- Guilt and shame
- Stress and anxiety
- English and Cantonese
About Phyllis
Dr. Phyllis Tolley is an Illinois psychologist (IL Psychologist 071007067) with 20 years of clinical experience. She works with adults who are coping with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, and changes that interrupt daily life. She also addresses concerns tied to self-esteem, motivation, sleep problems, and issues related to trauma, addictions, and compassion fatigue.
Dr. Tolley favors practical conversations that help people spot patterns and try new approaches. She treats clients as the experts on their own lives and helps them build on existing strengths. Sessions tend to focus on clear goals and steps the person can take between meetings.
Her background includes long-term work with adults facing caregiving burdens, chronic illness, cancer-related stress, and aging concerns. She also assists people dealing with family of origin problems, attachment questions, commitment or communication struggles, and the fallout from separation or divorce.
Sessions may address how guilt and shame link to behavior and relationships, and how those emotions affect sleep, work, or daily routines. Dr. Tolley speaks English and Cantonese and has experience supporting people from diverse backgrounds, including LGBT concerns.
People who choose to meet with her can expect straightforward feedback, practical coping ideas, and attention to real-life constraints like time and other responsibilities. To begin, prospective clients use the online matching and scheduling flow provided on the site.
How therapeutic methods translate to online sessions
Dr. Tolley uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical change. One common approach is working with thoughts and behavior to reduce anxiety and improve mood; this involves noticing unhelpful thinking patterns and trying small behavioral experiments to test new ways of coping. Another approach centers on problem-focused work for relationships and communication, helping people practice clearer requests and boundaries and rehearse different responses that can change recurring conflict patterns.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will listen to your goals, try methods that fit your situation, and adjust what you do as you see what helps. This is a collaborative process where feedback guides which techniques continue and which shift.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm available options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules demand it. Some formats also work better for people who prefer not to use video or who need a simpler way to connect around work or caregiving duties. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises and homework to the format you choose.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English, Cantonese
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she work with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, self-esteem problems, sleep issues, addictions, trauma, and compassion fatigue among other concerns.
How does she approach feelings of guilt or shame?
She looks at how guilt and shame affect behavior and relationships and uses practical conversation to identify small changes a person can try between sessions.
What is her professional background?
She has 20 years of clinical experience working with adults on mood, coping with life changes, motivation, and caregiving and chronic illness issues.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is an Illinois psychologist listed as IL Psychologist 071007067 and practices from Illinois.
Can I work with her if I’m not in the United States?
She accepts international clients. Sessions are offered in English and Cantonese.
What session formats are offered?
The original biography does not specify session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How does cost work for sessions?
Cost varies with location. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What do I do to get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.