Online Therapy in Missouri & Illinois for People Who Want More Than Just Talking
Real-World Support to Get Sh*t Done
You look like you have it together. You're just tired of pretending you do.
For high achievers, parents, teens 16+, college students, LGBTQ+ adults, and couples in Illinois who are handling everything and quietly running on empty. Every session ends with a next step and practical tools you can actually use this week.
Therapy and coaching in English and Spanish across Missouri and Illinois. Book a free 15-minute consultation or chat. No pressure, no prep needed.
Not sure who to choose? Tell us what's going on and we'll suggest the therapist who fits best.
Sound familiar? Start here.
Anxiety, Stress, Burnout & Depression
When your brain won't turn off and even rest feels like a task.
Trauma & PTSD
When the past keeps showing up in the present.
ADHD, Neurodivergence & Executive Functioning
When you're smart and capable and still can't make yourself start.
Identity, Self-Esteem & Life Transitions
When you're not sure who you are right now.
LGBTQ+ & Relationship Diversity
A space where you never have to explain or defend who you are.
Couples, Communication & Intimacy
When you love each other but keep having the same fight.
Attachment, Boundaries & Relationship Patterns
When you always end up over-giving, over-explaining, or over it.
Therapy in Spanish (Terapia en Español)
Therapy with someone who understands your language and your culture. / Terapia con alguien que entiende tu idioma y tu cultura.
Teens, Young Adults & College Students
When growing up feels like too much, all at once.
Motherhood, Parenting & Family Support
When you take care of everyone and no one's taking care of you.
High Achievers, Leaders & Professionals
When success looks good on paper and feels heavy in real life.
Things people often tell us they said to themselves
before reaching out
On burnout and anxiety“I should be able to handle this.”
“I’m exhausted, but my brain won’t shut off.”
On relationships“We keep having the same fight. Word for word.”
“I know why I do this. I just can’t stop.”
On asking for help“It’s probably not bad enough for therapy.”
If any of those landed, you're not broken and you're not behind. You're overloaded, and that's something we can work on.
Imagine a Tuesday that doesn't feel like survival mode
You finish the workday without replaying every conversation on the drive home.
You say "not right now" without a three-day guilt spiral.
You feel like yourself again. Not the version that performs for everyone else.
Therapy here isn't forever. It starts weekly or every other week, then spaces out as the tools start working. The goal is you, handling life on your own terms.
What therapy at CLS actually looks like
Most people come to us after trying to think their way out of it. Insight helps, but on its own it rarely changes how a Tuesday feels. Your first session maps out what's going on and what you want to be different. From there, we use methods with research behind them, explained in plain words: cognitive behavioral therapy (rethinking the thoughts that keep you stuck), acceptance and commitment therapy (making room for hard feelings while you do what matters), and the Gottman Method for couples.
Online, so it fits your life
Therapy from your couch, your car, or your lunch break, anywhere in Missouri or Illinois. Early morning, evening, and Sunday availability.
A real person who gets it
Collaborative, occasionally funny, never judgy. LGBTQ+ affirming and culturally responsive, in English or Spanish.
Something to try between sessions
One small, specific step each week, like a script for a hard conversation or a routine that makes starting easier.
Services
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Services *
Therapy
For teens (16+), college students, and adults who are ready for more than venting. In English or Spanish, anywhere in Missouri or Illinois.
Coaching & Consulting
ADHD coaching, parent coaching, leadership and executive coaching, and support for mission-driven teams. Coaching isn't therapy, so it's available in any state.
Clinical Supervision
LPC supervision and LCSW supervision for pre-licensed clinicians in Missouri and Illinois.
Couples & Relationships
For partners stuck in the same loop, and for individuals ready to break old relationship patterns. Couples therapy is currently available to Illinois residents.
Meet your therapists
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![Cassandra Sissom, wearing a teal top, smiling, holding a green mug, standing in an indoor setting.]()
Cassandra Sissom, LCPC, LPC
Owner, Clinical Director & Therapist
I work with burned-out high-achievers, executives, first and oldest daughters, and formerly gifted adults who are tired of performing and ready for something real. Insightful, candid, and grounded.
