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SC Portrait of Shelia Cisco

Shelia Cisco

Compassionate, practical counseling for life transitions

LCPC Illinois

Experience
12 years in practice
Focus areas
Relationship, Trauma and abuse, Intimacy-related issues
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages
English
Continue with Shelia

About Shelia

Shelia Cisco is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) based in Illinois who helps people navigate relationship challenges, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related concerns, self-esteem struggles, depression, addictions, and career questions.

Background and approach

Shelia draws on 12 years of clinical experience to tailor care around each client’s needs, combining practical strategies with reflective exploration to address issues such as abandonment, body image, communication problems, divorce and separation, infidelity, and isolation.

Her approach blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered methods, and elements of existential inquiry so clients can build skills for managing thoughts and emotions while also clarifying values and life purpose. Shelia emphasizes compassionate listening and collaboration, supporting clients as they work on boundaries, forgiveness, self-love, sexuality, and caregiver stress.

In sessions she focuses on helping people develop resilience, clearer communication, and a stronger sense of identity. Her practice also addresses hospice and end-of-life counseling, gender dysphoria, guilt and shame, and women’s issues, with the goal of aiding meaningful change and improved functioning across relationships and daily life.

Integrating therapeutic approaches for online care

Online sessions draw on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to address patterns that cause distress while building practical coping skills. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them against experience to reduce symptoms like depression and anxiety, and it is useful for issues such as addictions, self-esteem, and communication problems. ACT emphasizes values clarification and committed action, helping clients move toward a meaningful life even when difficult emotions persist, which can support work on grief, life purpose, and shame.

Choosing the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. The therapist works together with each client to consider their goals, preferences, and the particular challenges they bring, and then adapts techniques from these approaches to fit the individual’s needs rather than applying a one-size-fits-all plan.

Online therapy is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility and access. These formats make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, maintain continuity during life changes, and use brief check-ins or longer meetings depending on what will best support progress.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Shelia commonly address?
Shelia works with people facing relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related problems, self-esteem and depression, addictions, and career questions, plus related areas such as body image, divorce, and caregiver stress.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style combines practical skill-building with reflective exploration, offering compassionate, culturally responsive care that emphasizes collaboration and client strengths.
What is her clinical experience?
She has 12 years of experience providing mental health care, bringing that background to work with complex emotional and life transition issues.
What credentials and location are on record?
She is licensed as an LCPC with Illinois license number IL LCPC 180.017063 and practices in Illinois.
Which languages are available for sessions and are international clients accepted?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats does she offer?
Clients may meet by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging according to availability and preference.
How are costs and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling a session based on the therapist’s availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Relationship issuesTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesSelf esteemDepression

Also works with

AddictionsCareer difficulties

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCommunication problemsDivorce and separationForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeSelf-loveSexualityWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Existential Therapy

Experience

12+ years

Licensed

Illinois

Languages

English