Marcelo Gonzalez

Marcelo Gonzalez is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with 10 years of experience helping people navigate life changes and questions about purpose. He works with adults facing stress, anxiety, career doubts, relationship and intimacy concerns, and questions about identity and self-esteem.

He explains things plainly and focuses on practical next steps. Sessions often involve looking at daily habits, unhelpful thinking patterns, and small actions that can shift how someone feels. Marcelo uses techniques from cognitive behavioral approaches alongside mindfulness and acceptance-based ideas to help people notice what matters to them and test new ways of acting.

Marcelo also brings a client-centered stance. That means listening closely to how a person describes their life and preferences, then using motivational interviewing to help clarify goals and increase motivation for change. He pays attention to how culture, sexuality, immigration, and other parts of identity affect someone's choices and stressors.

People who feel stuck after a job change, are questioning life purpose, or feel isolated often find the work focused and practical. Marcelo can talk through relationship openings like polyamory and kink culture, and he addresses HIV/AIDs-related concerns and issues around prejudice and discrimination.

Sessions aim to be straightforward and action-oriented. Prospective clients choose a matching questionnaire to start, then schedule a first session to begin figuring out concrete next steps together.

How his approaches translate to online sessions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice their values and take small, committed actions even when difficult thoughts or feelings appear. It can be useful for career doubts, life purpose questions, and getting unstuck from avoidance patterns.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and testing new behaviors. It provides concrete exercises to reduce anxiety, manage stress, and change routines that get in the way of goals.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and reflecting what the client says so they can better understand their own choices. It pairs well with motivational interviewing to clarify goals and build motivation for change.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Marcelo will collaborate with each person to pick techniques that fit their goals, preferences, and life situation rather than prescribing a single method.

Confirm which session formats are offered before booking, as the profile does not list specific formats. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, and remove travel time so sessions can be scheduled around work or family obligations.