Deanna MacDonald, LCPC

Deanna MacDonald is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Illinois who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and mood-related concerns. She also supports people facing relationship strain, body image worries, parenting stress, and challenges with sleep or eating. Deanna emphasizes a respectful, compassionate approach and meets people where they are in life.

She uses practical, collaborative work in sessions. That means she and the client set goals together and try hands-on strategies between meetings. Deanna draws on methods that focus on thoughts and everyday habits to change unhelpful patterns and build coping skills.

Across seven years of individual therapy practice, she has guided people through grief, trauma, addiction issues, and concerns like panic, obsessive thoughts, and self-harm. Her background includes supporting people with caregiver stress, workplace pressures, and questions about life purpose and self-worth.

In sessions she listens for what matters most and adapts tools accordingly. Techniques include noticing thoughts, practicing new behaviors, and learning emotional regulation skills. She also uses brief coaching elements to help translate insights into daily routines.

Starting with a simple plan, Deanna helps clients break goals into small steps. She focuses on practical changes that fit everyday life. People who want direct, collaborative work on thoughts and habits may find her style straightforward and goal-oriented.

Approaches that target thoughts and everyday habits

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and commit to actions that match their values. It’s useful for anxiety, depression, and finding clearer direction in life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, focuses on identifying and changing thought and behavior patterns that keep problems going. CBT is often applied to worry, panic, mood problems, and habits like disturbed sleep or eating. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, emphasizes emotion regulation and practical skills for managing intense feelings and impulsive behavior; it can help with self-harm urges, strong mood swings, and relationship conflicts.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that fit their needs, goals, and everyday routines. That choice can change over time as different strategies are tried and adjusted together.

Confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not specified here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, or avoid traveling for an appointment. Speak with the therapist during the matching process to learn what session formats she offers and which will best support your goals.