Therapist profile
Dr. Melody Madaris, LCPC
Illinois
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor - Trauma and Addictions
Continue with MelodyKey details
- CredentialsLCPC
- LicenseLCPC, Illinois / 180012142
- NPI1609218395
- Experience14 years
- LanguagesEnglish
- LocationIllinois
About
- ACT methods
- CBT skills
- DBT strategies
About Melody
Dr. Melody Madaris is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with 14 years of experience. She has worked extensively with people managing trauma, substance use, bipolar disorder, depression, and anger. Melody combines practical strategies with straightforward conversation to help people name problems and begin making changes.
She has spent much of her career in community mental health. That work includes managing a residential treatment facility, six outpatient co-occurring programs, a 24-hour mobile crisis program, an employee assistance program, and substance abuse prevention efforts. She also oversees services for co-occurring disorders and supervises a team of more than 60 staff members.
In sessions she focuses on identifying where change is needed and on how to start and sustain that change. Expect a direct approach that looks at specific behaviors, patterns, and choices that feed anger, addictions, or mood problems. Techniques are practical and goal-oriented, drawn from cognitive and behavioral methods as well as acceptance-based and interpersonal approaches.
Melody often helps people who are dealing with loss, career stress, eating and body image concerns, ADHD, and compassion fatigue. She also works with survivors of domestic violence and those affected by natural or human-caused disasters. Her background includes clinical work with first responders and veterans.
Sessions are conducted in English. She accepts international clients. Before booking, confirm current session options and formats to make sure they fit your needs.
How sessions work
Therapeutic approaches used online and how they help
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then committing to actions that match your values. It can help people who want to reduce reactivity and build a life that matters even when strong emotions appear.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks down patterns of thinking and behavior into manageable pieces. CBT helps identify and shift thought patterns that feed anger, anxiety, and depression, and it offers practical exercises to change reactions.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) provides skills for regulating intense emotions, tolerating distress, and improving interpersonal effectiveness. These skills are useful for managing anger, impulsive behavior, and relationship strain.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, try methods that fit those goals, and adjust based on what helps. That collaborative process looks at which strategies match daily life and which skills are most useful in moments of frustration.
Please confirm current session formats before booking, since the biography does not list them. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight, and reduce travel time. Talk with the therapist about pacing, homework, and how to practice skills between sessions so therapy fits into everyday life.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she address?
She works with addictions, trauma and abuse, bipolar disorder, depression, anger, and related concerns such as grief, ADHD, and eating issues.
How would she approach anger issues?
She uses straightforward, behavior-focused work to identify triggers and patterns and then practices skills to respond differently in the moment.
What is her professional background?
She has 14 years of clinical experience and leadership in community mental health, including managing residential and outpatient co-occurring programs and a mobile crisis service.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and practices out of Illinois.
Does she work in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are offered?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific formats.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies by location; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to work with her?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is unsafe, use the crisis numbers.