CBTTherapistsUSA

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

VM Portrait of Vicki Marcum

Vicki Marcum

Compassionate, experienced LCSW guiding practical change

LCSW Illinois

Experience
40 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment-Based Therapy
Languages
English

About Vicki

Vicki Marcum is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) who brings 40 years of clinical experience to her practice. She begins from a client-centered stance, building a trusting working relationship before tailoring interventions to address each person's needs.

Background and approach

Her approach combines practical strategies with attention to emotional experience, guided by modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, and existential ideas when appropriate. Across inpatient, outpatient, crisis, school, and community settings, she has worked with people at every stage of life from children to older adults.

Her background includes work in emergency and crisis intervention, outpatient day treatment, case management, home-based programs, and independent practice. That breadth of experience informs a flexible style that moves between supportive listening and respectful challenge as clients are ready to explore change.

Vicki focuses on a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting and family issues, relationship and intimacy challenges, depression, eating and body image problems, anger, self-esteem, career transitions, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and coping with life changes and compassion fatigue.

She aims to help clients clarify goals, learn skills, and discover practical pathways forward while honoring each person’s autonomy and pace.

How Therapy Approaches Translate to Online Care



Vicki uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thought patterns and practice concrete skills for managing symptoms like anxiety, low mood, and stress. Attachment-Based Therapy is also part of her work, focusing on patterns in close relationships and helping clients explore how early bonds influence current trust, intimacy, and communication. Each approach is explained in straightforward terms and applied to everyday problems so clients can see practical benefits.

Finding the right approach is collaborative; the therapist begins with a client-centered stance to learn about goals, preferences, and concerns, and then together they select or blend techniques that best fit the work ahead. This process allows flexibility so the plan can shift as progress and understanding grow.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase access and convenience. These formats make it easier to schedule appointments around work, family, or mobility needs while still receiving care from a licensed professional. The variety of options supports different communication styles and life rhythms so clients can choose what feels most comfortable and practical.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?
She works with a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting, relationship and family matters, depression, eating and body image concerns, anger, self-esteem, career changes, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and coping with life transitions.
How would you describe the therapeutic approach and style?
The practice begins with a client-centered stance to build trust, then adapts to evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Attachment-Based methods, and Emotionally-Focused strategies according to what fits the client and the issue.
What experience does the therapist bring to sessions?
She has 40 years of clinical experience across inpatient psychiatric care, outpatient community mental health, crisis and emergency settings, school and community programs, home-based services, and independent practice.
What credentials and location are listed for the therapist?
The therapist is licensed as an LCSW with the Illinois license number IL LCSW 149008067 and practices in Illinois.
Which languages are offered and are international clients accepted?
Services are offered in English, and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available for online work?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and needs.
How is cost structured for ongoing sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working together?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Also works with

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesBlended family issuesBody imageCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDivorce and separationDomestic violenceFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersPersonality disordersPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSelf-harmSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Mindfulness TherapyNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

40+ years

Licensed

Illinois

Languages

English