Denise McNicholas
Compassionate, practical support for life and work challenges
LCPC Illinois
- Experience
- 5 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Relationship, Self esteem, Career
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Languages
- English
About Denise
Denise McNicholas is an Illinois-licensed LCPC who brings a focused, strengths-based approach to counseling. With five years of experience as a practicing therapist, she helps people address relationship challenges, build self-esteem, navigate career concerns, and pursue coaching for professional growth.
Background and approach
She also attends to issues related to chronic pain, illness and disability, forgiveness, life purpose, self-love, traumatic brain injury, and women’s issues. Her style centers on collaboration and respect for each person's expertise about their own life.
Using evidence-informed methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy alongside strategies drawn from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy, she helps clients identify practical steps and skills that fit their goals. Denise emphasizes practical tools, motivation, and the client’s existing strengths to foster progress.
Beginning therapy is often an act of courage, and she aims to make that step feel supported and constructive. Her practice offers a mix of formats to suit different schedules and needs, and she works with each client to tailor an approach that aligns with their priorities and values.
Integrating evidence-informed approaches in online therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and developing practical strategies to change behavior and emotional responses; it is often useful for addressing self-esteem, career-related stress, and relationship patterns. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify their values, accept difficult thoughts or feelings, and commit to meaningful action, which can be helpful for life purpose concerns and coping with chronic illness. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, supporting people who want concrete tools for managing intense emotions and improving relationships.
Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic work, and Denise takes a collaborative stance to tailor methods to each person’s needs, goals, and preferences. She will discuss options and combine techniques when helpful so the plan feels practical and aligned with what the client wants to achieve.
Online sessions are offered by licensed professionals in several formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different schedules and comfort levels. This flexibility makes it easier to maintain momentum between sessions and to access therapy from varied locations, while still focusing on skill building, motivation, and applied strategies that translate into daily life.
Frequently asked questions
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Licensed
Illinois
Languages
English