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TW Portrait of Tera Wilkes

Tera Wilkes

Compassionate counseling with practical strategies

LCPC Illinois

Experience
7 years in practice
Focus areas
LGBT, Trauma and abuse, Bipolar
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English
Continue with Tera

About Tera

Tera Wilkes is an Illinois-licensed counselor (LCPC) with seven years of clinical experience supporting people through a variety of emotional and life challenges.

Background and approach

She focuses on helping individuals navigate concerns such as LGBT matters, trauma and abuse, mood disorders including bipolar and depression, anxiety and panic, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting and career transitions, and coping with life changes. Her background also includes work with compassion fatigue, ADHD, personality-related concerns, and women's issues.

Her approach blends client-centered principles with practical cognitive behavioral techniques to create a collaborative, strengths-based environment. Sessions emphasize open dialogue and respectful exploration of thoughts, feelings, and patterns that get in the way of daily functioning and wellbeing.

Tera encourages clients to define meaningful goals and work toward them at a manageable pace, offering support and coaching along the way. Clients can expect a professional who values empathy and nonjudgmental listening while using evidence-informed strategies to address symptoms and build coping skills.

She practices in Illinois and conducts sessions in English, aiming to empower people as they move toward more fulfilling and sustainable change.

Integrating Practical Approaches with Online Care



Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is a goal-oriented method that teaches concrete coping skills useful for anxiety, depression, mood instability, panic, and stress-related problems. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathetic listening, validation, and the client’s own capacity for growth; it supports people in exploring feelings and priorities without judgment and can be especially helpful for issues like identity, grief, and relationship concerns.

Finding the right approach is often a collaborative process. The therapist works with each person to clarify goals, try techniques that match their needs, and adjust methods over time so treatment feels relevant and manageable. That partnership is meant to help clients feel heard while developing practical strategies that fit their life circumstances.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules or access care from different locations within Illinois. These formats allow licensed professionals to provide ongoing support, skill-building, and coaching in ways that can be adapted to personal preferences and daily routines.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Tera address?
She works with a broad range of issues including LGBT matters, trauma and abuse, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety and panic, grief, relationship and intimacy problems, parenting, career challenges, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style combines client-centered listening with practical cognitive behavioral techniques to help clients explore feelings and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns.
What is her clinical background?
She has seven years of professional experience working with diverse mental health and life concerns and incorporates both supportive and skill-building elements into treatment.
Where is she licensed and practicing?
She holds an Illinois LCPC with licence number IL LCPC 180.013382 and provides services based in Illinois.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are conducted in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
She offers multiple formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and needs.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies based on location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

LGBTTrauma and abuseBipolar disorderDepressionCompassion fatigue

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changesCoachingADHD

Additional focus areas

Antisocial personalityFirst responder issuesGender dysphoriaMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPost-traumatic stressWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Experience

7+ years

Licensed

Illinois

Languages

English