Myrna Pledger

Myrna Pledger is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) based in Illinois with 21 years of experience. She began as a community counselor and has guided many people through painful and confusing situations. Her approach is rooted in faith and practical problem solving. She aims to meet people where they are and help them take small, clear steps forward.

Her early work involved children with difficult behaviors in school settings, and that led her to see problems as often tied to family systems. She believes many unhelpful behaviors come from learned family patterns or inherited tendencies. She also has experience helping people who have faced narcissistic abuse and other forms of emotional or physical trauma.

Myrna’s style is direct but compassionate. She describes her work as truth-based and educational, using practical tools rather than labels. She blends cognitive-behavioral ideas with rational-emotive techniques and tailors sessions to each person’s needs. Her faith informs how she supports clients who want that perspective.

Clients commonly bring concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, grief, parenting pressures, addictions, anger, self-esteem, and coping with life changes. She also addresses topics like multicultural concerns, personality issues, isolation, and hospice and end-of-life counseling.

Myrna invites people who are ready to take action toward a happier life to begin a conversation. She focuses on creating plans that feel doable and on empowering clients to make steady progress.

How her approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice painful thoughts and feelings without getting trapped by them, and then choose actions that reflect their values. It is useful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches practical skills to shift unhelpful patterns; it is often used for depression, anxiety, and anger. Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early relationships shape current connections and can help with relationship struggles and intimacy-related concerns.

Myrna treats finding the right approach as a team effort. She will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before. Together they decide which methods to emphasize and adapt the pace to fit the client’s needs.

Confirm the available session options before booking, since formats are not listed here. Online sessions can make regular check-ins easier to fit into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter or more flexible appointments when needed. They can also let someone continue work between in-person visits if that becomes useful. A therapist will discuss what will work best given scheduling, technology, and personal comfort.