Tara Hartley, LCSW

Tara Hartley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Illinois who blends practical therapy with a warm, interactive style. She draws on nine years of combined experience to help people facing stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, depression, and intimacy-related issues. Her approach aims to make conversations feel respectful and nonjudgmental so clients can talk honestly about what matters to them.

In sessions she uses client-centered principles to follow each person's pace and priorities. She also integrates cognitive behavioral techniques to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors. Dialectical behavior strategies and mindfulness tools are used when people need skills for intense emotions and better self-regulation.

Tara has experience supporting people with trauma and addiction, and she spent time working as a substance abuse counselor. That background shapes how she approaches grief, coping with life changes, and relationship conflict. She also lists additional focus areas such as caregiving stress, communication problems, and aging concerns.

Tara emphasizes collaboration when planning treatment. She adapts the conversation and goals to match each client's situation rather than using a one-size-fits-all method. The work often includes skill practice, real-world problem solving, and steady check-ins on progress.

To start, Tara asks people to describe what feels most urgent and what they hope to change. That information guides early sessions and the ongoing plan. She aims to support people who are ready to make manageable, lasting changes.

Therapeutic approaches that translate to online work

Client-Centered Therapy puts the person's concerns and goals at the center of each session. The therapist listens closely, reflects what she hears, and adjusts questions and pacing to match the client's needs; this helps when people want a respectful, individualized conversation. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors. It often uses clear exercises and homework that fit well with remote sessions and everyday life. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can be practiced between meetings and reviewed together.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Tara will work with each person to see which methods feel most useful and to blend techniques when needed. That shared decision-making shapes goals, session activities, and how progress is measured over time.

Confirm the available session formats before booking, as the biography does not list specific delivery methods. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into busy schedules, allow shorter check-ins when helpful, and reduce travel time. It also supports continuing skill practice between sessions and makes it simpler to involve real-world examples during discussions.