Shobana Shanmugavelayutham

Practical, strengths-focused therapy for life challenges

LCPC Illinois

Experience: 5 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Shobana

Shobana Shanmugavelayutham is an Illinois-licensed clinician (LCPC) with five years of experience supporting people through a wide range of life challenges.

Background and approach

She brings a strengths-focused perspective, helping clients draw on their own knowledge and resilience to address concerns such as stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem and depression, as well as addictions, anger, family difficulties, coping with life changes, and ADHD. Her work also includes hospice and end-of-life counseling, immigration-related matters, and multicultural concerns.

Shobana emphasizes collaboration and empowerment, inviting clients to explore what matters most to them while offering practical tools and coping strategies. She integrates evidence-informed approaches to tailor care to each person’s needs, and she aims to create a respectful environment where clients can build confidence and make meaningful changes.

Whether someone seeks short-term support for a specific problem or longer-term work to develop lasting skills, she offers adaptable guidance grounded in clinical experience and a compassionate outlook.

Approach-focused care available online

Shobana commonly integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in her online work. CBT helps identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, making it useful for anxiety, depression, and stress-related difficulties. ACT emphasizes clarifying values and building psychological flexibility so clients can take meaningful action even when uncomfortable feelings are present.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Shobana explores a client’s goals, preferences, and life circumstances and then recommends strategies and interventions that align with those priorities. She adjusts methods over time so the work remains relevant and effective for each person.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which allow for flexible scheduling and access from different locations. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives and to continue work between sessions using brief messages or chat when needed.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Shobana address?

She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, depression, addictions, family issues, anger, coping with life changes, and ADHD, and also focuses on hospice and end-of-life counseling, immigration issues, and multicultural concerns.

What therapeutic approaches shape her style?

Her practice draws on several evidence-informed approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Emotionally-Focused Therapy to tailor work to client needs.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has five years of professional experience providing mental health support in Illinois and related practice areas.

What are her credentials and where is she licensed?

She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with licence IL LCPC 180.012070 practicing in Illinois.

Does she work with clients who live outside the United States?

Yes, she accepts international clients and provides services to people outside the U.S.

Which session formats are available?

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

How are fees and payments handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are arranged 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 sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Grief Self esteem Depression

Also works with

AddictionsFamily conflictsAnger managementCoping with life changes ADHD

Additional focus areas

Hospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesMulticultural concerns

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)

Experience

5+ years

Licensed

Illinois

Languages

English