Jennifer Forbes, LMFT

Jennifer Forbes is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in Illinois with 14 years of clinical experience. She founded Seed of Hope Counseling Services and has guided many people through difficult life moments. Her work grew from roles in nonprofit and private practice settings where she provided counseling, consultation, supervision, and program development.

Jennifer uses practical, person-focused approaches in sessions. She listens first, then helps clients set clear goals and small steps forward. Her work often addresses stress, anxiety, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, and challenges that come with midlife transitions.

Her background includes developing community programs for crisis and trauma services. Jennifer has participated on clinical committees such as the Illinois Health Practice Alliance and the Behavioral Health Consortium. She also carries experience creating initiatives for community triage and wellness offerings.

Jennifer trained at Northern Illinois University, earning a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Applied Family and Child Studies with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapist (AAMFT).

In sessions she combines straightforward listening with goal-focused tools. Clients who want to talk through life changes, parenting or family problems, addictions, career strain, or questions about identity and relationships may find her practical style helpful. She frames work as a collaborative process that targets what matters most to each person.

How therapeutic approaches shape online work

Client-Centered Therapy centers the person’s experience and emphasizes listening, empathy, and collaboration to help people clarify their goals and feel heard. This approach is useful for relationship concerns, self-esteem struggles, and when someone needs a space to process strong feelings.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and changing behaviors that keep problems going. It is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and stress by teaching concrete skills and short exercises to do between sessions.

Motivational Interviewing helps people find their own reasons to change and supports movement toward goals when ambivalence is present. It pairs well with work on addictions, behavioral change, and life transitions like career shifts or midlife reevaluation.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. The therapist will work with each person to decide which methods fit best based on needs, goals, and preferences. That decision is revisited as work continues so strategies can change when needed.

If you are considering online sessions, please confirm current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into busy days, allow shorter check-ins when schedules require it, and reduce travel time. It also gives flexibility for sessions during workday breaks or evening hours so therapy can better match everyday life.