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Nicholas Smith

Nicholas Smith

LCPC

Illinois

A practical guide for people ready to change

Continue with Nicholas

At a glance

Credentials
LCPC
License
LCPC, Illinois / 180010190
Experience
13 years
Languages
English
Location
Illinois

Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.

    • Values focused
    • Action oriented
    • Emotion skills

    About Nicholas

    Nicholas Smith, LCPC, works with people who feel stuck, unmotivated, frustrated, or ready for a life pivot. He focuses on helping clients align daily choices with their values and long-term goals. Sessions aim to help people manage emotions more effectively and learn practical ways to move forward.

    He explains how thought patterns form and helps clients notice unhelpful thinking. Together they look for small, testable ways to challenge those thoughts and try new behaviors. The result is usually clearer direction and more confidence in day-to-day decisions.

    Nicholas has 13 years of experience in varied settings. His background includes work at a student counseling center, a hospital inpatient psychiatric unit, a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center, and private practice. Those roles shaped a pragmatic approach to common problems like anxiety, depression, addiction, and sleep struggles.

    He uses several therapeutic methods to suit the person in front of him. Motivational Interviewing is part of his work to help people find internal reasons to change. He also draws on cognitive behavioral ideas, acceptance and commitment concepts, and skills from dialectical approaches when helpful.

    Nicholas aims to meet people where they are and tailor the work to everyday life. He often focuses on manageable steps, clearer priorities, and coping tools you can use between sessions. The tone in his work is compassionate and straightforward, centered on practical change and personal meaning.

  2. How therapeutic approaches guide online work

    Motivational Interviewing helps people find their own reasons to change. It uses questions and reflective listening to build motivation and reduce resistance, which can help with addictions, ambivalence, and making life shifts.

    Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on clarifying personal values and committing to actions that match those values. It teaches simple skills to notice thoughts without getting stuck and to take meaningful steps despite discomfort, which is useful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions.

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It offers practical techniques to test unhelpful thoughts and build new habits, often helping with worry, low mood, and sleep difficulties.

    Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. That decision is revisited as progress is made and circumstances change.

    Confirm the specific online session options before booking, since formats are not listed here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, shorten travel time, or allow for brief check-ins that focus on skill practice. Talk with the therapist about what will work best for scheduling and the kinds of contact that suit your routine.

  4. Areas of expertise

    Primary focus

    Stress, AnxietySelf esteemCoping with life changes

    Also works with

    AddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesDepressionADHD

    Additional focus areas

    CodependencyCommitment issuesControl issuesDependent personalityEmptinessGuilt and shameLife purposeMen's issuesProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Social anxiety and phobia

    Therapeutic approaches

    Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational Interviewing

    Experience

    13+ years

    Listed in

    Illinois

    Languages

    English

  5. Frequently asked questions

    What kinds of problems does he help with?

    He helps with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, sleep problems, relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting strain, anger, career questions, ADHD, grief, and life transitions.

    How would you describe his therapeutic style?

    His style is practical and collaborative. He combines Motivational Interviewing with cognitive and mindfulness-based tools to help clients set goals and try small changes.

    What is his professional background?

    He has 13 years of clinical experience spanning a student counseling center, a hospital inpatient psychiatric unit, a drug and alcohol treatment center, and private practice.

    What credentials and location should I know about?

    He holds an LCPC license in Illinois and practices there.

    Can I work with him in another language or from another country?

    Sessions are offered in English and he is not accepting international clients at this time.

    What session formats are available?

    Please confirm current session options before booking, as the profile does not list specific formats.

    How does pricing work for sessions?

    Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

    How do I start working with him?

    Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

  6. Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers

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