Cyd O'Neal, LCPC

Cyd O'Neal is a licensed professional counselor (LCPC) in Illinois with 25 years of experience. She helps people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship strain, or life transitions. Her approach aims to support practical change and build on each person's existing strengths.

She works from the idea that clients know their own stories best. Sessions focus on clear goals and small steps that fit into everyday life. Cyd offers encouragement and practical tools rather than abstract theory, so people leave with things they can try between meetings.

Over her career she has worked with concerns such as depression, social anxiety and phobia, and the stresses that come with caregiving and aging. She also supports people navigating blended family issues, communication problems, questions of life purpose, and women’s issues. Cyd frames these topics as areas where concrete strategies can reduce daily strain.

Her methods include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy. Those approaches guide short-term goal setting, shifts in unhelpful thinking, and practical steps toward change. The emphasis is on collaboration and measurable progress.

To start, visitors complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule according to the therapist's availability. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time, and fees vary by location and availability.

How these approaches guide online work

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with practical experiments. It is often used for anxiety, low mood, and stress by teaching skills people can use day to day.

Motivational Interviewing helps when someone feels stuck or unsure about change. It uses open conversation to clarify a person’s goals and build motivation, which can be helpful for starting new habits or shifting difficult patterns.

Solution-Focused Therapy zeroes in on small, achievable steps and what is already working. Sessions emphasize concrete goals and quick strategies so progress can be seen between meetings.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. Plans are adjusted as work proceeds so the approach stays useful and realistic.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the session formats offered before booking since the biography does not specify them. Online care can make scheduling easier, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when that fits a busy day. It also makes it simpler to keep continuity of care during life transitions, while the therapist and client focus on practical steps, goals, and skills that fit into everyday routines.