Therapist profile
Rev. Sergio Ayala, LCPC, LMHC
Illinois
Rev. Sergio Ayala - LCPC, LMHC; Anger and Relationship work
Continue with SergioKey details
- CredentialsLCPC, LMHC
- LicenseLMHC, Iowa / 094835; LCPC, Illinois / 180016866
- NPI1619535002
- Experience10 years
- LanguagesEnglish, Spanish
- LocationIllinois
About
- Stress and anxiety
- Anger and coping
- CBT and EFT methods
About Sergio
Rev. Sergio Ayala is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC in Illinois) and a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC in Iowa) with about 10 years of clinical experience. He holds a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling and a Master of Divinity, and he has more than a decade of ministerial and pastoral practice. Sergio works with adults on stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, relationship and intimacy concerns, and anger.
He believes people know their own stories and brings a respectful, listening-first approach. In sessions he encourages clients to identify strengths they can use when life gets hard. He describes the first step as noticing patterns that cause snapping, resentment, or mounting frustration, and then practicing different ways to respond.
His background includes clinical work with caregiver stress and dementia-related strain, and experience supporting people through loss and major life change. That practical experience informs his focus on problem-solving and everyday coping skills. He also draws on longer-term perspectives when clients want to explore meaning, values, or recurring relationship patterns.
Sergio uses a mix of approaches, including client-centered listening, cognitive behavioral tools to test thoughts and behaviors, and emotionally focused work to track interaction patterns. He may also invite mindfulness-based practices and reflective techniques informed by Jungian and existential thought.
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish, and he accepts international clients. Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. To begin, a short matching questionnaire is completed and a first session is scheduled.
How sessions work
How therapeutic approaches translate to online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting back what a person says. Online sessions let the therapist follow your concerns closely and help you name patterns that fuel anger and stress. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behaviors and teaches practical exercises. In video or audio sessions the therapist can introduce simple exercises to test thoughts, try new responses, and set small behavioral experiments between meetings. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) tracks how feelings and interaction patterns keep problems going. This approach can help people notice how anger shows up in relationships and try different ways of responding.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, needs, and preferences and then agree on what to try first. That collaborative process can include mixing methods so the sessions focus on both immediate coping and deeper patterns if that fits your goals.
Confirm the exact session formats before booking, as the biography does not list specific delivery methods. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving, or travel. They can allow shorter check-ins, help when bandwidth is limited by using audio only, and reduce commute time so appointments are simpler to keep. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises used in in-person work to an online setting to keep progress moving forward.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
Iowa, Illinois
Languages
English, Spanish
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of anger-related concerns does he address?
He helps with snapping at loved ones, building resentment, frustration at work, and other anger-related struggles listed under his specialties.
What is his general approach in sessions?
He uses client-centered listening alongside cognitive behavioral and emotionally focused techniques to notice patterns and practice alternative responses.
How long has he been practicing clinically?
He has about 10 years of professional clinical work experience plus over 15 years of ministerial and pastoral practice.
What credentials does he hold and where is he based?
He holds LCPC in Illinois and LMHC in Iowa and is located in Illinois for licensure purposes.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
Can people outside the U.S. work with him?
He accepts international clients; confirm time zones and scheduling during booking.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What should I do to start a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is unsafe, use the crisis numbers.