Therapists in Illinois

Hello! Thank you for looking at my profile and considering me for counseling services. A bit about me, I have been a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the State of Illinois since 2010. Prior to that I was licensed as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) beginning in 2007. Along with counseling, I have been working as an Adjunct Professor for Bradley University (Peoria, IL), in their counseling program, teaching courses on substance abuse, grief and loss and human growth and development. I currently work in the field of Probation (since 2018) and keep my counseling skills sharp by teaching and consulting. I feel I have great skill in counseling and want to be able to continue to help people through the medium of counseling. So, that is why I am here, to continue to help those who are looking for an unbiased, non judgmental person to listen. I am a very opened minded person who is willing to help anyone in any position they are in. This is not to say I know how to manage every issue that may cross my path but I am willing to help others and listen. I have spent much of my counseling career helping people with depression, anxiety, stress, anger management, relationships and many other issues people face every day. I have also spent extra time learning, understanding and helping people with OCD. While it may be difficult to help clients with OCD on this type of platform, as exposure therapy is a key component, I am hopeful to continue to help those experiencing issues related to OCD. No matter where you are in life, who you are, what you believe, I am here to help you. Counseling is a difficult journey but a fruitful one for most that embark. I am a laid back counselor, with a good sense of humor (I am a firm believer that humor is therapeutic) and willing to meet you were you are emotionally and mentally. Counseling is not about me telling you how to live your life or the changes you have to make. My hope is for my clients to make the changes they would like to see happen and my role is to help them get there, not do everything for them to feel like they are there. You have taken the important first step of seeking help for whatever issue you are experiencing. Even if you do not choose me to help, I encourage you to keep looking and be willing to start the counseling journey. If you do choose me to start your counseling journey, I will do what is needed to help you feel heard and make changes to help you both short and long term. I look forward to working with you. :-)

Do you notice yourself feeling as though something is just missing in your life? Maybe work feels unsatisfying or relationships feel unfulfilling. Your inner critic may be constantly yapping away, where you start to question if you even like yourself anymore, and you may find yourself trying to constantly distract yourself to escape the voice of the inner critic. You may feel more stressed, anxious, depressed, or even angry. Maybe you also notice patterns that keep - on - repeating, and you just don't know how to get out of this cycle. You may find yourself getting stuck in cycles of shame, guilt, anxiety, depression, or frustration or anger. Everything you've been trying to get ahead just simply isn't working. You may wonder "when will things ever change?" You may even feel a bit stuck or lost, or perhaps as though you feel an urge to "find yourself" again. If this resonates for you, this means you are my ideal client and I am here to help you! I love working with clients on the process of self discovery, self love, and uncovering a way to live a life that feels authentic to you! Let's work together to get you back on track to living a life that feels happier and more fulfilling. I have been working as a therapist since 2011, though my career in the mental health field began in 2000 when I worked as a case manager at a day program helping those diagnosed with persistent mental illness. I loved this experience so much, which is what inspired me to return to school so I could practice as a psychotherapist! My favorite areas to help my clients with are managing depression and anxiety, navigating relationship issues, healing from break-ups, coping with career challenges. exploring life purpose, enhancing self love, improving self esteem and self compassion, self discovery, and finding more meaning in life. My therapy style is warm, conversational, and collaborative, and I would be honored to help you on your journey. It takes courage to seek a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards change. If you are ready to take that step, I am here to support and empower you. I'm a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and National Certified Counselor. I am licensed to provide clinical services to those residing in Illinois. I look forward to working with you!

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and have worked in the field of Social Work since 2010, with 6+ years of direct clinical experience. I have worked with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more severe mental health symptoms. I believe that everyone has their own path of healing and I pull from various modalities to explore what works for you. These modalities include, motivational interviewing, CBT, DBT, person centered therapy, somatic focused and strength based approach. I believe in using a holistic approach to understand the mind/body/spirit connection and seek to understand through a trauma-informed lens. The first step of healing can be through self-awareness and by signing up for therapy you are taking that initiative for yourself. Take pride in knowing that you are doing something to take care of you!

