Adara Lialios (she/her)

LCSW
Accepting Clients

I will hype you up AND lovingly call you out when necessary. I strive to create a space where you can cry, laugh & be fully you!

Clinical Social Worker in Illinois

Services
  • Individual

About My Clients

I work best with teens and adults navigating anxiety, OCD, trauma, attachment struggles, and big life transitions. Many of my clients are creatives, empaths, and people-pleasers who feel stuck in cycles of overthinking, self-doubt, or perfectionism. They’re thoughtful and self-aware, ready for real conversations and practical tools. With warmth, humor, and authenticity, I help clients understand themselves, build coping skills, and feel empowered to create meaningful change in their lives.

My Background and Approach

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with years of experience supporting clients through anxiety, OCD, trauma, attachment concerns, and life transitions. My background includes work in community mental health, OCD treatment centers, intensive outpatient programs, and private practice. These experiences have given me a deep understanding of how complex life challenges impact mental health—and how real change happens when therapy feels safe, collaborative, and practical. I combine evidence-based approaches like CBT, DBT, and ERP with a holistic, creative style that resonates with clients who value authenticity and humor. As both a therapist and a creative, I understand how sensitive, empathetic, and people-pleasing individuals can feel overwhelmed by the demands of life. My approach is warm, down-to-earth, and tailored to each person, helping clients gain insight into patterns, build confidence, and develop tools that work in everyday life so they can feel capable and understood.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I believe therapy should be a space where every part of you feels seen and respected. My values center on authenticity, inclusivity, and empowerment. I want clients to feel safe to explore who they are without judgment or shame. I believe in meeting people where they are while also encouraging growth, self compassion, and meaningful change. These beliefs shape how I show up in the therapy room: as a warm, down to earth human who genuinely cares about creating a space that celebrates your whole identity.

Techniques I Use

Specialties
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Other Techniques
  • Attachment Theory
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Holistic Therapy
  • Somatic Therapy: Body-Based Healing for Emotional Trauma
  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

Issues I Treat

Specialties
Anxiety Attachment Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Other Issues
  • Body Image Issues
  • Burnout
  • Codependency
  • Historical/ Intergenerational Trauma
  • LGBTQ-Friendly Therapists
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Relationship Issues
  • Self-Esteem
  • Women's Issues
Insurance Plans Accepted
  • Aetna
  • Cigna
  • Optum
  • United Healthcare
  • UnitedHealthcare
  • Quest Behavioral Health
  • Carelon Behavioral Health
  • United Healthcare Optum
I offer online counseling in the following states:
I have experience with the following
  • Multifaith

At A Glance

  • Experience: 4 years of practice
  • Languages: English

Reach out to Adara