Luanne Maniacek, LCSW

Luanne Maniacek is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with decades of experience helping people facing stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, grief, and life transitions. She focuses on practical steps that help people move forward and build on what already works in their lives. Luanne is based in Illinois and speaks English.

Her work centers on identifying strengths and creating new skills to meet current challenges. She uses a client-centered, interpersonal approach and draws on cognitive behavioral techniques and acceptance-based ideas when they fit the situation. Motivational interviewing is part of how she talks with people who are weighing change, especially around substance use.

Luanne has long experience in community mental health settings, supervising graduate-level clinicians, and participating on crisis intervention teams. That background shapes a direct but supportive style that balances empathy with challenge. She listens closely to what’s said and what’s not said to help uncover useful steps forward.

When addiction is part of the picture, she supports either a disease model or harm-reduction approach depending on what will help a person most. She also helps with caregiver stress, codependency, isolation and issues that often come with aging and geriatric concerns. Her focus includes mood disorders, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting questions, career stress, and coping with major life changes.

People who work with Luanne can expect ongoing discussion of goals and progress. She emphasizes clear communication about what is working and what needs adjusting as therapy continues.

Therapeutic approaches and how they translate to online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without letting them dictate action, then clarifying values and taking committed steps toward those values. It can be useful for anxiety, chronic stress, and navigating life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns, which helps with mood problems, anxiety, and coping strategies. Motivational Interviewing is a conversational method for people considering change; it helps strengthen motivation and resolve ambivalence, often used when addressing substance use or other behavior change.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will collaborate with each person to find what fits best based on goals, history, and personal preference. That means trying methods, checking progress, and adjusting when needed so the work stays useful.

Session formats are not specified in the provided biography, so please confirm current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life - for example, by reducing travel time, allowing a shorter check-in during a break, or offering an option when in-person travel is difficult. Licensed professionals can use these formats to provide consistent, goal-focused care while helping clients apply skills in their everyday routines.