Therapy can be the first big step toward better mental health. If you’re interested in working with a therapist in Illinois, consider online treatment. Barriers to care, like transportation challenges or a lack of available providers, can make finding in-person therapy difficult. An online platform like BetterHelp can make getting treatment more convenient and flexible.

With BetterHelp, you can work with a psychologist, licensed professional counselor, or other mental health provider from your home at a time that suits your busy schedule. BetterHelp therapists can guide you through the therapeutic process and help you overcome a range of challenges, including working through questions about gender identity, managing the symptoms of C-PTSD, overcoming job stress, and learning to heal from the psychological effects of marriage issues, divorce, and raising children. 

Therapy can be beneficial for those having trouble coping with the bigger problems in the world at large or trying to find happiness in their own lives.  If you’re looking for an online therapist, IL has practitioners licensed to provide mental health care state-wide. Connect with one of the providers below to learn how online therapy can help you live a more meaningful life.

 

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Diane McClain

Offering therapy in Illinois
License: LCSW
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesGriefCoping with life changesCoaching
46 years of experience

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

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Dr. Thomas Kadela

Offering therapy in Illinois
License: Ph.D.,LCSW,BCD
Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseSleeping disordersAnger managementDepression
26 years of experience

Hi – I’m Dr. Kadela and it’s nice to “meet” you. They wanted me to write a little about myself so here you go! Note – if you have insomnia this might just put you to sleep – so enjoy that perk at no charge! - Why are you on BetterHelp? I have over 26 years of assessment and treatment experience. I only work with 1-2 clients at a time on BetterHelp since I work full time with the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and am also a United States Army National Guard Behavioral Health Officer (neither of which I formally represent here). BetterHelp allows me to work with cool people like you in a more casual setting. Before coming to the DVA I specialized in children and families. - What would our sessions look like? Well – that’s really up to you! I may have gone to school for a long time to be called “Dr.” but you’ve spent a long time being you – and you’re the expert of you! So we are both experts, and therefore equals, in this partnership. So YOU get to pick how we spend our time together. Do you want Executive Coaching? Or to use me as more of a sounding board for your thoughts and feelings (sometimes known as Gestalt Therapy)? Do you want to target an issue like Depression, Trauma, Anxiety, Sleep, Communication or Anger? If that’s the case you can choose an Evidenced Based Psychotherapy (EBP). EBPs are well researched and have proven outcomes. They almost always involve homework in-between our sessions. You can see you have a lot of choices and we can talk about what’s right for you, and what you think would be best, but I am formally trained in: • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) • Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression (CBT-D) • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP) • Social Skills Therapy (SST) • Anger Management (AM) • Solution Focused Brief Psychotherapy (SFBP) • Problem Solving (PS) No matter what we do I take a holistic approach. I believe we need to balance Body, Mind and Spirit (however you define Spirit). When one of them is out of whack (not a technical term) the other two go wonky (again not a technical term). It’s like driving a vehicle with three round tires and one square – it’s very clunky and uncomfortable! - Resume/Curriculum Vita OK – here is the boring stuff. I’ve been practicing for over 26 years and during that time I’ve taught/teach at University at both the Graduate and Undergraduate levels. I’ve published in a few journals. I’m Board Certified in my discipline. I’ve worked and/or supervised inpatient, outpatient and residential treatment programs. I’ve been on the conference circuit and given many workshops and keynote speeches. I’ve held job titles such as Chief Clinical Officer of National Programs, State Director, Chief Administrative Officer, Training Director, Supervisor of Specialty Programs, etc. I am a US Army Combat Veteran. Let me know if you want more details as I’m happy to share. I hope I get to meet you!

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Sarah Peters

Offering therapy in Illinois
License: MAAT,LCPC
Self esteemCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue
9 years of experience

Create an opportunity to care for yourself. You can think of it like getting a gym membership or working with a personal trainer. By dedicating time for personal development in an emotionally supportive environment, we can work together to make changes in your life. Maybe you have a specific goal in mind to work towards or would like to learn new coping skills for life's challenges. No matter what brought you to BetterHelp today, my role and my goal is to assist you in making positive changes in your life. I'm here to listen and ready to help. My name is Sarah, and I am an Art Therapist and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with over nine years of experience working with individuals, groups, and direct care staff. I meet with many individuals who prefer talk-based therapy as well as those who use art and reflective writing in therapy to address their personal goals. Grounded in a strength-based approach and using interventions informed by Dialectical Behavior Therapy, I aim to help clients with emotion regulation and to reach a place of confidence with their mental wellness.

