- ACT and CBT
- Co-occurring disorders
- Program leadership
About Melody
Dr. Melody Madaris is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with 14 years of clinical and administrative experience. She works with people who face trauma, substance use concerns, bipolar disorder, depression, and related issues such as grief, anger, and self-esteem struggles. She also lists specialties including ADHD, eating and body image issues, and process addictions.
She spent much of her career directly treating people with trauma and substance-related problems. Over time she moved into program leadership. She now manages a community mental health center portfolio that includes a residential treatment facility and six outpatient co-occurring programs. She also oversees a 24-hour mobile crisis program and employee assistance initiatives.
Her approach centers on helping people identify the parts of life that need to change and then taking practical steps to start and keep those changes. She uses methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Existential Therapy to support that work. In sessions she focuses on clear goals and concrete skills.
Dr. Madaris combines hands-on clinical work with systems-level experience. That background means she can discuss individual coping strategies and how treatment fits into larger programs of care. She is familiar with challenges faced by first responders, veterans, and people affected by disaster or domestic violence.
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients. Costs vary by location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. To begin, clients complete a brief matching questionnaire and schedule an initial session.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people clarify their values and take action toward them, while learning ways to live with difficult thoughts and feelings. It can help when avoidance or fear makes social situations or change feel overwhelming.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at unhelpful thought patterns and teaches practical skills to change behaviors and reduce distress. It is often used for anxiety, panic, mood disorders, and for coping with life changes.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills. Those skills can be useful when strong emotions, impulsive behaviors, or relationship strain get in the way of daily life.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Dr. Madaris will collaborate with each person to identify goals and decide which methods fit best. That process includes trying strategies and adjusting based on what helps most.
Confirm the available session formats before booking because the biography does not list them. Online sessions can make it easier to fit appointments into work or family schedules, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. Many people find remote sessions helpful for maintaining consistency and practicing new skills between meetings.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with trauma, substance use and bipolar disorder and related concerns such as depression, grief, anger, self-esteem, and process addictions.
What is her therapeutic style?
She uses practical, skills-based approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy alongside client-centered and existential ideas.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 14 years of experience in clinical and program leadership roles in community mental health settings.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an Illinois LCPC and practices from Illinois.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are offered?
Please confirm the current session options before booking by checking the platform details, as the biography does not list specific formats.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.