Therapist profile
Rev. Sergio Ayala, LCPC, LMHC
Illinois
Rev. Sergio Ayala LCPC LMHC - Mental health and relationships
Continue with SergioWhere Sergio stands
- Credentials
- LCPC, LMHC
- License
- LMHC, Iowa / 094835; LCPC, Illinois / 180016866
- NPI
- 1619535002
- Experience
- 10 years
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Location
- Illinois
About
- Stress and anxiety
- Addictions and trauma
- Codependency concerns
About Sergio
Rev. Sergio Ayala is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Illinois and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Iowa with 10 years of clinical experience. He holds a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling and a Master of Divinity with clinical pastoral education. He works with people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, relationship and family concerns, intimacy-related issues, anger, career questions, and compassion fatigue.
Sergio frames the client as the expert on their own story. He listens for strengths and practical resources people already use. Sessions focus on clear steps and steady progress rather than jargon. He uses direct conversation to help people notice patterns in thinking and behavior that get in the way.
In practice he blends client-centered listening with techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Emotionally-Focused Therapy. That means conversations about feelings and relationships alongside exercises to test unhelpful thoughts. He also draws on existential questions and Jungian ideas when clients want to explore meaning and personal history.
Sergio speaks English and Spanish and can work with people who face caregiving strain, abandonment concerns, attachment difficulties, chronic illness, codependency challenges, and life changes like divorce or relocation. He also has experience with domestic violence, disruption disorders, and adoption and foster care issues.
He describes therapy as collaborative and practical. New clients complete a short questionnaire and schedule a first session. Costs vary by location and use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How sessions work
How his approaches work for remote sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting what matters most to the client. It helps when someone needs to make sense of relationship patterns or feels overwhelmed by decisions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks down unhelpful thoughts and behaviors into steps you can test and change; it works well for anxiety, low mood, and coping with addictive urges. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) looks at how emotions and interaction cycles shape close relationships and helps people shift those patterns.Choosing the best approach happens together. The therapist will ask about your concerns, goals, and what has helped or not helped before. He uses the conversation to decide whether to focus more on thoughts, emotions, meaning, or past patterns so the plan fits your needs and preferences.
Confirm the session formats before booking since the biography does not list specific options. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life - for example a shorter check-in during a work break, avoiding travel time, or choosing a phone call when bandwidth is limited. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, homework, and conversation to an online setting so people can apply what they learn between sessions.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
Iowa, Illinois
Languages
English, Spanish
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does he help with?
He works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, relationship and intimacy-related issues, and compassion fatigue among other concerns.
What is his therapeutic style like?
He combines client-centered listening with practical techniques from CBT and Emotionally-Focused Therapy to address thoughts, feelings, and relationship patterns.
How much experience does he have?
He has 10 years of clinical experience and over 15 years of ministerial or pastoral practice alongside clinical training.
What are his credentials and location?
He is an LCPC in Illinois and an LMHC in Iowa and practices from Illinois for local clients.
Can I work with him in my preferred language?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
Does he accept international clients?
He accepts international clients; check scheduling and time zone details when arranging sessions.
How are costs handled?
Fees vary by location and use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What do I do to begin working with him?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
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.