Works with
- Anger
- Stress, Anxiety
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Depression
How Alisa works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LCPC
- Licensed in
- Illinois
- Years in practice
- 13
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Alisa
Alisa Cates is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who uses a person-centered approach to help people feel heard and understood. She emphasizes building strong rapport so clients can explore stress, anger, anxiety, depression, and relationship concerns with less judgment and more clarity. She has practiced in Illinois since 2013 and brings 13 years of experience from many settings.
That experience includes community mental health, inpatient care, intensive outpatient programs, corrections, and independent practice.
Background and approach
This range gives her familiarity with a wide variety of life challenges. In sessions she blends approaches to fit each person’s needs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify unhelpful thoughts and change routines.
Solution-focused work narrows in on practical next steps that make a difference quickly. Motivational Interviewing is used to support readiness for change and strengthen personal motivation. She also draws on person-centered values to keep the conversation grounded in respect and empathy.
Together these approaches are used to address issues like anger, substance use, grief, parenting stress, and career transitions. Clients can expect a calm, straightforward style that focuses on listening first and problem solving next. The goal is to produce manageable steps people can try between sessions.
Alisa welcomes conversations about what feels most useful and adapts her work to each person’s pace and goals.
What Alisa works with
Everything Alisa lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Alisa's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Emptiness
- Forgiveness
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Postpartum depression
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Approaches Alisa lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Systemic Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Therapeutic approaches for online care
Alisa commonly uses Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her online work. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely, accepting each person's experience, and shaping sessions around what the client says matters most. It helps when someone needs a supportive space to make sense of strong feelings or life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at patterns of thought and behavior and offers practical tools to shift those patterns. It is useful for anxiety, anger, depression, and coping with everyday stresses.Finding the right approach is part of the process. She collaborates with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and comfort level. Sessions may start with a listening-focused approach and add skill-building or solution-focused steps as needed, depending on the client's preferences and progress.
Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video lets people use visual cues for deeper conversation, while phone sessions require less bandwidth and can fit during a work break. Live chat and text messaging work well for short check-ins, homework support, or when writing helps organize thoughts. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent while fitting it into a busy life.
Questions people ask about Alisa
What issues does this therapist address?
She works with many concerns including stress, anxiety, anger, depression, addictions, self-esteem, relationships, family matters, grief, and career issues.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She practices a person-centered approach and combines it with methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, solution-focused techniques, and Motivational Interviewing to fit each person's needs.
What kinds of settings has she worked in?
Her 13 years of experience include community mental health agencies, inpatient hospitalization, intensive outpatient programming, corrections, and independent practice.
Where is she licensed and located?
The therapist holds an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor credential, abbreviated LCPC, and practices in Illinois.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How are fees and getting started handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription that can be canceled at any time; to begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session.