Myrna Pledger, LCPC

Myrna Pledger is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) based in Illinois with 21 years of experience. She began her career as a community counselor and has a long history helping people with intense, everyday challenges. Her approach blends practical teaching with compassion and respect for each person’s beliefs.

Myrna focuses on clear, truth-based conversations that aim for real change. She uses straightforward tools drawn from cognitive behavioral approaches and other therapies to help people manage anxiety, depression, grief, and relationship strain. Sessions emphasize skills people can use between meetings.

Her background includes work with people affected by trauma and abuse, including survivors of narcissistic abuse. She has experience addressing parenting struggles, career stress, addictions, and issues around intimacy and self-esteem. She also brings attention to multicultural concerns and the effects of prejudice and discrimination.

Myrna describes her style as educational and kind. She frames therapy as a collaborative process and adapts plans to each person’s needs and values, including faith when clients want that included. She does not rely on labels but offers examples and strategies that have helped others in similar situations.

People who choose her often want practical steps, clear explanations, and a therapist who will hold them accountable while remaining compassionate. She supports clients who are ready to make changes and teaches tools to handle life transitions, anger, and ongoing stress.

How these approaches translate to online care

Myrna uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. CBT sessions teach concrete skills for anxiety, depression, and stress so clients have tools to use between meetings.

She also incorporates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which focuses on helping people accept difficult feelings while moving toward what matters to them. ACT can be useful for grief, chronic worry, and life transitions by clarifying values and small steps forward.

Finding the best approach is part of the work. Myrna will discuss goals and preferences and tailor methods together. Clients and therapist decide which mix of techniques fits each person’s situation and pace.

Online therapy offers several practical benefits. Video calls let the therapist and client meet face to face for deeper conversation, while phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or a camera-free option is preferred. Live chat and text-based messaging provide short, flexible check-ins and can make it easier to keep progress between scheduled sessions. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into a busy life and to keep continuity when routines shift.