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SA Portrait of Rev. Sergio Ayala

Rev. Sergio Ayala

Compassionate clinician blending faith and clinical care

LCPC, LMHC Illinois

Experience
10 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English, Spanish
Continue with Sergio

About Sergio

Rev. Sergio Ayala brings a decade of clinical work combined with extensive ministerial experience to his practice.

Background and approach

He holds a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling and a Master of Divinity, and is licensed as an LCPC and an LMHC in Illinois and Iowa respectively. His background includes clinical pastoral education and more than 15 years of pastoral work, which inform a compassionate, strengths-based approach to care.

He focuses on concerns such as stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, and a range of relationship and intimacy-related issues, along with caregiver stress and compassion fatigue. Rev.

Ayala draws on a mix of client-centered methods, cognitive behavioral ideas, and emotionally focused perspectives to help clients identify patterns, build coping skills, and clarify values. Sessions are offered in English and Spanish and are available through multiple online formats to accommodate different needs.

He frames therapy as a collaborative process that honors each person as the expert on their own life while offering guidance and practical strategies for change.

Approaches That Guide Online Work and Practical Support



Rev. Ayala integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Client-Centered Therapy into his online work. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and learning practical skills to change them, which can be useful for concerns like anxiety, depression, and addiction. Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and meeting people where they are, supporting exploration of values and personal strengths when coping with grief, relationship struggles, or life transitions.

Finding the best approach is part of the collaborative process; he will work with clients to consider goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful. Together they can try different techniques or blend approaches so the plan fits the individual’s needs and pace.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility and access. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity when life is unpredictable, and choose the format that feels most comfortable for communicating and practicing new skills.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does he address?
He works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, relationship and intimacy-related issues, anger, career challenges, and compassion fatigue among other concerns listed in his profile.
What is his therapeutic style like?
His style blends client-centered listening with practical strategies drawn from cognitive behavioral approaches and emotionally focused work to help clients explore patterns and develop coping skills.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has 10 years of professional clinical experience plus over 15 years of ministerial and pastoral practice that inform his therapeutic perspective.
What are his credentials and where is he licensed?
He holds LCPC and LMHC credentials with license details IL LCPC 180016866 and IA LMHC 094835, and he practices from an Illinois location.
Does he offer services in other languages or to international clients?
He provides services in English and Spanish and is open to working with international clients as noted in his profile.
Which session formats are available?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different preferences and schedules.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working together?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyAddictionsTrauma and abuseGriefDepression

Also works with

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationTraumatic brain injuryWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

10+ years

Licensed

Iowa, Illinois

Languages

English, Spanish