PuttingFamilyFirst

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VM Portrait of Vicki Marcum
Online therapist

Vicki Marcum

Family-focused LCSW with 40 years experience

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Credentials
LCSW
Experience
40 years
Licensed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Vicki

Vicki Marcum is a licensed clinical social worker with 40 years of practice. She brings steady, practical support for parents and families who are trying to manage stress, moves in relationships, or hard-to-handle behaviors. Her style starts with listening and building trust before choosing tools that fit each person's needs.

She emphasizes partnership - parents remain in charge of decisions while she offers guidance and options. Vicki uses approaches that focus on connection, thoughts and feelings, and the client’s own goals.

Background and approach

She often begins with a client-centered stance, creating space to talk without judgment. From there she may use attachment-based ideas to repair or strengthen family bonds, or cognitive-behavioral techniques to change unhelpful patterns. Her work spans many settings over four decades, including inpatient psychiatric care, community mental health, emergency and crisis services, and independent practice.

She has experience with parenting concerns, family relationships, grief, trauma and mood disorders among many other issues. That breadth informs a flexible approach to common parenting problems and family stress. Vicki aims to be compassionate and direct.

She listens closely, offers feedback, and when appropriate challenges unhelpful beliefs. Therapy sessions may include calm conversations, practical strategies, and emotion-focused work to improve closeness and communication within families. She practices in Illinois and holds the credential Licensed Clinical Social Worker, or LCSW.

Sessions are offered in English and are arranged around each family’s schedule.

Approaches that translate to online family care

Vicki commonly uses attachment-based methods that focus on strengthening bonds and trust within families, helping caregivers and children feel more connected and understood. She also draws on cognitive behavioral therapy, which looks at thoughts and behaviors and teaches practical skills families can use to reduce conflict and manage emotions. These approaches work well for parenting challenges, communication problems, stress, and mood concerns.

Finding the right approach tends to be a collaborative process. The therapist begins by listening to what matters most to the family, then suggests approaches that match their goals and personality. Together they adjust methods over time so the work stays practical and relevant to everyday family life.

Online therapy offers several practical benefits for busy families. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation without travel, phone sessions give straightforward options when screens are hard, and live chat or text-based messaging can support brief check-ins and follow-up between sessions. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into school and work schedules while keeping the focus on improving relationships and parenting skills.

Attachment-Based Therapy

Looks at how early bonds shaped what you expect from closeness, and how that plays out now with a partner, a parent, or your own children.

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 family or parenting concerns does she address?
She works with a wide range of concerns including parenting challenges, family relationship problems, communication issues, behavior problems, grief, trauma, mood concerns, and stress.
What is her therapeutic style and approach?
She begins in a client-centered way to build trust, then uses approaches like attachment-based work and cognitive-behavioral techniques tailored to the issue and family preferences.
How long has she been practicing clinically?
She has 40 years of clinical experience across inpatient, outpatient, crisis, school, and independent practice settings.
What credentials and location are listed for her?
She holds the credential Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, with Illinois license number IL LCSW 149008067 and practices in Illinois.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are offered online?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging for flexibility in how families connect.
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 get started with therapy?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
40 years
Licensed
Illinois
Languages
English

Next step

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