About Tonia
Tonia Short uses a client-centered approach to help people untangle what feels overwhelming. She is a licensed clinical social worker with 15 years of experience and holds the LCSW credential. Her style is straightforward and supportive.
She helps clients find practical ways forward when life feels stuck. She draws on client-centered Therapy to place the person's priorities first. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used to spot unhelpful thinking and try new behaviors.
How Tonia works
Mindfulness techniques help slow racing thoughts and improve sleep. Solution-focused work keeps sessions practical and goal-oriented. Tonia has worked with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and addiction.
She also supports those dealing with trauma, intimacy concerns, parenting strain, career uncertainty, and issues related to self-esteem and anger. Additional focus areas include chronic illness, caregiver stress, aging and geriatric concerns, and end-of-life and hospice counseling. Tonia emphasizes collaboration.
She treats each person as the expert on their life and builds on existing strengths. Sessions aim to set small, achievable steps and adjust approaches when needed. Work is offered in English and delivered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Tonia is licensed to practice in Illinois and holds the LCSW credential. Starting therapy involves a short matching questionnaire and scheduling based on availability.
Tonia lists 4 ways of working on the entry:
What Tonia works with
The areas below are the ones Tonia selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
Also listed
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Cancer
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family conflicts
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Parenting issues
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Sleeping disorders
- Trauma and abuse
- Women's issues
Training and background
| Register | LCSW |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 15 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Illinois |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
How client-centered and skills-based therapy works online
Client-centered Therapy focuses on the person's priorities and strengths. Sessions start with the client's concerns and move at a pace they set, which helps when coping with grief, life changes, or relationship stress.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and tries practical changes. It is useful for anxiety, depression, sleep issues, and managing mood swings by teaching concrete coping strategies.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate to identify which methods fit best for a person's goals, needs, and preferences, and will adjust strategies over time if something is not working.
Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect. Video calls are good for face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier to fit into a work break. Live chat and text-based messaging let people check in between sessions or choose shorter, frequent contacts. These options make it simpler to keep continuity of care and tailor how therapy fits into daily life.
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Common questions
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A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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