
Susan Sparks
Through my life I have worked with children of all ages in a variety of settings. I have always had a passion to care for and help others. I have worked and volunteered in the community for over 35 years. I saw many things in the community that concerned me especially in the area of mental health. I wanted to make a difference by helping others make a difference in our world. I achieved my Master Degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois in 2011 and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in 2013. As a therapist I work with children, young adults, individuals, and families using a life approach tailored to the unique needs of each person. I use therapeutic strategies to help with behavioral problems, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, trauma, and anger management, to name a few. I use research based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Play Therapy, Behavioral Therapy, Applied Behavioral Analysis, Mind fullness practice and Holistic Therapies. I believe that each person has the capabilities to meet and manage the challenges they face, some requiring more guidance than others. I believe everyone no matter what age has strengths that they can draw on. I offer support for individuals to overcome obstacles and to realize their potential to live fulfilling, happy and productive lives.

Shelly Flachs
Welcome to the therapeutic journey towards self-discovery and healing. I'm Shelly Flachs, a compassionate Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) serving individuals across Illinois, Iowa, Maine, and Missouri. With over a decade of dedicated experience, I've had the privilege of supporting individuals facing various challenges, including depression, anxiety, trauma, abuse, and life-altering situations. My therapeutic approach is rooted in empowerment, focusing on solutions, and honoring your unique strengths. Drawing from cognitive-behavioral theory, emotional freedom technique (EFT), and Safe and Sound Protocol, I tailor each session to suit your individual needs. I believe in fostering a genuine, positive, and safe environment where you can explore your story with respect and authenticity. Embarking on the journey of therapy can be daunting, but it's a courageous step towards personal growth and resilience. I commend you for taking that first step. Together, we'll identify your goals and create personalized plans to achieve them, guiding you towards a more fulfilling life. Specializing in stress, anxiety, trauma, abuse, depression, and navigating life changes, I offer a range of clinical approaches, including Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, EFT, and Safe and Sound Protocol. With a commitment to your well-being and growth, I'm honored to walk alongside you on this transformative journey. Let's embark on this path together, towards a brighter, more empowered tomorrow.

Dr. Taliah Ziyad-Nau
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.

Chandra Dockery
I am licensed in Illinois with 20 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with 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!

Dolores "Del" Larkin
Do you have difficulties 'needing to be perfect" or not feeling "good enough" . You are not alone. I am a licensed professional with over 20 years experience providing therapy services to couples and individuals with a variety of problems. I believe most people go through a period of their life that is too difficult to handle alone or a problem that has gone on too long and that is a time professional help can provide the impetus to get through the problem or issue. I have a passion for working with people who feel they are not "good enough" or have perfectionism issues. I have also worked with people with anxiety, panic attacks, depression, problems with self confidence or self esteem, problems related to alcohol or drug issues and relationship problems. I use a variety of methods from CBT and DBT to Solution Focused therapy to a more Psychodynamic approach. I match my approach with each individual to work together to get the best results. I approach therapy as a curious listener who works with clients to remove barriers keeping them from being the person they want to be.

Stephanie Dixon
Has the COVID-19 create anxieties or other mental health challenges for you? Do you need a safe place to share your thoughts and feelings? I am a licensed clinician, who would love to be able to meet 1:1 with you to address your mental health needs. I truly believe in shared decision-making approach to therapy. I approach therapy from a collaborative approach, building relationships, and using evidence-based practice. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Work as well as a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist. I’ve been working in behavioral health since 2003. I have experience in providing individual, group, and family counseling. I have been trained in CBT Therapy, ACT Therapy, DBT Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focus therapy, harm reduction model, Gestalt therapy, and other evidence-based model. Preference: I prefer to work with adults ages 19 and above. I help people with dealing with all types of transitioning, life stressors brought on by relocating, career changes, new mothers, balancing work and life, relationships building, grief and loss, and setting boundaries.

Arielle Valentine
I am licensed in Illinois with 3 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety & 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.

Kendra Patton
I am a clinical social worker in Illinois with over 20 years of experience helping people reach their goals. I have worked with clients on issues ranging from depression and anxiety to relationship stressors and concerns about self-esteem. I have also helped many clients with trauma related concerns. I hope from our first meeting that you will feel comfortable and feel like you can share all of your concerns. I am an eclectic therapist using mostly cognitive behavioral therapy but also include strength based therapy, solution focused therapy techniques, and motivational interviewing. You are the expert of your life and I believe that by partnering with a therapist that can be your support, you will be able to achieve your goals. It is wonderful that you have taken this step to explore therapy and I am here for you when you are ready.

Matthew Lehman
I am licensed in California and Illinois with 10 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, anger management, & 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. 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.

Jenna Lapointe
Hello! I want to welcome you and praise you for being proactive regarding your mental health. It is a powerful thing to acknowledge there are areas of your life or symptoms you are experiencing that you would like to change, and signing up for counseling is a big step towards reaching your goals. Below is some information on who I am and how I will be able to help you throughout this journey. I believe the cornerstone to therapy is empathetic understanding paired with proactive behavioral change. Together we will create a secure place in which you can explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a non-judgmental way in order to understand what they are trying to provide to you. By reframing our cognitive, somatic, and behavioral actions in this way, we can learn to make sense of even the largest, scariest misbehaviors. With that new understanding, we will then discuss and practice applicable techniques you can utilize outside of therapy to achieve that reward in a different, healthier way. In my practice, I use a client-centered, eclectic approach. I have experience in several empirically-proven therapeutic modalities, and I choose which modalities to use based on what changes you, the client, decide you want to make in your life. I tend towards more process-oriented approaches, including (but not limited to) Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and Eye Movement Desensitizing and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR). I have found that these therapies reprocess symptoms clients are experiencing with their somatic, right-brain processing centers and their verbal, left-brain processing centers simultaneously, leading to more integrated and sustainable life changes in a shorter amount of time. I also have experience in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Assertiveness Training, and Behavioral Modification techniques. I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, currently practicing in West Virginia. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Washington College in 2009 and a master’s degree in social work from West Virginia university in 2011. I have been providing mental health therapy in an outpatient setting for the last nine years and have had the pleasure of meeting and helping a wide variety of people learn to understand, process through, and manage a range of symptoms. If this type of therapy resonates with you, I would love to work with you. Regardless of whether you choose me as your therapist, I am very happy you have chosen to start proactively working on your mental wellbeing, and I wish you the best on your journey!
Find a therapist serving clients in Illinois
Types of therapists available to clients in Smithton
Understanding the type of therapy you'd like to search for is crucial before finding a therapist or psychologist. Be sure to narrow your search for therapists in Smithton that can offer psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), talk therapy, group therapy, marriage and family therapy for individuals or couples, or couples therapy depending on your needs.
Licensed therapists & mental health professionals available through BetterHelp's online platform
Mental health therapists in Smithton available through BetterHelp are accredited to help individuals and couples. Smithton therapists' credentials can include licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), and clinician or doctor of psychology (PsyD). Regardless of their licensure, Smithton therapists are trained in any type of therapy in the Smithton region and in the state of Illinois.
How a therapist can help you destress, manage your emotions, and guide you towards the life you want
Therapists in Smithton can help clients in improving healthy relationships, communication skills, working through life transitions, couples challenges, managing a mood disorder, improving coping skills, self help tips, offer life coaching, family life, or change in negative thinking patterns. A therapist in Smithton may also provide a safe place and validation for clients experiencing emotional pain, or that simply want a psychological assessment.