Find a Licensed Online Therapist in Machesney Park, IL

I appreciate the courage and strength it takes to enter into a counseling relationship and the anxiety that may accompany reaching out to a stranger I am here to support and empower you in your journey to a better life. I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) licensed in Illinois with over 40 years of experience in the counseling profession. I have helped clients with a wide variety of life challenges, including ADHD, abuse (including Domestic Violence and Narcissistic Abuse), Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Life Changes/Transitions, Panic and Panic Attacks, Relationship Issues, Self-esteem, Stress, and Work-related and Career Issues. It is my belief that sometimes a lack of skills keeps us stuck in life, so I also teach therapeutic life skills to help you manage the difficulties in your life. I think of it as equipping you with tools for your "life skills toolbox". I engage in individual counseling with ages 18 through 99. I specialize in serving teachers and nurses, as well as victims and survivors of domestic violence and narcissistic abuse. I believe in everyone's ability to grow and progress, and I will join you on your journey to a more fulfilling and peaceful life. I highly respect the way each individual learns, changes, develops, and grows in their own unique way. I counsel with empathy and compassion and without judgment or condemnation. My goal is to provide a safe, peaceful, encouraging, uplifting, and respectful environment in which you can explore the challenges that interfere with your healing, growing, and achieving your goals. My evidence-based counseling approach includes Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) from a person-centered and humanistic perspective. I am looking forward to helping you live your best life!

So, you've already done the scariest part of this whole process, which is deciding that you want support and taking action. That takes incredible strength and humility, even if you may not feel that way right now. From here, it's my job to work together with you to find ways to channel that strength towards the goals you have and help reframe the way you're approaching challenges through support, humor, and compassion. I have experience working with adults and couples dealing with anxiety, depression, LGBTQ+ issues, grief, identity development, and navigating major life changes. As a queer therapist committed to social justice, it's my mission is to create a space in therapy where all folks feel affirmed and heard, especially if that is not their experience in daily life. My practice is client centered and I believe that mental health and wellness also includes finding ways to include your passions and priorities into treatment. We can also incorporate meditation or spirituality into therapy if that's important to you. You've done the hardest part by starting this process

I have a Masters and PhD in Counseling and Counselor Education, with over 18 years of experience in the field as a counselor, supervisor, and counselor educator. I was initially drawn to counseling to work with young adults in transition over the college years, but quickly became interested in working with people throughout all stages of the lifespan. I believe in helping people to live satisfied, authentic, and genuine lives and strive to help clients set and achieve goals in getting there! I believe that the client is the best expert on their own lives, and I am here to be a sounding board for you as you consider what changes you want to make to increase satisfaction and success in your life. You will find my approach gentle, but direct, as I help you to identify ineffective behaviors and habits. I have experience working with addiction, anxiety, trauma, stress, relationship issues, identity issues, and career/lifestyle goals, to name a few. I am committed to providing a counseling approach that respects your personal values and integrates those into the work we do together. I currently reside and teach in the Pacific Northwest region (Washington State) as well as work with clients in Illinois and Idaho. In addition to my work as a clinician, I am a full-time professor of counseling, which allows me to remain current in regards to counseling best practices and resources, and am constantly adding to my own knowledge base, which benefits my clinical work with clients. I look forward to the opportunity to work with you!

My name is Deborah Beard. I am trained in Marriage & Family Therapy and have served as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor for over 25 years. I graduated in 1996 with a Masters degree in Science: Family Therapy from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. My previous work experience as a Human Resource Manager and a Professor of Education bring relatable life skill experiences into each of my sessions. I have served as a counselor in both public and private mental health agencies, primarily for those seeking help with depression, anxiety, mood disorders, trauma and abuse recovery, relationships, and parenting skills. Any client who has the courage to seek counseling is someone worth celebrating. With gentleness and warmth, I try to focus on each of my clients' strengths to help them in the areas they desire to change. I utilize counseling tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Rational Emotive Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Systemic Therapy as appropriate. Each client's faith and moral values are recognized as a wonderful foundation for their desired growth. I look forward to meeting you!

I am licensed in Illinois and California with 41 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, lgbt-related issues, & relationship issues. 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.

Hello - I would first like to say I'm not a conventional therapist. I do have professional training and professional experience and degrees, but really, I consider myself a fellow human being here to help another fellow human being. I pull from my knowledge, professional and personal experiences to provide you with insights and guidance. I mostly like to listen, provide feedback and offer solutions in a conversational manner. I feel strongly that this is your healing journey so if you find that my style doesn't work for you, that's okay; but if you want to give me a chance, I'd love to hear your story. Thank you for reading!

