Courtney Holbrook, LCSW

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A listening, narrative-informed LCSW

Details

Name	Courtney Holbrook
Credentials	LCSW
Based in	Illinois
Licensed in	Illinois
Session format	Online
Languages	English
Years in practice	10

About Courtney

Courtney Holbrook is an Illinois-licensed clinical social worker with ten years of experience helping people who feel overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, depression, or major life changes. She supports people struggling with addictions, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, grief, and relationship or intimacy concerns. Her approach is practical and compassionate, focused on helping people find clearer next steps.

Courtney works from a client-centered stance that treats the person as the expert in their own life.

Background and approach

She listens first, then helps people name the patterns that keep them stuck. She uses Narrative ideas to help people reframe and tell a different story about themselves when old narratives cause pain. She blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to address unhelpful thoughts and behaviors with Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance.

Emotionally-Focused Therapy influences how she listens for relationship patterns and emotional needs. Sessions aim to be straightforward and collaborative. Courtney helps people define goals, practice new skills, and try small experiments between meetings.

She pays attention to real-life constraints like time, energy, and caregiving duties. Courtney has worked across a range of concerns including caregiver stress, chronic illness, body image, attachment issues, and career confusion. Her clinical license is LCSW, and she practices in Illinois.

Conversations are conducted in plain language with respect and curiosity.

What this therapist works with

Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse among the things Courtney works with, alongside the areas below.

Stress, Anxiety
Addictions
Trauma and abuse
Self esteem
Depression
LGBT
Relationship issues
Family conflicts
Grief
Intimacy-related issues
Anger management
Career difficulties
Bipolar disorder
Coping with life changes
Compassion fatigue
Abandonment
Adoption and foster care
Aging and geriatric issues
Attachment issues
Avoidant personality
Blended family issues
Body image
Cancer
Caregiver issues and stress
Chronic pain, illness, and disability
Co-morbidity
Codependency
Commitment issues
Communication problems
Control issues
Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
Dependent personality
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
Dissociation
Divorce and separation
Domestic violence
Drug and alcohol addiction
Emptiness
Family of origin issues
Family problems
Forgiveness
Guilt and shame
Hoarding
Hospice and end-of-life counseling
Impulsivity
Intellectual disability
Isolation / loneliness
Jealousy
Life purpose
Midlife crisis
Money and financial issues
Mood disorders
Narcissism
Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Paranoia
Personality disorders
Phobias
Post-traumatic stress
Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Self-harm
Self-love
Sex addiction
Sexual assault and abuse
Sexuality
Smoking / vaping cessation
Social anxiety and phobia
Women's issues
Workplace issues
Young adult issues

Approaches listed

Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Courtney among the ways she works.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Courtney among the ways she works.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Courtney among the ways she works.
Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT): Listed by Courtney among the ways she works.
Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Courtney among the ways she works.
Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Courtney among the ways she works.
Psychodynamic Therapy: Listed by Courtney among the ways she works.
Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Courtney among the ways she works.
Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Courtney among the ways she works.
Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Courtney directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.

Narrative Therapy in this listing

Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.

If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Courtney directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.

Online session options

How Narrative and Skills-Based Approaches Work Online

Courtney combines Narrative Therapy with Client-Centered and Cognitive Behavioral approaches. Narrative Therapy helps people look at the stories they tell about themselves and find different ways to describe past events. This can be useful for trauma, low self-worth, and major life changes. Client-Centered Therapy means she follows the person's lead, listens deeply, and helps clients name their own goals and strengths.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to find and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. CBT offers concrete strategies for anxiety, depression, and coping with stress. Together these approaches let clients reframe their story while practicing skills that change daily habits and reactions.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Courtney will discuss options and adjust methods based on the client's needs, goals, and preferences. That decision is collaborative and reviewed as progress unfolds.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is good for face-to-face conversations and emotional work, while phone sessions can fit into a short break or require less bandwidth. Live chat and text messaging make it possible to check in between sessions or when a quick touchpoint is helpful. These formats offer flexibility for busy schedules and different comfort levels.

Common questions about this listing

What concerns does she address?

Courtney supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, and many life transitions.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

She uses a client-centered, collaborative style that centers the person's own story and goals. Sessions are conversational and focused on practical next steps.

What is her professional background?

She has ten years of professional experience working in clinical settings and community care, helping people with a wide range of emotional and behavioral concerns.

What credentials and region are listed?

Courtney holds an LCSW and is licensed in Illinois.

Which languages are supported and can international clients work with her?

Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.

What session formats does she offer?

She meets with people using video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.

How does pricing work for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are billed through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin therapy?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Contacting this therapist

Sessions with Courtney are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Courtney where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.

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