Marilyn Traynor

Experienced LCSW blending practical strategies and compassion

LCSW Illinois

Experience: 40 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Self esteem
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Marilyn

Marilyn Traynor is a licensed clinical social worker with 40 years of practice in Illinois who helps adults navigate intense emotional challenges and life transitions.

Background and approach

She brings long experience to work with common concerns such as depression, anxiety, grief, stress, and coping with major changes, and also addresses addictions, relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, and mood-related conditions including bipolar disorder. Her LCSW credential reflects a career focused on clinical care and supportive psychotherapy.

Her style blends empathy with practical strategies, using evidence-informed methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment-Based approaches, Client-Centered work, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Marilyn often focuses on midlife and aging concerns including caregiver stress, chronic illness and disability, and the emotional demands that come with later-life transitions.

She aims to help clients build clearer perspectives, healthier coping habits, and renewed purpose. Sessions emphasize individualized attention and collaborative planning so each person’s goals shape the therapeutic process.

Services are offered in multiple online formats and are presented with a compassionate, purposeful approach for adults seeking thoughtful, sustained support.

Integrating evidence-based approaches with flexible online care

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify unhelpful thoughts and patterns and replace them with more constructive behaviors and coping skills; it is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying personal values and developing psychological flexibility so clients can move toward meaningful goals even when uncomfortable feelings arise. Attachment-Based Therapy explores relational patterns that began in early life to improve current connections and emotional regulation, which can help with intimacy, relationship difficulties, and longstanding attachment concerns.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Marilyn works with each person to evaluate goals, preferences, and presenting concerns, then recommends or blends approaches that best fit the client's needs. The work evolves over time as progress, feedback, and life changes shape the therapeutic plan.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, allowing adults to access sessions from varied locations and schedules. These formats can make it easier to maintain consistency, try different session rhythms, and integrate therapeutic skills into day-to-day life while working with a licensed professional.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?

She works with a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, relationship and family problems, trauma and abuse, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and many related challenges.

What is her therapeutic style and approach?

Marilyn combines empathic, depth-oriented listening with practical, evidence-informed techniques such as CBT, ACT, attachment-based methods, client-centered therapy, and DBT to tailor care to each person's needs.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She brings 40 years of clinical experience delivering psychotherapy and support to adults in Illinois and beyond.

What credentials and location are listed?

She holds an LCSW and practices from Illinois; her license is recorded as IL LCSW 149006091.

Does she offer services to nonlocal or international clients?

Yes, she accepts international clients and conducts sessions with English-speaking clients from outside the United States.

Which session formats are available?

Sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.

How is cost handled for therapy sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the steps to begin working together?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Grief Self esteem Depression Coping with life changes

Also works with

AddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoachingCompassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMood disordersMulticultural concernsPanic disorder and panic attacksPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

40+ years

Licensed

Illinois

Languages

English