Latechia Hester, LCMHC, LCPC

Latechia Hester is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) practicing in Illinois. She has worked in counseling since 2001 and focuses on trauma and abuse alongside many common struggles people face today. Her background spans substance use, grief, mood disorders, and family-related concerns.

She began as a group home counselor supporting at-risk young men and families with reunification, life skills, and independent living. That early work included substance use and LGBTQ+ concerns. Later she moved into substance abuse treatment, working with DUI offenders and people ordered into anger management, and serving as an interventionist for addictions and codependency.

Latechia returned to school for a master’s in Clinical Mental Health and worked in an outpatient hospital clinic with individuals facing depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, and co-occurring conditions. She also earned a second master’s in School Counseling and supported students in inner-city schools with issues such as body image, self-harm, trauma, ADHD, and various forms of abuse.

Her practice blends cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused therapy, while emphasizing a client-centered stance. She places value on meeting people where they are and building a working relationship that fits each person’s needs. Sessions aim to uplift, teach, and motivate practical steps toward healthier routines and coping.

With 24 years of experience, she brings a steady commitment to helping people move toward change. Prospective clients should confirm current session formats before booking.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Latechia draws on cognitive behavioral therapy to help people identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. CBT often involves setting small goals, trying behavioral experiments, and practicing new skills between sessions to reduce symptoms like anxiety or mood swings.

She also uses motivational interviewing to support people who feel stuck or ambivalent about change. This approach focuses on exploring personal values and strengths, then finding motivation for practical steps such as cutting back on substance use or improving communication.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Latechia collaborates with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. That process may involve trying different techniques and adjusting based on what helps most.

Session logistics should be confirmed before booking because the biography does not list specific formats. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life - for example, shorter check-ins can work during a break at work, or audio-only meetings reduce bandwidth and camera needs. Talk with the therapist when you match to learn which session types she currently offers and how they can fit your routine.