Therapists in Sun River Terrace, IL

Donald (Don) Shawler ia a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) who uses an integrative approach to working with adults dealing with depression, anxiety and other mental health problems. This integrative approach involves a person centered technique to help clients identify and address issues in an accepting, non-judgmental and safe environment. Using Cognitive based techniques, clients are taught to re-frame thoughts that hold them back and impact emotional and mental well being. Mr. Shawler also helps clients address anger issues by teaching anger management skills. With over 20 years of experience, Mr. Shawler has been successful working with many individuals dealing with a wide range of issues.

I am a therapist licensed in Illinois with 14 years of experience. I view this work as helping people heal from hurts and move towards healthier choices and relationships to satisfy legitimate needs. I have worked with clients on issues including anxiety, transition and phase of life concerns, relationships, parenting and trauma. I try to come from a perspective that views you as the expert on your life and I am here to help you learn, heal and change. I use a humanistic approach along with Trauma Informed and Cognitive Behavioral strategies to work towards those goals. I hope that your choice is an easy one and I wish you well.

Welcome to BetterHelp. Life events can cause anyone to experience symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. How you respond to these symptoms makes all the difference in your overall health. Together we will work to identify your goals of managing these symptoms and develop steps to reduce their affect on your day to day life. Sometimes these life events are traumatic, which can cause much longer term effects on your health. Processing trauma, no matter how long ago it happened, is vital to moving forward past the traumatic event. A little bit about me personally. I am a Southern Illinois native. I attended SIU and completed my Bachelor’s of Social Work in December of 2012. After taking a semester off, I moved forward to obtain my Masters of Social Work which I completed in May of 2014. Since completing my education, I have worked as a therapist with adolescents with extreme trauma in a residential setting. I then worked with the public schools in Williamson County to provide therapy in the schools to students with a variety of disorders, including behavior disturbances. I have worked with children, adolescents, and adults in an outpatient setting for the past 3 years. I have found that therapy is my passion and I look forward to helping you discover how therapy can improve your quality of life.

I seek to empower my clients to engage the world through their unique strengths. I work with individuals and couples who are struggling with emotional well being, life transitions, and relationships. In working together, I utilize a person-centered, integrative and collaborative approach to therapy, with the understanding that each person is distinctive and individual. I have experience with many issues ranging from mild to severe. I have worked in private practice, community mental health, and residential settings. My goal is to meet clients where they are and to create a comfortable, safe space for growth, exploration and self-healing. My education includes a Bachelor’s from DePaul University, a Masters from Loyola University Graduate School of Business in Human Resource Management, and a Masters from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Counseling Psychology. I hold a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) licensure in the State of Illinois and have over 10 years of clinical experience. I am very compassionate, kind and open to working with any one that has interest in helping themselves.

I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with over 16 years of experience in the mental health field. I specialize in counseling individuals experiencing a wide range of issues, including severe mental illness, trauma, depression anxiety and relational issues. I am passionate about working with individuals who are are struggling with co-occurring disorders and those who are need of support with daily life challenges or events. I have a wholistic approach to therapy and draw from the various modalities , including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), solution-focused therapy and dialectal behavioral therapy (DBT), in an effort to meet the need of each individual. Through the collaborative process of therapy, Through the therapeutic process, I will help to guide you to increase self-awareness, gain new perspectives, decrease symptoms, and increase personal strengths to have a more meaningful life experience. By using the power of the therapeutic relationship, I strive to create a nurturing environment and foundation to help clients heal, rebuild their lives and increase their resiliency. In every session, I use therapy as a way to nurture, challenge, support and understand clients. Healing can occur within a safe and trusting relationship.

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.

I am licensed in Illinois with 16 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, trauma and abuse, & bipolar disorder. 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 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 13 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with life transitions. Additionally, I help with relationship issues, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, career difficulties, & 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. 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 Worker with extensive experience working with individuals of all ages. I am licensed in Illinois, Missouri, Florida, Georgia and Arizona with over fourteen years of experience in helping individuals of all ages with depression, stress, anxiety, anger management, self-esteem, and relationship issues. I use a variety of modalities, for example, client centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy. I practice as a Christian Counselor, however, I work with individuals from all faith backgrounds with a non-judgmental approach. I know that taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage. I am proud of you for taking this step and look forward to walking along side of you on your journey.

