Bernice Banks , LCSW

Bernice Banks is a licensed clinical social worker who brings a deep commitment to supporting adults, children, couples, and families through challenging life moments. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Chicago, earned in 1997, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Roosevelt University in Illinois. As an LCSW - a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - she is trained to provide psychotherapy and case management for a range of emotional and relational concerns.

Her background spans both public and private sectors within social services and mental health, and she has spent more than 20 years working with children and families on the issues they commonly face. Over the past 12 years she has maintained a private practice with a focus on marriage, couples, and family therapy while also addressing child and adolescent mental health. She has experience helping people manage grief and loss, depression, stress, anxiety, trauma, addictions, and parenting challenges.

Bernice approaches therapy as a practical tool to build knowledge, coping skills, and long-term resilience. She incorporates Cognitive Behavioral techniques to foster insight and develop concrete strategies, and she works to empower people to make informed choices and practice new ways of responding to difficult situations. She emphasizes collaboration and skill building so clients leave therapy better equipped to handle future challenges.

Evidence-Informed Approaches and Online Care

Bernice Banks utilizes Client-Centered Therapy to create a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where individuals and families can explore their concerns at their own pace; this approach helps people strengthen self-understanding, communication, and emotional awareness. She also incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a practical, skills-based method that helps clients identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and replace them with more constructive patterns to address issues like anxiety, depression, and stress.

Finding the right approach is part of the collaborative process. Bernice works with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, adapting techniques over time as progress is made. This collaborative stance helps clients feel involved in planning and adjusting care.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and provide continuity of care when in-person visits are difficult. Licensed professionals can deliver many of the same therapeutic tools and skills through these formats, allowing clients to pursue meaningful progress from locations that work for them.