Tara Hartley

Tara Hartley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Illinois who focuses on trauma-informed care. She brings nine years of combined experience, including work as a therapist and earlier roles supporting people with substance use concerns. Tara aims to create a respectful, compassionate space where people can take the first steps toward change.

She uses Trauma-Focused Therapy alongside client-centered methods to guide sessions. Tara also draws on cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior approaches to help with symptoms like anxiety, depression, and trauma reactions. Her style is warm and interactive, and she adapts sessions to each person’s needs.

Tara has supported people dealing with relationship strain, parenting challenges, grief, and life transitions. She has experience with addiction-related issues and with people recovering from physical or emotional abuse. She also addresses concerns such as self-esteem, anger, intimacy issues, and compassion fatigue.

In practice she balances practical skills with space to talk through feelings and meanings. That might mean learning coping strategies, practicing mindful ways to manage intense emotions, or examining patterns that keep someone stuck. Sessions focus on what the person wants to change and on small, doable steps toward that goal.

People who work with Tara can expect a collaborative process where the treatment plan is adjusted over time. She encourages questions and aims to help each person feel understood while working toward clearer daily routines, better relationships, and more effective coping.

How trauma-informed and skills-based approaches work online

The therapist blends Trauma-Focused Therapy with client-centered work and cognitive behavioral techniques. Trauma-Focused Therapy helps people identify trauma reactions and practice ways to reduce their impact on daily life. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and building a respectful working relationship. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches practical skills to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can help with anxiety, depression, and relationship stress.

Finding the best approach is part of the process. Tara will work with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. That decision is collaborative and may change over time as progress is made or needs shift.

The biography does not specify which online session formats are offered, so confirm available options before booking. In general, online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people use tools learned in therapy in real-life settings between sessions. If you’re unsure which setup will work best, discuss preferences and practical constraints during the initial matching and scheduling steps.