- Years in practice
- 20
- Credentials
- LCPC
- Licensed in
- Illinois
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Family conflicts
- Focus
- Parenting issues
About Wendy
Wendy Gilchrist is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with 20 years of experience. She blends practical life experience and clinical work to help people facing stress, parenting challenges, mood concerns, and major life changes. Wendy speaks English and Spanish and practices from Illinois.
Her background includes running nonprofit programs that helped homeless youth and survivors of abuse. She also created job opportunities for people with limited resources. That early nonprofit work shaped her focus on dignity, resilience, and real-world solutions.
Background and approach
Wendy trained and practiced as a counselor in a range of settings. She has provided therapy in hospital psychiatric units and has been part of trauma-informed programs. Her work has included individual therapy, group sessions, and helping people cope with grief, chronic illness, and complex trauma.
In sessions she uses plain language and practical tools. She draws on Client-Centered techniques to follow the person’s pace, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to spot and change unhelpful thinking, and Mindfulness to build steadiness. Motivational Interviewing and Narrative Therapy are added when people want to reframe their stories or find motivation for change.
Parents often seek her help for family stress, managing behavior, and balancing self-care with caregiving. She also works with people dealing with anxiety, depression, ADHD, relationship strain, and career pressures. Wendy aims to create a calm space where a parent or adult can talk through problems and try small, workable steps forward.
What Wendy works with
Everything Wendy lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Wendy helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Parenting issues
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Body image
- Cancer
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Dependent personality
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- First responder issues
- Impulsivity
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Postpartum depression
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexuality
- Somatization
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Approaches Wendy lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Somatic Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Practical approaches for online parenting support
Wendy uses Client-Centered Therapy to follow each person's goals and pace, offering a calm, listening-based approach that helps people feel understood. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to identify unhelpful thought patterns and try concrete behavior changes that reduce stress and improve mood. Mindfulness Therapy helps people build steadiness and notice reactions to parenting pressures without getting swept away.Choosing the right approach is a shared process. Wendy will discuss goals, preferences, and what has or hasn't worked in the past, then suggest ways to combine methods. She adapts plans as needed so people can try small steps and see what fits their life and family demands.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video lets people work face to face when screen time works best, phone calls require less bandwidth, and text or chat can suit quick check-ins or those who prefer not to be on camera. These options make it easier to fit sessions around work, childcare, or medical needs, and they allow continuing support when travel or scheduling would otherwise be a barrier.
Questions people ask about Wendy
What concerns does she address for parents?
She helps with parenting stress, family problems, child behavior questions, and balancing caregiving with personal needs. Other common concerns include anxiety, depression, grief, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is straightforward and supportive. She listens closely, uses practical tools, and focuses on steps people can try between sessions.
What is her background and experience?
She has 20 years of experience and started her career creating nonprofit programs for vulnerable groups. She has worked in hospital psychiatric units and trauma-informed programs.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds the LCPC credential and practices from Illinois.
In which languages can sessions be held?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish, and she is available to work with international clients.
What session formats are available online?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different needs and routines.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist arrangements; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.
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