I am licensed in Illinois with 7 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, motivation, self-esteem, confidence and depression. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will your treatment 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!
Schedule and Hours
I'm available Monday-Friday 8am - 5pm. **Evening appointments are limited. **I do not work on Saturday or Sunday. I will respond to messages or requests the following business day.
Sessions are 30-minute or 45-minutes. I am available to you in many different ways: messaging in the chat in the counseling room, live phone sessions, live chat sessions and live video sessions. Please let me know your preference of communication or if there are any ways you would not like to communicate. I usually try to respond to messages and requests within 24-hours. I generally try to respond at least once in the morning and once per evening, sometimes more!
Consent Forms and Forms
As a client, you will fill out different forms. BetterHelp (or specialty site!) has you fill out a Member Information Form. I have my own consent form that you will have to read, complete and electronically acknowledge. You will do this via chat before scheduling an appointment with me.
Emergency and Crisis Situations
Please remember that BetterHelp (or specialty site!) is not appropriate if you are in crisis or in immediate need of support. In crisis situations, please call 911 or local emergency services. You can also call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to talk to someone right away!
Additional areas of focus: Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Grief, Eating disorders, Parenting issues, Anger management, Career difficulties, ADHD, Abandonment, Aging and Geriatric Issues, Attachment issues, BDSM, Kink, Alternative Sex Culture, Blended Family Issues, Body image, Caregiver issues and stress, Commitment Issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Divorce and separation, Domestic Violence, Eating and Food-Related Issues, Emptiness, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Money and financial issues, Obsessions, Compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Polyamory / Nonmonogamous Relationships, Postpartum Depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-Harm, Self-love, Sex Addiction, Sexual Assault and Abuse, Sexuality, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young Adult Issues
Clinical approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness Therapy
IL LCPC 180014532
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Leah Rybakowski. 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.
She is very understanding and kind. She listens to my worries and concerns. She has been a big help and support through some rough patches i have been having lately, but Leah has also been a support through the good moments in my life. Leah asks and lets me send her pics of my artwork which is awesome. I have never had a therapist care about my art. Leah responds very quickly when i message her. I have been in and out of therapy for years and I haven't always felt that i could express myself fully but with Leah i feel i can. I couldn't have asked for a better therapist.
Written on Jan 16, 2024 after therapy with Leah for 2 months on issues concerning depression, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, and adhd
Leah is a great therapist because she is extremely patient with me but challenges me to think critically and honestly about myself. Truly a blessing in my life
Written on Jan 09, 2024 after therapy with Leah for 5 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, self esteem, anger management, coping with life changes, coaching, compassion fatigue, and adhd
Leah is an amazing therapist! In the 6 months that we have been working together, she has helped me grow so much as a person and taught me so many amazing coping mechanisms to help me sail through life easier. I look forward to our weekly sessions and I know that I can share anything with her without judgment. I feel so lucky to get to work with her!
Written on Sep 11, 2023 after therapy with Leah for 5 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and self esteem
Leah is very patient and asks me thought provoking questions which helps me get to the root of my issues.
Written on Jun 30, 2023 after therapy with Leah for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, compassion fatigue, and adhd
She is a great therapist and a great person overall! She doesn’t give up on you as long as you don’t give up on yourself and she pushes you a little bit out of your comfort zone in the right ways but not too much which is perfect. She doesn’t judge you. I’ve only been with her for a few months and I’ve already shown more improvement than I have over the years with others and myself. Thank you Mrs. Rybakowski you are the best!
Written on Jun 04, 2023 after therapy with Leah for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, sleeping disorders, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and adhd
Incredible therapist. Treats me like a person, not a patient. Incredibly smart and understanding
Written on Jun 02, 2023 after therapy with Leah for 8 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, self esteem, and coping with life changes