- Strengths-based support
- Practical coping skills
- Multicultural focus
About Shobana
Shobana Shanmugavelayutham is a licensed clinical professional counselor in Illinois. She brings five years of experience helping people face stress, anxiety, grief, and depression. She centers sessions on each person's strengths and priorities. Shobana aims to make first steps feel manageable and respectful.
Her style emphasizes listening first. She treats the person in front of her as the expert on their life and asks questions to clarify what matters most. Conversations focus on practical changes, building confidence, and steady progress rather than quick fixes.
Shobana uses a mix of methods to match different needs. She draws on client-centered work to keep conversations grounded in the client's perspective. She also uses cognitive behavioral ideas to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques may be used to help people connect with values and take committed action.
She has supported people dealing with trauma, substance concerns, anger, family stress, and major life transitions. Additional areas of focus include hospice and end-of-life counseling, immigration-related stresses, and multicultural concerns. Shobana aims to make sessions a collaborative space for problem solving and emotional support.
Practical steps are emphasized in each meeting. The goal is steady change clients can use outside sessions. Shobana encourages questions about the process and works to tailor each plan to a person’s life and goals.
How these approaches translate to online care
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting what the client says so they feel understood and can find their own solutions. Online sessions using this approach keep the conversation grounded in the person's priorities and pace.Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice painful thoughts and feelings while committing to actions that match their values. Remotely, ACT exercises often include brief mindfulness practices and values-based goal setting that clients can try between sessions.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and uses small experiments to test new ways of responding. In online work this often translates to homework tasks, thought records, and short behavior experiments to practice between meetings.
Choosing the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will work with the client to decide which combination of methods fits their needs, goals, and preferences. This means plans can change as progress is made and new priorities emerge.
Session logistics should be confirmed before booking since formats are not listed in the biography. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow focused check-ins from another location. It can also support shorter sessions or phone check-ins when that practical option helps someone stay consistent with care.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Shobana help with?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, low self-esteem, depression, addictions, family stress, anger, coping with life changes, and ADHD, plus hospice, immigration, and multicultural concerns.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her approach is collaborative and client-centered, emphasizing listening and using practical steps to build confidence and coping skills.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has five years of professional experience working with the listed concerns and approaches.
What credentials and location apply to this therapist?
She holds an LCPC credential and practices in Illinois.
Which languages are sessions offered in and can people outside the US participate?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are accepted.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How does cost and billing work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.