Joan VanderSchaaf, LMHC, LCPC, Telemental Health Distance Counselor

My approach to counseling is a collaborative journey in discovering and exploring what hinders my clients from fully functioning, reducing the stress, anxiety, and negative symptoms that prompted them to look for help. Given a safe and supportive environment, clients can gain awareness and insight to make sense out of our life experiences. Making a decision to find help...and then being heard can be a huge relief, and is the gift of therapy. I provide distance (video) counseling! Whether you reside or work in Illinois or Florida, distance counseling is an effective and easy way to approach counseling without having to go to the counselor's office. If you are new to counseling, feel free to reach out to ask questions; if you are familiar with counseling - you know it can be a great experience.

I offer individual, couples, and group therapy in a non-judgmental, relaxed, and nurturing environment that fosters personal growth. From a wellness perspective, I value looking at the whole picture, encouraging my clients to seek balance in their lifeworld. As a certified Myers-Briggs practitioner, I help my clients learn their personality "type" in order to have a better understanding of themselves and others. As a professor in a counseling graduate program, you can benefit from the knowledge and competencies from this experience as well. Perhaps it seems a little scary and overwhelming to take the next step...and make an appointment...but...I cater to chickens! Look at this as something you are doing for yourself. Above all, regardless of your situation, counseling should be a positive experience and something to look forward to!