Mark Mikyska

Compassionate CBT-informed therapy for life challenges

LCPC Illinois

Experience: 18 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Existential Therapy
Languages: English

About Mark

Mark Mikyska is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) practicing in Illinois who integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with a compassionate, client-centered stance.

Background and approach

With 18 years of experience as a therapist and crisis worker in the Chicago area, he has supported people facing depression, anxiety, family conflict, trauma and emotional abuse, and a broad range of other concerns including addictions, grief, and bipolar mood challenges.

He brings practical skills and evidence-informed techniques to help clients manage stress, improve sleep, rebuild self-esteem, and navigate major life changes. His style is warm and interactive, emphasizing respect, sensitivity, and collaborative problem solving.

Mark draws on mindfulness practices, psychodynamic insight, trauma-focused methods, existential questioning, and internal family systems ideas to tailor treatment to each person’s needs. He encourages clients to develop tools they can use independently and to build resilience over time.

For people ready to pursue growth and greater well-being, he offers steady support and guidance through the therapeutic process.

Integrating Evidence-Based Approaches in Online Therapy

Mark uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify unhelpful thinking patterns and develop practical skills for managing anxiety, depression, stress, and behavioral concerns. CBT focuses on changing thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning.

He also incorporates mindfulness therapy, teaching present-moment awareness and stress-reduction practices that can support emotional regulation, sleep, and coping with pain or chronic stress. Mindfulness techniques are often paired with other interventions to strengthen resilience.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist works with clients to clarify goals, consider preferences, and adapt methods over time so treatment remains relevant and responsive to changing needs.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexible access to care. These formats make it easier to fit regular work on therapeutic goals into busy schedules and to maintain continuity of support when in-person meetings are not practical.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does this therapist address?

Mark works with a wide range of concerns listed in his profile, including stress, anxiety, depression, family and relationship issues, trauma and abuse, addictions, grief, bipolar disorder, and related topics such as sleep problems and parenting challenges.

What therapeutic approaches does he use in sessions?

He combines several approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness therapy, psychodynamic therapy, trauma-focused therapy, existential therapy, and internal family systems to match interventions to client needs.

How long has he been practicing?

He has 18 years of experience working as a therapist and crisis worker in the Chicago area, bringing long-term clinical experience to his practice.

Where is he licensed to practice?

He holds an LCPC license in Illinois; the credential listed is IL LCPC 180008022 and he practices in Illinois.

Does he offer services in other languages or to international clients?

Sessions are offered in English, and he is not currently accepting international clients.

What session formats are available for online care?

Clients may connect through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on scheduling and preferences.

How is pricing handled for sessions?

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

How do I begin working with him?

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, AnxietyFamily conflictsTrauma and abuse Self esteem Depression

Also works with

AddictionsRelationship issuesGriefIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changes Compassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDissociationDomestic violenceEmptinessFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shame Isolation / lonelinessLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disorders Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacks Phobias Post-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyPsychodynamic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

18+ years

Licensed

Illinois

Languages

English