- Years in practice
- 21
- Credentials
- LCPC
- Licensed in
- Illinois
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Relationship issues
- Focus
- Family conflicts
About Myrna
Myrna Pledger is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with 21 years of experience supporting people through a wide range of life challenges. She practices from Illinois and brings a pragmatic, faith-informed perspective to conversations about stress, relationships, parenting, grief, and trauma. Myrna writes plainly and focuses on clear steps people can take to feel steadier at home and in their relationships.
She began her career working with children in school settings and shifted toward helping whole family systems when she noticed how behaviors often reflect family dynamics.
Background and approach
That early work shaped her view that many unhelpful patterns are learned and can be changed. She also brings experience helping people who have survived emotional, spiritual, or physical abuse. Myrna describes her style as truth-based, educational, and kind.
She blends cognitive-behavioral ideas with rational-emotive concepts and uses attachment-informed thinking to talk about relational patterns. Sessions focus on practical strategies, straightforward feedback, and examples of others who have moved forward. Faith is an important element for her and she integrates clients' spiritual resources when appropriate.
She avoids labels and prefers to build treatment plans around each person's unique situation and goals. Parents often seek her out for help with parenting strain, behavior concerns, and navigating family conflict. People who choose her can expect collaborative planning, clear homework when useful, and a steady focus on small, achievable changes.
She encourages questions and works at a pace that fits each person's comfort level.
What Myrna works with
Everything Myrna lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Myrna helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Depression
- Addictions
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- Avoidant personality
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Dependent personality
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Isolation / loneliness
- Multicultural concerns
- Personality disorders
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
Approaches Myrna lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Jungian Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Therapeutic approaches and online options for parenting and relationships
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that align with their values. It can be useful for anxiety, stress, and making consistent changes in family life.Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current patterns. This approach is helpful when relationship cycles, trust, or emotional distance are causing problems between caregivers and others.
Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening and creating a respectful, nonjudgmental space. It supports people who need validation while they sort out parenting choices, grief, or identity concerns.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to identify goals, try approaches that fit those goals, and adjust the plan as progress and needs become clearer.
Online sessions use video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video is useful for face-to-face conversation and teaching skills. Phone sessions can work when a quieter connection is needed or bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text-based messaging allow shorter check-ins, notes between sessions, and fits into busy days without needing to be on camera.
Questions people ask about Myrna
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, grief, parenting, relationship and intimacy-related issues, anger, self-esteem, career challenges, and compassion fatigue.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her approach is truth-based, educational, and kind, with a focus on practical steps and examples of how others have moved forward.
What is her professional background?
She trained as a community counselor and has 21 years of experience working in community and school settings, including work with children and families.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds an IL LCPC license, which stands for Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, and practices in Illinois.
Which languages and international options are available?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats does she use?
She meets via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and communication preferences.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps begin the process of working together?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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