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AT Portrait of Anita Thomas-Bua

Anita Thomas-Bua

Compassionate, practical therapy for life transitions

LCPC, LPC Illinois

Experience
20 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English

About Anita

Anita Thomas-Bua is a licensed psychotherapist with two decades of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, trauma and abuse, anger, depression, and a wide array of life transitions.

Background and approach

She combines therapy and coaching to support clients dealing with grief, intimacy and eating concerns, parenting challenges, self-esteem, career shifts, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and compassion fatigue, along with related issues such as attachment and blended family difficulties. Her approach is warm, interactive, and grounded in respect and sensitivity.

Anita uses a range of methods including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), client-centered techniques, Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Imago relationship work, and Jungian perspectives to tailor sessions to each person’s needs. She emphasizes education and empowerment, drawing on a Helen Keller-inspired belief that growth often comes through facing challenges.

Based in Illinois with licensure in both Illinois and Wisconsin, Anita offers practical support to help restore balance in mind, body, and spirit. Her style blends active collaboration with compassionate listening, aiming to guide clients toward clearer goals and renewed strengths as they take steps toward change.

How Anita’s Approaches Translate to Online Therapy

Client-centered therapy focuses on empathic listening and supporting each person’s own capacity for growth, helping with issues like low self-esteem, life transitions, and emotional overwhelm through acceptance and encouragement. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) emphasizes identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can be useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and mood regulation by teaching practical skills and coping strategies. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps explore emotional patterns and attachment-related concerns to improve connection and emotional regulation in relationships and personal healing.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic work and happens collaboratively. Anita will discuss your goals, preferences, and the challenges you bring to determine whether CBT, client-centered work, EFT, or a blend of methods will best support your progress, and she adapts plans as needs evolve.

Online formats offer flexibility for fitting therapy into busy lives. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction for more nuanced emotional work, phone sessions can be a simpler option when on the go, and live chat or text-based messaging supports shorter check-ins, skill practice, or ongoing coaching between longer sessions. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care while balancing everyday responsibilities.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Anita commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and intimacy issues, trauma and abuse, anger, depression, grief, parenting and eating concerns, career changes, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and many related areas.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is warm and interactive, combining compassion with active collaboration to help clients identify goals and practical steps toward change.
What professional background supports her work?
She brings over 20 years of experience in human services, offering psychotherapy, counseling, and life coaching across a broad range of mental health concerns.
Which credentials and location apply to this therapist?
Anita holds LCPC and LPC credentials and practices from Illinois; her license details include IL LCPC 180008157 and WI LPC 3755 - 125.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are provided in English, and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are available for working together?
Clients can connect through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging according to preference and scheduling.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin therapy with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseAnger managementDepression

Also works with

Family conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersParenting issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDivorce and separationDomestic violenceFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Imago Relationship TherapyJungian TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

20+ years

Licensed

Illinois, Wisconsin

Languages

English