Lisa Whittingham, LCPC

Lisa Whittingham is an Illinois licensed clinician with 15 years of experience helping people through major life transitions and painful emotions. She creates a calm, non-judgmental space where clients can talk about what matters most and find practical ways to cope.

Her work covers a broad range of concerns, including stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and trauma. She also helps with relationship and communication struggles, parenting stress, caregiver strain, and issues that come with aging and geriatric concerns. Sessions focus on clear goals and steady progress.

Lisa uses techniques from cognitive behavioral approaches and mindfulness to help people notice unhelpful thinking and try different habits. She also draws on trauma-focused work and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing when trauma memories and strong reactions are part of the picture. Dialectical behavior strategies are used to build emotional regulation and healthier ways of relating.

Her style is warm and straightforward. She listens first, then helps clients set realistic steps they can practice between sessions. The aim is to build self-compassion and skills that fit everyday life, not just talk about problems.

Lisa works in English and Italian and supports people facing complex medical, caregiving, and life-stage challenges. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a time that fits their needs.

How therapy approaches translate to online work

CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, helps people notice thoughts and habits that make problems worse and then try small behavior changes to get different results. It is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep and eating concerns, and stress. EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, addresses strong trauma memories by processing distressing images and sensations so they feel less overwhelming. It can be helpful when past events continue to cause intense reactions.

Choosing the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will collaborate with the client to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and comfort level. Treatment can be adjusted over time as progress and priorities change.

Confirm current session options before booking, since formats are not listed here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy week, avoid travel, or check in quickly during a break at work. Some people prefer shorter check-ins while others want longer sessions for deeper work; these practical options are discussed during scheduling so the plan fits daily life.