Skip Dettman, LCSW

Skip Dettman is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Illinois who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, and grief. She works with individuals on relationship concerns, parenting strain, and issues related to identity and self-esteem. Her tone is straightforward and accepting, aimed at people who want practical help for day-to-day problems.

She uses clear, goal-focused methods grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, along with client-centered dialogue and skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Sessions usually focus on identifying unhelpful thoughts, testing new behaviors, and building coping skills that work in everyday life. EMDR and existential tools are used when trauma processing or deeper meaning-making is needed.

Skip brings 13 years of clinical experience to the work and holds LCSW licensure in Illinois and Florida. She emphasizes collaboration, so clients help set priorities and choose which techniques to try. The process centers on small, measurable steps rather than vague promises.

In therapy people can expect practical exercises, real-time problem solving, and space to talk through painful memories. Skip pays attention to how symptoms show up in the present and links that to past patterns to reduce their hold. She focuses on building resilience and clearer decisions.

Her practice supports English-speaking adults in Illinois. Sessions aim to be adaptable to each person’s schedule and needs, with options for different formats and a straightforward subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How therapy approaches translate to online care

CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, helps people spot unhelpful thoughts and change the behaviors that follow. It is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and addictive behaviors and focuses on practical exercises and homework between sessions.

Client-Centered Therapy prioritizes the person’s own goals and perspective. The therapist listens closely, reflects what is said, and helps clients make sense of their experience so they can decide what to try next.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, brings concrete skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and better communication. It is useful when emotions feel overwhelming or when patterns repeat despite good intentions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their goals, needs, and pace. That might mean starting with CBT exercises, adding DBT skills, or using trauma-focused tools later on.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video sessions allow for face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a quieter voice check-in is needed. Live chat and messaging suit brief check-ins, skill practice, or people who prefer typing. These options make it possible to fit therapy into busy schedules and to continue work across different settings.