LCSW
Dr. Akamin Nkengaka, LCSW
- Experience15 years
- LocationIllinois
- Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Addictions, and Trauma and abuse
- Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Review online therapy options and next steps on BetterHelp.
About Akamin
Dr. Akamin Nkengaka brings 15 years of clinical experience to work with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, addiction concerns, trauma and abuse, and struggles with self-esteem.
Background and approach
He approaches these concerns by combining evidence-based strategies with an emphasis on understanding how patterns of thought and feeling shape daily life. Dr.
Nkengaka frames therapy around practical skills and emotional exploration so clients can build sustainable change. His style blends cognitive-behavioral techniques with relational and acceptance-oriented methods, helping clients identify unhelpful thinking, strengthen coping skills, and deepen awareness of internal parts and attachment dynamics.
As a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) practicing in Illinois, he centers the client’s own expertise in crafting goals and interventions. Prospective clients can expect collaborative work focused on concrete steps toward improved wellbeing.
Approaches for Online Growth and Healing
Internal Family Systems is used to help clients notice and dialogue with different internal parts, offering a way to understand conflicting feelings and internal protectors that arise in stress, anxiety, and trauma. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values and building psychological flexibility through mindfulness and committed action, which is helpful for managing anxiety, depression, and addictive patterns. Attachment-Based Therapy attends to relational history and patterns so clients can explore how early bonds influence current relationships and self-regulation.Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic work, and the therapist collaborates with each client to determine which methods fit their goals, preferences, and needs. Treatment plans are adjusted over time so interventions remain relevant and responsive to progress and changing circumstances.
Online sessions are available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for varied schedules and geographic locations. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity of care, practice skills between meetings, and access a licensed professional from wherever a client is located.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does this therapist commonly address?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, and self-esteem difficulties, along with related areas such as attachment issues and caregiver stress.
What is the therapist's overall approach and style?
The approach blends evidence-based methods with a client-centered orientation, emphasizing both practical skills and exploration of thoughts, feelings, and relational patterns.
How much clinical experience does the therapist have?
The therapist has 15 years of experience working in behavioral health settings and using evidence-informed approaches with clients.
Where is the therapist licensed and practicing?
The clinician is licensed as an LCSW in Illinois with licence number IL LCSW 149028885 and practices from that state.
Does the therapist work with clients who live outside the United States?
International clients are accepted and sessions can be arranged for people who are not located in the United States.
What session formats are offered for therapy?
Therapy is available through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences.
How are fees and subscriptions handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
To get started select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHearing impairedHIV / AIDSHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSexualitySmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationTraumatic brain injuryTrichotillomaniaVisually impairedWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Gottman MethodHypnotherapyImago Relationship TherapyJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems
Experience
15+ years
Licensed
Illinois
Languages
English