About Alisa
Alisa Neary is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who focuses on helping people recover from relationship harm and move toward greater self-worth and resilience.
Background and approach
She draws on a person-centered foundation to create an accepting, non-judgmental space where clients can explore painful experiences and begin to rebuild a sense of safety and empowerment. Her work emphasizes reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress while addressing issues such as grief, compassion fatigue, and challenges related to identity and relationships.
In sessions she uses practical techniques from cognitive behavioral and mindfulness-based approaches alongside motivational interviewing and narrative work to help clients reframe harmful beliefs, manage overwhelming emotions, and develop healthier patterns. Alisa supports those navigating divorce, domestic violence, sexual assault, and complex feelings like guilt, shame, and self-blame, with attention to women’s issues and LGBT concerns.
She offers therapy in English and provides a collaborative environment aimed at fostering self-acceptance and clearer choices moving forward.
Therapeutic Approaches for Online Healing and Growth
Alisa combines client-centered therapy with cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness practices to support change in online sessions. Client-centered therapy focuses on creating an empathic, nonjudgmental space where clients’ values and goals guide the work; this helps people feel heard and supported while they explore difficult topics. Cognitive behavioral therapy offers practical strategies to identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and improve daily functioning. Mindfulness therapy teaches attention and acceptance skills to manage strong emotions and stress in the moment and to increase present-moment awareness.Deciding which approach to use is part of the therapeutic process and happens collaboratively. The therapist partners with each person to assess needs, preferences, and goals, then adapts methods over time so the plan fits the client’s changing priorities and comfort level.
Online formats - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - make it easier to access consistent care from licensed professionals without geographic constraints. These options allow flexibility in scheduling and communication style, so clients can choose the format that best supports their engagement and progress.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
Also works with
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- LGBT
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Women's issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 9 years
- Licensed
- Illinois
- Languages
- English