Practitioner record · Checked 7 Nov 2026
Aaron Swerdlove has been in practice 8 years and is licensed in Illinois. Aaron lists stress, Anxiety, addictions and depression among 13 subjects on the BetterHelp roster.
Everything below is either quoted from Aaron's own BetterHelp listing, taken from public licensing records, or written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such. Nothing here is an availability promise, a review, or a rating.
01 · Who Aaron works with
Aaron lists 13 specialisms. Specialisms are the subjects Aaron chose to list first, which is the closest a listing gets to “this is my actual practice”.
02 · In Aaron's own words
Reproduced in full and unedited - not summarised, not tightened, not rewritten in a house voice.
Greetings citizens of the universe my name is Aaron Swerdlove and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Chicago Illinois. In 2003 I completed my Masters degree at The University of Illinois-Chicago, Jane Addams College of Social Work. Over the years I’ve learned a few things, for instance sometimes the best advice is the advice not given. Another thing I’ve learned is to not be so judgmental of others.
Indeed I have begun a counseling/therapy practice and I do offer support, guidance, and understanding. My approach is integrative because there is not a one size fits all when it comes to problems and difficulties in life. The client’s prerogative is super important .
Adversity, difficulties, rough patches, problems, failures, etc are bound to happen in life and sometimes people need assistance to get through and understand what it is they are experiencing. I think therapy and counseling can be very useful in this endeavor.
Making a little bit more space internally can result in more freedom and peace within. Changing the narrative of our storylines or understanding our experience in a different way can be liberating. Therapy/counseling can definitely help accomplish this. Go for it you are worth it. I’d love the opportunity to help.
Aaron Swerdlove, on the BetterHelp listing · read 7 Nov 2026
03 · What happens next
Aaron practises through BetterHelp, so the route in is BetterHelp's. This is that sequence, written by Maker Therapy from the platform's published process - not a description of Aaron's own practice, and not a promise about how quickly anything happens.
BetterHelp opens with a set of questions about what you are dealing with, what you want from therapy, and any preferences on the therapist. You are not booking Aaron at this point.
BetterHelp matches algorithmically by default, so asking for Aaron is a step you have to take. There is a field for requesting a specific therapist during sign-up, and you can switch afterwards from your account. Starting from a link on this page does not by itself assign you to Aaron.
You will be offered somebody else rather than put on a waitlist. Worth knowing, because it is easy to assume a match is the person you asked for.
A first session is typically history and orientation: what brought you, what has been tried, what you want to be different. It is also where the questions in the next section belong.
Changing therapist on BetterHelp does not need a reason. A first session that does not click is common and is not a verdict on therapy. That option existing is the main practical difference between a platform and a private practice.
04 · Before you commit
Built from what Aaron actually lists, so they are answerable and specific rather than generic. Maker Therapy's, not Aaron's - Aaron has not seen them and is under no obligation to answer any of them.
“How do you decide when someone is ready to work on a traumatic memory itself?”
Pacing is the biggest safety question in trauma work. A clear, unhurried answer here matters more than any credential.
“How do you handle the gap between sessions if something comes up?”
On BetterHelp this varies a great deal by therapist. Better to know the rhythm now than to discover it on a bad week.
05 · Practical details
06 · Provenance
Aaron's name, credential, state, subjects, approaches and biography are read from BetterHelp's therapist roster, which Maker Therapy re-reads once a day; this page reflects the reading taken on 7 Nov 2026. The licence number and NPI are cross-checked against public registers.
The plain-English method descriptions, the first-session walkthrough and the questions are written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such wherever they appear.
Maker Therapy is not BetterHelp, does not take bookings, and has not met Aaron. There are no reviews or ratings on this page because we have no way to verify one. If you start therapy through a link here, we may be paid a commission - it does not change your price and it does not affect who appears here or in what order.
Something on this page wrong or out of date? Report it and it will be checked against the source.
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