Profile / United States
Tara Hartley, LCSW
Illinois
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Anxiety and Trauma
See online therapy options- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- DBT skills
- Mindfulness practice
About Tara
Tara Hartley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Illinois with nine years of clinical experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, trauma and abuse, addiction, and parenting and family concerns. Sessions are direct and practical, focused on changing unhelpful thoughts and habits that get in the way of day-to-day functioning.
Hartley draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy alongside client-centered and dialectical behavioral approaches. She uses clear, structured techniques to help people notice their automatic thoughts and test new ways of responding. Mindfulness and existential ideas are added when they help a person reflect on values and present-moment choices.
Her background includes several years as a substance abuse counselor and extensive work supporting people who experienced physical trauma or emotional abuse. That experience informs how she addresses addiction, coping after loss, and safety concerns in relationships. She also assists people facing life transitions such as caregiving, aging-related stress, and illness in the family.
In sessions she focuses on practical skills - thought records, behavioral experiments, distress tolerance, and communication practice. Goals are concrete and measurable when possible, like reducing panic symptoms, improving sleep, or changing a particular pattern in a close relationship. Progress is reviewed regularly and the plan is adjusted based on what the person notices is working.
Hartley offers therapy in English and helps clients consider both short-term coaching-style changes and longer-term therapy work. People are invited to start with a brief matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session to see how the approach fits their needs.
How her approaches translate to online work
CBT focuses on the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions. In an online session this looks like reviewing thought records, planning behavioral experiments, and checking homework between meetings to track progress. It is helpful for anxiety, depression, and specific problems like panic or OCD.Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening and collaboration. Online sessions using this approach let the person set the agenda while the therapist reflects and clarifies what matters most. This is useful for processing relationship concerns, grief, and decisions about life changes.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy, when used, brings skills for managing intense emotions. Practical DBT exercises online can include distress tolerance techniques, emotion regulation strategies, and role-play for communication practice useful in conflict or caregiving stress.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences during the first meetings and recommend which methods to emphasize. That plan can change over time based on what the person finds useful, and progress is checked regularly.
Session formats are not specified in the supplied biography, so confirm current options before booking. In general, online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Ask about format details when you complete the matching questionnaire and schedule your first appointment.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
9+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with most often?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addiction, relationship and parenting issues, grief, and related concerns listed in her profile.
How does she use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
She uses CBT to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and test alternative responses through practical exercises and behavioral experiments.
What is her professional background?
She has nine years of experience including two years as a substance abuse counselor and several years supporting people affected by physical or emotional trauma.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is an LCSW licensed in Illinois and conducts practice from that state.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How does payment work and what does therapy cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.