About Christy
Christy Garnhart is an LCSW practicing in Illinois who supports people managing stress, anxiety, family and parenting challenges, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, relationship concerns, compassion fatigue, self esteem, anger, and career-related issues.
Background and approach
She also pays attention to allied concerns such as autism and Asperger Syndrome, blended family issues, communication problems, co-morbidity, DMDD, emptiness, forgiveness, impulsivity, life purpose, pregnancy and childbirth, social anxiety, and women's issues. Christy brings seven years of experience as a licensed clinical social worker to her work and offers practical, strengths-based help tailored to each person’s situation.
Her style emphasizes building on existing abilities while gently identifying thought and behavior patterns that contribute to distress. She uses evidence-informed techniques like Motivational Interviewing and Solution-Focused Therapy to help clients set achievable goals and discover concrete steps forward.
Sessions focus on collaboration, exploring options, and reinforcing what already works while developing new skills to improve relationships, mood, and daily functioning. Christy welcomes inquiries from prospective clients in Illinois and outlines next steps for beginning therapy through the standard intake and matching process.
Approaches for Online Change and Growth
Christy uses Motivational Interviewing and Solution-Focused Therapy to guide online work in practical, client-centered ways. Motivational Interviewing helps people explore their own reasons for change, strengthen motivation, and resolve ambivalence about making different choices; this approach supports issues like substance use, behavior change, and commitment to treatment goals. Solution-Focused Therapy centers on identifying specific goals and building on existing strengths to create step-by-step strategies for improvement, which can be especially useful for coping with stress, relationship problems, and life transitions.Deciding which approach fits best is part of the therapeutic process and will be explored collaboratively. A therapist will work with each client to clarify goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful, adjusting methods over time so the work remains practical and relevant to the individual's needs.
Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for scheduling and communication style. These formats can make it easier to maintain regular sessions, access support from home or work, and pick the modality that matches one’s comfort level and daily routine.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Christy commonly address in therapy
What is her therapeutic approach and style
How much clinical experience does she have
What are her credentials and where is she licensed
Can clients work with her if they live outside the United States
What session formats are available with this therapist
How are fees and payment handled
What are the first steps to begin working together
Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Parenting issues
Also works with
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Bipolar disorder
- Blended family issues
- Career difficulties
- Co-morbidity
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Impulsivity
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 7 years
- Licensed
- Illinois
- Languages
- English