- Focus on sleep and rest
- Collaborative treatment planning
- Skills for daily life
About Deanna
Deanna MacDonald is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Illinois who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and issues with self-esteem and body image. She supports clients facing relationship strain, grief, trauma, addictions, and mood changes. Deanna emphasizes a respectful, compassionate tone and works collaboratively with each person who reaches out.
She has seven years of experience providing individual therapy. In sessions she focuses on practical skills people can use between appointments. Conversations often include looking at thoughts and behaviors, building coping strategies, and setting small, achievable goals.
Her approach draws on methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy. Those tools are used depending on what a person needs and wants to work on. Deanna aims to match techniques to life circumstances rather than follow a fixed formula.
Clients who prefer a direct, respectful style will find straightforward guidance and collaborative planning. She pays attention to stresses from caregiving, workplace strain, and identity-related concerns like LGBT stress. Topics such as panic symptoms, obsessions and compulsions, eating and food-related issues, and self-harm are also within her practice focus.
To start, she asks people to describe their main concerns and goals so a personalized plan can be created. Sessions emphasize manageable changes, clearer communication skills, and strategies for healthier sleep and daily routines.
How these approaches translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice what matters most and take small actions toward those values even when feelings are difficult. It often helps with anxiety, mood problems, and finding motivation for life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches specific skills to reduce symptoms and change patterns. It is commonly used for anxiety, depression, insomnia, and panic symptoms.Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process. The therapist will ask about your goals, daily routine, and what has or hasn’t worked before. Together you will choose techniques and pace that fit your needs rather than sticking to one set method. That collaborative planning helps tailor sessions to sleep goals, stress management, or coping strategies.
Session logistics should be confirmed before booking, since the biography does not list specific formats. Ask about options when you complete the matching questionnaire. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into busy days, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It also lets people try different tools for sleep, coping, and routine-building in the context of everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
7+ years
Credentials
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Deanna help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, sleep and resting problems, self-esteem, relationship and intimacy issues, and a wide range of other concerns listed in her profile.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is collaborative and straightforward. She focuses on practical skills, goal-setting, and respectful, compassionate conversation.
What experience does she bring to sessions?
Deanna has seven years of direct experience providing individual therapy and over a decade working in the mental health field in other roles.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor credential, listed as LCPC, and practices in Illinois.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people from other countries sign up?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.