Jennifer Forbes, LMFT
Compassionate marriage and family therapist
Details
| Name | Jennifer Forbes |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LMFT |
| Based in | Illinois |
| Licensed in | Illinois |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 14 |
About Jennifer
Jennifer Forbes is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in Illinois with 14 years of clinical experience. She founded Seed of Hope Counseling Services after years in nonprofit and independent practice. She draws on long-term work supporting people through crises, grief, trauma, and big life changes.
Her path includes creating and evaluating community programs for crisis and trauma care. She has provided counseling, consultation, supervision, and leadership to teams and organizations.
Background and approach
Jennifer has also served on clinical committees and is a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapist (AAMFT). In sessions she uses straightforward, collaborative methods. She works with approaches such as Narrative Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients tell their stories differently, notice patterns, and take small practical steps forward.
Motivational Interviewing and Solution-Focused tools are also part of her toolbox for goal-oriented change. Jennifer helps people facing a wide range of concerns including relationship and intimacy issues, trauma and abuse, anxiety and depression, addiction, grief, parenting challenges, and career or life transitions. She also addresses issues like abandonment, blended family dynamics, chronic illness, and communication problems.
Her background includes a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Applied Family and Child Studies with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northern Illinois University. That training underlies a collaborative style that centers each person’s experience and goals.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names LGBT, Relationship issues, Family conflicts among the things Jennifer works with, alongside the areas below.
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Grief
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Blended family issues
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Divorce and separation
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Fertility issues
- Forgiveness
- Immigration issues
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Multicultural concerns
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexuality
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Jennifer among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Jennifer among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Jennifer among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Jennifer among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Jennifer among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Jennifer 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 Jennifer directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How her approaches translate to online work
Jennifer often combines Narrative Therapy with Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Narrative Therapy focuses on the stories people tell about their lives and helps reframe those stories to open up new possibilities. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy and active listening so a person feels heard and understood. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at patterns of thought and behavior and uses practical exercises to change unhelpful cycles.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. She will work with each person to match methods to their goals, values, and preferences. Together they review what feels useful and adjust the plan as needed rather than committing to one method at the start.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs. Video calls let people use face-to-face conversation for deeper work. Phone sessions can be simpler when bandwidth is an issue or to fit a break at work. Live chat and text messaging are options for quick check-ins, shorter conversations, and ongoing coaching between longer sessions. These options make scheduling and continuity easier for people with busy or changing lives.
Common questions about this listing
What concerns does she commonly address?
She helps people with relationship and intimacy issues, trauma and abuse, anxiety, depression, addictions, grief, parenting, sleep problems, and career or life transitions.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She uses a collaborative and direct style that centers a person’s story and goals. Sessions mix narrative reflection, practical steps from CBT, and solution-focused planning.
What is her clinical background?
She has 14 years of experience working in nonprofit and personal settings, developing community programs and providing counseling, consultation, supervision, and leadership.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, credentialed as an IL LMFT, and practices in Illinois.
Which languages are supported and can international clients work together?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
She meets with clients via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to provide different ways to connect.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, fill out a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to therapist availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Jennifer 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 Jennifer where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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