Ashley Johnnies, LCSW | Therapist in Illinois

strengths based
goal oriented
skills focused

About Ashley

Ashley Johnnies is an LCSW licensed in Illinois with five years of clinical experience. She focuses on helping people who feel overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, trauma, anger, or low mood. She approaches clients with respect and a belief that each person knows their story best.

She centers sessions on the client’s goals and strengths. Conversations are practical and grounded. She supports people who want clearer boundaries, healthier relationships, or more stable emotions.

Ashley draws from several approaches, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Emotionally-Focused Therapy. She tailors techniques to the concern at hand, whether that is codependency, grief, parenting strain, or body image worries. Her style balances listening with offering tools to try between sessions.

In session, she helps people notice unhelpful patterns and try small changes. That might mean learning new ways to name feelings, practicing a short coping skill, or testing a different response in a tense conversation. She encourages compassion for setbacks while keeping focus on progress.

Her work is practical and collaborative. People who want clear steps, honest feedback, and steady support are often a good fit. To begin, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to availability.

How these approaches translate to online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It often focuses on small, practical steps to build a life that feels meaningful. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect and uses short exercises to change patterns that cause distress. Emotionally-Focused Therapy concentrates on understanding emotional responses in relationships and creating new ways of connecting and responding.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals and preferences and suggest techniques to try. Together they adjust the plan based on what helps most, whether that means focusing on values, practicing behavioral experiments, or working through emotional cycles in relationships.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, shorten travel time, and allow for steady check-ins when life feels hectic. They also allow practicing skills in the settings where issues arise, and can support consistent momentum between sessions.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuseAnger managementSelf esteem Depression

Also works with

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsGrief Intimacy-related issuesParenting issues

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAntisocial personalityAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stress Codependency Communication problems Control issues Dependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Domestic violenceEmptinessFamily problemsForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityIsolation / loneliness JealousyLife purposeVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPersonality disordersPhobiasPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

5+ years

Credentials

Illinois

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns can be addressed?

Ashley helps with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger, depression, relationship and intimacy-related issues, parenting strain, grief, and self-esteem problems. She also works with codependency and related patterns.

What is her therapeutic style like?

Her approach is collaborative and practical. Sessions mix empathic listening with concrete skills to try between meetings.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She holds an LCSW and has five years of professional work experience supporting people through emotional and relational challenges.

Where is she licensed and practicing?

She is licensed in Illinois as an LCSW and practices with that credential in the state.

Which languages are sessions conducted in?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can people outside the United States work with her?

She is not currently accepting international clients.

How are sessions priced?

Costs vary with location and therapist availability and are provided through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

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

Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.