Patti Hampsten

Patti Hampsten is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) based in Illinois. She uses a client-centered approach and motivational interviewing to build trust and help people take the first steps toward change. Her style is casual and inviting so clients can speak openly about what’s on their minds.

Patti brings three years of formal experience as an LCPC to her current private practice work, though she has a long history in community mental health and addiction services. That background shaped her comfort with a wide range of concerns, including stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, and anger. She also supports people dealing with grief, trauma and abuse, and caregiving strain.

Sessions begin with listening and validating where a person is. Patti typically starts with client-centered work and motivational interviewing, then adds other strategies as needed. She commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, solution-focused techniques, and mindfulness-based skills to address specific goals and daily challenges.

Her approach focuses on practical coping tools. People leave sessions with one or two things to try between meetings, such as thought-challenging exercises, grounding practices, or small behavior changes. Patti aims to help clients recognize the reasons behind their behavior and build healthier options.

She also provides clinical supervision for problem solving court participants, including drug court, mental health court, and veterans court. Patti offers services in English and accepts international clients. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to availability.

How these approaches translate to online work

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and offering empathy so clients feel heard. Online sessions can recreate that by prioritizing open conversation and collaborative goal setting, which helps with stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, and anger.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is about noticing unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors. In online sessions Patti can teach thought records, behavioral experiments, and step-by-step plans to manage panic, depression, or cravings.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) teaches practical skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication. These skills suit people who need tools to steady intense feelings and to practice new responses between meetings.

Picking the right approach is part of the work together. Patti begins by listening to a person's goals and daily challenges, then suggests methods to try. The choice is collaborative and can shift as needs change.

Session formats are not listed here, so please confirm which options are available before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit counseling into a busy week, reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and let people use tools and worksheets during the session. Licensed professionals can guide practical skills practice and follow-up planning so therapeutic work connects with everyday life.