Julie Setnan , LCSW

Julie Setnan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1995. As an LCSW she has formal training to deliver clinical social work services and combines that professional foundation with a lifetime of practical experience and personal insight. Over the years she has developed a reputation for attentive listening, an optimistic outlook, and consistent compassion in her work with others.

Julie focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, self-esteem challenges, and life transitions, and she also supports clients coping with grief, parenting difficulties, anger, depression, and compassion fatigue. Additional areas of attention include codependency, communication problems, family of origin issues, guilt and shame, loneliness, and issues affecting veterans and men. Her clinical toolbox draws on client-centered methods, cognitive behavioral strategies, emotionally focused approaches, EMDR techniques, and elements of the Gottman Method to address a wide range of emotional and interpersonal struggles.

She approaches therapy as a collaborative process, acknowledging the courage it takes to begin introspective work and valuing continued learning in her practice. Julie checks messages periodically during weekdays and typically responds within 24 to 48 hours. She offers weekly sessions that can be conducted via video, phone, or live chat during several weekday afternoons, and she aims to create a respectful, understanding space for people to process the issues they bring.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Julie draws on client-centered therapy to create a respectful, empathetic environment where the client's priorities guide the work; this approach emphasizes understanding the client's experience and supporting self-directed growth. She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help people identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, which can be useful for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. When relationship dynamics are central, emotionally focused therapy (EFT) offers tools to explore emotions and attachment patterns to improve connection and communication.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the therapeutic process, and Julie works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques over time as progress and insights emerge.

Online therapy with Julie can include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to fit regular sessions into busy lives, maintain continuity during transitions, and access support from a licensed professional without requiring in-person visits.