Maria "Patti" Lorenzo, LCPC - Therapist in Illinois

Emotionally-Focused Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Practical coping skills

About Maria

Maria "Patti" Lorenzo is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with 12 years of practice. She focuses on helping people change the way they talk to themselves and manage anxiety, depression, and stress. Patti often works with women facing life transitions, burnout, identity shifts, and menopause-related emotional changes.

Many clients come because they feel stuck in self-criticism, overthinking, or emotional exhaustion. Patti emphasizes practical steps you can use between sessions. She uses straightforward conversation to build awareness and identify unhelpful patterns.

Her approach draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy along with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Sessions combine reflection with small experiments and behavior changes to test new ways of responding. The focus is on what happens in everyday life rather than abstract theory.

Patti describes therapy as a collaborative effort. She offers honest feedback and gentle accountability while helping people learn different ways of thinking and coping. Expect clear goals and simple practices you can try outside the session.

Her work also covers areas such as grief, intimacy-related concerns, career stress, ADHD, compassion fatigue, and trauma and abuse. She pays attention to attachment-related issues, body image, caregiver stress, chronic illness, and other overlapping concerns. The aim is steady, practical emotional growth over time.

How her methods translate to online sessions

Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) focuses on identifying and naming difficult emotions and connection patterns. It helps people notice feelings that drive their behavior and try new ways of responding that feel more genuine.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches practical skills for living with uncomfortable thoughts and feelings while taking steps toward valued goals. It often uses short exercises and behavioral experiments to test new habits.

Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current emotional responses. It helps people recognize attachment patterns that show up in stress, grief, and relationships and try different responses.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which combination of methods fits their needs, goals, and preferences. That decision can change as progress is made.

The original biography does not list supported online session formats, so confirm the available options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when time is tight, or avoid travel on difficult days. Licensed professionals often adapt exercises and homework for remote sessions so the work can continue between meetings.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Trauma and abuse Self esteem Coping with life changesCoaching

Also works with

Stress, Anxiety Grief Intimacy-related issuesCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderDepressionCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependency Communication problems Control issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separation Domestic violenceEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelity Isolation / loneliness Jealousy Life purpose Men's issues Midlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depression Post-traumatic stress Pregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationTraumatic brain injuryVisually impairedWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based Therapy Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential Therapy Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Jungian Therapy Mindfulness Therapy Motivational Interviewing Narrative Therapy Psychodynamic Therapy Solution-Focused Therapy Somatic Therapy Trauma-Focused Therapy Internal Family Systems

Experience

12+ years

Listed in

Illinois

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she address?

She works with anxiety, depression, stress, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, ADHD, bipolar, and life transitions among other issues.

How does she approach therapy?

She uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy alongside ACT and CBT and favors practical, collaborative work to change everyday patterns.

How much experience does she have?

She has 12 years of experience as a practicing therapist.

What are her credentials and location?

She is an Illinois LCPC, practicing in Illinois.

Which languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.

What session formats are offered?

The original biography does not list session formats. Confirm current session options before booking.

How does pricing work?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I get started?

Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.

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