Courtney Holbrook, LCSW

Courtney Holbrook, LCSW, helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, and big life changes. She works with clients dealing with trauma, addictions, self-esteem struggles, relationship and intimacy issues, and concerns common in midlife. She aims to create a respectful, nonjudgmental space where people can begin to feel more in control.

Courtney listens first and builds the plan from each person's needs. She uses a client-centered style that treats the client as the expert on their life. Conversations focus on practical steps and clearer thinking rather than long explanations or jargon.

Her approach draws on a mix of methods including cognitive behavioral techniques to address unhelpful thoughts, dialectical behavior strategies to manage strong emotions, and mindfulness to increase present-moment awareness. Emotion-focused work is used when patterns in relationships are a main concern. She blends methods to match what each person is asking for.

People describe the work as straightforward and collaborative. Sessions often involve setting small goals, trying new coping skills between meetings, and reviewing what helped. Courtney emphasizes skills people can use in daily life to reduce stress and improve mood.

She holds a Master clinical license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois and brings ten years of professional experience. Prospective clients should confirm current session formats before booking to make sure they match personal needs.

How client-centered and skills-based approaches work online

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and responding to each person's priorities. The therapist follows the client's lead, reflects back what matters, and helps set goals based on the client's values and hopes. This approach is useful when someone needs time to make sense of major life changes or midlife questions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps people identify unhelpful thoughts and try different, evidence-informed behaviors. It often includes short exercises and goal-setting between sessions to reduce anxiety or depressive patterns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, offers concrete skills for managing intense emotions and improving relationships, with clear practice tasks to try between meetings.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods suit their goals and day-to-day needs. That process can change over time as priorities shift.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It also makes it possible to practice new skills in real life between appointments and then review what worked in the next session.