Anna Bruno, LCSW

Anna Bruno is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), a master's-level mental health professional, and a Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional (QIDP), a credential focused on supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She earned a Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in Sociology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2013 and completed a Master of Social Work with a concentration in Mental Health at the same university in August 2014.

Her training included internships at The Autism Program and Skill Sprout, clinics dedicated to supporting autistic children and adults. In January 2020 she received the Outstanding New Social Worker award from the University of Illinois School of Social Work. For four years she served as president of the downstate chapter of the Illinois Society for Clinical Social Workers.

Across seven years of practice, Anna has worked with individuals, parents, college students, and whole families who are navigating uncertain transitions. Much of her work centers on supporting people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, including autism and ADHD, and helping caregivers manage stress and changing roles. She also assists clients facing grief, relationship or family problems, workplace challenges, and questions about life purpose and self-esteem.

Anna emphasizes goal setting and practical steps to reach those goals, honoring each personâs right to self-determination while highlighting their strengths. She approaches therapy as a sounding board, a respectful consultant, and a collaborative partner as clients navigate lifeâs changes.

Evidence-Based Support and Online Care

Anna uses goal-focused coaching to help clients translate values and aspirations into concrete, achievable steps. This approach is practical and action oriented, and it is helpful for people working on career goals, parenting plans, or life transitions.

She also employs skills-based coping strategies that teach tools for managing stress, anxiety, and day-to-day challenges. These techniques focus on building routines, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities to improve functioning in relationships, work, and caregiving roles.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Anna collaborates with each client to identify which techniques fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting methods over time so therapy stays relevant and effective.

Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, maintain continuity during transitions, and connect with a licensed professional from different locations within Illinois.