April Balzhiser, LCPC

April Balzhiser is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) practicing in Illinois with 18 years of experience in social services and mental health settings. She also holds certification as a Certified Domestic Violence Professional, reflecting focused training in responding to domestic violence-related needs. April has worked with individuals, children, families, and couples from diverse backgrounds and has substantial experience addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, trauma and abuse, child welfare and foster care, alternative schooling, and a wide range of family concerns.

Her practice emphasizes creating a welcoming, open environment where clients feel able to share their experiences. April prioritizes meeting people where they are and collaborating on a path forward, using an approach that values the client’s perspective and goals. She integrates evidence-informed methods and practical strategies to address stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family difficulties, addiction concerns, grief, intimacy and self-esteem issues, bipolar disorder, and the challenges of life transitions.

April’s background in both direct service and trauma-informed care informs her work with complex situations such as adoption and foster care issues, caregiver stress, chronic illness, codependency, and blended family dynamics. She welcomes the opportunity to support clients in building coping skills, improving relationships, and moving toward greater resilience.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

April commonly draws on Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in her work. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on creating a supportive, empathic space where the client’s own goals and strengths guide the work, which is helpful for relationship concerns, self-esteem, and navigating life changes. CBT is a practical approach that examines how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and offers concrete strategies to reduce anxiety, depressive symptoms, and problematic coping patterns.

She also integrates elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) when clients need skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness; DBT techniques can be especially useful for managing intense emotions and improving communication in relationships. Determining the right mix of approaches is part of the collaborative process - April works with each person to identify which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences and adjusts the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy with April is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to provide flexibility and accessibility. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and access licensed professionals from home or other convenient locations.