April Balzhiser

April Balzhiser is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with 18 years of experience. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, depression, addictions, grief, intimacy issues, and questions about life changes and purpose.

April draws on straightforward conversational work to help people untangle what feels stuck. Sessions often focus on practical skills, clearer communication, and steps people can try between meetings. She uses familiar methods such as cognitive behavioral ideas, mindfulness practices, motivational interviewing, and client-centered ways of working to guide that practical focus.

Her background includes long experience in social services and mental health settings. That work involved domestic violence response, sexual assault support, child welfare and foster care, alternative schooling, and related family issues. Those roles shaped how she talks about safety, boundaries, and next steps in everyday life.

In sessions she aims to match the approach to the person’s needs and goals. That might mean short-term coaching-style work around decisions and life purpose, or longer conversations about attachment, grief, or trauma. Expect direct discussion, concrete tools, and follow-up between sessions when helpful.

April works in Illinois and conducts therapy in English. To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session using the online booking flow. Fees vary by location and use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How her approaches translate to online sessions

April often combines client-centered work with cognitive behavioral techniques. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and responding to what matters most to the person, which helps clarify goals and priorities. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behaviors and offers concrete exercises to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and address stuck patterns.

She may also use Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance when strong emotions or relationship conflict get in the way. These approaches are presented in straightforward, practical terms so people can try small experiments between sessions and notice what changes.

Finding the right approach is part of the work itself. April will collaborate with each person to decide which combination of methods fits their goals and day-to-day life. That conversation guides how sessions are structured and what homework or skills practice will be suggested.

Session format options are not specified in the biography, so confirm current session choices before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit meetings into busy schedules, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, and reduce travel time. Those practical benefits help people keep therapy consistent while balancing work, family, and other responsibilities.