Christina Steele-Lietz

Christina Steele-Lietz uses a compassionate, person-centered approach to help people facing difficult life moments. She combines gentle listening with practical problem solving so clients can learn how to respond to what they cannot control. Christina, LMSW, LCSW, frames therapy as a partnership where the client's goals lead the way.

She draws on 20 years of professional experience in Illinois to support people dealing with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, trauma, and LGBT concerns. Sessions often focus on building coping skills, reducing intense reactions, and finding ways to comfort oneself through pain. Christina aims to help people identify who they are and who they want to keep becoming.

Her approach blends methods from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Client-Centered Therapy, among others. That mix allows for practical skill practice alongside deeper reflection about values and relationships. Christina listens without judgment and works alongside each person to explore useful steps forward.

She also focuses on a wide range of life challenges, including caregiving stress, chronic illness, adoption and foster care issues, hospice and end-of-life counseling, and identity-related concerns such as gender dysphoria. Therapy may include learning coping strategies, processing loss, and improving sleep and daily routines.

Christina encourages people to take the first step and make their health a priority. The work aims to help clients create a lifestyle guided by their values and needs, with support through change and healing.

Approaches that translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches skills to change patterns that cause distress. It often helps with anxiety, sleep problems, and mood. Client-Centered Therapy puts the person’s experience first and uses empathic listening to build trust and self-understanding. This approach supports exploration of identity, relationships, and grief.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Christina will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit best for their goals, needs, and preferences. She combines approaches as needed and checks in regularly to adjust the plan together.

Confirm current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life and reduce travel time. It can also allow shorter check-ins when schedules require them or make it simpler to meet without being on camera during a tough day. Many people find these practical benefits help them keep therapy consistent while working toward their goals.