Julie Ekman

Julie Ekman is a licensed clinical social worker with 29 years of experience. She practices in Illinois and brings a practical, client-centered style to sessions. She focuses on common life stresses such as anxiety, work struggles, and family conflict, including feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Julie earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Denver and a Master of Arts in School Leadership from Concordia University. Much of her background comes from school social work and family therapy, with 26 years working with middle school students. That experience shaped her straightforward, down-to-earth way of talking through problems.

Her approach is holistic and strengths-based. She uses solution-focused strategies and cognitive behavioral techniques to help people identify small changes that make daily life easier. Sessions tend to center on setting practical goals and trying out skills between meetings.

Typical concerns she helps people address include stress, anxiety, self-esteem, career challenges, and coping with life transitions like divorce or midlife shifts. She also works with chronic illness and pain, communication problems, and feelings of guilt or shame.

Julie aims to treat each person with sensitivity and respect. She emphasizes collaboration - working with clients to build a plan that fits their situation. To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to her availability.

How evidence-based techniques translate to online work

Julie draws on a few core evidence-based techniques in her practice. Cognitive behavioral approaches focus on spotting thinking patterns that increase anxiety and testing new behaviors to reduce stress. This helps with panic, social anxiety, worry, and day-to-day coping.

She also uses solution-focused and strengths-based approaches that zero in on small, achievable steps. These methods are useful for career challenges, improving communication, and moving through life transitions like divorce or midlife shifts.

Finding the right mix of techniques is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to shape goals and try methods that fit their needs and preferences. Adjustments are made based on what helps in real life rather than following a fixed script.

If you prefer online sessions, confirm the specific session formats offered before booking since formats are not listed in the biography. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, support shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It can also allow for different ways of working together, such as focusing on skill practice or planning between sessions, to better match day-to-day life.