I am licensed in Iowa and Illinois with 9 years of professional clinical work experience. I have a Masters of Science in Mental Health Counseling, a Masters of Divinity with 4 Units of Clinical Pastoral Education, and over 15 years of Ministerial/Pastoral Practice. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with addictions, trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, & dementia caregiver stress. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.
Additional areas of focus: Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Intimacy-related issues, Anger management, Career difficulties, Coping with life changes, Compassion fatigue, Abandonment, Adoption and foster care, Aging and geriatric issues, Attachment issues, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain, illness, and disability, Codependency, Commitment issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Coping with natural or human-caused disaster, Dependent personality, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Divorce and separation, Domestic violence, Drug and alcohol addiction, Eating and food-related issues, Emptiness, Family of origin issues, Family problems, Fatherhood issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Hospice and end-of-life counseling, Immigration issues, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Men's issues, Midlife crisis, Veteran and Armed Forces Issues, Mood disorders, Multicultural concerns, Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Phobias, Postpartum depression, Post-traumatic stress, Prejudice and discrimination, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-love, Sex addiction, Sexual assault and abuse, Social anxiety and phobia, Somatization, Traumatic brain injury, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young adult issues
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Existential Therapy, Jungian Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
IL LCPC 180016866
IA LMHC 094835
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Rev. Sergio Ayala. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
I would recommend Rev Ayala anyone that is looking for a therapist he is a kind of therapist to anyone when your problems are struggling with anything recommended to anyone God bless
Written on Jul 08, 2025 after therapy with Sergio for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, family conflicts, grief, and coping with life changes
Rev Ayala has been super helpful in my journey through healing. I like that he has the church background because he is able to help me navigate through multiple points.
Written on Jul 04, 2025 after therapy with Sergio for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, and coping with life changes
Sergio has been awesome! Though it was a short time, he does an excellent job of listening, brings great thoughts to the conversations, and will use faith, if needed!
Written on May 18, 2025 after therapy with Sergio for 3 weeks on issues concerning addictions
Rev Ayala is a true professional!!! He is compassionate, understanding and he listens to my concerns, worries and struggles. I’ve only had a couple sessions with him but I feel like we have talked for years. Highly recommended.
Written on May 14, 2025 after therapy with Sergio for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, anger management, and adhd
Extremely thankful for this guy. Thorough and genuine.
Written on Jan 20, 2025 after therapy with Sergio for 1 year on issues concerning addictions, relationship issues, and adhd
Rev. Ayala is extremely knowledgeable and understands the importance of moral freedom. He understands my faith and what I am going through because he has lived the experience as a Catholic male.
Written on Dec 28, 2024 after therapy with Sergio for 9 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, addictions, and relationship issues