Victoria Shirkey, LCPC, ALMFT

Have you been questioning what to do next? Are you wondering if it’s even worth it? Are you searching for hope? Life can be challenging and change is hard. It’s my desire to partner with you as you search for your answers. 

My name is Victoria, but I often am referred to as Tori. I’m a Southern Illinois native and I relocated to the BLONO area in 2021. I enjoy playing with Poppy (my dachshund), listening to music, and spending time with friends and family. Warm, dedicated, and open-minded are three words I would use to describe myself. It’s my desire to help and support others, and I have found great happiness in serving the community through mental health services. I hope to create a welcoming and safe environment for each individual as they come into my office. Helping clients discover their “aha moments” is one of my favorite things about therapy. I recognize that personal health and wellness is not cookie-cutter, so I will work with you to develop an individual plan that best fits your needs.

Victoria’s Office Space

Areas of Expertise: 

  • Ages 3 - 25 years old

  • Autism

  • ADHD

  • Trauma

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Life transitions

  • OCD

  • Self-esteem

  • Relationships

Types of Therapy:

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

  • Theraplay

  • CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

  • Play therapy

  • EFT  (Emotional Focused Therapy)

If you would like to schedule a session with Victoria, please call the office at 309-807-5077 or click the button below to schedule your appointment today!

Professional Experience 

I began my counseling career at a residential youth facility as a community based counselor. This is where my desire to work with children/adolescents and their families truly began. Working with children and families in this area allowed me to grow and develop my understanding of trauma and attachment needs. I then became an inpatient therapist at a local hospital. While there, I worked closely with children, adolescents, and adults to provide crisis intervention therapy. I have now worked at The Mental Wellness Center since 2021 and primarily focus on issues related to trauma and ADHD. In addition, I am a lead clinician and provide clinical support to other providers. 

I have experience working with children, adolescents, and adults with varying backgrounds/needs such as depression, anxiety, trauma, suicidal ideations, relationship issues, behavioral issues, foster and adoption, stress, ADHD, Autism, adjustment issues and more.

Professional Skills

I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Therapist (LCPC) and an Associated Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (ALMFT). I received my master’s degree in human development counseling from the University of Illinois at Springfield. I am a trauma and attachment informed counselor. I am trained in EMDR, level 2 theraplay, and trust-based relationship interventions.

I regularly work with children/adolescents and young adults to better understand their mental health needs and make adjustments to support overall mental wellness. I will provide you and/or your family with psychoeducation to help better understand your mental health struggles and the therapeutic interventions used to work through those struggles. In addition, if desired, we can utilize faith-based counseling interventions to further enhance your efforts towards mental wellness. I believe that knowledge, understanding, and increased self-awareness can be powerful tools for each person. I desire to work alongside you as you make progress towards your identified goals.