Dr. Chelsea Dumas
Change that fits real life
- Credentials
- MI Psychologist 6301018607, IL Psychologist 071009812
- Experience
- 12 years
- Licensed in
- Illinois, Michigan
- Languages
- English
- Format
- Online sessions
About Chelsea
Dr. Chelsea Dumas focuses on stress, anxiety, addictions, family concerns, trauma and abuse, and depression. She helps people who are dealing with sleep problems, anger, low self-esteem, career questions, bipolar mood issues, and big life changes.
Her work also addresses compassion fatigue, substance use and recovery, and women's issues. Chelsea is a clinical psychologist licensed in Michigan and Illinois. She holds a Doctor of Psychology degree and brings 12 years of clinical experience.
Background and approach
She uses plain language in sessions and moves at a pace that feels right for each person. Her style blends looking at relationships and environments with practical skill-building. She helps clients notice how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect and then tries small, doable changes.
Motivational techniques are used when people are deciding about substance use or habit change. Trauma-focused work is part of her practice when past events continue to cause distress. She helps people process difficult experiences and reduce symptoms that get in the way of daily life.
Chelsea also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy when emotion regulation or coping skills are central needs. Sessions are straightforward and goal-oriented. She works collaboratively to set clear steps and adjusts methods based on what’s helping.
The aim is to make real changes that fit into everyday life.
How evidence-based approaches work online
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on following the client's lead, listening closely, and building goals together. It helps when people need a supportive space to figure out priorities and move at their own pace.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical skills to shift unhelpful patterns. It is useful for anxiety, depression, sleep issues, and problem behaviors.
Finding the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn't helped before. Together they choose strategies and try them out, adjusting if something isn’t working.
Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. This makes it easier to fit sessions around work, childcare, or travel and lets people use the formats that feel most comfortable. Licensed professionals can teach coping skills, guide trauma-focused work, and support behavior change effectively through these options.
Client-Centered Therapy
The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Concrete skills for riding out strong emotion, tolerating distress, and handling relationships without things escalating. The skills are practised in daily life, so between-session support by message or phone fits naturally.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
What is her clinical background?
What are her credentials and where is she based?
Which languages are supported and are international clients seen?
What session formats are available?
How are fees handled?
What is the first step to begin therapy?
Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Family conflicts
Also works with
- Abandonment
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Co-morbidity
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Guilt and shame
- Mood disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sleeping disorders
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Trauma and abuse
- Women's issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 12 years
- Licensed
- Illinois, Michigan
- Languages
- English
Next step
Talk to Chelsea
- Takes a few minutes
- Nothing to set up just to look
- Stop at any point