Therapist Diane McClain Photo

Diane McClain, LCSW

Stress, Anxiety Relationships Grief Coping with life changes Coaching
Video Messaging

About me

Hi
My name is Diane I have more than 30+ years of experience doing therapy. I have worked in inpatient, outpatient settings as well as family service agencies and private practice. My approach is client centered with a strong focus on solution oriented short term therapy. I am a direct communicator, but use humor often to help clarify issues and to create an intervention that is easier to remember for my clients. Life sometimes is very hard, it is our reaction to it that makes it harder or easier. We can grow and learn to make our decisions based on our values and interests so that we are not fighting with ourself over the decisions that were always ours to make. We all make choices that have far ranging consequences for ourself and others- let us make them after a careful, honest self examination- therapy can provide a safe place for this self examination. .

I have an interest in providing therapy and support for caregivers, clients with new medical challenges and families dealing with end of life issues.
I have specialized in grief and loss as well as anxiety and depression.

I am a direct communicator and have been able to " speak truth to power" so one of my subset of experiences is coaching executives who have lost their jobs and are going through emotionally challenging times.

I am experienced at counseling cross cultural and interfaith families both at the pre-marital stage and further along in the marriage. I also have counseling experience ( as an ally) with GLBTQ+ counseling, coming out, managing the family disclosure and acceptance and straight spouse issues as well.

Make no mistake, people need to work in therapy. A good therapist does not provide a NEST ( never ending supportive therapy) but rather a launching point.

So if you are ready to launch ......contact me

Professional experience

46yrs in practice
Stress, Anxiety Relationships Grief Coping with life changes Coaching

Additional areas of focus: Addictions, LGBT, Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Intimacy-related issues, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Depression, Compassion fatigue, Abandonment, Adoption and foster care, Aging and geriatric issues, Attachment issues, Blended family issues, Cancer, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain, illness, and disability, Co-morbidity, Codependency, Commitment issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Dependent personality, Divorce and separation, Emptiness, Family of origin issues, Family problems, Fertility issues, Guilt and shame, HIV / AIDS, Hospice and end-of-life counseling, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Men's issues, Midlife crisis, Mood disorders, Multicultural concerns, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships, Postpartum depression, Pregnancy and childbirth, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-love, Social anxiety and phobia, Somatization, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young adult issues

Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Somatic Therapy

Services offered

Video
Messaging

License information

IL LCSW 149.013411

Reviews

These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Diane McClain. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.

I wholeheartedly recommend Diane. From the very first session, I felt genuinely heard and understood. Diane fosters a safe, nonjudgmental space where I can freely express my thoughts and feelings, making the experience incredibly therapeutic. For the past few years, I've been attending therapy with her intermittently, and she has guided me through challenging life decisions, facilitated healing from my past, and helped me gain a new, healthier perspective on myself and my actions.

Written on Nov 17, 2024 after therapy with Diane for 3 years and 6 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and self esteem

I continue to be well supported by Diane. She is knowledgeable, supportive, and the different perspective she's able to add for different experiences and situations is truly invaluable.

Written on Oct 30, 2024 after therapy with Diane for 4 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, and self esteem

I feel Diane is very experienced and knowledgeable in her field and has been there many times to see quickly, what’s happening. She gives frank and direct observations and suggests options to move forward which seem helpful. It has only been 2 sessions……

Written on Oct 01, 2024 after therapy with Diane for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, and intimacy-related issues

I have never felt as deeply understood and connected with another therapist as with Diane.

Written on Sep 07, 2024 after therapy with Diane for 2 weeks on issues concerning relationship issues

Diane held up a mirror and pushed me to really look into it so I could again see myself as the amazing person I am! We didn't spend a lot of time digging up old trauma, but rather spent the majority of our time looking at what's happening now, and focusing on forward motion. Her therapy style is that of an "iron fist in a velvet glove" much like a fine Margaux wine, soft enough to be supportive, but strong enough to help you get the deep work done.

Written on Aug 14, 2024 after therapy with Diane for 11 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, and coping with life changes

Diane is great, she helps me work through really stressful situations with compassion, advice, and humor.

Written on Aug 10, 2024 after therapy with Diane for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, sleeping disorders, self esteem, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and adhd