Deborah Beard, LCPC
Warm, strengths-focused counseling for life and relationships
- CBT informed support
- Trauma and abuse recovery
- Parenting and family skills
About Deborah Beard
Deborah Beard, LCPC, is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois with 30 years of experience supporting adults, couples, and families through a wide range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, mood disorders, trauma and abuse recovery, relationship challenges, and parenting. She is trained in Marriage and Family Therapy and earned a Master of Science in Family Therapy from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas in 1996.
Her professional background also includes work as a Human Resource Manager and as a Professor of Education, experiences that inform a practical, real-world perspective in sessions. Deborah has provided counseling in both public and private mental health agencies, helping clients build skills, strengthen relationships, and move through difficult seasons with greater clarity and direction.
With a warm and gentle style, she emphasizes client strengths and collaborates on meaningful goals for change. Deborah draws from structured, skills-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, along with Rational Emotive Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Systemic Therapy, selecting tools that match the client and the situation. She also welcomes each client’s faith and moral values as a supportive foundation for personal growth.
Her professional background also includes work as a Human Resource Manager and as a Professor of Education, experiences that inform a practical, real-world perspective in sessions. Deborah has provided counseling in both public and private mental health agencies, helping clients build skills, strengthen relationships, and move through difficult seasons with greater clarity and direction.
With a warm and gentle style, she emphasizes client strengths and collaborates on meaningful goals for change. Deborah draws from structured, skills-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, along with Rational Emotive Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Systemic Therapy, selecting tools that match the client and the situation. She also welcomes each client’s faith and moral values as a supportive foundation for personal growth.
Areas of Expertise
Primary Focus
Also Specializes In
AddictionsGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoaching
Additional Focus Areas
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSHoardingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSexualitySmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaTrichotillomaniaVisually impairedWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic Approach
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Attachment-Based Therapy Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) Gottman Method Imago Relationship Therapy Mindfulness Therapy Motivational Interviewing Narrative Therapy Solution-Focused Therapy Trauma-Focused Therapy Internal Family Systems Systemic Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Deborah Beard have?
Deborah Beard has 30 years of experience working with clients in counseling settings.
Is Deborah Beard a licensed therapist?
Yes. Deborah Beard is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Illinois. Her license is IL LCPC 180.006969.
In which languages does Deborah Beard provide therapy?
Deborah Beard provides therapy in English.
Where is Deborah Beard located?
Deborah Beard is located in Illinois.
How can I work with Deborah Beard as my therapist?
You can work with Deborah Beard through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Does Deborah Beard work with international clients?
Yes. Deborah Beard works with international clients.
How much does therapy with Deborah Beard cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started is quick and straightforward. Click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire to help match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Practical therapy approaches, delivered online
Deborah Beard integrates evidence-informed methods that can translate well to online work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and actions, helping clients notice unhelpful patterns and practice more supportive ways of responding to stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship strain.Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) adds concrete skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can be especially useful when emotions feel intense or when communication and boundaries are hard to maintain. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) emphasizes making room for difficult thoughts and feelings while building actions around personal values, supporting clients who want to move forward even when life feels heavy or complicated.
Finding the right fit is part of the process. Deborah works collaboratively with clients to clarify goals, preferences, and what has or has not worked before, then adjusts the approach as therapy unfolds.
Online therapy can make support easier to access and sustain. Sessions may take place through video calls or phone sessions, with additional options like live chat or text-based messaging to stay connected between appointments and fit therapy into a busy schedule.