About Barbara
Barbara Benn is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) in Illinois with 15 years of experience supporting people facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, anger, and challenges with self-esteem.
Background and approach
She emphasizes a collaborative, individualized process that helps clients identify goals and build practical skills to move toward a more fulfilling life. Her background includes training in motivational interviewing and Person Centered Therapy, along with the use of grounding and relaxation techniques to manage intense feelings and reduce distress.
Clients work with her to create a nonjudgmental space where thoughts and emotions can be explored openly, and interventions are adjusted to match each person’s needs and preferences. Over her career she has helped people address social anxiety, increase motivation, and take concrete steps toward personal goals.
Barbara approaches therapy as a partnership, offering steady support while helping clients develop strategies they can use beyond sessions.
Evidence-Based Techniques and Flexible Online Care
Barbara uses motivational interviewing to help clients clarify values, increase motivation, and take manageable steps toward change; this approach is especially useful when people feel stuck or uncertain about next steps. She also incorporates Person Centered Therapy, which emphasizes empathy and a nonjudgmental stance so clients can explore thoughts and feelings at their own pace. Additionally, grounding and relaxation techniques are used to reduce acute distress and support emotional regulation during and between sessions.Finding the right combination of methods is part of the collaborative work she does with each client. The therapist and client identify goals, try approaches that fit the individual, and adjust the plan as needed so care reflects the person’s needs, values, and preferences.
Online therapy with Barbara offers practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These formats make it easier to fit sessions into busy lives, maintain continuity of care across locations, and access support when in-person visits are not feasible, while allowing licensed professionals to apply the same evidence-based techniques in a format that suits the client.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Barbara commonly address?
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What experience does she bring to sessions?
Where is she licensed and what are her credentials?
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
What session formats are available for working together?
How are costs and scheduling handled?
What are the steps to begin therapy with her?
Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Anger management
Also works with
- Experience
- 15 years
- Licensed
- Illinois
- Languages
- English