Patti Hampsten , LCPC

Patti Hampsten holds a Master’s degree in clinical psychology and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Illinois. She began her career as an addictions counselor and developed broad experience working in community mental health, where varied roles helped her build practical skills across multiple client needs.

She is currently part of a private practice group and provides clinical supervision for local problem-solving court programs, including participants in drug court, mental health court, and veterans court. Those roles reflect a long-standing commitment to working with people facing complex challenges and to supporting systems that address addiction and behavioral health needs.

Patti’s approach centers on acceptance and validation - acknowledging where a person is without judgment and exploring the understandable motivations behind behaviors. She typically begins with a client-centered stance and uses motivational interviewing to help people identify change goals. From there she tailors treatment to each person’s aims, drawing commonly on cognitive behavioral strategies, solution-focused techniques, dialectical behavior approaches, and other skills-building methods.

Her style is casual and inviting, designed to help individuals feel comfortable discussing difficult topics and to leave each session having received compassionate care and practical tools for coping and growth.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Patti commonly integrates client-centered therapy, motivational interviewing, and cognitive behavioral therapy into her work. Client-centered therapy focuses on creating a respectful, nonjudgmental space where a therapist reflects and supports a person’s own goals - it is often helpful for building trust, addressing self-esteem, and navigating life changes. Motivational interviewing is a collaborative, goal-oriented method that helps people explore ambivalence about change and strengthen their own motivation - it is frequently used with addictions, readiness for change, and behavior shifts. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) offers practical techniques to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and develop new coping skills - it can be effective for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns.

Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. Patti works with clients and licensed professionals to identify what fits a person’s needs, goals, and preferences, adapting methods as progress unfolds so therapy stays focused and relevant.

Online therapy options - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - make scheduling more flexible and allow consistent access across distances. These formats support ongoing skill practice and make it easier to integrate therapy into busy lives, while allowing therapists to tailor interaction style and pace to each client.