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Holly Ambrose

Offering therapy in Illinois
Stress, AnxietyGriefSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes
33 years of experience

I am licensed in Illinois and Florida with over 30 years of professional social work experience. I have experience in helping clients to cope with stress, anxiety, grief and loss, motivation, self esteem, self-confidence, & depression. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion and will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

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Dr. Taliah Ziyad-Nau

Offering therapy in Illinois
License: LCPC
Parenting issuesCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD
10 years of experience

I have worked closely with adolescents, parents and families to help them move forward with improving social, emotional and learning outcomes. I use my experiences to deliver quality counsel and consultation. After working with children and families for over 10 years, there are a lot of accumulated experiences with concerns such as anxiety, parenting problems, career challenges, ADHD and learning difficulties. My counseling style is interactive and includes empowering others to invest in themselves. As a counselor, I understand the need for the space to be heard and understood. Learning styles and social, emotional needs call for different approaches. Client Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy are considered in determining a plan to meet your specific needs. You don’t have to process through it alone. I am here to take the next steps with you. I look forward to meeting with you.

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Karyn Lockerman-Elliott

Offering therapy in Illinois
License: BSW, MS, MA
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseDepression
25 years of experience

It takes a great deal of courage to admit that you feel different, that you are experiencing feelings of depression or anxiety, or you just feel off and would like to talk to someone who is trained and licensed to help you. College, family, relationships, and life and career goals are difficult no matter what stage of life you are in and sometimes it helps to talk to a professional who can teach you skills to manage your emotions or can listen to you without judgment. I am a licensed therapist who has been practicing for more than 15 years. I work with individuals, families, and couples. I have 57 hours post masters in gender studies and think that everyone has the right to live a life that they love and to be successful in their goals while navigating life in this chaotic world we live in. I am licensed to practice in Florida, Illinois, and Iowa. I have 15 + years of experience in issues from depression, anxiety, gender identity, same-sex relationships, alternative relationships, trauma and abuse, and family issues. I have 57+ hours post-masters in Gender Studies and believe all peoples should live their lives fully and understand how to make their unique style and relationships work for them.

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Catherine Valentine

Offering therapy in Illinois
Stress, AnxietyGriefSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes
24 years of experience

I am licensed in Illinois with 20 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with grief and loss, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

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Deborah "Debbie" Aimone

Offering therapy in Illinois
Stress, AnxietyGriefSelf esteemDepressionCompassion fatigue
30 years of experience

I am licensed in Illinois and North Carolina with 30 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with grief and loss, motivation, self esteem and confidence, & depression. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

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Emily Angelico

Offering therapy in Illinois
Stress, AnxietyGriefSelf esteemCareer difficultiesADHD
5 years of experience

I am licensed in Illinois with 8 years of professional work experience as a social worker. I am also an English teacher and have lived in Spain for 5 years and understand small and big life transitions, especially as it relates to living in another country, speaking a different language and experiencing culture shock and cultural differences. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with grief and loss, motivation, self esteem and confidence, & career difficulties. I want my clients to feel they can be open, comfortable and know they are in a safe environment without fear of judgment. I am here to support you in whatever way I can.

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Aaron Brakhane

Offering therapy in Illinois
License: LCSW
Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseGriefDepressionCoping with life changes
10 years of experience

I spent the first part of my career working with children in high risk environments. This has included abuse, trauma, neglect, and abandonment. Since then I have expanded to work with individuals of all ages. Even so, I have not lost focus on the idea that the experiences during our early years shape our worldview as adults. When someone is traumatized, their whole life can begin to revolve around that event. My hope for all of my clients is that they are able to integrate all of their experiences into a cohesive self concept. By doing this, they will be able to understand the underpinnings of their reactions and emotional shifts. With this information in hand, I believe, we are all best equipped to face our own unique challenges. Despite the sometimes huge impact of childhood trauma, I believe that all of us have an innate capacity for growth. This growth is reflected in our emotional maturity, spiritual practice, and ability to realize our goals. I know from my own experience that my faith has been instrumental in overcoming difficulties in my own life. Personally I believe that the more we integrate all the spheres of our life, the better we become at reaching our goals.

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John Shustitzky

Offering therapy in Illinois
Relationship issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changesCoaching
40 years of experience

I am licensed in California, Illinois and Pennsylvania with 40 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, career difficulties, & coping with life changes. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

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James (Jimmy) Clifton

Offering therapy in Illinois
License: LCSW,Master of Science in Psychology,Doctor of Ministry in Biblical Counseling
Stress, AnxietyAnger managementDepressionCoping with life changes
35 years of experience

My name is James W. Clifton. I am licensed in the State of Indiana as a Mental Health Counselor and as a Clinical Social Worker. I am also licensed in Idaho (LCPC), Vermont (LCMHC), Utah (CMHC), and New Hampshire as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. I have a Master of Science in Psychology from California Coast University. I teach clients how to change their thinking, be responsible for their feelings, and make better choices. I look forward to working with you. I focus on the present and behaviors and not on the past and feelings. I do not work with anyone under the age of 25 or relationship issues, or family issues, or addiction issues of any kind.

