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LCPC

Alisa Cates, LCPC

  • Experience13 years
  • LocationIllinois
  • Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Parenting
  • Therapy approachesClient-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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About Alisa

Alisa Cates, LCPC brings a person-centered approach to therapy while integrating evidence-informed methods to address a wide range of concerns, including ADHD.

Background and approach

She frames therapy as a collaborative process in which clients are listened to and respected, and uses approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Emotionally-Focused techniques to help manage stress, anxiety, mood disorders, and relationship difficulties.

With a focus on practical coping and growth, she draws on 13 years of experience across community mental health, inpatient hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs, corrections, and independent practice. Throughout her career Alisa has worked with people facing depression, grief, life transitions, self-esteem and anger management challenges, addictions, career planning, postpartum and bipolar mood concerns, and compassion fatigue.

Licensed in Illinois since 2013 (IL LCPC 180.012524), she emphasizes building strong rapport as the foundation for lasting change and tailors interventions such as motivational interviewing, narrative and solution-focused techniques to each person’s needs. Her style centers on understanding individual differences and helping clients move forward through practical skills, emotional processing, and collaborative goal-setting.

Approaches Applied Online for Practical Growth

Alisa uses a person-centered foundation alongside Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Emotionally-Focused Therapy to guide online work. Client-centered care emphasizes empathic listening and collaboration so clients feel understood and can explore goals and values. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can help with anxiety, mood concerns, ADHD-related challenges, and stress management. Emotionally-Focused Therapy helps people recognize and work through core emotions and patterns that impact relationships and personal wellbeing.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey, and the therapist partners with each client to select and adapt methods that fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That collaborative process helps determine whether skills-based CBT strategies, emotion-focused exploration, or a blended approach is most useful in any given phase of work.

Online sessions are offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to increase flexibility. These formats make it easier to attend appointments from different locations, maintain continuity of care around busy schedules, and access the same therapeutic methods used in person with options that suit individual communication styles and daily demands.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?
Areas of focus include stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, addictions, relationship and family issues, grief, career challenges, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes.
What is the therapeutic style and approach?
Therapy is rooted in a person-centered framework with integration of approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy to match individual needs.
What background and experience does the therapist have?
She has 13 years of clinical experience working in community mental health, inpatient hospitalization, intensive outpatient programming, corrections, and independent practice settings.
Where is the therapist licensed and what credentials are held?
Alisa is licensed in Illinois as an LCPC and holds the license IL LCPC 180.012524.
Which languages are available and can international clients be seen?
Services are provided in English, and international clients are not currently accepted.
In what formats are sessions offered?
Sessions are available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexible options for different needs.
How are fees handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working together?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemDepression

Also works with

AddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

Aging and geriatric issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesEmptinessForgivenessImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersPostpartum depressionPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Motivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapySystemic Therapy

Experience

13+ years

Licensed

Illinois

Languages

English

What Alisa can help with

Alisa Cates works with clients on stress and anxiety, parenting issues, anger management, self esteem, and depression.

Alisa has worked in a variety of settings including community mental health agencies, inpatient hospitalization, intensive outpatient programming, corrections, and independent practice treating a broad range of issues such as depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and grief.

How Alisa approaches therapy

Alisa's clinical approaches include Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Systemic Therapy.

Experience and training

Alisa is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor practicing in Illinois, with 13 years of clinical experience.