Dorian Ortega, LCPC

Dorian Ortega, LCPC, is a licensed mental health therapist in private practice in Illinois. As an LCPC - a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor - she brings 12 years of clinical experience and a practice rooted in liberation, feminist, and multicultural psychology. Her work intentionally centers BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ identities, and she frames therapy as a pathway toward learning to love oneself and strengthen relationships with others. Drawing on client-centered values, she emphasizes honoring each person's cultural context and personal strengths while guiding practical steps toward healing.

Dorian is also a community advocate who co-founded healing poetry circles to expand access to mental health supports. For the past two years she has organized a series of free poetry healing circles and related events in Humboldt Park that use art as a culturally relevant, accessible, and inclusive means of expression, education, resistance, and community healing. She incorporates poetry, writing, and social media into her outreach to build intersectional and restorative connections that aim to uplift and liberate marginalized communities, while helping individuals develop holistic coping strategies and stronger communication with themselves and others.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Dorian frequently draws from client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to support clients online. Client-centered therapy focuses on building a trusting, nonjudgmental relationship where the client is seen as the expert on their own experience - this approach is helpful for people working on self-esteem, relationship concerns, and identity exploration.

CBT is a practical, skills-based approach that helps identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors; it is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress management. DBT combines acceptance and change strategies and emphasizes skills like emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness - it can be valuable for intense emotions, impulsivity, and relationship challenges.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Dorian works with each person to explore their goals, preferences, and needs and will suggest or combine methods that best fit the client's situation. Licensed professionals and therapists tailor the plan together with the client to support meaningful progress.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy lives, maintain continuity of care across locations, and access support from wherever the client is located.