Common patterns we help with

 
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

When your mind won’t shut off

Some minds try to solve problems constantly — replaying conversations, predicting the future, or searching for certainty late at night. Instead of trying to eliminate thoughts, we help you notice how your mind hooks you and practice stepping out of the loop so your attention can return to what you’re actually doing. Over time, thoughts become something you experience, not something that runs your day.

MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING (MI)

When emotions are feeling too big

Strong emotions can narrow your world — pushing you to shut down, lash out, avoid, or escape just to get relief. Rather than trying to get rid of feelings, we work on making room for them so they don’t have to control your choices. You learn how to stay present during emotional moments and respond in ways that fit who you want to be, even when the feeling is still there.

 
 
MINDFULNESS TRAINING

When your motivation disappears

Sometimes the hardest part isn’t knowing what to do — it’s getting yourself to do it. Waiting to feel motivated often keeps people stuck in cycles of avoidance and guilt. We focus on changing your relationship with discomfort so action can come first and motivation can grow from experience, not the other way around.

EXPOSURE RESPONSE PREVENTION (ERP)

When you keep avoiding the things that matter

Avoidance works in the short term but quietly shrinks your world over time — conversations don’t happen, decisions get postponed, and life starts organizing around anxiety instead of values. Together we gradually approach what’s been put off in manageable steps so confidence comes from doing, not from feeling ready beforehand.

DIALECTICAL BEHAVIORAL THEARPY (DBT)

When relationships are stuck in a negative cycle

Arguments repeat, distance grows, or you find yourself reacting in ways you regret even when you care. We slow down those moments and help you notice the automatic moves your mind and emotions push you toward so you can choose responses that protect the relationship instead of the pattern.

 
BRIEF, SOLUTION-FOCUSED THERAPY

When you’re hard on yourself no matter what you do

Many people live with a constant internal critic — pushing harder, second-guessing decisions, or feeling like they’re always falling short. Rather than trying to replace thoughts with positive ones, we change how you relate to them so they lose their authority and stop dictating your sense of worth.

THE GOTTMAN METHOD

When life feels flat and you feel disconnected

Sometimes the problem isn’t intense distress but the absence of meaning — days blur together, things you used to enjoy feel muted, and you’re going through motions more than living. We focus on reconnecting with what matters and taking small actions that rebuild engagement and direction over time.

 

What Makes Our Therapy Different

Many therapy experiences feel supportive but don’t lead to lasting change. Our work is active and intentional— helping you notice patterns and practice new ways of responding that fit the life you want to live.

In the first session we figure out three things: what keeps happening that you wish wouldn’t, what your mind does when it tries to fix it, and what would actually feel different in your day-to-day life if things improved.

From there our work focuses on closing that gap. We pay attention to the moments where problems actually occur — in conversations, decisions, reactions, avoidance, or overthinking — and slow them down so you can see what your mind is doing and try another way of responding.

Over time people find they feel less stuck in their thoughts, more flexible in difficult situations, and more able to act in ways that match what matters to them.

The goal isn’t to depend on therapy forever. It’s to understand how your mind works well enough that you can help yourself — even in moments when things feel intense. Our approach integrates practical behavioral strategies with emotional awareness so change shows up in your day to day life, not just in session.

We use well-researched behavioral therapies like CBT, ACT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing because they have some of the strongest evidence for helping people create lasting change in daily life.



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- ABOUT -

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Get to know us

At Proactive Therapy, we built our team intentionally. Each therapist was chosen not only for their training and experience, but for how they show up with people — engaged, thoughtful, and able to be real without losing professionalism. Therapy works best when you feel comfortable enough to be honest and challenged enough to grow, so we value warmth, collaboration, humor, and direct conversation.

We pay close attention to your experience in therapy and invite ongoing feedback so the work stays useful to you, not just theoretically helpful. The relationship matters, but it’s paired with an active approach focused on helping you understand patterns and respond differently outside the session.

Our clinicians continue to stay on top of the latest research and refine their skills so the care you receive isn’t static. The goal is not just supportive conversations, but therapy that remains thoughtful, relevant, and effective over time.

proactive
/prōˈaktiv/

adjective
taking action and making changes before they need to be made, rather than waiting until problems develop.

 

Find the right fit

 

 Our Specialties

 

Anxiety 

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Trauma

Binge Eating 

Eating Disorders 

Body Image Concerns

Work Stress and Career Changes

Depression and Mood

Stress or Burnout

Relationships 

Perinatal/Post-Partum

Shame/high self-criticism

Panic Disorder

Co-dependency

Navigating Life Changes

Perfectionism

 
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ADDITIONAL INFO

Insurance + Rates

Proactive Therapy Frequently Asked Questions
 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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How long does therapy usually take?

There isn’t one timeline that fits everyone. Some people come for a specific issue and meet for a few months, while others stay longer to change patterns that have been present for years. What matters most is consistency — therapy works best when sessions build on each other rather than being sporadic check-ins. In general, people are more likely to experience lasting change after a steady stretch of at least 12 sessions, because lasting change takes time. After that, frequency often tapers as the changes begin to hold on their own.

Do you offer online therapy?

We offer online therapy/telehealth sessions to all clients located in Illinois.

Where are you located?

We offer in person therapy in the Chicago Loop online to people located anywhere in Illinois or Wisconsin.

What if I don't know what to talk about?

That’s very common. You don’t need to prepare or bring a clear story. Part of therapy is figuring out what feels stuck and where it shows up in your life. We’ll ask questions and notice patterns together so the conversation has direction without you needing to organize it first.

Do you take my insurance?

We are in-network providers with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO and BCBS Blue Choice plans as well as Aetna and some United insurance plans. We provide courtesy verification of benefits.

 

If this feels like a good fit, you can begin here

You can book directly online with the therapist of your choice, or talk/text/ email directly with our intake coordinator to find the best therapist for you.