Deborah Drlich

LCSW, QMHP
Accepting Clients

Experienced LCSW offering online therapy in IL & IN for anxiety, depression, burnout, and life transitions 20+ years- calm grounded approach

Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Chicago, IL

Services

About My Clients

You might be juggling too much and running on empty. Maybe anxiety has become your baseline, or depression has made small tasks feel heavy. Perhaps a career shift, relationship change, or life transition has left you questioning what comes next. My ideal clients are adults who are ready to feel better but aren't sure where to start. You don't need to be in crisis to deserve support. Functional but struggling, tired but self-aware — we're probably a good fit.

My Background and Approach

With over 20 years as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I've worked across community mental health, residential care, and clinical oversight of crisis services — giving me a broad perspective on what people struggle with and what genuinely helps. I practice from an integrative framework, drawing on mindfulness-based, solution-focused, and strengths-based approaches. Therapy is tailored to you — not a rigid protocol. We'll identify what's getting in the way, build on what's working, and develop tools that fit your real life. I specialize in anxiety, depression, burnout, and life transitions with adults who are functioning but feeling stuck. My style is calm, direct, and collaborative. I won't tell you what to do — but I will help you get clearer on what you want and how to get there. Therapy works best when it feels like a good fit. I bring consistency, clinical depth, and a nonjudgmental presence to every session.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I believe mental health care should be accessible to everyone — not just those who can afford a premium price tag. That belief has driven my career from community settings serving underserved populations to crisis line oversight, and into private practice where I work to keep fees reasonable and barriers low. I'm a strong advocate for suicide prevention and mental health awareness, and I've spent a significant part of my career ensuring people in crisis have someone steady on the other end of the line. Outside of work, I'm an animal lover through and through — I share my home with two dogs who remind me daily that unconditional presence is its own kind of therapy. I believe the relationship between humans and animals says a lot about a person's capacity for empathy, and I bring that same warmth into my clinical work. If you've ever felt like therapy wasn't "for someone like you," I'd challenge that. Everyone deserves a space to be heard.

Insurance Plans Accepted
  • Cigna
  • United Healthcare
I offer online counseling in the following states:

At A Glance

  • Experience: 26 years of practice
  • Languages: English
  • Rate: $80 - 150/session

Reach out to Deborah