Therapist profile
Johanna Williams, LCSW
Illinois
LCSW - Anxiety and Addiction
Continue with JohannaWhere Johanna stands
- Credentials
- LCSW
- License
- LCSW, Illinois / 149024632
- NPI
- 1023791852
- Experience
- 10 years
- Languages
- English, Dutch
- Location
- Illinois
About
- CBT
- DBT skills
- ACT principles
About Johanna
Johanna Williams is an LCSW licensed in Illinois with ten years of clinical experience. She focuses on stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, and depression. Johanna also addresses codependency, attachment and family of origin concerns. She speaks English and Dutch.
She has worked in community clinics, inpatient mental health, and substance use recovery settings, as well as private practice. That background means she is familiar with the practical demands of addiction work and trauma treatment. Her clients have included people connected to first responder roles and the LGBTQIA+ community, which has informed how she adapts her work to different life contexts.
Johanna uses straightforward methods in sessions. She applies Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people recognize unhelpful patterns, learn coping skills, and practice different ways of responding. Therapy includes skill-building, behavior experiments, and direct discussion about relationship patterns like people-pleasing or difficulty with boundaries.
Sessions mix short-term symptom work and longer-term pattern change. Johanna pays attention to how family history, adoption or abandonment issues, and attachment concerns shape current behavior. She also addresses co-occurring problems such as eating issues, substance use, and control or dependency patterns.
People who tend to put others first, struggle to say no, or feel drained by close relationships may find this practical, skills-based approach useful. To begin, clients follow the site's process to view online therapy options, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
How sessions work
Therapeutic approaches and how online sessions can help
Johanna commonly draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. CBT is practical and focused on specific problems like anxiety, low mood, and addictive patterns. It often includes homework and behavior experiments to test new ways of acting.She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills to teach emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication. DBT strategies are useful for managing overwhelming feelings and improving boundaries in relationships. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy complements these by helping clients clarify values and take committed action even when emotions are difficult.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Johanna will discuss goals, try methods that fit the client's needs, and adjust the plan based on what proves helpful. The focus is on practical steps the client can use between sessions as well as in-session practice.
Confirm the therapist's available session formats before booking, since the biography does not list specific formats. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. Decide with Johanna which session length and pace work best for daily routines and treatment goals.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English, Dutch
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, self-esteem issues, and depression. Additional focuses include codependency, attachment problems, family of origin issues, and related areas.
How does she approach therapy?
Her style uses evidence-based techniques like CBT, DBT skills, and ACT to teach coping tools and change behavior patterns. Sessions involve skill practice and direct discussion of relationship patterns.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has ten years of experience working in settings such as community clinics, inpatient mental health, substance use recovery, and private practice.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is an LCSW licensed in Illinois and practices with that credential in Illinois.
Which languages are offered in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Dutch.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and what about cost?
Costs vary with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Confirm rates through the platform before booking.
How do I start a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session through the site's booking process.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe at home, use the crisis and helpline numbers.