Find a licensed online therapist in Merrionette Park, IL

I am a clinically licensed social worker, LICSW, who has been providing emotional health services in a variety of settings since 1994. I graduated with an MSW from the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work in 1994. I obtained my LICSW in 2010. I have both clinic and hospital based experience. I have also done a lot of community based mental health work. I am interested in holistic approaches to health and healing. I am open and operate with kindness and compassion. I enjoy partnering with others in their journeys to health, wholeness and well-being. I am practical and my approach is always tailored to the needs of my clients. I always meet my clients where they are and allow them to define their problems and/or crisis.

Please note that I do not accept insurance because billing an insurance company requires that I diagnose/label you with a major mental illness so I can bill them for your "treatment. They also demand a complete focus on symptoms of this "illness" and force every question to fit their disease model and justify your continued therapy. This means 80% of your time in treatment is me staring at my computer screen, checking little boxes saying I asked you all the disease questions, and then an AI puts it all together into something for which they will HOPEFULLY reimburse me. Perhaps you have experienced this when you visit your Primary Care Physician, and he/she stares at their tablet the entire time, rushing you through the questions as they tap each question on the list. I work under a strengths/solutions model in my counseling. I help you find the resources to make positive changes in the direction YOU want to go. ABOUT ME: Thank you for sharing information about yourself here. I'm glad that you reached out for help. My name is Larry Westenberg, and I am a licensed therapist with over 40 years of experience in counseling. You can read more about my background, education, experience, and therapy approach by clicking on my name on this page. I started out on a 'back ward' of a state mental hospital, counseling extremely mentally ill people and helping them to access their resources, use their strengths and improve the quality of their lives. It was a tremendous challenge. At that time, I had my bachelor’s degree in psychology, and no other training. The State system allowed people to do counseling who had no training in counseling whatsoever. In fact, many of them had never been to college. I discovered the 'uneducated counselors' were usually MUCH more effective at helping their clients. They were not 'full of themselves' and their degrees. Instead, they used what they knew about helping people, did what they could, and learned to help people by figuring out what worked as they went along. They also expected the same from the people they were counseling - that they would use the resources they had, do their best, and get better at improving their lives. Meanwhile, the majority of the 'professional therapists' were lost in their long explanations and mythologies that tried to explain the patient's behavior, and they often developed bizarre theories and treatment methods they imagined would make the patients get better. When you make a connection to another person in counseling, you offer them a safe space to "step out of themselves," and discuss their own behavior from a different perspective of detached observation. Recognizing their own skills and the tools they have can help them make meaningful changes strategically, that utilize their own abilities. I specialize in trauma, anxiety and panic, ADD, relationships and finding meaning in life. I have extensive training in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) - which is bashed as unscientific non-sense on the internet. This criticism is thrown from the allegedly "Scientific field" of psychology which is founded on the idea of repressed urges of the id and wanting to kill your father to take possession of your mother. Not the best scientific theory for validating your experiences of life. I am a published author in the field of Belief Change, Ericksonian Hypnosis and NLP. I enjoy helping others uncover treasure within themselves. I don't work with lab rats. I work with people. I would appreciate the opportunity to work with you. I have worked in inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization and crisis intervention treatment. I have worked with LGBTQ+ individuals since long before we had an acronym. I have supported individuals in compartmentalizing alternative lifestyles so that they don't embarrass themselves at work or in social situations. I help some people accept the fact their family may be a toxic gaggle of illnesses and it really is okay to not be in contact. I help others discover how they create anxiety in themselves and teach a variety of skills for managing emotional states. My passion is helping people find insights into HOW they do the behaviors they do, so they can more easily shift the behaviors to get the same results - or different results. I also like helping people discover how past traumas and negative events can "echo" into present interactions and circumstances. Rather than label this a disease, I show people how to notice these connections and respond less to the resonance in the present. I laugh frequently and I may even tease about symptoms as an attempt to help you shift your perspective on your issues. I do not make fun of problems. I take my work seriously, but I will never take LIFE seriously - because it has this surprise-ending feature. I would be delighted to meet with you and find out if I can support you in making the shifts and changes that will help you build the life you desire.

