Jill Ertel, LCSW

Jill Ertel is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 11 years of professional experience in Indiana. She focuses on helping people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, addiction, anger, or low self-esteem. Jill speaks plainly and aims to make the first steps into therapy feel manageable for someone who might be nervous about reaching out.

Her sessions are shaped to each person's needs. Jill listens without judgment and adapts conversations and goals to what matters most to the client. She uses practical methods to help people build motivation, regain confidence, and manage strong emotions in day-to-day life.

Jill often combines cognitive behavioral ideas with client-centered listening and solution-focused planning. That means she helps clients notice unhelpful thoughts, talk through what’s getting in the way, and set small, concrete steps forward. These tools are useful when coping with life changes, workplace stress, and relationship or parenting challenges.

She also addresses issues tied to caregiving strain, body image, codependency, substance use, and feelings of isolation or guilt. Sessions can include work on communication, boundaries, and finding clearer purpose when people feel stuck.

Jill aims to treat everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. She encourages people to move at their own pace and celebrates small gains along the way. The approach is practical, straightforward, and focused on what will make daily life feel better.

Practical approaches for online therapy

Jill uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice patterns of thinking that cause distress and to develop alternative, more helpful responses. CBT can be useful for anxiety, mood concerns, and habit changes by breaking problems into clear, manageable steps.

She also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which emphasizes listening closely and tailoring conversations to each person's experience. This approach helps people feel heard and shapes goals that reflect their values. Solution-Focused Therapy is used to set short-term, realistic goals and to create action steps people can use between sessions to see steady progress.

Finding the right approach is a collaboration. Jill will discuss different methods with clients, consider their goals and preferences, and adjust the plan as trust and insight grow. The process is practical and guided by what helps a person make small, steady changes.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is good for more in-depth sessions and visual cues. Phone calls can fit a shorter break at work or require less bandwidth. Chat and messaging work well for quick check-ins, brief coaching, or ongoing support between appointments. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives and to maintain steady progress over time.