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LCSW

Melissa McMahon, LCSW

  • Experience10 years
  • LocationIllinois
  • Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Parenting
  • Therapy approachesAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Client-Centered Therapy
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About Melissa

Melissa McMahon is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) practicing in Illinois with about ten years of professional experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, ADHD, trauma and abuse, relationship and family concerns, grief, compassion fatigue, and a wide range of life transitions.

Background and approach

Her background includes supporting clients who have autism, parenting challenges, self-injury and suicidal ideation, and caregiver stress, and she also addresses issues such as intimacy, eating concerns, self-esteem, career decisions, and non-monogamous relationship dynamics. Melissa frames therapy around each person's strengths and lived knowledge, holding the client as the expert on their own life.

Her style emphasizes collaborative exploration and helping clients process difficult experiences to foster self-discovery, greater acceptance, and practical coping. She aims to guide people toward increased self-compassion and clearer direction, meeting goals through evidence-informed approaches and attentive, strengths-based care.

Prospective clients in Illinois seeking support for the concerns listed may find a grounded, empathetic clinician who blends validation with actionable strategies.

Approach-Focused Care Through Online Sessions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients clarify personal values and build willingness to experience difficult thoughts and feelings while moving toward meaningful action; it is useful for anxiety, stress, and helping clients living with ADHD or chronic challenges find workable routines. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and unconditional regard so clients can explore their experiences and develop self-acceptance; this approach supports those coping with grief, identity questions, or compassion fatigue.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will listen to goals, preferences, and current challenges and then tailor methods or combine elements from different modalities to suit what the client needs. Together the client and therapist check in on progress and adjust the plan as therapy unfolds.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for varied schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to fit consistent care into busy lives and to access therapeutic support from wherever the client is located within Illinois, while still working with licensed professionals to address the concerns and goals brought to therapy.

Frequently asked questions

What types of concerns does she address?
She supports a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, ADHD, trauma and abuse, relationship and family problems, grief, compassion fatigue, eating and self-esteem concerns, and life transitions.
What is her therapeutic approach and style?
Her work is strengths-based and collaborative, focusing on the client's expertise about their life while using practical, evidence-informed techniques to promote self-discovery and acceptance.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She brings about 10 years of professional experience working with people who have trauma histories, autism, parenting difficulties, self-injury, and caregiver stress.
Where is she licensed and practicing?
She holds an Illinois LCSW license with the number IL LCSW 149021584 and provides services to clients in Illinois.
Does she work with clients in other languages or countries?
Sessions are offered in English only, and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and schedules.
How is pricing handled for sessions?
Cost varies based on location and therapist availability; services are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyParenting issuesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Also works with

LGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSelf esteemCareer difficultiesDepressionCoping with life changes

Additional focus areas

Adoption and foster careAutism and Asperger SyndromeCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCommunication problemsFamily problemsForgivenessImpulsivityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

10+ years

Licensed

Illinois

Languages

English