I am a Health Psychologist who approaches clients with empathy. I primarily use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with an influence of Adlerian theory, to be goal-oriented and positive-focused in treating depression, anxiety, physical illnesses, sleep problems, weight management, recovery from substance use and other lifestyle conditions. Currently, I am working toward becoming a Diplomate with The American College of Lifestyle Medicine and the Board of Behavioral Sleep Medicine. This will further my expertise in treating the six pillars of ‘Lifestyle Medicine’. Lifestyle Medicine covers the following areas which contribute to a healthy lifestyle and improved quality of life: (1) Healthy sleep, (2) Nutritious eating, (3) Stress management, (4) Balanced Social Life, (5) Reducing Negative Behaviors, and (6) achieving adequate activity on a regular basis. I help people overcome their fears and resistance to change through the use of Motivational Interviewing (MI). This helps remove barriers to achieving goals and achieving them successfully. My purpose in my work is to help each client become the best version of their 'self'. In order to make this happen, I strive to create an individual and exceptional experience for every client. I am a ‘straight-shooter’ as necessary to help people overcome barriers to achieving their goals. My doctorate degree was earned through the Colorado School of Professional Psychology which is now the University of the Rockies in Colorado Springs. In addition to practice, I have 10 years of experience as an adjunct professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. I support local organizations fighting for social justice reform. Most recently, I co-authored an Audiobook on Burnout (available on Amazon).

I am licensed in Illinois with 15 years of professional work experience. My professional background includes providing psychiatric crisis work, animal assisted therapies, equine assisted psychotherapy, and therapeutic riding. 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. It is my stance that the use of appropriately timed humor allows us to reduce the intensity of life's struggles. I also take a strengths based approach to empowering clients to tackle social, emotional, behavioral, family, biological, and mental health struggles. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am licensed in Illinois with 13 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, parenting issues, & 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 seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

