Zach Neal, MA

“Bring it in. Bring in the nervousness–it’s probably informative.”

Zach specializes in working with teens, young adults, and men’s issues. He completed his master’s Degree in Counseling and Psychological Services at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, and earned a bachelor’s in Psychology from Columbia College of Missouri.

He loves to work with teens. These days, middle and high school are exhaustingly difficult to navigate. Substance use, bullying, school responsibilities, and peer drama are abundant, escalated by social media. Zach knows nothing but real, honest talk works with teens so he uses humor and straightforward communication to connect with his teen clients.

Zach and his wife, Courtney, have lived in Texas and, more recently, Minnesota. They now call the northwest Chicago suburbs home and make it a point to involve themselves in their community and the lives of those around them.

If Zach could only have one food for the rest of his life, it would be watermelon. He’s a summer person who gets a little down in the winter. When he needs to relax, Zach loves going to the gym or settling down to watch a sports game or a really good show. 

Zach’s Thoughts on Counseling: 

Whether someone is new to counseling or has been going to counseling for years, Zach makes sure to take the pressure off. He values humor, self-awareness, transparency, and genuine exchanges. Zach’s approach is practical and honest. He wants to know how his clients take their coffee and which team they yell at on the TV screen come Sundays.

For Zach, counseling is more than just a profession, it’s a purpose. While he respects the professional boundary, Zach’s favorite part of counseling is the relationships and the connections he makes every day. He feels privileged to be in other people’s lives and treats that responsibility with respect. He wants his current and future clients to know that what’s important to them is important to him as well. 

If Zach Hadn’t Become a Therapist:

He’d be a millionaire athlete. Or, more realistically, a business owner working with his family.

What Zach Says About the Client/Counselor Relationship: 

Zach believes that, in therapy, trust = safety. Without those components, transformative work is almost impossible. So if you are feeling like your current matchup isn’t working, you can count on Zach (and NPS) to help you find something better.