Simone Shepardson

I'm Simone Shepardson, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with more than two decades of experience. I work with adults who feel anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck — women navigating grief, loss, or life transitions, and parents carrying the weight of holding everything together who need support of their own. I also see adolescents. My background spans inpatient, partial hospitalization, and outpatient care, so I can meet you wherever you are in your journey. Together we'll draw on your strengths with evidence-based approaches — CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and attachment-focused work — to build practical skills and deeper insight. I offer online sessions across Illinois with weekend availability, and new clients can usually be seen within a week. Reaching out is often the hardest step; I'd be honored to walk it with you.

My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and creative. I don't believe in one-size-fits-all therapy — I tailor my work to each client's unique needs, strengths, and goals. Whether I'm guiding a gifted teen through anxiety, helping a blended family build trust, or supporting an adult navigating a painful life transition, I meet you where you are and we build from there. I draw on a range of evidence-based techniques and emphasize building resilience, strengthening relationships, and finding peace within yourself. I see therapy as a true partnership — you bring your courage and vulnerability, and I bring the tools, safety, and space for real movement forward.

Your first session is about connection and clarity. I want to understand what brought you here, what's weighing on you, and what you're hoping to achieve. There's no pressure to have it all figured out — we'll explore that together. You can expect a warm, nonjudgmental space where you feel heard and safe. By the end of our first meeting, we'll have a shared understanding of your goals and a sense of how we'll work together going forward. I hold the time spent with each person as sacred, and that begins from the very first conversation.