Anxiety Insights
SA Portrait of Rev. Sergio Ayala

Rev. Sergio Ayala, LCPC, LMHC

Compassionate counselor blending clinical and pastoral experience

10 years in practice · based in Illinois · sessions in English, Spanish · online sessions

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About Sergio

Rev. Sergio Ayala is a licensed counselor who combines clinical training with years of pastoral experience. He holds a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling and a Master of Divinity, and he practices in Illinois as an LCPC and an LMHC.

He has around ten years of clinical work alongside more than a decade of ministerial practice. He listens first and asks practical questions next. Sessions focus on what is happening now and what the client wants to change.

Book with Sergio Now Review online therapy options and next steps.

Background and approach

He encourages people to name strengths they already have and to use those strengths to face stress and fear. His practice covers common concerns like anxiety, depression, grief, and addictions. He also helps people dealing with trauma, compassion fatigue, caregiver stress, and relationship or intimacy-related issues.

Phobias are included among the concerns he addresses. In the room he draws on client-centered methods to follow the client’s lead. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy tools are used to identify unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors.

Emotion-focused ideas are used when sessions look at attachment, intimacy, or strong emotions. He works in both English and Spanish and accepts international clients. Sessions are offered by video, phone, live chat, or text messaging, and scheduling is arranged after a short matching questionnaire.

People start by selecting the Start Therapy button and completing the brief intake form. He aims to make each meeting practical and straightforward. The focus is on small steps that fit daily life and build toward longer-term change.

How approaches shape online work

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and following what matters most to the client. In online sessions this means starting from the person’s priorities and shaping each meeting around their goals and pace. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at patterns of thought and behavior and tries experiments to change them; it is useful for anxiety, phobias, and mood concerns and adapts well to worksheets or brief homework between sessions. Emotionally-Focused Therapy concentrates on feelings and attachment patterns and helps people name and respond to strong emotions in ways that improve relation and intimacy concerns.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist and client will discuss goals, try methods that fit, and adjust as needed. That collaborative process helps decide whether a client-centered stance, CBT tools, or emotion-focused work - or a blend - makes the most sense for a given concern.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful when visual cues matter and for longer sessions. Phone sessions can work well when bandwidth is limited or for a focused check-in. Live chat and text messaging allow shorter check-ins, quick coping support, and more flexible scheduling. These options give more ways to fit therapy into a busy life and keep continuity across changes in routine.
Book with Sergio Now Review online therapy options and next steps.

Questions people ask

What kinds of concerns does he help with?
He helps people who are managing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, trauma, relationship and intimacy-related issues, and compassion fatigue. Phobias are also listed among the concerns he addresses.
What is his therapeutic style like?
He starts by listening and follows a client-centered stance that respects each person’s story. He combines that with practical techniques from cognitive behavioral and emotion-focused approaches when helpful.
How long has he been practicing clinically?
He has about ten years of professional clinical experience, plus over fifteen years of ministerial and pastoral practice that inform his approach.
Where is he licensed and based?
He is licensed as an LCPC and as an LMHC and practices in Illinois. The credentials listed are IL LCPC and IA LMHC.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish. He also accepts international clients who can participate in those languages.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be held by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How does cost and payment work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist’s availability.

What this therapist works with

Most often

Also listed

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
10 years
Licensed
Iowa, Illinois
Languages
English, Spanish

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