Profile / United States
Alisa Cates, LCPC
Illinois
LCPC counselor - Anxiety and life changes
See online therapy options- CBT techniques
- Motivational interviewing
- Narrative approaches
About Alisa
Alisa Cates is an LCPC - Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois with 13 years of experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, parenting questions, addiction concerns, anger, and relationship or family conflict. She also supports those coping with grief, career transitions, bipolar mood concerns, ADHD, and life changes.
She has worked across community mental health, inpatient hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs, corrections, and private practice. That variety means she is used to different levels of need and different ways people show up in therapy. Sessions focus on clear goals and practical steps rather than abstract theory.
Her approach centers on client-centered therapy, which starts with listening and building rapport. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify thinking and behavior patterns and try concrete alternatives. Motivational Interviewing and Narrative Therapy are available when a person wants to explore motivation or the stories they tell about themselves.
In sessions she will talk through current problems, notice unhelpful thoughts and habits, and try small experiments to see what changes. She aims for straightforward conversations about how life is getting in the way and what can be changed next. Progress is tracked by what the person can do differently between sessions.
Alisa practices in Illinois and works in English. She expects clients to take part in shaping goals and steps. To begin, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session through the provided online options.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Alisa commonly draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Client-Centered Therapy in direct, practical ways. CBT focuses on spotting thought and behavior patterns and testing small changes to reduce anxiety, manage mood, or change habits. Client-Centered Therapy concentrates on listening and building a working relationship so a person can clarify what matters most and set realistic goals.She also uses Motivational Interviewing when shifting habits or tackling addictions is the priority; that method helps people weigh options and find internal reasons to change. Deciding which approach to use is collaborative. She will discuss goals, preferences, and what has or hasn't worked before to choose techniques that fit the person's needs.
Confirm the available session formats before booking, as current options are listed in the platform's scheduling tools. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, shorten check-ins when time is tight, and avoid travel time. It also lets people try different session styles and adjust pacing as progress is tracked over time.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
13+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address most often?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, parenting concerns, anger, addictions, relationship and family conflict, grief, bipolar mood concerns, and life transitions.
How does she use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
CBT is used to identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and to try practical alternatives through small experiments and skill practice between sessions.
What is her professional background?
She has 13 years of experience across community mental health, inpatient hospitalization, intensive outpatient programming, corrections, and private practice.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is an LCPC - Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor licensed in Illinois and practices there.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people from other countries work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and paid for?
Costs vary with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the system.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.