Joan French, LCPC
Licensed in Illinois · 17 years in practice
Joan French is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) based in Illinois who helps adults navigate stress, anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, grief, and life changes.
License and registration
- LCPC, Illinois
- 180.007674 · expires March 2027
- NPI
- 1710281639 · national provider identifier
- Years in practice
- 17
- Languages
- English
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check any license with the state board and any NPI with the national registry.
About Joan
Joan French is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) based in Illinois who helps adults navigate stress, anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, grief, and life changes. She often supports people dealing with trauma, self-esteem concerns, sleep problems, career stress, and questions about gender identity. Joan aims to create a calm, nonjudgmental space where people can be heard and start to feel more connected.
Her style is warm and practical. She listens first to understand what feels unsayable, then offers clear tools to manage strong emotions and improve communication.
Background and approach
Joan blends practical skill-building with opportunities to process painful experiences and rebuild trust in relationships. With 17 years of counseling experience, Joan draws on several well-known approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, and client-centered methods. She also brings creative methods into sessions when useful, such as art-based techniques and positive communication exercises.
Joan describes her work as trauma-informed and integrative. She aims to be patient, resourceful, and occasionally light-hearted, using humor when it fits. Her approach focuses on helping people notice what matters to them, practice new habits, and repair difficult patterns with others.
She works with individual adults 18 and older, including people who identify as LGBTQIA2S+ or are exploring gender questions. Joan earned a Master of Arts in Community Counseling from Governors State University and holds an Art Therapy Certificate from Northwestern University.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything Joan lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Depression
- LGBT
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Sleeping disorders
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Abandonment
- Attachment issues
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Divorce and separation
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Joan names
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Gottman Method
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.
Online support
How Joan’s Approaches Translate to Online Care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice their thoughts and choose actions that match their values. Online ACT sessions often focus on small experiments and daily practices you can try between meetings to build a more meaningful life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks down unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns into clear steps. In video or phone sessions CBT usually includes skill teaching, homework exercises, and tracking progress over time. Finding the right approach is part of the work. Joan collaborates with each person to see which methods fit their goals and comfort level. She combines approaches as needed and checks in regularly to adjust the plan together. Online therapy with Joan uses video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make care more flexible. Video calls are useful for more in-depth conversations and skills practice. Phone sessions can work well when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat or text-based messaging can support frequent check-ins, quick skill reminders, or when typing feels easier than speaking. These options help fit therapy into busy days and different routines while keeping the focus on progress and practical tools.We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you. It does not change what you pay or the order of the listings.
Questions people ask
What issues does Joan help with?
Joan supports adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, trauma and abuse, grief, sleep difficulties, career concerns, and life transitions. She also addresses topics like self-esteem, family conflict, and questions about gender identity.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is warm, patient, and down-to-earth. She listens closely, creates a nonjudgmental space, and offers practical strategies alongside chances to process difficult feelings.
What kind of experience does she have?
Joan has 17 years of experience working as a therapeutic counselor. She combines life experience with clinical work and uses an integrative, trauma-informed approach.
Where is Joan licensed and based?
She holds an Illinois LCPC credential and practices from Illinois.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats does she use?
Joan offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How do I get started and what does it cost?
To begin, select the Start Therapy button and complete a short matching questionnaire, then schedule according to therapist availability. Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
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