- Client-centered approach
- Trauma-focused care
- Practical coping skills
About Tamela
Tamela Polanin is an Illinois LCPC with 20 years of experience who helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, grief, trauma, and codependency. She presents as warm and down-to-earth and aims to make starting therapy feel manageable and straightforward. Tamela speaks English and accepts international clients.
Tamela uses a client-centered stance that puts the person’s goals first. She listens for each person’s priorities and helps them build practical skills for day-to-day life. Her work often addresses trauma, and she uses methods that focus on processing difficult memories and improving emotional regulation.
Clients can expect sessions that emphasize safety and steady pacing. Tamela draws on approaches such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing to help with traumatic memories, cognitive behavioral techniques to challenge unhelpful thoughts, and emotionally-focused ideas to strengthen connection to feelings. She aims to tailor methods to each person rather than follow a single script.
Tamela’s background includes two decades in the mental health field and practical experience supporting people through loss, addiction, parenting stress, ADHD, and major life changes. She also notes additional focus areas like abandonment, attachment questions, body image, and forgiveness.
To begin, readers are invited to use the site’s Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability. Session cost varies by location and is handled through a cancellable subscription model.
How Tamela Uses Therapeutic Methods Online
Tamela often blends approaches to meet a person’s needs. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following the client’s lead so sessions reflect what matters most to them. This helps people who want guidance while keeping their own goals front and center.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on linking thoughts, feelings, and actions. It involves identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and trying new behaviors to reduce anxiety, depression, or stress. This approach is practical and often includes homework between sessions.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, EMDR, targets traumatic memories and the distress they cause. It aims to reduce the emotional charge of difficult memories so day-to-day functioning improves. EMDR can be useful for people who feel stuck by past events.
Choosing the right approach is collaborative. Tamela will work with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. She may combine techniques and adjust pacing as trust grows and progress becomes clear.
Confirm the therapist’s current online session options before booking since specific formats are not listed in the biography. Many people find online work helpful because it can fit into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and make it easier to keep regular check-ins during life transitions. Online sessions can also allow for shorter check-ins when time or bandwidth is limited.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Credentials
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she commonly address?
She works with people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, codependency, addictions, grief, parenting strain, and related issues.
What kind of therapy style can I expect?
The work is client-centered, meaning the person’s goals guide the pace and focus. Expect listening, feedback, and concrete strategies to try between sessions.
How long has she practiced in mental health?
She has 20 years of experience in the mental health field and has supported people through a wide range of life challenges.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds an LCPC credential and is based in Illinois.
In which languages are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English, and international clients are accepted.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking since the profile does not list specific formats.
How are session fees handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with therapy?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.