- Stress and anxiety
- Family of origin
- CBT and DBT methods
About April
April Balzhiser is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Illinois with 18 years of experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, relationship and family concerns, depression, grief, addiction, and issues around intimacy and self-esteem. April also supports people dealing with bipolar disorder, compassion fatigue, and life transitions. Sessions are conducted in English and focus on practical steps clients can use between meetings.
April draws on client-centered methods to build a working relationship that fits each person's needs. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills and mindfulness practices are used when emotional regulation and distress tolerance are priorities.
Her background includes long experience in social services and mental health settings, including work related to child welfare, foster care, adoption contexts, domestic violence response, and sexual assault services. That history informs how she talks about attachment, abandonment concerns, blended family issues, and caregiver stress. April brings steady, practical focus rather than jargon or abstract theory.
In sessions she helps people name patterns that trace back to family of origin dynamics and then practice new ways of relating. Conversations often include role practice, goal setting, and small behavioral experiments to try between sessions. Clients can expect direct, clear feedback about skills and steps they can take outside of sessions.
To begin, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. April uses a subscription model for sessions that can be canceled at any time, and fees vary by location.
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the clients concerns and goals, emphasizing listening and collaboration so the therapist follows the clients lead. This approach helps with family of origin patterns by prioritizing what the client wants to change. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets specific thoughts and actions that keep problems going. CBT breaks issues into small steps and teaches skills clients can try between sessions, which works well for anxiety, depression, and relationship problems. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete skills for regulating intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness; short exercises and skill practice are often used to build tolerance for distress.Finding the right approach is part of the clinical process. The therapist and client will look at needs, goals, and preferences together and adjust methods over time. That collaborative testing helps identify which techniques produce noticeable change for the client.
Confirm the specific session formats before booking because the profile does not list them. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. They also support using worksheets, screen-sharing, and between-session assignments in a practical way. Ask about available formats when you complete the short matching questionnaire so scheduling and session length match your routine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
18+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
April works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family problems as well as depression, grief, addiction, intimacy issues, self-esteem, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She uses a client-centered approach that emphasizes practical steps, clear feedback, and collaborative goal setting.
How long has she practiced in mental health?
She has 18 years of experience in social services and mental health settings.
What credential and location apply to her work?
She is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and practices in Illinois.
Which languages are supported and can international clients join?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not specified in the profile.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.