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![Carolina Dolan-Dominguez, wearing a beige top with a v-neck, gold hoop earrings, and a delicate gold necklace, with blurred greenery in the background.]()
Carolina Dolan-Dominguez, LCSW
Bilingual Therapist
I work with teens, college students, young adults, and parents navigating anxiety, ADHD, burnout, and identity, with warmth and without judgment. Structured, compassionate, and practical.
Trabajo con adolescentes, estudiantes universitarios, jóvenes adultos y padres que se enfrentan a problemas de ansiedad, TDAH, agotamiento e identidad, siempre con calidez y sin juzgar. Estructurada, compasiva y práctica.
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![Nicole McSuhm, LCSW, couples and individual therapist in Illinois]()
Nicole McSuhm, LCSW
Couples & Individual Therapist (Illinois)
I work with couples and individuals navigating relationship patterns, trauma, and LGBTQ+ identity. If you've spent years figuring out the "why," I help you figure out what's next. Direct, pattern-focused, and strengths-based.
How to get started.
1Book a free 15-minute consult
A no-pressure vibe check. Not sure who to choose? Tell us what's going on and we'll suggest the therapist who fits best. Ask anything and see if it feels like a fit. No prep, no paperwork. We reply within one business day, and most new clients start within one to two weeks.
2
Get a plan that fits your life
Your first session is about the real picture: what's going on, who's involved, and what you want to change. Then we map out how we'll tackle it together.
3
Build skills that stick
Each session ends with one thing to try this week. As it starts working, we meet less often. That's the plan, not a breakup.
Wondering about cost? We're in-network with most major insurance plans, and we'll verify your benefits before your first session.
See insurance and rates →
CLS at a glance
Where: Online by secure video, anywhere in Missouri & Illinois. Based in Edwardsville, IL.
Who you'll see: 3 licensed therapists (LCPC, LPC, LCSW). Cassandra and Carolina are licensed in both states. Nicole is licensed in Illinois.
Who we see: Adults, teens 16+, and parents. Couples therapy in Illinois.
Languages: English and Spanish.
Sessions: 53 minutes, usually weekly or every other week at first. Early morning, evening, and Sunday times.
Cost: In-network with most major insurance plans; we verify your benefits first. Self-pay $150 per session ($200 for the first session), with reduced rates of $70 to $100 when cost is a barrier. See services and fees →
Getting in: We reply within one business day. Most new clients start within one to two weeks.
Track record: 93% of new clients come back after their first session (2025 practice data).
Questions people usually ask first
Do you take insurance?
Yes. We're in-network with most major insurance plans, and we'll verify your benefits before your first session. Self-pay and superbills are available too.
How much does therapy cost without insurance?
Standard sessions are $150, and the first session is $200. Reduced rates of $70 to $100 are available at each therapist's discretion when cost is a barrier, so ask on your free consult.
How soon can I start?
We reply to every message within one business day, and most new clients start within one to two weeks of their free consult.
Is online therapy as effective as in person?
For most people, yes. A 2023 review of 20 randomized trials found video therapy worked as well as in-person care for anxiety, depression, and PTSD (Shaker et al., 2023).
Where are you located?
We're an online group practice based in Edwardsville, Illinois, seeing clients by video anywhere in Missouri & Illinois, from St. Louis and Kansas City to Chicago and the Metro East.
Is CLS the right fit for me?
We're a good fit if you want practical tools and can meet by video from a private space. As an online outpatient practice, we don't treat eating disorders, psychosis, or needs that call for more than weekly sessions. If that's you, we'll help you find the right care.
Do I need to be in crisis to start?
Not at all. Most people who reach out are still functioning, just exhausted by the effort it takes. If you're in crisis right now, call or text 988 any time.
See all questions →
If You’re Waiting for It to Feel Easier, Don’t.
A free 15-minute consultation or chat. No pressure, no prep, no commitment.
Have a question first? Send us a message and we'll reply within one business day.
