Heather Stample, LCSW

Heather Stample is a licensed clinical social worker with four years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, and ADHD-related challenges. She says beginning therapy can feel hard, and she focuses on steady, practical steps to make everyday life feel more manageable again.

Heather creates a warm, nonjudgmental space where clients can talk through what feels overwhelming. She listens closely and offers steady support while helping people find small, doable changes. Sessions tend to focus on clear goals and concrete next steps rather than long theory discussions.

Her work draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy alongside attachment-focused and client-centered approaches. That means she pays attention to thought patterns, values, and relationship history while keeping the conversation focused on what helps now. The approach is meant to be collaborative and action oriented.

Heather also uses psychodynamic ideas to notice repeated life patterns that cause pain. She helps people recognize old patterns and try different responses. The goal is to reduce distress and build new habits that fit each person’s life.

People who reach out often want practical help with control issues, codependency, feelings of emptiness, grief, or family problems. She also supports those facing chronic illness, end-of-life concerns, and challenges related to autism spectrum traits. Heather works in English and practices in Illinois as an LCSW.

How Heather’s approaches translate to online therapy

Heather draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors that reduce stress and anxiety. CBT focuses on practical experiments and skills people can practice between sessions to change patterns that cause distress.

She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which helps people clarify what matters to them and take action in line with those values even when emotions are hard. ACT can be helpful for chronic worry, low mood, and for coping with ongoing health challenges.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Heather will collaborate with each person to choose which methods fit their needs and goals. She checks in about what is helping and adjusts techniques so therapy stays relevant and useful.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for full sessions and visual connection. Phone can be simpler when bandwidth is limited or a screen-free conversation is preferred. Live chat and messaging support brief check-ins, written coaching, or ongoing notes between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and different life situations.