Profile / United States
Jennifer Forbes, LMFT
Illinois
LMFT - Relationships and Trauma
See online therapy options- CBT strategies
- Client-centered work
- Solution-focused goals
About Jennifer
Jennifer Forbes is an Illinois Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 14 years of clinical experience. She works with people facing relationship strain, trauma and abuse, anxiety, depression, parenting challenges, and issues around intimacy and identity.
She began in nonprofit and private settings in 2009 and has worked with agencies to design crisis and trauma services. That work included program development, consulting, supervision, and leading clinical initiatives. She has also served on clinical committees in Illinois and is a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists.
Jennifer uses practical talk and structured strategies in sessions. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other approaches to help people notice thoughts and habits, then test different ways of responding. She also uses client-centered techniques and brief solution-focused steps to set clear goals and measure progress.
Her background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Applied Family and Child Studies with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northern Illinois University. That training informs her work with relationship and family concerns as well as individual issues like grief, addiction, and stress.
People seeking help can expect direct, goal-oriented sessions that look at patterns and work toward manageable changes. She has experience supporting parents with family problems, people coping with life changes, and those dealing with chronic illness or grief. For online or scheduling details, confirm current session options before booking.
Jennifer frames therapy as a collaborative effort. She uses assessments and practical homework when it helps, and she adapts pacing to each person's needs while keeping sessions focused on clear next steps.
How Jennifer blends approaches for online work
Jennifer commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot unhelpful thoughts and test small behavior changes. CBT is practical and structured, which works well for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and stress-related concerns.She also uses client-centered techniques that focus on the person's perspective and priorities. That approach involves listening closely, reflecting what matters, and letting the client's goals guide the work. Motivational Interviewing is used to explore readiness for change and to strengthen motivation when someone is uncertain about next steps.
Choosing a therapeutic approach is part of the process. Jennifer will discuss these methods with clients and decide together which tools fit best for the person's goals, situation, and preferences. This collaborative planning can include trying an approach for a few sessions and then adapting as needed.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. It can also let people meet from a quiet place or connect when in-person meetings are difficult. Licensed professionals can use focused, goal-oriented online sessions to practice skills between meetings and track progress over time.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with most often?
She works with relationship problems, trauma and abuse, anxiety, depression, parenting issues, intimacy concerns, grief, addictions, stress, and related family matters.
How does she use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in sessions?
She uses CBT to identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, then tries practical experiments to test alternatives and reduce symptoms.
What is her clinical background and experience?
She has 14 years of experience working in nonprofit and private settings, developing programs and providing supervision and clinical services.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is an Illinois Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (IL LMFT) practicing in Illinois.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are session formats arranged?
The biography does not specify session formats; confirm current session options before booking to learn whether in-person or online meetings are available.
How are fees handled and how do I begin?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, use 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.