Therapist profile
Jennifer Forbes, LMFT
Licensed marriage and family therapist - Family and relationship concerns
Continue with JenniferAbout
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Solution-Focused work
About Jennifer
Jennifer Forbes is an Illinois Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 14 years of clinical experience. She founded Seed of Hope Counseling Services and has worked in nonprofit and private settings since 2009. Her practice addresses relationship and family concerns along with trauma, anxiety, parenting stress, grief, and issues related to intimacy and addiction.
She has developed and run community programs for crisis and trauma response. That work involved creating services for clinical teams and partnering with agencies on program design and assessment. Jennifer has served on clinical committees, including regional behavioral health groups in Illinois, and is a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapist (AAMFT).
In sessions she blends practical, client-focused methods. She draws on Client-Centered therapy to follow what matters most to the person in front of her. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used to identify unhelpful thoughts and test new ways of coping. Motivational Interviewing and Solution-Focused approaches help with change and concrete next steps.
She lists a broad set of concerns she addresses, from parenting and blended family issues to depression, stress, sleep trouble, and compassion fatigue. Additional focuses include aging and geriatric issues, chronic illness and pain, fertility and fatherhood questions, and family of origin problems.
Jennifer trained at Northern Illinois University, earning a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in applied family and child studies with a specialization in marriage and family therapy. Prospective clients are asked to confirm session options and scheduling details before booking.
How sessions work
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person's priorities and perspectives. Online sessions can follow the client's lead, using conversation to clarify what matters and set a pace that fits current life demands. This approach helps when someone needs practical listening and reflective feedback on family or relationship stress.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks down thoughts, feelings, and actions to test new responses. In an online session CBT can include short skill practices, homework between meetings, and step-by-step experiments to reduce anxiety, improve sleep, or manage anger. Motivational Interviewing supports readiness for change by exploring ambivalence and strengthening personal motivation for steps like setting boundaries or addressing addictions.
Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, try methods that fit those aims, and adjust based on what helps most. That lets clients move from a tentative first session into clearer, practical steps at a comfortable pace.
The public biography does not specify which online formats are offered, so confirm current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit meetings into busy days, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, and remove travel time so more consistent scheduling is possible.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, parenting stress, anxiety, depression, grief, intimacy issues, addictions, and related topics listed in her specialties.
What is her general therapeutic style?
She uses client-centered principles, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative and Solution-Focused approaches to keep sessions practical and goal-oriented.
How much experience does she have?
She has 14 years of clinical experience, working in nonprofit and private settings since 2009 and developing community programs for crisis and trauma services.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is an Illinois Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (IL LMFT) and practices in Illinois.
Can she see clients who do not live in the United States?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Confirm current session options before booking, as the public biography does not list specific session formats.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.