Profile / United States
Luanne Maniacek, LCSW
Illinois
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Stress and Addictions
See online therapy options- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
About Luanne
Luanne Maniacek is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Illinois with 40 years of experience. She helps people who are struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, and parenting strains. She also works with issues such as codependency, caregiver stress, isolation, and mood concerns including bipolar disorder.
Her work focuses on practical steps and building on existing strengths. She listens to the full picture - history, goals, and expectations - and uses that information to shape sessions. Luanne favors direct conversation and asks questions that clarify what is getting in the way of change.
She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and client-centered approaches. Motivational Interviewing is part of her toolkit when people face ambivalence about change, and psychodynamic ideas inform how past patterns influence current behavior. Sessions often include setting small experiments to test new ways of thinking and acting.
Luanne describes her style as supportive with constructive challenge. She pays attention to both symptoms and life circumstances, and she helps people develop concrete skills for coping and decision making. For addictions she discusses both a disease model and harm reduction, depending on what fits the situation.
She has supervised graduate-level interns and worked in community mental health and crisis teams. People who prefer a direct, structured approach that also considers personal history will find her method straightforward and focused on practical change.
How her approaches are used in online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It is often used for anxiety, stress, and life changes by practicing small behavioral steps despite difficult feelings.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with real-world experiments. CBT is practical and structured, and it is commonly used for anxiety, depression, and coping skills development.
Motivational Interviewing supports people who feel unsure about change by exploring ambivalence and strengthening personal motivation. It pairs well with addiction-focused work and with planning small, achievable steps.
Finding the right mix of these approaches is part of the work. The therapist collaborates with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. That process includes checking progress and adjusting techniques over time.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into workdays, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins on busy weeks. They can also let someone choose phone-only contact when bandwidth or being on camera is not desirable. Licensed professionals can use these options to help clients practice skills and follow through on agreed steps.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
40+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address most often?
She regularly works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, grief, relationship and intimacy-related issues, parenting concerns, and mood disorders including bipolar.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is supportive while offering constructive challenge. Sessions focus on clear steps, practical skills, and checking progress through open communication.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She brings 40 years of clinical experience, including supervising graduate-level interns and work in community mental health and crisis intervention teams.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is an LCSW licensed in Illinois and practices with that credential in the state of Illinois.
Are sessions available in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients.
What session formats does she offer?
Confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not specify which formats are used.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
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.