Tara Hartley , LCSW

Tara Hartley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Illinois with nine years of combined experience, including two years working as a substance abuse counselor. She has completed training as part of a TF-CBT cohort and has developed substantial experience supporting people who have experienced trauma, including physical injury and emotional abuse.

Tara has worked with a wide range of concerns such as depression, anxiety, addiction, relationship and parenting challenges, career-related stress, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, couples issues, and other mental health disorders. Her counseling style is warm and interactive, grounded in respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and she intentionally avoids stigmatizing labels. She draws on cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, psychodynamic, and dialectical behavioral approaches to shape treatment.

Tara collaborates with each person to tailor dialogue and treatment plans to their unique needs and goals, meeting clients where they are and focusing on practical steps for change. She aims to support and empower individuals who are ready to take the first steps toward a more fulfilling and resilient life.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care with Tara Hartley

Client-centered therapy emphasizes a respectful, nonjudgmental partnership where the therapist follows the client's lead, offering empathy and support while helping the person explore values and goals. This approach is useful for people seeking a collaborative space to clarify what matters most in their lives.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is practical and skill-oriented, often helping with anxiety, depression, and coping strategies for daily stressors. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) combines acceptance and change strategies, teaching concrete skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can be helpful for intense emotions and relationship challenges.

Finding the right combination of approaches is part of the therapeutic process, and Tara works collaboratively with each person to determine what fits their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques over time so the plan evolves as progress is made.

Online therapy with Tara can be delivered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for scheduling and for how people prefer to communicate. These options make it easier to access consistent care from home or elsewhere and to continue work between sessions in ways that match each person's lifestyle.