Licensed clinical social worker recordIllinois
Melissa Cauthen, LCSW
Illinois
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Stress and Relationships
Continue with MelissaCredentials check
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in Illinois
- LCSW, licence 149023198
- NPI
- 1003586611
- Experience
- 16 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- Illinois
These details come from information Melissa supplied to BetterHelp. A licence can be checked with the social work board of the state that issued it, and an NPI with the national registry.
AAbout
- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Mindfulness and ACT
About Melissa
Melissa Cauthen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Illinois with 16 years of clinical experience. She helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family concerns, grief, parenting questions, and LGBT-related issues. She also works with mood disorders, trauma and abuse, career stress, and compassion fatigue.
Her approach is straightforward and practical. She uses techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to identify unhelpful patterns and build small, workable changes. She also draws on client-centered and emotionally-focused methods to clarify what matters to each person and to strengthen how they relate to others.
Sessions focus on concrete skills and realistic goals. Expect conversations about what’s getting in the way of daily functioning and specific strategies to reduce symptoms and improve coping. Mindfulness practices and motivational interviewing are used when they fit a client's goals and preferences.
Melissa brings experience working with culturally diverse people and with a range of life circumstances. She pays attention to practical pressures like work, family responsibilities, and financial strain when planning treatment steps. Her style is collaborative: she helps clients set goals and checks in on what is and isn’t working.
To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Confirm current session options before booking so arrangements match your needs.
BHow sessions work
How her approaches translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take small actions toward those values. It focuses on accepting difficult thoughts while committing to behavior changes that reflect personal priorities. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, behaviors, and feelings and teaches concrete tools to shift unhelpful thinking and reduce symptoms. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a respectful, nonjudgmental conversation where the client's views guide the pace and focus of work.Deciding which approach to use is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, daily pressures, and what methods feel most useful. Together they adjust techniques over time based on what helps in real life.
Confirm current online session options before booking so you know which formats are available. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy around work, school, and family schedules. They can also allow shorter check-ins, use of mindfulness exercises between meetings, and more consistent access to care when in-person visits are difficult. The therapist will discuss how to structure sessions to match your routine and goals.
CAreas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
16+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
DQuestions
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family concerns, grief, parenting, LGBT-related issues, trauma, mood disorders, and compassion fatigue.
What is her therapeutic style?
She uses a practical, collaborative style that blends cognitive behavioral tools, ACT, client-centered work, and emotionally-focused approaches to set clear goals and teach skills.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 16 years of experience in clinical and social work settings.
What are her credentials and where is she licensed?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in Illinois.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, call 911, or call or text 988. More crisis numbers