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Christina Garcia

Offering therapy in Illinois
Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsSelf esteemCoping with life changes
13 years of experience

I am licensed in Illinois with 13 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, motivation, self esteem, & confidence. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

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Kristin Agnew

Offering therapy in Illinois
Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes
5 years of experience

I am licensed in Illinois with 5 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, family conflicts, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

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Debra Bujalka

Offering therapy in Illinois
Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes
25 years of experience

I am licensed in Illinois with 25 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage; you are amazing!

How can therapists in Illinois support you?

Therapists in Illinois can practice many types of counseling, from marriage and family therapy to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). They may also assist you with symptoms of depression, stress, or anxiety.

Therapists may help you set and achieve career goals, work on current issues you may be facing, or address your past. Over 11,181,370 people live in Illinois, and one out of five Americans has a mental health condition. Searching for licensed professionals in Illinois may help you find mental health support for personal growth, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health concerns. You do not need a mental health diagnosis to seek support from one of BetterHelp's licensed providers above.  

The mental health field can include psychiatric medication management, online therapy, marriage counseling, couples therapy, clinical social work, licensed counseling, and other mental health services in person and online. Seeing a licensed provider can help you navigate mental health conditions and life circumstances through mindfulness and other specialized techniques.

Please note that BetterHelp does not offer diagnostic or medication management services.

Why are many residents in the state of Illinois working with a licensed counselor?

People reach out for mental health support for a variety of reasons. Many individuals work with a counselor for general life advice, while others may attend therapy for a specific concern. Whether you live in a large city or a smaller county in Illinois, BetterHelp can match you with a licensed professional tailored to your preferences noted when you sign up.

Mental health counselors in Illinois support clients with varying issues, which can include:

  • Challenging situations or life stressors
  • Eating disorders
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Depression or depressive conditions
  • Adjustment issues
  • Emotional support for a terminal illness
  • Chronic pain emotional support
  • Grief
  • Personality disorders
  • Trauma
  • Relationship conflicts and concerns

Finding a therapist that takes new clients in online therapy can be the first step in finding a treatment plan that works for you. Your therapist can provide a safe space for you to focus on self-care and well-being.

If you're interested in speaking to one of the therapists above or being matched with a counselor in 24 to 48 hours, consider signing up for BetterHelp. BetterHelp has over 35,000 providers, including those listed above.

Emergency services

If you are experiencing a crisis or emergency, don't use this site's online services. If you are in life-threatening danger, call 911. If you require support for a crisis, reach out to the hotlines below:

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Some commonly asked questions can be found below.

How much does a therapist cost?

Mental health professionals can differ in price. Forbes found that the average cost of in-person therapy in the US is around $100 to $200 per hour. Pricing can also vary based on your location. 

BetterHelp offers payment plans of $60 to $90 per session, charged monthly in a lump sum. You can also take advantage of this pricing on one of BetterHelp's sister platforms, like ReGain for couples or TeenCounseling for teens aged 13 to 19.

Many therapists may be upfront about their pricing and whether or not they take health insurance from the beginning. Additionally, some in your area may offer a sliding scale plan to allow those with lower incomes to pay less for therapy. However, services online can often save individuals a few hundred dollars per month.

How do I know if I should get a therapist?

Mental health services and mental health providers may help you navigate various concerns. You do not need a diagnosis or condition to attend therapy; You can discuss grief, relationship concerns, stress, or life changes and ask for general advice. A counselor may help you gain power over your life and emotions while you navigate day-to-day experiences.

Mental health issues don't always present as a crisis. Many professionals provide talk therapy and support for life transitions, skills learning, relationship problems, or life coaching. Online therapy sessions in Illinois can allow clients seeking therapy to experience professional help through video, phone, or live chat sessions without commuting to an office.

Does insurance cover therapy?

Different counseling services can vary in cost. Therapists must apply to accept insurance through insurance companies, which may take time and money, so not every therapist offers services through insurance. If you cannot find a therapist that accepts your plan, BetterHelp may be cheaper than visiting an in-person therapist.

Is online therapy safe?

Online therapy through BetterHelp and its sister platforms is safe. Therapists are licensed, experienced, and vetted before being contracted with the platform. If you experience any concerns with your therapist, you change your counselor through the platform or app at any time.

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