Dr. Steven Nakisher has successfully founded, developed and sold several companies in the private and public sector. His experiences as a licensed psychologist, entrepreneur, advisor, consultant and mentor have contributed to his work as a clinician and leader.
With almost 30 years of experience, Dr. Nakisher has followed his passion for helping people live more authentic and meaningful lives. His creative and highly interactive approach is particularly suited to people struggling with personal, relationship or work dissatisfaction, anxiety, depression, substance use, disordered eating and feeling stuck in life. He also specializes in working CEOS of public companies and with the LGBTQIA+ community. By offering a safe and collaborative place for people to explore and confront issues that impair their quality of life, real change can happen and the result is magical.
Dr. Nakisher provides therapy to adults in Chicago and Michigan through in-person and secure telehealth services.
Dr. Nakisher founded the Center for Personal Development, a multidisciplinary behavioral health practice that he developed and grew before selling the company to Refresh Mental Health in 2020. His areas of clinical expertise include working with individuals and couples who struggle with identity, relationships, substance use and addiction, co-occurring diagnoses and other challenges that affect quality of life. He has a particular interest in supporting the LGBTQIA+ community.
As a helping professional with business expertise, Dr. Nakisher is also the founder of Chicago-based Cornerpiece Consulting, a firm specializing in the “people side” of business. Cornerpiece provides coaching, leadership and talent development, conflict resolution and training. He also founded the Leadership Advisory Board (LAB), an organization providing leadership development for CEOs. LAB’s work has been influential with domestic and global companies across many industries, including food and beverage, entertainment, technology and retail.
Dr. Nakisher’s entrepreneurial experience also includes Talbott Teas, a gourmet tea company he co-founded that appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank and secured an investment from Kevin O’Leary before being sold to Jamba Juice. Refresh Mental Health, which acquired the Center for Personal Development in 2020, was subsequently acquired by Optum Health in 2022 in a transaction reportedly valued at more than $1 billion. Dr. Nakisher has also consulted with CEOs and leadership teams of Fortune 500 and publicly traded companies on leadership development, marketing strategy and organizational issues.These experiences have given Dr. Nakisher a firsthand understanding of the pressures that can accompany leadership, achievement, entrepreneurship and professional success. He brings that perspective to his work with people who may be successful in many areas of their lives but still struggle with relationships, identity, anxiety, dissatisfaction or feeling stuck.
Dr. Nakisher received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his doctorate from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. He has served on the board of directors of The Chicago School Education System since 2002.
There is nothing worse than feeling stuck. We experience this phenomenon at work and in our relationships. We try to fix the discomfort by changing jobs, changing our relationships and it doesn’t work. Ironically, despite making changes, we don’t feel changed.
