Charlene Mabins, LCSW

Charlene Mabins is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who focuses on helping people navigate major life transitions. She supports individuals dealing with stress, anxiety, grief, self-esteem concerns, compassion fatigue, and challenges related to sexual orientation. Charlene aims to create a calm space where people can talk through what feels overwhelming and find practical ways forward.

She adapts conversations and plans to fit each person’s needs. Sessions emphasize real skills to manage strong emotions and improve day-to-day coping. Charlene draws on approaches that combine present-moment awareness with clear strategies for changing unhelpful patterns.

Her background includes a decade of clinical work in Illinois. That experience has covered a wide range of issues, from chronic illness and caregiver strain to relationship and attachment concerns. She uses what has worked in practice while keeping each plan personal and straightforward.

Charlene commonly integrates tools from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify values and cope with difficult thoughts. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques are used to identify patterns that maintain anxiety and low mood. Emotionally-Focused and client-centered elements guide the therapeutic relationship and help process grief or painful feelings.

People who reach out can expect a warm, respectful approach and focused sessions that aim to build coping skills. If you are considering therapy, she encourages taking the step to learn more and see if the fit feels right.

Approaches that inform online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages noticing difficult thoughts and choosing actions that match personal values. It helps when life changes feel confusing or when anxiety gets in the way of what matters. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts and behaviors keep problems going, and teaches concrete skills to reduce anxiety or low mood. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps name and process strong feelings, which can be useful for grief and attachment concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of therapy. The therapist will work with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That decision happens collaboratively, and it may shift as progress is made.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm current session options before booking since formats are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules demand it. Some people prefer video for face-to-face feel, while others choose audio-only for lower bandwidth or less camera time. Discussing how sessions will work is part of the first steps so arrangements match daily routines and goals.