- Depression and anxiety
- Caregiver stress
- Communication skills
About Marikay
Marikay Gazda is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 35 years of experience. She works with adults facing depression, anxiety, grief, and major life changes. She also focuses on stress related to caregiving, self-esteem, relationship concerns, and questions about life purpose.
She often sees people coping with aging, chronic illness, or cancer and supports those dealing with isolation or end-of-life issues. Sessions combine practical skills and open conversation to address panic, attachment wounds, and caregiver strain. Marikay helps people build self-love and improve communication step by step.
Her style draws on Client-Centered and Solution-Focused methods to keep sessions focused and respectful of each person’s goals. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and Emotionally-Focused Therapy when relational patterns need attention. Psychodynamic ideas inform exploration of how past experiences shape current feelings.
In therapy with her, people can expect calm, direct conversation and work on short-term goals alongside longer exploration when needed. She helps clients develop coping strategies for chronic pain, grief, and feelings of emptiness. Practical tools and clearer communication skills are common outcomes of their work together.
Marikay’s background includes decades of clinical practice with older adults and people facing serious health concerns. Her experience informs how she helps clients navigate transitions, reconcile guilt and shame, and consider what matters next. To begin, prospective clients are asked to complete the site’s matching questionnaire and schedule an initial session.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting so people can identify what matters to them. It helps when someone feels unsure about next steps or wants a calmer way to talk through decisions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions; it is useful for anxiety, panic, and depressive patterns because it produces clear steps to try between sessions. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) looks at emotional responses and patterns in close relationships and can help people change how they respond when they feel hurt or disconnected.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Marikay collaborates with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and daily life. That decision can change over time as needs shift, and she adjusts the focus based on what the client wants to address and what proves helpful in sessions.
Confirm the specific session formats before booking since the biography does not list them. Online work can make it easier to schedule shorter check-ins, fit sessions around medical appointments, or avoid travel on difficult days. Many people find remote sessions help maintain continuity of care during life changes, while still allowing for practical skill practice and relational work done in conversation.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
35+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with depression, anxiety, grief, stress from caregiving, self-esteem issues, relationship concerns, and questions about life purpose.
How does she approach feeling stuck or directionless?
Her work blends client-centered conversation with practical, solution-focused steps. She also uses CBT to challenge unhelpful thoughts and EFT when emotional patterns affect relationships.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She brings 35 years of clinical practice to her work, including long-term experience with aging, chronic illness, and end-of-life counseling.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker, listed as LCSW, and practices from Illinois.
In which language are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Does she work with international clients?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.