Myrna Pledger, LCPC

Myrna Pledger is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) practicing in Illinois with 21 years of experience. Trained as a community counselor, she works with individuals and families across the many roles people play within their communities and brings wide-ranging experience from early work in school settings to long-term clinical practice. She began her career supporting children who displayed violent or inappropriate behaviors in school and came to view those struggles in the context of the family system rather than as isolated problems.

She approaches maladaptive behavior as often learned within family environments or influenced by inherited tendencies, and she recognizes the significant harm that can come from sustained exposure to people with narcissistic traits. Her practice includes a specialization in helping survivors of narcissistic abuse - mental, spiritual, and physical - alongside treatment for depression, anxiety, relationship and family concerns, parenting challenges, career issues, OCD, ADHD, and responses to physical trauma or emotional abuse.

Pledger integrates a faith-informed perspective as a Christian clinician who believes it is important to honor The Creator when offering care. Her therapeutic style is truth-based, educationally focused, and kind. She is solutions-focused and combines cognitive-behavioral and rational-emotive methods while tailoring conversation and treatment plans to each person’s specific needs. She offers steady support and practical strategies for those ready to pursue greater wellbeing and healthier relationships.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

The practice uses several evidence-informed approaches to help clients reach their goals. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages people to notice difficult thoughts and feelings without being ruled by them, and to take meaningful action based on personal values; it can be especially useful for stress, anxiety, and coping with life changes. Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early relationships shape current patterns of closeness and trust, helping with relationship struggles, intimacy-related concerns, and family dynamics. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mood-related difficulties.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist collaborates with each person to determine which method or combination of methods best fits their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds. This collaborative process helps tailor support to what matters most to the client.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, licensed professionals can maintain continuity of care around work, family, or mobility constraints. These options make it easier to schedule regular sessions, access support from familiar locations, and continue therapeutic progress even when life circumstances change.