Life stressors and managing different areas of our life can sometimes become heavy to hold alone. Many times, there is nothing "wrong" with us, we are just learning to navigate life and ourselves. It is beneficial when we have a designated time to devote to this process via a guided telehealth setting. Let's explore the unknown and get to the root of what you are feeling and thinking.

I am licensed in Illinois with 18 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, coping with addictions, relationship issues, motivation, self esteem, & confidence. I also have experience working 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!

As a licensed therapist with nearly three decades of experience, I specialize in supporting individuals through complex life transitions and emotional challenges. My practice focuses on helping clients navigate stress, relationship dynamics, self-esteem concerns, and interpersonal communication difficulties. I bring a compassionate and direct approach to addressing issues such as social anxiety, workplace challenges, mood disorders, and personal growth. My expertise spans working with diverse populations, including young adults, older adults experiencing midlife transitions, and individuals managing anxiety, panic attacks, and relationship complexities. My therapeutic style emphasizes understanding individual experiences, developing practical coping strategies, and supporting clients in building healthier emotional patterns. I am committed to creating a supportive environment where clients can explore their challenges, develop resilience, and work towards meaningful personal transformation. Whether you're struggling with communication barriers, relationship dynamics, or personal growth obstacles, I aim to provide thoughtful, personalized guidance tailored to your unique journey.

I am licensed in Illinois with 33 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, intimacy related issues, & 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 work with adults in their 20s and 30s who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure how to move forward. Many face the challenges of neurodivergence like Autism or ADHD, along with the anxiety or life transitions that often come with it. I also support gay and queer individuals navigating identity, self-esteem, and relationship issues. I also work with Pure-O OCD using Inference-based CBT (I-CBT), an approach that's still hard to find in virtual care. My approach is insight-driven. Before we reach for techniques, I want to understand what's happening underneath, then we decide together which tools actually fit you. I don't see your identity as something to fix.

I am licensed in Arizona and Illinois with 7 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, coping with addictions, coping with grief, coping with loss, motivation, self esteem, & confidence. I also have experience working with despression. 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'm Dr. Akamin Nkengaka, a Licensed behavioral therapist with 16 years of evidence-based practice experienced. I help clients with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma informed care, substance abuse, self-esteem, and relationships challenges. My theoretical approach is based on cognitive-behavioral model and holistic approach. That is, patterns of thoughts and feelings are explored, and solution focus based. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilled and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am a licensed clinical social worker in Illinois with 20+ years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety issues, coping with substance use addictions, trauma and abuse also coping with grief and loss. I have experience working with depression, relationships issues. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. My approach combines cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, psychodynamic and rational-emotive therapy. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started! I am here to support and empower you.

I am licensed in Illinois with 25 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & 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.

I am a licensed clinical social work therapist in both Wisconsin and Illinois with three decades of professional experience, including as a registered nurse. My clinical experience includes eating disorders, depressive disorders, issues with anxiety, stress, loss and grief, motivation, self-esteem, & confidence. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I will support and empower you in that journey.

I am licensed in Illinois with 13 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, motivation, self esteem, confidence, career difficulties, coping with life changes, & executive coaching. I also have experience working with professional coaching. 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.

As a licensed therapist, I specialize in supporting individuals navigating complex emotional landscapes. My professional approach centers on helping clients develop resilient coping strategies for depression, anxiety, stress management, and life transitions. With a deep understanding of ADHD and its unique challenges, I create compassionate, personalized therapeutic experiences that empower clients to build emotional strength and self-awareness. My clinical practice is grounded in evidence-based techniques that honor each individual's unique journey. I believe in collaborative healing, where we work together to understand your experiences, identify meaningful goals, and develop practical skills for emotional well-being. Whether you're struggling with mood fluctuations, adapting to significant life changes, or seeking strategies to manage daily stressors, I'm committed to providing supportive, non-judgmental guidance.