Lily Shinn, LCSW - Therapist in Illinois

About Lily

Lily Shinn is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 25 years of experience practicing in Illinois. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, and major life changes. Lily aims to make the first steps into therapy feel manageable and respectful of each person's pace.

She creates a calm, open setting where clients can speak honestly without fear of judgment. Sessions are straightforward and rooted in practical conversation.

Background and approach

Lily listens closely and helps clients clarify what matters most to them. Her work often addresses relationship and family concerns, parenting questions, intimacy issues, and compassion fatigue. She also supports people facing career challenges, anger, depression, and ADHD-related struggles.

Additional areas include aging and geriatric issues, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, grief at end of life, and separation or divorce. Lily draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques to help clients learn new coping skills and try small, useful changes between sessions. She focuses on what a person can do now to feel a little more steady and clear.

Progress is paced to match each person’s goals. People find her practical and steady when handling complex situations like family of origin problems, blended family dynamics, infidelity, guilt and shame, or isolation. She aims to help clients build realistic steps forward and regain a sense of choice in their lives.

Evidence-based approaches and online support

Two common evidence-based techniques she uses are cognitive strategies and grief-focused work. Cognitive strategies help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try different ways of thinking that reduce stress and anxiety. Grief-focused work helps someone make sense of loss, find ways to remember, and build routines that support daily functioning.

She also uses practical coping skills training to teach steady habits for emotion regulation and stress management. These skills are concrete and can be practiced between sessions to help with parenting stress, compassion fatigue, chronic illness, or career pressures.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Together they try methods and adjust the plan based on what helps most.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These formats make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules and to continue work when life or health gets in the way. Licensed professionals can use these tools to deliver consistent care and practical guidance across a range of concerns.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Lily commonly address?

She works with stress, anxiety, grief, self-esteem, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, relationship and family issues, intimacy-related concerns, parenting, anger, career problems, depression, and ADHD. Additional focuses include aging and geriatric issues, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, hospice and end-of-life matters, and family of origin problems.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her approach is practical and nonjudgmental. She creates an open space for people to talk through feelings and then focuses on small, useful steps clients can try between sessions.

What background and experience does she bring?

She has 25 years of professional experience helping people with a wide range of life and relationship concerns. That experience includes work with grief, anxiety, parenting issues, and chronic illness related stress.

What are her credentials and where is she licensed?

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, and holds an Illinois license listed as IL LCSW 149007914. Her practice is based in Illinois.

Which languages are offered for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can international clients work with her?

International clients are not currently accepted.

What session formats are available?

She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging so clients can choose the format that fits their schedule and comfort level.

How does cost and scheduling work?

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

Experience: 25 years
Licensed: Illinois
Languages: English

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