Therapists in Illinois

I have a Master's degree in clinical psychology and am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the state of Illinois. I have worked in the field in one capacity or another since 1988, mostly in the community mental health arena which provided me the opportunity to develop skills in a variety of areas, even though I began my career as an addictions counselor. I am currently part of a private practice group as well as providing clinical supervision to our local problem solving court clients including participants in drug court, mental health court and veterans court. I believe that in order to help people make positive changes, one must first acknowledge and accept where they are without judgement or shame. I think people need to have their feelings validated and it must be understood that there is a logic and motivation behind every human behavior. A client centered approach is vital to building a trusting relationship to help people move from where they are to where they want to be. I use a variety of approaches along the way as people grow and change. I typically start off with a client centered approach and motivational interviewing. From there, I like to tailor the counseling to best fit the client's goals and what they want to achieve. The strategies I most commonly draw on are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and other skills building approaches. My counseling style is casual and inviting. I want for clients to feel comfortable and safe to discuss whatever they need to and to leave each session feeling like they at least received compassionate care and hopefully a new tool for their tool box of coping skills. I would be honored to embark on your healing journey with you and look forward to working with you to help you reach your goals!

Hello! Welcome to our BetterHelp Community and congratulations in taking that courageous first step in feeling better! My name is Marikay Gazda and I have been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1991. Through these many years I have provided counseling to those experiencing feelings of generalized anxiety, depressed thoughts, feelings of isolation, chronic or life threatening medical conditions, end of life issues, caregiver stress and fatigue and general life transitions. As a Certified Grief Counselor I have worked with individuals struggling in their feelings of grief and loss who feel stuck in moving on. But I have also found that those physical and psychological responses felt in grief is not unique to a death, as loss can be found across the board in relationships, health, a job or simply an empty nest. Those feelings of sadness, anxiety, depression and physical symptoms can certainly be generalized to any type of loss as it impacts an individual's ability to engage in a full and happy life. My demeanor is warm, compassionate, interactive and positive. I consider the client/therapist relationship to be the most important element to a successful therapy experience. As a clinician, my approach is client centered, goal oriented and grounded in a strengths perspective. I use the models of Emotional Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution Focused Brief Therapy in helping my clients understand the relationship between their thoughts, feelings and behavior and creating goals to effect a change. In my work with grief and loss the Duel Process Model teaches a client to regularly "take breaks" from their feelings of loss while the Continuing Bonds Model works towards creating new meaning and a new relationship within the loss. My goal as a therapist is to partner with you in an empathetic and safe space and that each interaction leaves you hopeful that change can occur. I wish you all the peace that your day can bring knowing that you have taken that first step in feeling better.

I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in North Dakota and licensed in both North Dakota and Illinois. I have over 18 years experience working with individuals and families facing many challenges including depression, stress and anxiety, adjustment to life changes, loss and grief, family conflict, anger management, parenting issues, problem solving and decision making. I also have extensive experience working with families of children with special needs as well as experience in medical settings working with individuals and families facing major medical crises and issues. I believe that you already have the strength and ability to overcome the obstacles standing in the way of experiencing the joy and quality of life you deserve. My goal is to provide you with a warm, supportive, and respectful environment where you can safely explore the tools which can help you reach your potential. I believe the therapy experience should be positive, attentive, and validating. I will help you express your thoughts, feelings, emotions and needs and use research based approaches to help you meet your life goals. I believe that the therapeutic process is one in which you will choose your own goals and uncover what you truly value. Together we work on solutions and developing your strengths through motivational interviewing, symptom targeted intervention (STI) and solution focused (brief) therapy which gives you, the client, the power to fix your own problems instead of relying on therapy in the future. I look forward to working with you!

I am licensed in Illinois with 30 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, depression, relationship issues, coping with grief and loss, parenting, anger management and other issues. 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.

I am licensed in Illinois with 38 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety and 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. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process. I encourage you to write as often and as much as you would like. This room is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I typically respond with 24 hours, but respond sooner to new clients. Please be patient as I may be attending to professional or personal responsibilities. I am available for live sessions on Wednesday day and evening, Thursday day and evening. Please schedule at least 12 hours in advance. If there is a message that you need a quick response to, please mark 'urgent'. I will get back to you as soon as possible. Please remember if you are having an emergency, go to your nearest hospital or call 988 which is the crisis hotline.

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.

I am licensed in Illinois with 4 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, & trauma and abuse. 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. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

I am licensed in Illinois with 8 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, trauma and abuse, & coping with grief and loss. 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.

I am a licensed, male, African American, mental health professional in Florida and Illinois with 18 years of professional work experience. I specialize in helping you work through such issues as stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts, feelings and risk 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 and celebrate small successes!

I am licensed in Illinois with over 10 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with relationship issues, parenting issues, anger management, motivation, self-esteem, & confidence. I am a proponent for Men's Mental Health and Fatherhood. I also have a passion to work with individuals reentering society from incarceration. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. We resolve issues via trauma informed therapy. The goal is to help my client be the best they can be. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy takes courage. I congratulate you on getting started! It would be my honor to assist in your elevation.