About Rob

Rob Yurisko is a Licensed Independent Social Worker and Chemical Dependency Counselor with nearly 20 years of experience working across multiple levels of care in diverse clinical settings, including private practice, inpatient and residential treatment, and community-based organizations. His work focuses on helping people navigate addiction, grief, men's issues, sexuality, spirituality, life transitions, and questions of meaning and purpose.

He brings a collaborative, direct, and growth-oriented approach to therapy, working especially well with clients who feel stuck, disconnected, or at a turning point and are ready to take responsibility for the next chapter of their lives. Rob is particularly passionate about helping individuals clarify direction, reconnect with what matters to them, and build sustainable, meaningful change.

Alongside his clinical work, Rob teaches in the Social Work Department at Ohio University and in the Applied Sciences and Human Services Department at Columbus State Community College. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Heartland Recovery High School and is a founding board member of The Recovery Explorers Club, both reflecting his deep commitment to supporting people through connection, community, and lived experience.

Training & Credentials

• LISW-S | Licensed Independent Social Worker with Supervision Designation

• LICDC-CS | Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor with Clinical Supervision Designation

• Master of Science in Social Administration, Case Western Reserve University (concentration in Clinical Social Work)

• Experience across private practice, inpatient/residential treatment, and nonprofit settings

• Adjunct faculty roles at Ohio University and Columbus State Community College

• Board leadership with Heartland Recovery High School and The Recovery Explorers Club

Approach

Rob integrates Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Twelve-Step Facilitation (TSF), Adventure Therapy (AT), and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) to help clients make meaningful, practical changes in their lives. His style is direct yet collaborative, with a strong emphasis on moving from insight into action.

He values simplicity, accountability, humor, and authentic human connection, and draws on his interest in evolutionary psychology and contemplative traditions to help clients explore behavior, motivation, and personal growth in ways that feel grounded and real. Coming from a family of educators, Rob has a natural ability to translate complex psychological concepts into clear, practical language clients can immediately apply.

What to Expect

Clients working with Rob can expect a conversational, engaged therapeutic process that balances understanding with action. Early sessions focus on exploring what brings you to therapy, identifying patterns that feel stuck, and beginning to clarify what you actually want your life to look like.

The work is collaborative and direct; Rob will help you translate insight into concrete steps you can use outside of sessions. The pace is flexible, but the focus stays on creating real, lasting change rooted in deep respect for your autonomy and inherent dignity.

A Bit Outside the Office

Outside the office, I enjoy a simple life with the people I love. I like traveling, exploring new places, being outdoors, walking, thrifting, visiting farmers markets, listening to podcasts, and watching documentaries and good cinema. I love the mountains, adventure, humor, meaningful conversation, natural living, and staying connected to the things that make me feel most alive.

A Note from Rob

Rob's personal mission is simple: keep growing, help others grow, foster genuine connection, and have fun! He believes therapy works best when it's honest, grounded, and connected to real life and aims to create a space where clients feel both challenged and supported as they move toward a more purposeful next chapter.