About Ramona
Ramona Zarate helps people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, depression, grief, or struggles with addiction. She focuses on improving self-esteem, managing panic, and restoring a sense of purpose. Ramona practices in Illinois and brings 11 years of counseling experience to each session.
Ramona earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Community Counseling with a specialization in substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. She has worked in community mental health agencies and hospitals supporting people with mental health and substance use concerns.
Background and approach
Her background includes case management and coordinating care with family service agencies and physicians. In sessions she emphasizes a strength-based, client-centered style. That means conversations start with what matters most to the person in the room.
She uses motivational interviewing to help people sort through mixed feelings and find internal reasons to change. Mindfulness techniques are part of her work for clients who want tools to manage anxiety, panic, and overwhelming emotions. She aims to teach small, practical practices that can be used between appointments.
Ramona helps people clarify values, repair communication problems, and work through guilt, shame, or forgiveness concerns. She supports women’s issues and guides clients dealing with co-morbidity and relationship challenges. Treatment plans are created together and adjusted as progress is made.
Approaches in online counseling and how they help
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person's goals and strengths. The therapist listens without judgment and helps guide conversations so clients can decide what changes feel right for them. This approach is useful for people who want to build confidence and clarify life purpose.Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple practices to notice thoughts and bodily sensations without becoming overwhelmed by them. These brief skills can reduce the intensity of panic attacks and help manage day-to-day anxiety. Mindfulness also supports coping with grief and strong emotions.
Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative way to resolve mixed feelings about change. It helps people identify personal reasons to alter behavior, which is often useful for addressing addictions or improving health habits.
Finding the best approach is part of the process. The therapist will work together with the client to try methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. Plans can be adjusted over time based on what proves helpful.
Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls let people use nonverbal cues for a fuller conversation, while phone sessions need less bandwidth and can fit into a short break. Live chat or text-based messaging can be used for quick check-ins, journaling between sessions, or when writing feels easier. These options make it simpler to keep continuity of care around work, family, and daily life.
Questions people ask
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What this counselor works with
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Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 11 years
- Licensed
- Illinois
- Languages
- English