Joan French, LCPC - Therapist in Illinois

About Joan

Joan French is a licensed clinical professional counselor with 17 years of experience. She focuses on helping people who feel unheard, isolated, or overwhelmed. Joan aims to create a calm, judgment-free space where adults can say difficult things and begin to feel more connected.

She listens first and works at a steady, patient pace. Joan uses her background in community counseling and art therapy to offer practical ways to cope with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and relationship struggles.

Background and approach

She also supports people navigating gender identity and LGBT concerns. Her style blends structured skills with open listening. Clients can expect clear tools for managing intense feelings alongside time to talk about what matters most to them.

Joan often uses exercises that focus on thoughts, emotions, and behavior changes that people can practice between meetings. Joan describes her approach as trauma-informed and integrative. She draws on cognitive behavioral techniques, emotion-focused work, acceptance strategies, and elements of dialectical behavior therapy.

She also brings creative options from art therapy when that fits the person’s needs. Practical matters are part of the work. Joan helps people build communication skills, set boundaries, and handle life changes.

She aims to make progress feel achievable and to help adults leave sessions with a clearer next step.

How Joan’s Approaches Translate to Online Work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and life changes where someone feels stuck. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, focuses on identifying and changing thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going. It gives straightforward exercises for managing mood and stress. Emotionally-Focused Therapy, EFT, centers on understanding emotions and repairing important relationships by practicing new ways to express needs and respond to others.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Joan will talk with each person about goals and preferences, and together they decide which methods to try first. That decision is collaborative and can change as work progresses.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to fit counseling into a busy life. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation, while phone sessions remove the need for a camera. Live chat and text-based messaging let people check in between meetings or use shorter touchpoints when helpful. These options make it easier to keep consistency and build practice into daily routines.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.

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.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Joan address?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, self-esteem struggles, sleep problems, career stress, and coping with life changes.

How would you describe her therapy style?

Her style is calm and patient, combining active listening with practical skill building. Sessions mix discussion, exercises, and sometimes creative activities.

What is her clinical background?

Joan has 17 years of experience as a therapeutic counselor and holds a Master of Arts in Community Counseling along with an Art Therapy Certificate.

What credentials and location apply to her practice?

She is an LCPC - Illinois LCPC 180.007674, and her practice is located in Illinois.

Which languages are supported for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

Joan offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging as options for sessions.

How does pricing work for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with Joan?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Stress, Anxiety
Relationship issues
Trauma and abuse

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 17 years
Licensed: Illinois
Languages: English

Next step

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