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, Expats, 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 / Nonmonogamous 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.

Diane has changed my life. Her frank, honest approach and humor make her the perfect balance of blunt and fun. She has suggested so many tools for me, from medicinal to meditation, and helped me find confidence and strength to let go of things that had been with me for decades. THANK YOU, Diane! I cannot recommend her enough!

Written on Apr 08, 2024 after therapy with Diane for 5 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, family conflicts, grief, and coping with life changes

Diane has been amazing to work with and I look forward to her calls. She has helped me through a variety of challenges and changes in my life. Her delivery and sense of humour is appreciated through difficult times — and keeps me motivated! I have come back to her multiple times and would highly recommend Diane to anyone.

Written on Apr 04, 2024 after therapy with Diane for 1 year on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, and addictions

Diane was a huge help in giving me guidance, perspective, and a plan to help center myself and better negotiate my own thoughts and feelings relating to my wife’s disability and struggles with mental health.

Written on Mar 20, 2024 after therapy with Diane for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue

Diane's contribution to my personal development in the past few months has been invaluable. Her expertise and comprehension played a crucial role in reaching significant milestones. I was pleasantly surprised by her exceptional listening skills and her ability to offer innovative solutions that perfectly catered to my requirements. Moreover, her extensive knowledge of the various services provided by Better Help was truly commendable and unmatched.

Written on Sep 02, 2023 after therapy with Diane for 6 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, parenting issues, and anger management

I’ve been working with Diane for 6 months now, and I have learned so much about myself. She has shown me how childhood trauma has impacted my life as an adult. A lot of the problems in my marriage stem from me repeating coping behaviors I used as a child. She’s helped me find my own voice and helped me with setting boundaries. I feel more empowered now than I ever have in my life. Thank you, Diane, for being honest with me even when it might have been uncomfortable for me to hear. I’m forever grateful!

Written on Aug 22, 2023 after therapy with Diane for 5 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and anger management

Diane is a wonderful therapist. She helps cut to the center of any issue I have and has helped me grow as a person and guided me through some of the most difficult times of my life. She's fantastic.

Written on Aug 04, 2023 after therapy with Diane for 2 years and 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, sleeping disorders, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue