Dr. Rachel Kinison , LCPC, LMHC

Dr. Rachel Kinison offers direct, practical support for people coping with stress, anxiety, trauma, grief, and changes in life. She speaks plainly and focuses on small, doable steps clients can use right away. Rachel draws on two decades of counseling experience to help people untangle difficult feelings and regain daily functioning.

Rachel earned a doctorate in Pastoral Community Counseling and a master’s degree in Counseling. She holds an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor credential and a Florida Licensed Mental Health Counselor credential. Over twenty years she has worked in community counseling, a hospital behavioral health unit, and adult probation programs.

Her sessions commonly include short skills-building work, relaxation practice, and talking through stressful situations. She often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques while adapting methods to each person’s needs. Rachel also brings trauma-focused approaches and narrative ideas when helpful.

Rachel lives in Illinois and manages chronic health issues while continuing her clinical work. She mentions that these lived experiences shape her practical outlook and empathy. Outside work she enjoys quiet evenings with her dogs, travel, and cooking.

People who want straightforward guidance and concrete tools may find her style useful. She aims to help clients identify one small change that makes other things easier, and then build from there.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and replacing them with more useful alternatives; it is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with life changes. Trauma-focused therapy concentrates on processing traumatic experiences safely and building skills to reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning. Narrative therapy helps people reframe the stories they tell about themselves and their lives to find new meaning and options.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, needs, and preferences and then try methods that fit best. Sessions can shift over time if one approach does not feel helpful, and the therapist will partner with clients to make adjustments.

Online formats offer practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and focused work on skills. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is low or for shorter check-ins. Live chat and text-based messaging let people share thoughts between sessions and fit therapy into a busy day. These options make it easier to keep consistent work on goals while balancing other obligations.