Profile / United States
Cristy Bixler, LCSW
Illinois
LCSW - Anxiety and Addictions
See online therapy options- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- DBT skills
About Cristy
Cristy Bixler is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with seven years of clinical experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting strain, sleep and eating problems, and ADHD. She also supports those coping with life changes, career pressures, and compassion fatigue.
Her approach is practical and person-centered. Sessions focus on identifying unhelpful thoughts and habits, testing small changes, and building useful skills. Cristy draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to map thinking patterns and DBT techniques to manage intense emotion and improve coping.
She uses Motivational Interviewing to help people find reasons to change and to strengthen commitment when motivation feels low. Client-Centered Therapy guides how she listens and structures conversation, keeping sessions focused on the person’s priorities. Cristy adapts pacing to what each person can manage in the moment.
She has worked with people affected by abandonment, adoption and foster care issues, attachment problems, blended family stress, and caregiver strain. She also addresses substance use, domestic violence impacts, codependency, and family-of-origin difficulties. Practical problem solving and clear skill practice are common features of her work.
Cristy communicates in English and accepts international clients. Her sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. To begin, a short matching questionnaire is completed and a first session is scheduled.
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on active listening and putting the person's goals first. Online sessions let the therapist follow the client’s lead in conversation and pacing while keeping attention on what the client wants to change. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Online sessions can include short skill-building exercises, homework assignments, and review of patterns between meetings to practice new responses.Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) provides concrete tools for managing intense emotion and improving interpersonal skills. When used online, DBT skills are taught in short, repeated steps so they can be practiced in daily life. Cristy will work collaboratively to choose which methods to use, adjusting the plan based on the client’s goals, needs, and what feels workable for them.
The original profile does not list session formats, so confirm the available online options before booking. Online care can make it easier to fit sessions around work, childcare, or travel. It also supports brief check-ins, focused skills practice, and consistent weekly meetings when that fits a person’s schedule.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
7+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she commonly address?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting strain, sleep and eating difficulties, ADHD, and related problems.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is person-centered and strengths-based, with a focus on practical skill building and testing small changes between sessions.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has seven years of professional experience working in mental health settings.
What credential and location are listed?
She is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker, listed as LCSW, practicing in Illinois.
Which languages are used in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are accepted.
What session formats are available?
The original profile does not specify formats; confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled?
Costs vary with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
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.