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RD Portrait of Dr. Rachel Dawkins

Dr. Rachel Dawkins

Compassionate trauma-informed clinical social worker

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About Rachel

Dr. Rachel Dawkins is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) who draws on nine years of professional experience to support people coping with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strains, family challenges, and trauma and abuse.

Background and approach

Holding a doctorate in social work, she integrates evidence-based methods to tailor care to each person’s needs. Her clinical background includes training in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and formal qualifications to provide eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TFCBT).

Her practice blends structured, skill-based interventions with trauma-informed techniques to address symptoms like anxiety, PTSD, dissociative experiences, and attachment difficulties. She emphasizes practical strategies to manage emotional dysregulation while also using trauma-focused protocols when past events continue to affect daily functioning.

Clients can expect a professional who combines doctoral-level training with hands-on experience to create a focused, goal-oriented plan. Based in Illinois, Dr.

Dawkins offers multiple session formats to fit different needs and schedules. She works with licensed practice standards and brings an accessible, evidence-informed approach to help people move toward greater stability and well-being.

Evidence-Based Approaches and Online Care

Dr. Dawkins employs several evidence-based therapeutic techniques to guide online work. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors, which can reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms through practical exercises and skill-building. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused protocol used to process distressing memories and lessen their emotional impact by using structured bilateral stimulation alongside targeted recall. Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TFCBT) integrates cognitive restructuring and gradual exposure to help people reframe traumatic experiences and build coping skills for trauma-related symptoms.

Choosing the right approach is collaborative; the therapist will work with each person to determine which techniques best match their goals, symptoms, and comfort level. Treatment plans may blend methods, adjust pacing, and introduce skills training or trauma processing as needs emerge, with ongoing discussion about progress and preferences.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for scheduling and for communicating in the format that feels most manageable. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity of care across changing schedules and daily demands, while allowing licensed professionals to deliver structured, evidence-informed interventions from a distance.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist address?
The therapist focuses on stress, anxiety, relationship and family difficulties, trauma and abuse, and depression. Specific clinical attention is given to PTSD, dissociative issues, and attachment-related concerns.
What therapeutic style can I expect?
The approach is evidence-based, combining cognitive behavioral techniques with DBT skills and trauma-focused protocols to target both symptoms and coping strategies. Treatment emphasizes practical skills alongside trauma processing where appropriate.
How much clinical experience does the therapist have?
The clinician brings nine years of professional experience in social work and psychotherapy. That background includes doctoral-level training and hands-on application of multiple therapeutic methods.
What are the therapist's credentials and location?
The therapist is a licensed clinical social worker with the credential LCSW and practices in Illinois. License details include IL LCSW 149024431.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Services are provided in English only. International clients are not currently accepted.
In what session formats can therapy be conducted?
Sessions are available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. Exact pricing depends on those factors.
What steps start the process of working together?
To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

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Experience
9 years
Licensed
Illinois
Languages
English