April Balzhiser, LCPC

April Balzhiser is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) based in Illinois who helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, grief, and issues around intimacy. She also supports those dealing with trauma and abuse, addiction concerns, bipolar disorder, and self-esteem struggles. April writes simply and listens first to understand each person’s situation.

April draws on nearly two decades of experience in social services and mental health. She has worked in settings that included domestic violence support, sexual assault services, child welfare and foster care, and alternative schooling. That background means she is familiar with practical challenges families and individuals often face.

In sessions she focuses on meeting clients where they are. Conversations are meant to feel open and nonjudgmental, so people can talk through what matters most. April combines active listening with clear strategies to help people manage symptoms and make steps forward.

Her work includes a mix of talking and skill-building. Techniques from cognitive behavioral approaches and mindfulness are used alongside therapy that centers the client’s perspective. When needed, she draws on motivational interviewing and dialectical behavior approaches to strengthen coping and communication.

People who want to start will be guided through a simple connection process and scheduling. April aims to help clients clarify goals and take practical steps toward better daily functioning and relationships.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding a person’s experience. In practice this means the therapist follows the client’s lead, reflects concerns back, and helps the client set meaningful goals. It is useful for relationship problems, grief, and when someone needs a nonjudgmental space to talk.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact. CBT uses simple exercises and homework to change unhelpful thinking and reduce anxiety or depressive symptoms. It can be helpful for stress, anxiety, and coping with life changes.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, teaches practical skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and better interpersonal communication. Those skills often help with relationship conflicts, impulse control, and managing intense emotions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to pick methods that match their goals and preferences. That process may include trying different techniques and adjusting what is used over time.

Confirm the therapist's current session options before booking, since specific formats are not listed in the profile. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, shorten travel time, and allow for quick check-ins during a work break or between errands. Therapists can adapt exercises, homework, and skill practice so they work in remote sessions as well.