Most people don’t walk into a DUI evaluation, Secretary of State evaluation, or substance use assessment knowing exactly what to expect. And honestly, why would you?
These processes can involve court requirements, paperwork, treatment records, driving histories, regulations, acronyms you’ve probably never heard before, and a whole lot of questions about what happens next.
I don’t expect you to understand all of that before you walk through my door. Explaining it to you is part of my job.
The more you understand about the process you’re going through, the more confident you can be participating in it.
Owner & Clinical Director
I’m Mallory Ludwig, owner and Clinical Director of Next Step Consultations. I’ve worked in the substance use field since 2007, and if there is one philosophy that has followed me throughout my career, it’s pretty simple: I believe people should understand the process they’re going through.
That belief is what led me here, and it’s what guides everything I do.
I actually started in this field at the front desk.
In 2007, I was hired as a part-time receptionist at a substance use and mental health agency. What started as roughly ten hours a week quickly became full-time, and over the years I learned nearly every side of how the agency operated.
Eventually, I realized I didn’t just want to understand the process myself. I wanted clients to understand it, too.
I moved into counseling and program services, earned my Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) credential in 2015, and became a Certified Reciprocal Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CRADC) and qualified Department of Transportation Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) in 2017.
Over the years, my work has included substance use counseling and education, DUI evaluations, professional alcohol and drug evaluations, DOT SAP assessments, program leadership, and extensive work with Illinois Secretary of State driver’s license reinstatement cases.
And after doing this for nearly two decades, I’ve learned a lot—not just about evaluations and regulations, but about the people sitting on the other side of the desk.
Experience matters. Understanding matters, too.
One thing has always bothered me about this field: people are expected to participate in processes nobody has actually explained to them.
I’ve had clients afraid to answer questions because they didn’t understand what information would be included in a report. I’ve had people walk in with paperwork they didn’t understand, terminology nobody had explained, and no idea what they were supposed to do next.
That uncertainty makes an already stressful situation even worse.
So I explain things.
I want you to understand what I’m asking and why I’m asking it. I want you to understand what happens with your evaluation. If there’s a problem, I want you to understand the problem. If I’m making a recommendation, I want you to understand how I got there. And when we’re finished, I want you to know what happens next.
Knowledge doesn’t magically make every requirement fun—but it makes the process a hell of a lot less intimidating.
That philosophy became particularly important in my work with Illinois Secretary of State driver’s license reinstatement cases.
The Secretary of State process is detailed, document-heavy, and sometimes just plain confusing. Through years of completing these evaluations and reports, reviewing denial orders, working with attorneys, and helping clients prepare for the process, I developed a strong understanding of what is required and where problems commonly arise.
Eventually, attorneys and other professionals began referring clients directly to me. I’ve even had clients tell me that Secretary of State hearing officers recommended they come see me.
That’s something I’m incredibly proud of.
Not because I have some magical way around the process—I don’t.
I just know the process really, really well.
And when I know something, I’m going to teach you what I know so you can walk into the next step understanding what you’re doing instead of crossing your fingers and hoping for the best.
I’m professional, but I’m also a person.
Some clients walk in scared. Some are embarrassed. Some are angry. Some think the entire situation is ridiculous. I’ve heard pretty much all of it.
You don’t need to pretend you’re thrilled to be there.
I’ll meet you where you are, explain things in normal language, answer your questions, and be straightforward with you. Sometimes that means reassurance. Sometimes it means humor. And sometimes it means having a conversation you probably aren’t going to love.
I’m not here to judge you, and I’m not here to make an already stressful process harder than it needs to be.
I’m here to give you accurate information, complete my work thoroughly, and make sure you understand what comes next.
Because I’ve seen it over and over throughout my career:
When people understand the process, they’re less fearful and more confident in the process.
And that’s exactly why I created Next Step Consultations.