Marikay Gazda, LCSW

Marikay Gazda is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 35 years of experience. She focuses on helping people who are dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, stress, and major life changes. Her manner is warm and straightforward, aimed at helping someone feel steadier and more able to cope.

She works with people facing aging and caregiver concerns, chronic illness and pain, and issues that come with serious medical conditions. She also supports those who feel isolated or empty and those wrestling with guilt, shame, or questions about life purpose. Conversations center on clear, manageable steps and on strengthening self-care and self-love.

Marikay uses a mix of approaches tailored to each person. She draws on cognitive behavioral ideas to spot unhelpful thinking and make small practical changes. She also uses client-centered listening and emotionally-focused work to help people connect with their feelings and needs.

Her style is collaborative and paced to the person in front of her. Sessions often include problem-solving, building communication skills, and creating routines that reduce overwhelm. She aims to help people leave sessions with tools they can use between meetings.

Over her career she has supported people through hospice and end-of-life concerns, attachment and relationship struggles, and the stress of caregiving. Her goal is to help people find steadiness, meaning, and more trusting connections with themselves and others.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Marikay frequently uses cognitive behavioral therapy and client-centered therapy in online sessions. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavior changes to reduce anxiety or depression. Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening, reflection, and supporting each person’s own pace toward clearer self-understanding.

She approaches choices about method as a collaborative process. During early sessions she and the client will talk about goals, try strategies, and adjust the focus based on what feels most helpful. The therapist supports finding an approach that fits the person’s needs and preferences rather than imposing one method.

Online therapy with her is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video calls are useful for in-depth conversations and nonverbal cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a hands-free check-in is needed. Live chat and messaging work well for brief check-ins, progress notes, or when scheduling a shorter check-in around a busy day. These options aim to make it easier to fit therapy into real life while keeping the work focused and practical.