About Chelsea
Dr. Chelsea Dumas is a licensed clinical psychologist who focuses on stress, anxiety, addictions, family concerns, trauma and abuse, depression, relationships, sleep problems, anger, self-esteem, career challenges, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue.
Background and approach
She also pays attention to related issues such as abandonment, co-morbidity, drug and alcohol addiction, family of origin difficulties, guilt and shame, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress, sexual assault and abuse, smoking or vaping cessation, and women’s issues.
With 12 years of clinical experience and licensure in both Michigan and Illinois, she draws on a broad clinical background to help people address complex, overlapping concerns. Her therapy style blends client-centered care with evidence-based strategies aimed at changing unhelpful patterns and improving daily functioning.
She works collaboratively with clients to explore how relationships, family dynamics, and broader environments influence thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and she moves at a pace that reflects each person’s goals and readiness for change. Dr.
Dumas uses approaches that include cognitive behavioral techniques, dialectical skills, motivational interviewing, and trauma-focused interventions to tailor treatment to presenting needs and circumstances.
Practical Therapy Approaches for Online Care
Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathic listening and working at the client's pace; it helps people clarify goals, feel understood, and build motivation to change. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, offering practical tools for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and mood regulation. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) provides skills for managing intense emotions, improving distress tolerance, and strengthening interpersonal effectiveness, which can be useful for anger, emotion dysregulation, and coping with stressful events.Choosing the right approach is collaborative and often evolves over time. The therapist will work with each person to assess which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and will adjust strategies as progress and circumstances change. Clients are invited to share feedback so treatment stays aligned with what matters most to them.
Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, allowing people to access licensed professionals from different locations without commuting. These formats can make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules and to continue care during life transitions. The combination of accessible session options and evidence-informed approaches supports consistent progress toward practical, everyday improvements.
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Family conflicts
Also works with
- Abandonment
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Co-morbidity
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Guilt and shame
- Mood disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sleeping disorders
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Trauma and abuse
- Women's issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 12 years
- Licensed
- Illinois, Michigan
- Languages
- English