Lynn Willard

Biography

Making the decision to start therapy is not easy. Talking to a complete stranger about very personal issues is unnerving to many. I want my clients to feel at ease the moment we meet. I want my clients to feel comfortable sharing what they choose to share at their own pace in a safe, non-judgmental space. So how can I achieve this? By sharing some of my stories with you, you will see that all of us have issues to deal with. The difference between you and me is that I studied hard to learn how to be a therapist and continue to do that for 33 years. Before I tell you about the kind of therapy you can expect from me, let me share a little about my background. I have been a widow for 16 years and enjoy 3 wonderful adult children. My husband was my high school teacher, and we waited seven years before we started our family. When I went back to school to get an MSW, I worked full-time at a child welfare agency and took a couple of classes at a time. My husband became Mr. Mom and gave me all the support I needed to complete the degree in 1992. I missed a LOT of my kids’ activities and sporting events, leaving me with guilt and regret. I am telling you this because so many of my clients through the years share the same kinds of experiences. Fast forward to November of 1992, when I opened a non-profit child welfare agency to provide adoption services to infertile couples and child sexual abuse assessments and treatment to families affected by sexual abuse. That agency is still providing those specialized services in central Illinois today! In 2023, I retired from that agency and began doing remote therapy on a part-time basis for clients with depression, anxiety, addictions, and many forms of trauma, mostly adults. I have supported clients coping with grief, age-related memory loss, young adults facing panic attacks, survivors of childhood abuse, parents managing children’s mental disorders, and various other concerns. It should not surprise you that I use an eclectic approach to therapy because I have been told by friends and family that I am eclectic! I use cognitive behavioral strategies for clients that suffer from depression and anxiety. For clients with trauma backgrounds, I use trauma-focused interventions, psychodynamic, mindfulness, and sometimes art therapy. Whether you are navigating relationship struggles, grief and loss, life transitions or ongoing challenges of anxiety, depression or self-esteem, I’ll work with you at your pace to build therapy tools that will last a lifetime. Current and past clients describe me as someone who puts them at ease, direct, down-to-earth and compassionate. Taking the first step is often the hardest, but it can also be the most important. I’d love to walk with you on this journey, and I have current openings

Specializes in

Treatment Method

You can talk to your therapist in your first session about which approach would be the best fit for you.

Style

Languages Spoken

Education