Sheila Funk-Jansen, LCSW, LISW

Sheila Funk-Jansen is a licensed social worker with 25 years of experience helping people through major life transitions. She holds a Master of Social Work and maintains clinical licenses as an LCSW in Illinois and an LISW in Iowa. Sheila focuses on practical steps individuals can use to feel steadier during stressful times.

Sheila works with people facing anxiety, depression, grief, and stress from caregiving or health crises. She also supports those struggling with relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting strain, career shifts, and the disorientation of midlife changes. Her approach is straightforward and person-focused.

In sessions she blends Client-Centered listening with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused techniques. Motivational Interviewing is used to help people find the reasons behind change and to build momentum. Sheila emphasizes small, doable actions rather than distant goals.

Sheila describes therapy as a partnership. She starts where a person is and helps them build on their existing strengths. Conversations aim to be honest, practical, and aimed at real-world problems.

Over her career she has worked with people facing addiction, family of origin difficulties, divorce and separation, cancer and caregiver stress, and issues tied to aging. Sheila adapts tools to each person’s situation and pace, helping them take steps toward more resilience and clearer choices.

How Sheila’s Approaches Translate to Online Work

Sheila commonly uses Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her clinical work. Client-Centered Therapy means the therapist listens closely and follows the person’s lead, helping them name what matters and decide next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches concrete tools to shift unhelpful patterns.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Sheila will talk with each person about their goals and preferences, then try methods that fit those goals. Over the first several meetings she adjusts the plan based on what helps most.

Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life. It can reduce travel time, allow appointments during breaks or evenings, and make it simpler to keep regular check-ins. Because the exact session formats are not listed in her biography, confirm current session options before booking to see what is offered. Licensed professionals use these therapies in remote sessions to work on daily coping skills, behavior changes, and clearer communication without promising a specific outcome.