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LCSW

Tonia Short, LCSW

  • Experience15 years
  • LocationIllinois
  • Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Addictions
  • Therapy approachesClient-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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About Tonia

Tonia Short is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 15 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and a range of life changes.

Background and approach

She emphasizes a strengths-based perspective, inviting clients to draw on their own knowledge and resilience while exploring practical strategies for coping with addictions, trauma, relationship concerns, intimacy issues, and attention-related difficulties such as ADHD. Tonia also addresses areas like compassion fatigue, bipolar mood concerns, sleep problems, and career or self-esteem challenges, tailoring her work to each person’s circumstances.

Licensed in Illinois, she brings a collaborative, respectful style that centers the client’s goals and values. Her practice incorporates evidence-informed tools and reflective listening to support movement toward clearer priorities and more effective daily routines.

Whether clients are navigating caregiving stress, chronic illness, loss, or midlife transitions, she aims to offer compassionate guidance and concrete skills to help them move forward at a manageable pace.

Practical therapeutic approaches for online support



Client-centered therapy focuses on listening closely to the client's experience and building on their personal strengths; it helps people feel heard while deciding their own paths forward. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches concrete techniques to notice and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can be useful for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and attention-related difficulties. Mindfulness therapy encourages present-moment awareness and stress-reduction skills that often complement cognitive strategies by improving emotional regulation.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with the client to identify goals, try methods that match those goals, and adjust the plan as progress and preferences become clearer. This cooperative stance helps tailor the work to what feels most effective and sustainable for each person.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit counseling into busy schedules or to continue care from different locations within Illinois. These options support ongoing skill practice, check-ins, and timely problem solving while accommodating different communication preferences and life demands.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist address most often?
Her practice covers stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, ADHD, compassion fatigue, bipolar concerns, sleep difficulties, and life transitions among other areas.
What therapeutic style can I expect in sessions?
She uses client-centered methods combined with cognitive behavioral and mindfulness-informed techniques, as well as solution-focused strategies to help clients set goals and develop skills.
How much experience does she have working with clients?
Tonia brings 15 years of professional experience in clinical social work and has worked across a variety of concerns and settings over that time.
What are her credentials and where is she licensed?
She is an LCSW licensed in Illinois and Missouri with license numbers IL LCSW 149020540 and MO LCSW 2004036975; she practices in Illinois.
Can non-English speakers work with this therapist?
Sessions are offered in English; she is not documented as offering services in other languages and is not accepting international clients.
In what formats are sessions available?
Clients may meet via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on what fits their needs and the therapist's availability.
How is cost handled for therapy with this clinician?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability and is managed through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What is the process for beginning therapy?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist’s availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyAddictionsGriefDepressionCoping with life changes

Also works with

LGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

Aging and geriatric issuesCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommunication problemsControl issuesDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily problemsForgivenessHospice and end-of-life counselingIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisSelf-loveSexualityWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapySolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

15+ years

Licensed

Illinois, Missouri

Languages

English