Thank you for sharing information about yourself. It takes courage to reach out for help and I’m glad you did. I am Chris Perkins, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Illinois. You can read more about my background, education, experience, and counseling approach. I am so glad that you’ve taken the steps to reach out for help with whatever situation in your life has become unmanageable right now. I hope that my areas of expertise will be good fit to address those parts of your life and help you reach your goals. Your well-being is my number one priority. BetterHelp does not provide me with your personal or billing information that you provided when you signed up for your subscription. In order for me to maintain compliance with my licensing board and ethical code and to ensure your safety and well-being, I am required to gather some basic personal information. Please COPY/PASTE the following questions into a message back to me: Full Name: Date of Birth: Home Address: Phone Number: Emergency Contact Name: Emergency Contact Relation to You: Emergency Contact Phone Number: Have You Had Prior Mental Health Treatment? If So, where? For What Condition? Are you Prescribed Any Medication? Who is the Prescribing Physician? Have you Ever Been Hospitalized for Mental Health Treatment? If So, Where and When? Which Substances do you use if any? (ex. Alcohol, Marijuana, Cocaine/Stimulants, >Heroin/Opiates, Xanax/Benzodiazepines, Inhalants/Paint/Glue/Gas/Huffing) How often do you use substances? Have you ever experienced psychosis (hallucinations - seeing or hearing things that others do not see or hear)? How often does that occur? Have you ever wished that you were dead or would not wake up? Have you ever had thoughts of harming or killing yourself? Have you ever considered or researched methods of suicide or self-harm? Have you ever had these thoughts and had some intentions of acting on them (as opposed to thinking about suicide but knowing you would never intend to do so)? Have you ever made a plan to harm or kill yourself? If so, when and what was the plan? Do you agree to contact 911 or go to your local emergency room if you should feel urges to harm or kill yourself? Once you have sent this information back to me we can discuss next steps. I look forward to working with you! My Member Information Form Template says: I have read, understand, and agree to the Client Terms of Service at Our Client Terms & Conditions | BetterHelp . It is my sole responsibility to review these terms of service and understand how they affect my use of this platform. I understand that upon assessment and evaluation, Chris Perkins, LCPC, will determine whether he is able to provide the level or type of care that I require. In the instance that his areas of expertise do not align with the type or level of care I require, he will provide me with assistance and referrals to connect to an appropriate treatment provider. Chris Perkins, LCPC, endeavors to provide a Good Faith Estimate of costs of care. I understand that due to the nature of mental health treatment it is not possible to determine an exact length of treatment. However, Chris Perkins, LCPC, will review progress with me periodically and together we will determine ongoing treatment plans. All pricing, rates and billing questions should be directed to customer service at contact@betterhelp.com. I understand that the BetterHelp Platform is intended for INDIVIDUAL ADULTS aged 18+ who are consenting to treatment via telehealth services. I understand that should I be seeking services for my adolescent child (aged 13-17), that I will utilize BetterHelp’s partner platform, TeenCounseling. I understand that should I be seeking Couple’s Counseling, I will utilize BetterHelp’s partner platform ReGain. I understand that the service provided through BetterHelp is NOT INTENDED FOR CRISIS SITUATIONS OR URGENT NEEDS. In a crisis situation, I agree to call 911 or local emergency services, or visit the nearest emergency room. I understand that at the beginning of our treatment relationship, Chris Perkins, LCPC will request my contact information and the contact information of an emergency contact individual whom I can designate. This designation does NOT allow Chris Perkins, LCPC to release information to the individual, excepting in instances of emergent and imminent danger to myself or someone else (i.e. active suicidal ideation/actions, active plan to harm someone else). I also understand that should there be an instance of emergent or imminent danger to myself or someone else as described, Chris Perkins, LCPC is mandated by the State of Illinois licensing regulations to report this to the local authorities in order for them to intervene for my safety or the safety of others. I understand that information shared with Chris Perkins, LCPC is confidential except in the following circumstances: If I present as a danger to myself or others, mandated reporting of abuse of children or elders, or if I sign a release of information. I understand that Chris Perkins, LCPC offers the following types of sessions: texting (which are important for some as stand-alone sessions or with “live” sessions); and “live” sessions. I understand that Chris Perkins, LCPC offers the following types of live sessions: live video (video call where client and therapist can see each other in real time), live phone (phone call through the BetterHelp app where only audio is used), or live chat (a “real time” chat window where client and therapist have dedicated time to have discussion via typing). I understand that Chris Perkins, LCPC offers sessions Monday through Friday during from the hours of 9:00am to 4pm (last session begins at 3:15) and offers messaging in between sessions should I need additional support. I understand that Chris Perkins, LCPC offers sessions of 45-minute duration. I understand that Chris Perkins, LCPC can offer multiple sessions per week should this level of care be clinically necessary for my treatment. I understand that to have more than one session in a week may result in my incurring additional charges on my BetterHelp subscription. Any questions regarding these fees or other billing related matters should be directed to contact@betterhelp.com I understand that Chris Perkins, LCPC. is not “on-call” and may take up to 24 business hours (1 business day) to reply to my messages. This means that if I message Chris Perkins, LCPC on a Friday evening, I may not receive a response until Monday morning. I understand that Chris Perkins, LCPC encourages at least 24-hour notice of appointment cancellation. Should I need to cancel an appointment, I will inform Chris Perkins, LCPC at my earliest convenience. Should I need to cancel with fewer than 24 hours left before my appointment, the cancellation will be reported as a “no-show/late cancellation” and I will receive an auto generated alert email from BetterHelp indicating this. I understand that Chris Perkins, LCPC will wait 15 minutes after my scheduled appointment start time to start; however, if I have not come online by that time, Chris Perkins, LCPC will consider me a no-show and the session will need to be rescheduled. I understand that should I have 2 late cancellations/no-shows within a month, Chris Perkins, LCPC may not be able to continue to accommodate my preferred session times and dates. Should I have 3 late cancellations/no-shows within a 6 week span, Chris Perkins, LCPC may recommend that I seek in person treatment and/or switch therapists on the BetterHelp Platform. I understand that my sessions should be conducted in a place where I have privacy, am away from all distractions, am NOT DRIVING or engaging in other activities that require my attention and focus. Chris Perkins, LCPC is understanding of the occasional “pet appearance” during session. I understand that I can invite others to be a part of my treatment (and am encouraged to do so) as support people. However, should I invite a support person to be involved in a session, Chris Perkins, LCPC will require me to sign a release of Information for that individual. I understand that the BetterHelp platform is not intended for Couples Counseling, and if that is the service I am seeking, I will utilize BetterHelp’s partner site ReGain. I understand that the BetterHelp Platform is not intended for the purposes of diagnosing, prescribing medication, or other services that would, by state licensing regulations, require an in-person evaluation. This means that any documentation such as court paperwork, ESA Letters, FMLA Paperwork, Insurance Paperwork, etc. may not be able to be accommodated as these frequently require diagnostic information. I agree to discuss these things with Chris Perkins, LCPC, should the need arise and acknowledge that these situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis dependent on the circumstances. I understand that if I am in crisis where I am feeling like hurting myself or hurting someone else, BetterHelp is truly not the best venue or platform to address these crisis feelings. I understand that Better help recommends that if I am in immediate crisis that I call 911 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to speak to someone right away.

As a licensed clinical social worker in Illinois with a decade of experience, I specialize in: stress management, motivation enhancement, confidence building, and life transition support. My approach focuses on empowering clients by using their inherent skills to navigate current challenges effectively.

I am licensed in Illinois with 3 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with family conflicts, parenting issues, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & career difficulties. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. 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.

I am licensed in Illinois with 13 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, & coping with grief and loss. 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 seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.