Shelia Cisco, LCPC

Shelia Cisco is a licensed clinical professional counselor who helps people in Illinois work through relationship struggles, trauma, depression, and issues with intimacy and self‑esteem. She brings 12 years of experience to conversations about addiction, career stress, and major life transitions. She speaks English and uses clear, practical strategies to help clients take small steps toward change.

Her style is warm and direct. She listens closely to what matters most and checks in about values and goals. Sessions focus on everyday problems and realistic actions rather than long theories.

Shelia draws from cognitive behavioral therapy to identify unhelpful thinking and shift behaviors that keep people stuck. She also uses acceptance and commitment therapy to help people clarify values and tolerate difficult feelings while moving toward a meaningful life.

Client-centered methods shape her approach too, so clients set the pace and the agenda. Existential ideas are brought in when questions about purpose, identity, or life transitions arise. These approaches are blended to match each person's needs.

Many people come for help with abandonment, body image, caregiver stress, communication problems, divorce and separation, or issues around sexuality and gender identity. She also supports those dealing with guilt, shame, loneliness, forgiveness, hospice or end-of-life concerns, and rebuilding self-love.

Sessions include practical tools, homework when helpful, and focused conversations about next steps. The goal is to leave each session with one clear thing to try before the next meeting.

How her approaches work online

Two of the main methods she uses are cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavior changes to improve mood and relationships. ACT helps people clarify what matters to them, accept difficult feelings, and take action toward a meaningful life.

Finding the right approach is a joint process. Shelia will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn't helped before. Together they shape a plan that may blend CBT, ACT, and client-centered listening to fit the person's needs.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexible options. Video allows face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be a good choice when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Chat and text messaging are useful for brief updates, tracking progress, or keeping momentum between longer sessions. These formats make it easier to fit sessions into work, caregiving, or busy schedules while keeping therapy consistent.