- Anger management
- Co-occurring disorders
- ACT and CBT
About Melody
Dr. Melody Madaris is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with 14 years of experience. She has worked extensively with people who face trauma, substance use concerns, bipolar disorder, depression, and anger. She also helps with grief, eating issues, ADHD, self-esteem, and career coaching.
She has run and overseen programs at a community mental health center, including residential treatment and multiple outpatient co-occurring programs. She also manages a 24-hour mobile crisis program and an employee assistance program. That administrative background informs how she organizes care and coordinates services.
In sessions she focuses on practical change. She helps clients identify the parts of life that cause problems. Then she works with them to set small, manageable steps toward different choices and behaviors.
Her approach draws on several evidence-informed methods. She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to address thoughts and actions. She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy and client-centered techniques to build coping skills and emotional regulation.
People who seek her support can expect a direct, results-focused style that emphasizes taking action. She encourages clear goals and steady progress rather than quick fixes. She also brings experience with complex cases such as co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions.
Dr. Madaris accepts international clients and works in English. Before booking, confirm the current session options and any scheduling details.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values and taking committed steps toward them. In practice this means noticing unhelpful thoughts, deciding what matters, and trying small actions that align with those values. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connect. It uses practical exercises to test unhelpful beliefs and build new coping skills. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete skill sets for managing intense emotions and improving distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss the client’s goals and preferences and then try methods that fit. That collaborative process helps shape session focus, homework, and skill practice so the approach matches the person’s needs.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm the current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. They can also make it simpler to work on real-life situations that come up between meetings. The therapist uses her clinical approaches to plan exercises and homework that translate to remote sessions and to help clients practice skills between appointments.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with trauma, substance use, bipolar disorder, depression, anger, grief, eating issues, ADHD, and related concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She practices in a practical, action-oriented way using methods like ACT, CBT, DBT, and client-centered work to target specific changes.
How long has she been practicing?
She has 14 years of experience working in community mental health and treatment program administration.
What are her credentials and location?
She is an Illinois LCPC and is based in Illinois.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are accepted.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not list specific session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start working with her?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.