- Relationship support
- Trauma-informed care
- Money and finances
About Jennifer
Jennifer Forbes is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in Illinois. She founded Seed of Hope Counseling Services and has been providing clinical and leadership work since 2009. Jennifer brings 14 years of experience and a focus on practical help for people facing relationship and life stressors.
Her background includes work in both nonprofit and private settings. She has developed community programs for crisis and trauma services and consulted with agencies on therapeutic initiatives. Jennifer also served on regional clinical committees and is a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Science in Applied Family and Child Studies with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northern Illinois University.
In sessions she uses straightforward, person-focused approaches. She draws on client-centered work alongside cognitive behavioral techniques and motivational interviewing to help people tackle anxiety, depression, grief, and relationship problems. Narrative and solution-focused methods are used to help people reframe stories and identify small steps forward.
Jennifer commonly helps people dealing with money and financial issues alongside concerns such as intimacy, parenting, trauma, substance use, and career stress. She also addresses family-of-origin patterns, blended family dynamics, chronic illness, and fertility-related stress. Her style is collaborative and goal-oriented, with attention to immediate coping and longer term change.
People seeking help will find a therapist experienced in community systems and program development who also offers one-on-one clinical care. To begin, visitors follow the site's Start Therapy process and complete a brief matching questionnaire before scheduling.
How Jennifer’s Approaches Work Online
Client-centered therapy puts the person’s goals first. The therapist listens closely and helps people name what matters most, which can be useful for relationship strain, parenting stress, or feeling stuck.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on practical skills to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It helps with anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and coping with life changes by teaching tools you can use between sessions.
Motivational Interviewing helps people find their own reasons to change and build on motivation. It pairs well with work on addictions, career shifts, or making difficult life decisions.
Choosing an approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will help figure out which methods fit a person's needs and goals, and will adjust the plan over time based on what works in sessions.
Confirm the current session options before booking because formats are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people continue care after relocations or during life transitions, while the therapist and client decide together how often to meet and what formats to use.
Areas of focus
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does this therapist help with?
Jennifer supports people facing relationship strain, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, parenting challenges, addiction concerns, and money and financial issues.
What is her general therapeutic style?
She uses a client-centered, collaborative style and mixes practical strategies with listening. Sessions focus on clear goals and step-by-step change.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 14 years of experience working in nonprofit and private settings, including program development and clinical leadership.
What credentials and region are listed for this therapist?
She is an LMFT - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - practicing in Illinois and a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions scheduled and what about cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What steps do I take to start therapy?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.