As a licensed therapist in Illinois, I bring nearly three decades of compassionate clinical experience supporting individuals through complex life transitions and emotional challenges. My practice centers on creating affirming, culturally responsive spaces for diverse communities, with specialized expertise in addressing depression, stress, anxiety, and LGBTQ+ experiences. I am deeply committed to helping clients navigate personal growth, relationship dynamics, and intersectional identity challenges. My approach honors each person's unique journey, focusing on building self-love, improving communication, and addressing issues like isolation, workplace stress, and multicultural experiences. My therapeutic work spans a wide range of focus areas, including supporting individuals through life stages such as young adulthood, midlife transitions, pregnancy, and family dynamics. I offer empathetic guidance for those experiencing trauma, relationship difficulties, and personal transformation, always centering the client's inherent strengths and resilience.

I am licensed in Illinois with 7 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, motivation, self-esteem, confidence, and depression. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. 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 am licensed in Illinois (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor) with 9 years of experience working directly with clients. I have worked in private practice and hospital settings with a very wide variety of populations. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety & depression. My approach is broadly cognitive-behavioral with a particular emphasis on mindfulness-based approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I have personal experience in the performing arts so I do understand some of the unique concerns of artists as well. 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! Education: MS in Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

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.

I am licensed in Illinois with 5 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. 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.

With 19 years in the mental health field, my career has been defined by leadership, clinical excellence, and a passion for growth. Beyond my direct work with clients, I have spent years coaching and mentoring new therapists, leading mental health programs, and training the next generation of practitioners. This deep background as a mentor ensures that the strategies we use are grounded in the highest level of clinical insight and real-world efficacy. In my practice, I specialize in ADHD, executive functioning, self-esteem, and confidence. I help people understand how their minds work and build practical systems that support follow-through, communication, and real-world success. Growing up around highly capable people with ADHD—and navigating similar challenges myself—gives me a deeply grounded understanding of both the struggles and the strengths that come with it. My focus is helping you move out of self-doubt and into self-trust, using strategies that work with your brain—not against it. MY APPROACH My style is direct, practical, and goal-oriented. Rather than spending months over-analyzing the past, we focus on what works right now. I integrate: Solution-Focused Therapy to build on your existing strengths. Motivational Interviewing to clarify what truly drives you. Systems-Based Strategies to adjust routines, environments, and communication for immediate, better outcomes. Many clients come to me feeling stuck—struggling with follow-through, confidence, or communication at work and in relationships. Together, we focus on breaking that cycle and building systems that make progress easier and more sustainable. WHAT TO EXPECT Therapy with me often feels more like active coaching. We focus on observation, experimentation, and momentum. Through our work, you can expect to: Improve self-awareness and rebuild core confidence. Set flexible, realistic goals that actually stick. Build simple, tailored systems for productivity and clearer communication. Reduce daily friction and dramatically increase follow-through. Learn to use exactly how your brain works to your advantage. I work primarily with adults with ADHD, with a strong focus on executive functioning and real-world strategies. BACKGROUND & EXPERTISE My diverse background spans private practice, group therapy, and large-scale mental health program leadership. In addition to my clinical work and therapist mentorship, I have a strong foundation in leadership training and employment advocacy (including union leadership and EEOC investigation). While I am trained in multiple advanced modalities—including trauma-informed care, ACT, CBT, MBCT, and EMDR—my approach always remains practical, focused, and results-driven. NEXT STEPS If you’re ready for an active, engaging approach that focuses on clarity, confidence, and momentum, let's connect. Together, we’ll build a system that supports real, lasting change.

Specializing in women's mental health needs, I support each client to identify and meet her specific needs in order to promote healing, self-growth, breaking negative life cycles, and the achievement of her goals. I have specific focus in the areas of trauma, anxiety, depression, relationships, life purpose, grief/loss, attachment, and family systems. Whether it's healing deep areas of trauma and loss or managing daily life stress, I walk alongside clients as they journey towards healing and making positive life changes. My clients often come to therapy feeling overwhelmed and stuck, but after working together, they often feel more hopeful, empowered, and purposeful. Together we can work to take steps to help you make positive changes. Reaching out for help can feel overwhelming and scary. Therapy helps us to know that were are not alone in our journey! We can take steps together as you move towards healing and purpose.

As a licensed clinician, I have experience working with children, adults, and geriatric age groups. I have worked in community based mental health programs, in-home counseling, long-term healthcare facilities and private practice settings. I have supported individuals facing many different experiences including domestic violence survivors and their families, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Adjustment Disorder, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Depression and Anxiety related disorders, and other various mental health disorders. I work from a trauma-informed approach by creating a safe, non-judgmental environment for therapy while supporting you to gain a whole understanding of your over all mental health. I will support you in building trust and safety as you build confidence to overcome maladaptive emotions and behaviors. You are not alone on this journey. Growth and healing is possible as you explore the glimmers of life and find your light within. It is a honor to work with each individual as they share their unique experience. I value building rapport with each individual during the therapeutic process.