About Myrna
Myrna Pledger is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) practicing in Illinois with 21 years of experience. She focuses on anxiety and related concerns and aims to help people find clearer ways to manage stress and difficult relationships. Her approach is direct but kind, and she includes faith when clients want that perspective.
She began working in community counseling, often supporting children with behavioral challenges in school settings. Over time she saw how individual struggles often reflect family dynamics, and she expanded her work to address those broader patterns.
Background and approach
She has supported people coping with trauma, abuse, depression, addictions, grief, and compassion fatigue. Myrna uses several approaches in session, including cognitive behavioral ideas and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She also draws on attachment-focused thinking and client-centered listening to shape a plan that fits each person.
Sessions include practical strategies and examples from others who have moved through similar challenges. Her style is educational and solutions focused. She aims to teach skills, name unhelpful patterns, and support clients as they try new behaviors.
She avoids labeling people and instead highlights strengths and steps forward. Myrna is comfortable discussing spiritual concerns when clients bring them up, and she integrates faith-based perspectives when desired. She describes her work as truth-based, caring, and tailored to the individual's situation.
If someone is ready to take a step toward change, she offers guided support and practical tools.
Approaches that guide online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people clarify their values and take meaningful steps despite anxious thoughts or uncomfortable feelings. It emphasizes practical actions that align with what matters most to the person.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and teaches skills to shift unhelpful thinking and test new behaviors. This approach is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems.
Attachment-Based Therapy pays attention to how early relationships shape expectations and patterns in current connections. It helps people notice those patterns and try different ways of relating when old habits cause pain.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to choose techniques that match their goals, concerns, and preferences. Sessions can include teaching, reflection, and practical exercises to try between meetings.
Online formats offer flexibility for people with busy schedules or limited travel options. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be shorter check-ins or a good fit when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging let clients send updates, ask quick questions, or maintain steady contact between sessions.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
Also listed
- Addictions
- Anger management
- Avoidant personality
- Career difficulties
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Dependent personality
- Depression
- Grief
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Multicultural concerns
- Parenting issues
- Personality disorders
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 21 years
- Licensed
- Illinois
- Languages
- English
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