Rev. Sergio Ayala, LCPC, LMHC

Rev. Sergio Ayala is a licensed clinician working in Illinois who brings a blend of clinical counseling and long experience in ministry to his practice. He holds a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling and a Master of Divinity, and he also completed Clinical Pastoral Education. With ten years of clinical experience and over fifteen years in pastoral roles, he combines practical counseling skills with a pastoral perspective. He helps people coping with stress and anxiety and addresses addictions, trauma and abuse, grief and loss, and caregiver stress related to dementia. He emphasizes that people are the experts in their own story and that their strengths matter in moving forward. He aims to offer steady support while clients take steps toward change. In sessions he uses several approaches depending on the person’s needs, including client-centered methods that focus on the person’s perspective, cognitive behavioral techniques to address unhelpful thinking and behavior, and emotionally-focused ways to look at relationship and attachment concerns. He also draws on existential and Jungian ideas when exploring meaning and deeper patterns. People seeking help for relationship or intimacy issues, anger, career shifts, chronic illness or caregiving strain may find his background relevant. He speaks English and Spanish and notes licensure in Illinois and Iowa as LCPC and LMHC. His work often centers on practical changes and clearer choices. Rev. Ayala presents therapy as a collaborative process. He supports people who want steady, compassionate guidance while they learn tools and try new ways of coping.

Approaches that guide online care

Client-centered therapy focuses on the person’s experience and priorities. It emphasizes listening, reflecting what matters to the client, and supporting the client’s own choices. This approach is helpful for people who want to feel heard and develop their own path forward.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going. It breaks challenges into small, practical steps and teaches tools to shift thinking and routine. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes.

Emotionally-Focused Therapy concentrates on emotional patterns and attachment in relationships. It helps people identify core feelings and change interaction styles in important relationships, which can reduce conflict and increase closeness.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, needs, and preferences, and will adapt methods accordingly. Clients and the therapist collaborate to try approaches and adjust what isn’t helping.

The online arrangement can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life and keep regular contact while working through stress, grief, addiction concerns, or caregiver strain. The original profile does not specify which online session formats are used, so confirm current session options before booking. Many people appreciate online therapy for shorter check-ins, easier scheduling around work or caregiving, and access when travel is difficult.