Marilyn Traynor, LCSW
Experienced support for life transitions and emotional wellbeing
- 40 years experience
- Adults midlife and older
- Depth oriented counseling
About Marilyn Traynor
Marilyn Traynor, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois with 40 years of experience supporting adults through life’s more complicated emotional seasons. Her work focuses on helping people navigate concerns such as depression, anxiety, grief, and major life transitions with steady, compassionate guidance.
She provides counseling for adults who want a deeper understanding of what they are feeling and why, with particular attentiveness to the realities of midlife and older adulthood. This can include caregiver stress, aging-related concerns, chronic health challenges, and the emotional shifts that often come with changing roles, responsibilities, or relationships.
Marilyn’s practice also addresses workplace stress, relationship and family dynamics, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, and building practical coping skills for day-to-day stability. She aims to offer a supportive space where clients can sort through difficult emotions, strengthen resilience, and reconnect with a sense of purpose and personal direction.
Throughout the therapy process, she emphasizes individualized care that respects each client’s unique history and goals while supporting meaningful, sustainable growth.
She provides counseling for adults who want a deeper understanding of what they are feeling and why, with particular attentiveness to the realities of midlife and older adulthood. This can include caregiver stress, aging-related concerns, chronic health challenges, and the emotional shifts that often come with changing roles, responsibilities, or relationships.
Marilyn’s practice also addresses workplace stress, relationship and family dynamics, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, and building practical coping skills for day-to-day stability. She aims to offer a supportive space where clients can sort through difficult emotions, strengthen resilience, and reconnect with a sense of purpose and personal direction.
Throughout the therapy process, she emphasizes individualized care that respects each client’s unique history and goals while supporting meaningful, sustainable growth.
Areas of Expertise
Also Specializes In
AddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD
Additional Focus Areas
AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMood disordersMulticultural concernsPanic disorder and panic attacksPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues
Therapeutic Approach
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Attachment-Based Therapy Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) Mindfulness Therapy Solution-Focused Therapy Trauma-Focused Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Marilyn Traynor have?
Marilyn Traynor has 40 years of experience.
Is Marilyn Traynor a licensed therapist?
Yes. Marilyn Traynor is an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker). Her Illinois license is IL LCSW 149006091.
In which languages does Marilyn Traynor provide therapy?
Marilyn Traynor provides therapy in English.
Where is Marilyn Traynor located?
Marilyn Traynor is located in Illinois.
How can I work with Marilyn Traynor as my therapist?
You can work with Marilyn Traynor through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Does Marilyn Traynor work with international clients?
Yes. Marilyn Traynor works with international clients.
How much does therapy with Marilyn Traynor cost?
The cost of therapy can vary based on factors such as your location and the therapist’s availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the “Start Therapy” button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started is quick and straightforward. Click the “Start Therapy” button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Practical, evidence-informed therapy you can access online
Marilyn Traynor draws from several established approaches to help adults work through stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and life transitions in a grounded, supportive way. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on noticing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors and practicing new skills that can make day-to-day challenges feel more manageable, especially when worry, low mood, or self-criticism take over.Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients relate differently to difficult thoughts and feelings while clarifying personal values, so choices and coping strategies are guided by what matters most. Attachment-Based Therapy can be helpful when relationship patterns, caregiving roles, or earlier experiences of connection and loss are affecting how someone feels and relates today.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. Marilyn works collaboratively with clients to understand what they want from therapy and to tailor the work to their needs, goals, and preferences as those become clearer over time.
Online therapy adds flexibility without losing the human connection. Sessions can happen through video calls or phone, and support can also be available through live chat or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and changing routines.