Lauren Oestmann, LCSW - Therapist in Illinois

About Lauren

Lauren Oestmann is a licensed clinical social worker with 15 years of practice in Illinois. She draws on long experience across different settings to help families and parents facing common struggles. Lauren speaks plainly and focuses on practical steps that families can use right away.

She has worked in residential substance abuse, adoption preservation, corrections, and with children and teens. That background shapes how she sees family dynamics and parenting challenges.

Background and approach

Lauren uses tools grounded in evidence but explains them in simple terms so parents can try strategies between sessions. In sessions she is client-centered and strength-based. She looks for what is already working and builds on those parts.

Conversations tend to focus on clear goals and small, doable changes that fit daily life. Her methods include cognitive behavioral therapy - which helps change unhelpful thinking and behaviors - and dialectical behavior therapy - which teaches skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance. She also uses motivational interviewing to support change and trauma-focused approaches when past events affect current family life.

Lauren works with common concerns like stress, anxiety, parenting, relationship and family issues, depression, grief, sleep problems, addiction, ADHD, and coping with life changes. Sessions are offered in English and arranged through online formats that suit busy families.

Practical approaches for online family and parenting support

Lauren commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps parents and children identify unhelpful thoughts and change everyday behaviors. CBT is useful for anxiety, sleep problems, low mood, and many parenting challenges.

She also uses dialectical behavior therapy to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills. DBT techniques can help when strong emotions, outbursts, or relationship strain make family life harder.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist collaborates with each person or family to pick methods that match their goals, needs, and preferences. That plan can change as progress is made or challenges shift.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit busy family schedules. These options make it easier to meet between school runs, work shifts, and other commitments and allow follow-up between sessions when helpful.

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.

Motivational Interviewing

A way of working through mixed feelings about change without being pushed. The therapist helps you weigh things up and find your own reasons, which often makes a difficult decision feel less stuck.

Frequently asked questions

What issues does Lauren help with?

She helps with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, anger, depression, relationship and family concerns, grief, intimacy-related issues, sleeping problems, parenting, self esteem, career challenges, bipolar, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and ADHD.

What is her approach in sessions?

Her style is client-centered, strength-based, and solution-focused. She uses clear goals and teaches practical skills from CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, and trauma-focused work.

How much experience does she have?

She has 15 years of experience working in settings such as residential substance abuse, adoption preservation, corrections, and with children and teens.

What are her credentials and where is she licensed?

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, licensed in Illinois. The license number is IL LCSW 149.014605.

Which languages are supported during sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can she work with clients outside the United States?

International clients are not currently accepted. She provides services to people located in Illinois and within the allowed regions.

What session formats are available?

Sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.

How are payments and scheduling handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

ADHD
Anger management
Bipolar disorder
Career difficulties
Compassion fatigue
Coping with life changes
Depression
Family conflicts
Grief
Intimacy-related issues
Parenting issues
Relationship issues
Self esteem
Sleeping disorders

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 15 years
Licensed: Illinois
Languages: English

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