Deanna MacDonald

Deanna MacDonald is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Illinois who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, body image concerns, and eating and food-related issues. She focuses on everyday problems like low self-esteem, trouble sleeping, relationship strain, and coping with life changes. Her style is collaborative and direct, with an emphasis on respect and compassion for each person who comes to therapy.

Deanna draws on practical approaches that teach skills for handling strong emotions and unhelpful thoughts. Sessions usually involve straightforward conversation, goal setting, and small, doable steps to try between meetings. She works with clients who are navigating grief, trauma, mood swings, addictions, ADHD, and workplace or caregiver stress.

With seven years providing individual therapy, Deanna combines evidence-informed methods to match what each person needs. She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy in different ways depending on goals. Clients can expect a plan tailored to their situation rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

People often come for help with panic, obsessions and compulsions, intimacy issues, or to build stronger self-love and forgiveness. Deanna emphasizes practical tools for managing daily life and improving coping skills. She invites curious, motivated people to explore change together.

To begin, a short questionnaire helps match goals and figure out scheduling. From there she works with each person to set clear, achievable steps toward better functioning and more satisfying daily life.

How specific approaches shape online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take actions toward those values, even when tough feelings are present. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and problems with motivation. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting and changing thought patterns and behaviors that keep problems going, making it helpful for panic, worry, and mood symptoms. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and relationship skills useful for strong emotions, impulsivity, and managing conflict.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist collaborates with each person to choose and adapt methods based on their goals, symptoms, and what feels doable. Clients and the therapist check in and change course as needed so therapy stays relevant and practical.

Confirm the current session options before booking so you know how sessions will be delivered. Online work can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy week, shorten check-ins when time is tight, and focus on skills practice with worksheets between sessions. Many people find it simpler to keep momentum when sessions fit their daily routines, and therapists can tailor homework and session pacing to each person's life.