety as well as other mental health challenges. Life, sports and performance can challenge us in unexpected ways and sometimes we might need more support to find our way through.

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As a former student athlete, Dave understands the value of having a strong mind and body connection in order to be successful as an athlete and in life. As a soccer player, Dave experienced firsthand the effects of performance anxiety and self-doubt as a player. Thanks to the influential impact of one coach in particular, he was able to turn that anxiety and self-doubt into motivation for self-improvement. Dave has since been passionate about giving back to the sports community through coaching, volunteering at sports camps, and mentoring young athletes through the YMCA of Lee County and then onto local high schools in Chicago.  

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His approach centers on listening, communicating, and cultivating a supportive environment in which we work together to identify the challenges that get us stuck. He uses a variety of treatment modalities including CBT, ACT, Psychodynamic, and client-centered approaches. Together, we will learn from your past, engage the present, and set intentions for the future. Dave has worked and trained in a wide variety of professional settings including private practice, hospitals, and community-centered outreach.

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In his free time, Dave is a tremendously passionate sports fan, enjoys traveling the world, and loves spending time with his two pups Woodford and Winston.