- Years in practice
- 7
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- Illinois
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Family conflicts
- Focus
- Parenting issues
About Christy
Christy Garnhart is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in Illinois who helps people navigate stress, anxiety, parenting concerns, relationship strain, and mood disorders. She draws on years of experience supporting parents and individuals through life changes, grief, trauma, and challenges like ADHD and depression. Christy writes plainly and focuses on practical steps parents can take right away.
She centers sessions on a person’s strengths and everyday skills. That means identifying what already works, and building routines and small changes that make daily life easier.
Background and approach
Christy also helps people spot unhelpful thoughts or behaviors and try alternatives that feel manageable. Her style is collaborative and goal-focused. She uses Motivational Interviewing to help people find their own reasons for change and Solution-Focused Therapy to set clear, short-term goals.
Sessions emphasize simple strategies that can be used at home and in parenting moments. Christy brings seven years of clinical experience and prior work with school-aged supports into her approach. She is familiar with autism, ADHD, blended family issues, and pregnancy and childbirth concerns as part of her broader practice.
Her work also addresses compassion fatigue, self-esteem, and career stress. People who connect with Christy can expect straightforward conversation, concrete suggestions, and a focus on realistic next steps. She encourages parents to try small experiments between sessions and then adjust plans based on what helps most.
What Christy works with
Everything Christy lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Christy helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Parenting issues
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- ADHD
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Blended family issues
- Co-morbidity
- Communication problems
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Impulsivity
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Christy lists
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
How Christy’s Approaches Work Online
Christy uses Motivational Interviewing to help people clarify what matters most to them and to find their own reasons for change. This approach is useful when someone feels stuck or unsure how to follow through on goals.She also applies Solution-Focused Therapy, which zeroes in on small, realistic steps and on what works now. This method is helpful for parents and individuals who want quick, practical ways to improve routines and interactions.
Choosing the right approach is a team effort. Christy will talk with each person about their goals and preferences, and together they will decide which methods to try first. Plans are adjusted based on what proves most helpful in daily life.
Online sessions are available by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video works well for in-depth conversation and visual coaching during parenting moments. Phone sessions can fit a shorter check-in or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and messaging allow ongoing support and quick strategy ideas between appointments. These options help people fit therapy into busy schedules and keep progress moving forward.
Questions people ask about Christy
What kinds of concerns does Christy help with?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, parenting and family concerns as well as mood disorders, trauma, grief, ADHD, and issues like self-esteem and compassion fatigue.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is collaborative and straightforward. She focuses on strengths, short-term goals, and simple changes that can fit into daily life.
What background does she bring to sessions?
Christy has seven years of clinical experience and prior work serving school-related supports. That background informs her practical, family-oriented approach.
What credentials and location apply to her practice?
Christy is an LCSW licensed in Illinois and provides services from that region.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are offered?
She meets by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How are costs handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.
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