I am licensed in Illinois with 8 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. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois and Ohio with experience supporting adolescents, adults, and families through trauma, stress, anxiety, life transitions, relationship challenges, and emotional overwhelm. My professional background includes child welfare, crisis intervention, behavioral health, and clinical leadership, which has given me extensive experience working with individuals navigating high stress environments, family conflict, grief, trauma, and complex life experiences. I believe therapy should be a space where you feel safe, supported, and genuinely heard, not judged. My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and strengths based. I understand that opening up can be difficult, especially when you have spent so much time carrying things on your own. Together, we will work to identify patterns, build healthier coping skills, improve emotional wellness, and help you move toward a version of yourself and your life that feels more balanced and fulfilling. I have experience working with trauma, anxiety, anger management, self esteem concerns, relationship stress, and emotional burnout. I am passionate about helping people regain confidence in themselves while creating practical strategies for healing and growth. Taking the first step toward therapy requires courage, and I would be honored to support you in that journey.

I specialize in ADHD, neurodivergence, autism spectrum, self-esteem, confidence, and executive functioning challenges, helping people better understand how their minds work and develop strategies that set them up for success. Growing up, I was surrounded by highly successful individuals who thought differently due to ADHD. As someone who has experienced similar challenges, I understand both the struggles and strengths that come with it. APPROACH My approach is direct, practical, and goal-oriented. • I use Solution-Focused Therapy to identify what’s already working and help you build on your strengths. • Motivational Interviewing allows us to explore what truly drives you, so we can create change that feels natural and sustainable. • With Systemic Therapy, we look at how your environment—work, relationships, routines—shapes your challenges and how small adjustments can lead to big improvements. Many of my clients feel stuck—struggling with self-doubt, follow-through, and communication issues that impact relationships, career growth, and confidence. My goal is to help you break that cycle, build self-trust, and create practical systems that work with your brain, not against it. MY BACKGROUND My background includes private practice, group therapy, large-scale mental health programs, and training mental health leaders in coaching and strengths-based therapy. I’ve also built outcome-tracking systems for people in unstable situations—including those without phones, housing, or coping skills—and in the Philippines, where we worked without computers or a library. Beyond therapy, I have extensive experience in employment advocacy, having served as a union officer and EEOC investigator. I understand workplace challenges, career struggles, and professional communication—insight that helps clients navigate work environments with more confidence. I’m trained in Trauma-Informed Care, Psychoanalysis, CBT, and MBCT and certified in EMDR, but I focus on helping people build confidence, improve communication, and develop sustainable systems that make life easier. WHAT TO EXPECT Therapy with me feels more like coaching, with a flow focused on curiosity, observation, and tracking progress. Instead of just talking, we’ll build practical systems to make growth easier and more engaging. • Boost Self-Awareness & Confidence – Learn to recognize how your thought patterns impact decision-making, habits, and self-perception. • Set Flexible Goals – Use data-driven insights to build motivation, improve focus, and create supportive environments. • Develop Effective Communication & Productivity Strategies – We'll create simple, effective systems that improve how you express yourself, manage responsibilities, and stay on track. • Build Better Habits & Supports – Automate routines and design an environment that reduces friction and increases success. • Reframe Challenges & Strengths – You don’t need to fight against how your brain works—you need strategies that help you use it to your advantage. I work primarily with adults and teens with ADHD, focusing on executive function, motivation, and real-world strategies that create lasting change. THINGS I'VE WRITTEN • Where Does Self-Esteem Come From and How Can I Develop It? – GoodTherapy • You Habit or You Don’t: Why There’s Hope for Your Resolutions Yet – GoodTherapy • Embracing Irrationality in Communication – Marriage.com LET'S GET STARTED! If you’re ready to build confidence, improve communication, and develop strategies that work for you, let’s create a system that makes life easier. Therapy with me is engaging, action-oriented, and focused on real results. Let’s get to work!

You may be struggling with anxiety, chronic stress, burnout, low self-esteem, or navigating a major life transition. On the outside, you may appear to be managing, but internally you feel exhausted, uncertain, or disconnected from yourself and what you want. You may be seeking relief, clarity, and a sense of balance, but aren’t sure how to get there on your own. Many clients come to therapy wanting to feel calmer, more confident, and better able to manage daily stressors. You may be looking for support that feels nonjudgmental, grounding, and practical—where you can talk openly, better understand yourself, and develop tools that create meaningful, lasting change. I specialize in working with adults experiencing anxiety, burnout, life transitions, and self-esteem concerns. My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and tailored to your goals, helping you build insight, coping skills, and resilience. If you’re considering therapy, I invite you to reach out to see if we may be a good fit.