Jennifer Forbes , LMFT

Jennifer M. Forbes, LMFT, is the founder of Seed of Hope Counseling Services and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who combines clinical training with a deep sense of purpose. She credits her faith for guiding her work and brings a warm, grateful approach to supporting individuals, couples, and families through difficult seasons.

Over the course of her career she has counseled hundreds of clients and has worked across nonprofit and private sectors, providing counseling, consulting, supervision, and leadership since 2009. Her practice has included developing and evaluating community programs for crisis and trauma response, and she has partnered with agencies to implement innovative therapeutic initiatives that address local needs.

Jennifer has served on clinical committees for the Illinois Health Practice Alliance, the Behavioral Health Consortium, and the Westside Community Triage and Wellness Center, and she is a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists. She completed her undergraduate studies in psychology and earned a master’s degree in Applied Family and Child Studies with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northern Illinois University. As an LMFT - a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - she is trained to work with relationships, families, and systems alongside individual concerns.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Jennifer Forbes draws on Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Motivational Interviewing to shape online sessions that honor each person's experience. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening with empathy and helping clients explore their own values and goals; it is especially useful for relationship concerns, self-esteem, and coping with life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, making it a practical option for anxiety, depression, stress, and sleep difficulties. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, goal-oriented method that supports people facing ambivalence about change, including issues like addictions, motivation for treatment, and readiness for new patterns.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Jennifer works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and personal preferences, and she adapts techniques as progress unfolds. The online format supports this work by offering flexible ways to meet - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging - so clients can engage in therapy in the way that fits their schedule and comfort level. These remote options increase accessibility and allow consistent continuation of care even when in-person meetings are not possible.