Barbara Benn, LCPC

Barbara Benn is a licensed clinician practicing in Illinois with 15 years of professional experience. She holds the credential LCPC, which stands for Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, and she draws on that training to help people manage stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, anger, and challenges with self-esteem and motivation.

She emphasizes an open, respectful therapeutic relationship in which thoughts and feelings can be explored without judgment. Barbara supports clients through the often difficult first steps toward a more satisfying and balanced life, offering steady encouragement as they work toward their goals. Her approach is individualized - she adapts strategies to fit each person rather than applying a single method to everyone.

Barbara is trained in motivational interviewing and Person Centered Therapy, and she uses grounding and other relaxation techniques to help people cope with distressing symptoms. She has experience assisting people with social anxiety and helping them take concrete steps toward change. Throughout her practice she focuses on building motivation, strengthening self-confidence, and creating practical tools clients can use beyond the therapy space.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Barbara Benn commonly uses motivational interviewing, a collaborative conversational approach that helps people explore their ambivalence and build motivation for change. This method can be especially useful for low motivation, goal setting, and making behavioral changes.

She also draws on Person Centered Therapy, which focuses on empathic listening and supporting a person’s own capacity for insight and self-directed growth. This approach is often helpful for addressing self-esteem concerns, depression, and anxiety by creating space for clients to understand and accept their experiences.

In addition, Barbara uses grounding and relaxation techniques to help manage acute anxiety, trauma responses, and intense emotions. These practical skills offer immediate ways to reduce distress and regain a sense of control in difficult moments.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the process, and Barbara works collaboratively with each person to determine what fits their needs, goals, and preferences. She tailors methods over time as progress and challenges emerge.

Online therapy formats - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - offer flexible access to licensed professionals and therapists. These options make it easier to schedule sessions around work and family, maintain continuity when travel or mobility is an issue, and choose the communication style that feels most comfortable.