- Evidence-based techniques
- Focus on strengths
- Practical coping skills
About Julie
Julie Ekman is a licensed clinical social worker with 29 years of professional experience. She draws on practical, evidence-based techniques and a straightforward style to help people manage stress, anxiety, and panic-related concerns. Julie keeps sessions focused on clear goals and next steps so families and individuals can see progress over time.
Her background includes extensive work in schools and family settings, with many years supporting middle school students and their caregivers. That experience informs a calm, patient approach that values strengths and small, steady changes. She also holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Denver and a Master of Arts in School Leadership from Concordia University.
Julie uses a holistic, client-centered method that blends strengths-based, solution-focused, and cognitive behavioral techniques. In practice that means identifying what already works, testing small changes, and teaching practical skills for day-to-day coping. She helps people with communication problems, career stress, and transitions such as divorce or midlife shifts.
Additional focus areas include chronic pain and illness, self-esteem, isolation, and workplace issues. Julie pays attention to emotions like guilt, shame, and forgiveness and supports people working through those topics. Her aim is to build a plan that suits each person's life and goals.
She offers therapy in Illinois and conducts sessions in English. To begin, prospective clients follow the site's Start Therapy process to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
How evidence-based techniques work online
Julie commonly draws on cognitive behavioral approaches and strengths-based, solution-focused work. Cognitive behavioral methods help people notice thoughts and behaviors that keep anxiety and panic going, and then practice small experiments to change them. Strengths-based and solution-focused work highlights what is already helping and builds simple, usable steps toward goals.Finding the right approach is part of the process. Julie treats therapy as a collaboration and will help you decide which techniques match your needs and preferences. Together you set goals, try approaches, and adjust the plan based on what helps you feel more in control.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow brief check-ins when schedules are tight. It can also let people work with a licensed professional in Illinois from different locations within the state, while the therapist and client focus on practical skills for managing panic, anxiety, and everyday stress.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
29+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems can Julie help with?
She helps people manage stress, anxiety, panic disorder and panic attacks, and related concerns like self-esteem and life transitions.
What is her therapy style like?
Julie uses a client-centered approach that combines strengths-based, solution-focused, and cognitive behavioral techniques to teach practical coping skills.
How much experience does she have?
She has 29 years of experience in social work, including long-term work in school and family settings.
Where is Julie licensed and based?
She is an Illinois LCSW and practices in Illinois.
Which languages are supported during sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What is the first step to begin therapy?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.