Luanne Maniacek

Luanne Maniacek is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Illinois with four decades of experience helping people facing stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, and anger. She offers a straightforward, compassionate approach and focuses on practical steps that make daily life more manageable. Luanne listens closely to each person’s story before suggesting ways forward.

She emphasizes strengths and steady progress. Luanne looks for existing skills the client can build on and helps people develop new coping tools. Her style is warm and supportive, and she will offer gentle challenges when that helps a person move forward.

Her background includes supervising graduate-level therapist interns and leading crisis intervention teams in community mental health settings. That work shaped a pragmatic focus on clear goals and measurable change. Luanne has also worked with people affected by caregiving strain, codependency, and addiction concerns.

Therapeutic methods she uses include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Psychodynamic Therapy. These approaches inform how she helps people manage mood, relationship stress, grief, and life transitions.

She asks clients to be partners in care, sharing their goals and giving feedback about progress. To begin, she encourages prospective clients to complete the intake steps and schedule sessions based on availability.

How these approaches work in online sessions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and build actions that reflect those values. It’s often used for stress, anxiety, and coping with life changes by teaching practical skills for staying present and committed to goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing new behaviors. It is commonly used for anxiety, depression, and anger management with concrete exercises and homework between sessions. Motivational Interviewing is a conversational method that helps people find their own reasons for change and strengthen motivation, which can be helpful for addictions and behavior change.

Finding the best approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with a client about goals, past experiences, and preferences, then suggest methods to try. Clients and the therapist check progress regularly and adjust methods as needed, so therapy stays practical and responsive.

Confirm available session options before booking so arrangements match your needs. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Ask about scheduling and format details when you complete the matching questionnaire so sessions align with daily routines and goals.