Find a Therapist in Buffalo Grove, Illinois.

Patients often describe their experience working with me as a journey characterized by compassion, understanding, and genuine connection. My approach is rooted in creating a safe and welcoming space where you feel heard and valued. Patients have shared that our sessions feel like open conversations, free from judgment, where thoughts and emotions are explored with a sense of genuine curiosity. Many have expressed a profound sense of relief in being able to share their struggles openly, knowing that they are met with empathy and respect.

Psychotherapy?! What a funny word. I am a psychotherapist, NOT a psycho therapist! :) Others call me a counselor or "the talk lady." People who find me tend to be parents who are looking for support for their children. I use research based therapies that bring empowerment, positive behavior changes, and less frustration and stress. I specialize in youth aged 3-25 who have experienced some level of stress like a divorce, bullying, self-harm, sexting or abuse. Youth nowadays have a different mentality, and I also support parents in understanding and connecting with their children. If you call for a free phone consult and I don't think we are a good match, I will give you multiple referrals.

Psychotherapy is an in-depth review of where your life has been and where your life is going. Understanding how your history affects your emotions and current relationships gives you the chance to change long-standing patterns. The goal is to handle difficult emotions, while still making good decisions for yourself. While we all want to feel better, sometimes we have to do better to feel better. We take the time to define your desired outcomes because we will find a natural source of energy and motivation. We identify the behavioral and thinking patterns that will lead to your desired outcomes. Steps are identified toward behavior change that otherwise has been elusive.

I believe our current struggles often have a link to past struggles. I work with clients to understand the both/and. What are the current challenges and struggles that you want to improve or change and in doing that how is it link to the past. In other words what previous distortions or hurts are causing the person current struggles and how to they build current health to grow and heal from previous hurts.

Kari Hunter has provided psychotherapy for individuals, couples and families for over 25 years. She offers many types of psychotherapy for problems such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, child and adolescent problems, and relationship struggles. Psychotherapy today incorporates our knowledge about brain science and behavioral change. Evidence from research has led to development of treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness strategies, and many types of Marital and Family Therapy.

We offer thoughtful and engaging sessions to help treat your mental health concerns. We do so by building trust and providing evidence to support healthy, functional change, but we also do so by challenging your negative thought patterns. We ask if there is another way to think about the situation and provide skills and techniques for you to practice in session and on your own. Psychotherapy is a work in process.

Being properly diagnosis is the first order of business. Feeling comfortable with your therapist is also very important. Having clear and concise goals for psychotherapy helps both the client and therapist stay on course and ensure a successful outcome in a time frame that allows for efficient change that is long lasting. Also working in conjunction with medical personal can help better use the therapy process.

Psychotherapy is an effective way to gain insights, find hope, and get support. My approach is to demystify the psychotherapy experience. I am down to earth and like to provide support while also teaching you new skills and ideas to use in your life. It's not just talk therapy with me. In addition to processing stressors in your life I will also provide you with new real world tools to use.

James Hillman once said, "We've had a hundred years of psychotherapy and the world is getting worse." While there are many occasions where the validation and listening endemic to psychotherapy makes sense, there are times where we over assume that "feeling better" and "changing behavior" are the same. Grey Matters International, Inc. goes after the forgotten brain laws to behavior change that therapists miss when processing hours and hours of dialogues with people. Utilizing a cutting edge technology to facilitate the emotional process of change, we can make the therapy process way more effective, faster, and with less money spent. Contact kevin@kevinflemingphd.com or 877-606-6161.

I strongly believe in psychotherapy, because I have counseled hundreds of people in group and individual therapy in this way. Many people have the belief that they often just "need to manage my medications" and that meeting just to talk with a counselor is a waste of time. People need to talk and to process their 'story', that is, where they've been, where they are now, and where they want to go in their life. Medication only helps with physiological issues and brain chemistry; psychotherapy gives a person context, and helps them make better, more informed decisions about their life and gives them information (not medication) to make wise life decisions.

We can work together to develop a game plan to help you to to accomplish your goals for our work together. This will include decisions about how frequently to meet (example: once or twice weekly), your specific goals (and what will be different when the issue is resolved), options for working towards your goals, and what specific strategies you would like to use (I can suggest a variety of them for you - for example, perhaps you are interested in mindfulness, meditation, or laughter yoga!!)

"Psychotherapy is the informed and intentional application of clinical methods and interpersonal stances derived from established psychological principles for the purpose of assisting people to modify their behaviors, cognitions, emotions, and/or other personal characteristics in directions that the participants deem desirable" (Norcross, 1990, p. 218-220 ) We use Freudian-based theories, object relations, attachment theories and self-psychology to assist our clients in identifying and understanding the underlying issues that may color their current relationships.

This is, to me, the most in-depth therapy that I provide. It requires a relationship with the client. And a level of trust that being in that space together is a safe place. It mandates a great history, an accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan that drives the process forward. Most psychotherapy leaves clients feeling tired afterwards because it challenges them to deal with their feelings, allowing the insights to come and the revelations to incur. Psychotherapy is the utmost marvel of my work. And the ultimate healing for most clients who engage in it and allow the process to work.