- Client-centered care
- Solution-focused steps
- Faith-informed approach
About Lori
Lori Cheek Gilroy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Illinois who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and major life changes. She meets people where they are and offers down-to-earth guidance for everyday struggles. Lori frames work around the person's goals and priorities and treats each person with respect and compassion.
With 26 years of experience, Lori draws on counseling and life coaching skills developed in many settings. Her background includes work in child welfare, family counseling, a birthing center, crisis intervention, and community mental health. That variety shaped a practical approach to problems like caregiver stress, adoption and foster care issues, chronic illness, and mood or trauma-related concerns.
Lori’s approach is client-centered and holistic, paying attention to mind, body, and spirit. She also uses solution-focused methods and motivational interviewing to help people identify small, practical steps that move them forward. Trauma-focused techniques are part of her work when past events are contributing to current distress.
She integrates a Christ-centered philosophy into her practice while working respectfully with people of all backgrounds and beliefs. Lori emphasizes collaboration: clients lead and she guides, helping discover strengths and options that fit each person’s life.
People often seek Lori’s help for relationships, parenting strain, career shifts, compassion fatigue, and coping with natural or human-caused disaster. Her goal is to support steady, manageable change so clients can regain balance and purpose.
Approaches that translate to online work
Lori commonly uses Client-Centered Therapy, which focuses on listening, empathy, and supporting the person to discover their own answers. This approach helps with emotional support, life decisions, and finding inner strengths.She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns. CBT can be useful for anxiety, depression, and managing stress. Motivational Interviewing is another tool she uses to help people find motivation and make concrete changes one step at a time.
Finding the right approach is part of the first sessions. Lori works collaboratively to decide which methods fit a person's goals, needs, and comfort level. She adapts techniques to match what someone wants to accomplish and how they prefer to work.
If you are considering online therapy, check which session formats are offered before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Many people find that familiar therapeutic approaches like client-centered work and CBT adapt well to remote sessions when the therapist and client agree on how to use them.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
26+ years
Credentials
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Lori commonly address?
Lori helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, parenting strain, relationship problems, career questions, caregiver stress, and coping with life changes including natural or human-caused disaster.
How would you describe Lori's therapy style?
She uses a client-centered, holistic style that looks at mind, body, and spirit and emphasizes practical, solution-focused steps. Motivational interviewing and trauma-focused approaches are also used when they fit the person's needs.
What is her professional background?
She has 26 years of experience working as a counselor and life coach in settings such as child welfare, family counseling, a birthing center, crisis intervention, and a mental health clinic.
What credential does Lori hold and where does she practice?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, listed as IL LCSW, and practices in Illinois.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with Lori?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working together?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to therapist availability.