- Client-centered start
- Attachment-informed care
- Practical coping skills
About Vicki
Vicki Marcum is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with forty years of clinical experience. She centers sessions on the person in front of her and starts by listening to what matters most to that individual. Her approach aims to build trust first, then match therapeutic steps to each person's needs.
She uses a client-centered way of working at the outset to create safety and clarity. Once a trusting relationship is established she draws on other approaches that fit the issue and the person's style. That can include attachment-focused work, emotion-oriented methods, cognitive-behavioral techniques, or existential conversations about meaning and choices.
Marcumm's background includes work in inpatient psychiatry, community mental health, emergency and crisis services, and outpatient day treatment programs. She has experience with case management, in-home programs, schools, and emergency room settings. Over her career she has worked with people across the lifespan in individual and group settings.
Her practice addresses a wide range of concerns such as stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting challenges, depression, relationship and intimacy-related issues, eating and body image concerns, anger, self-esteem, career questions, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and ADHD. Additional focuses include abandonment, attachment issues, blended family tensions, codependency, communication and control problems, and family of origin issues.
Vicki describes herself as compassionate and supportive while also willing to challenge unhelpful beliefs when the moment is right. She encourages people to lead their treatment, helps them weigh options, and aims for practical steps that fit everyday life.
How attachment and client-centered work translate online
Vicki often draws on attachment-based and client-centered approaches when helping people, and she also uses cognitive behavioral techniques as needed. Attachment-based work focuses on patterns in relationships and how those patterns affect feelings and choices, which can help with intimacy, codependency, and family of origin concerns. Client-centered work centers on listening and understanding first, creating a base of trust before moving into problem-solving and skills practice. Cognitive behavioral techniques focus on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and testing new behaviors to reduce distress and improve day-to-day functioning.Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust them over time based on how things go.
For practical matters, confirm available session options before booking since formats are not listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when that suits a person's day. It also supports continuity of care when someone moves or faces life changes. If a different format is needed, ask about current options when scheduling.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
40+ years
Credentials
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with a broad range of problems including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting, depression, relationship and intimacy-related issues, eating and body image concerns, anger, self-esteem, career questions, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and codependency.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Vicki begins with a client-centered approach to build trust and clarity. After a trusting relationship forms she uses other approaches matched to the person's needs and personality.
What is her clinical background?
She has over 40 years of clinical experience across inpatient psychiatry, outpatient community mental health, emergency and crisis services, day treatment programs, schools, in-home programs, and private practice.
What credentials and location apply to this therapist?
She is a licensed clinical social worker - LCSW - practicing in Illinois.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are session costs handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions 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.