Hello!  It is a pleasure to meet you and to be able to introduce myself.  My name is Tara Thompson (she / her / hers).  I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) in the State of Illinois.  I completed my Bachelor of Science degree (B.S.) in Rehabilitation Services in 2006 and went on to earn my Master of Science degree (M.S.) in Rehabilitation Counseling in 2015 from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

My professional background includes working with a wide variety of clients from children to older adults.  I have a social work background and have experience working in foster care as a caseworker focused on children and families going through the adoption process.  My counseling background is equally diverse where I have worked in community mental health, corrections, residential treatment settings, and crisis services.  I have provided mental health and substance abuse outpatient counseling including individual, group and family therapy.  I have worked with a broad range of presenting issues including anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, adjustment difficulties, grief and loss, relationship problems, family conflict, mood disorders, personality disorders, psychosis, thinking disorders, codependency, domestic violence, self-esteem, women’s issues, spirituality, chronic illness, chronic pain, dual diagnosis, and addictions.

My specialty is treating various addictions and people who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia.  I have extensive knowledge and practice providing addictions counseling as well as knowledge of psychiatric medication and community-based support groups for those with various addictions.  I use various approaches to treatment including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Motivational Interviewing, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

I am passionate about all matters pertaining to mental and emotional health and well-being.  I enjoy helping my clients to be able to identify their own strengths and to start believing in their capabilities to achieve their goals and realize their dreams.  I feel that, often times, the necessary ingredient for this to happen is simply having someone believe in you and to walk side-by-side in the journey.

I provide teletherapy services for Home Psych Services, P.C. and Generations Behavioral Healthcare, P.C. using secure video teleconferencing for the comfort, convenience, added privacy and safety of my clients.  When not working, I enjoy spending time with my friends, family and my pets.  I enjoy traveling and going to the gym.