Find a therapist in Illinois — covered by insurance

I began working broadly in this field nearly 30 years ago and became a licensed clinical social worker 20 years ago. Along with completing a masters degree in social work from the University of Illinois, Chicago, I hold a masters degree in fine art in drawing and painting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. I believe these areas of study have come to inform my practice in obvious and sometimes less obvious ways.

I began my private practice in 2014 specializing in a harm reduction and moderation as apt responses to problematic substance use, as defined by those seeking my help.

Largely in response to the evolving relationships with my clients and referrals that often came in for friends and family of previous clients, I've come to work with trauma survivors, people identifying difficulty establishing stable relationships in social and professional settings, and people addressing loneliness and mood dysregulation.

Sometimes you can look like you're holding everything together while quietly feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or exhausted. You may spend so much energy taking care of work, family, or everyone around you that there's very little left for yourself. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone.

I work with adults navigating anxiety, ADHD, panic, trauma, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. My goal is to provide a warm, supportive space where you can slow down, better understand what's contributing to your stress, and build practical tools that help you feel calmer, more confident, and more connected to yourself.

I help adults navigate anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, stress, and the effects of trauma so they can feel more balanced, confident, and in control of their lives. If you feel overwhelmed, stuck, or like the patterns in your life are no longer working, therapy can help you gain clarity, recognize your strengths, and create meaningful change. You don’t have to figure it all out alone.

My passion for being a therapist comes from a life-long dream I had of helping people transition from a difficult time in their life to a life that can become full of joy again. I work with clients who are experiencing the loss of a loved one or the loss of a job, dreams, divorce and other challenges. I also work with women who have postpartum depression, a traumatic pregnancy or birth and recovery. I also work with clients who are suffering from anxiety and depression that can stop us from living the best life we can. Life is hard, can give you challenges, questions the meaning of life, can make you angry, bitter and hard to get through each day.

I know what you are going through, what you are feeling and what you are ignoring. I write about this from personal experience from the many losses I have had in my life—my daughter, siblings, parents and many friends. Grieving takes time and, in the beginning, we’re consumed with the details: wakes, funerals, memorial services. This can feel like it’s giving us a purpose, keeping busy, honoring our loved one. But what happens when the service is over? Friends and family have gone home, they’re living their lives and we’re left with our memories and our grief. A question I often hear is how can I begin my life without my loved one?

I have a fundamental belief in the transformative power of therapy. I come to this belief not just as a practicing therapist but as someone who was profoundly shaped by therapy as a young man. Having started my own journey with doubt and hesitation, I deeply respect the courage it takes to begin this work. Talking about therapy can feel tricky as jargon and platitudes often dominate the conversation. What I can say is this: I believe in your capacity—within a therapeutic relationship that intuitively feels right to you—to become a better version of yourself defined on your own terms.

I've spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of trauma, behavioral health, substance use, and the legal system — the places where people's lives get the most complicated. My background includes community mental health, child welfare, residential treatment, and forensic social work throughout the Chicago area. I've worked with courts, directed multi-site programs, and served populations that most therapists don't encounter. Now I bring all of that experience into one-on-one telehealth sessions for adults across Illinois.I work best with people who have been through real complexity: trauma that runs deep, co-occurring mental health and substance use challenges, grief that doesn't follow a timeline, life disrupted by legal system involvement, or histories that are hard to explain to someone who hasn't seen it before. If you've worked with other therapists who didn't quite get it — I understand, and I'm not starting from scratch with you. I'm also currently completing my Doctorate of Social Work at the University of New England, which reflects my commitment to staying at the leading edge of clinical practice. My work is grounded in evidence-based approaches — CBT, Trauma-Focused CBT, Motivational Interviewing, Strength-Based Therapy — applied with warmth, directness, and 30 years of real-world experience behind them.

I bring over a decade of professional experience to therapy along with my own life experiences, empathy, understanding, and hopefully a little humor along the way.

While my license is as a Marriage and Family Therapist, I strive to live my own life as authentically and intentionally as I can as a parent, family member, and friend; and I bring those same values into the therapy room.

I believe every person has a story worth telling and deserves to feel heard without judgment. It is truly an honor to witness the strength and resilience my clients possess, and I never take for granted the trust they place in me by allowing me to be part of their journey.

1. I am a clinical psychologist having worked in hospitals, private practices, teaching in universities including the University of Chicago School of Medicine. I also consulted with rehabilitation centers and nursing homes here in Illinois. My work included a wide range of ages but I specialize with seniors and how their lives changed over the years. Yes, you guessed it. I am a senior too so I know what it is all about.

Kendra Cornett, LCSW, BFA, is a Licensed Clinical Social

Worker, dancer, yoga instructor, wellness educator. I have 25 years years

experience with diverse populations and ages 5-65. I specialize in trauma, anxiety, burn out, life transitions and life transitions.