Dr. Melody Madaris , LCPC

Dr. Melody Madaris is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with 14 years of experience helping people face addiction, trauma, mood disorders, and related struggles. She works in Illinois and brings practical, direct guidance to people who feel stuck and want things to improve.

She has spent much of her career supporting people with substance use issues, co-occurring mental health concerns, and bipolar disorder. That work includes leadership roles running residential treatment, outpatient programs, a 24-hour mobile crisis program, and substance abuse prevention efforts. Those roles inform how she organizes care and helps set realistic goals.

In sessions she focuses on identifying the specific areas of life that need to change and creating clear steps to get there. She uses approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to build skills for managing urges, intense emotions, and difficult thinking patterns. She also draws on client-centered and existential ideas to honor personal values and meaning.

Dr. Madaris aims to form a straightforward, trusting connection so people can try new behaviors and track progress. She talks through practical strategies for relapse prevention, emotional regulation, and coping with grief or life transitions. Many people find her combination of clinical experience and program leadership helpful when they need structure as they change.

Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients. Her work emphasizes starting small, practicing new skills, and keeping momentum toward healthier routines and better daily functioning.

Therapeutic approaches that translate online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It’s useful for mood struggles, anxiety, and problems that come from feeling stuck. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying thinking patterns and changing behaviors that keep problems going, which can help with depression, panic, and addictive habits.

Finding the right method is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what feels useful. Together they will try strategies and adjust the approach based on what helps most, so therapy stays practical and goal-focused.

Online formats make that process flexible. Video calls let people work in real time and use visual cues for deeper skills practice. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone wants a voice-only check-in. Live chat and text-based messaging are helpful for brief coaching, ongoing support between sessions, and those who prefer typed communication. These options let people fit therapy into busy schedules and keep momentum while learning new skills.