Rev. Sergio Ayala, LCPC, LMHC

Rev. Sergio Ayala is a licensed counselor practicing in Illinois who brings a combined background in mental health counseling and ministry to his work. He holds a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling and a Master of Divinity, and he has around 10 years of clinical experience alongside over 15 years in ministerial practice. He speaks English and Spanish and aims to make therapy approachable and practical for everyday life.

He focuses on stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, and depression. He also helps with relationship and intimacy-related issues, anger, career transitions, and coping with life changes. His additional interests include caregiver stress, attachment and abandonment concerns, chronic illness and pain, codependency, and divorce and separation.

Sessions emphasize the client’s knowledge of their own story. He uses client-centered methods to listen and reflect, and he draws on cognitive behavioral tools to address unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Emotionally-focused ideas and existential and Jungian perspectives inform deeper conversations about meaning and patterns.

His approach is supportive and practical. He helps people break worries into manageable steps and try changes that fit daily life. He encourages clients to notice strengths and build on small successes.

Rev. Ayala has Illinois licensure as an LCPC and Iowa licensure as an LMHC. He accepts international clients and works in English and Spanish. Prospective clients should confirm session formats and scheduling details before booking.

How therapeutic approaches guide online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the client's experience and priorities. The therapist listens, reflects, and follows the client's lead to help them notice strengths and make changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It offers practical tools to test unhelpful thoughts and try new coping strategies, which can be useful for anxiety, mood, and stress-related concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. That choice can shift over time as new issues surface or progress is made, and the process is meant to feel joint and adaptive.

The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy day and reduce travel time. It also allows for shorter check-ins when schedules are tight, and for working without being on camera when that feels better. Licensed professionals can use these flexible arrangements to help clients apply what they learn in real life and track changes between sessions.