Anabelle Doulas
Welcome! I am glad you are here! I am Anabelle Doulas, LCSW, CADC, Owner & Therapist of ARD Therapy, PLLC. Throughout Illinois and Michigan, I provide services that are person- and family-centered, trauma-informed, evidence-based, and culturally-responsive. No matter what you are navigating, I bring warmth, validation, and non-judgement as we seek to understand the "why?" and figure out the "what now?". With an extensive background across community health, inpatient, and residential care, I work alongside children and adults navigating hard moments—especially those who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or powerless. The people I work with are themselves experiencing or have a loved one impacted by: -Major life stress or conflict at home or school/work -Trauma -Grief and loss -Family conflict -Parenting stressor -Depression -Anxiety -Neurodivergence -Psychosis -Mania -Substance use -Intellectual or developmental disabilities
First session
The look and feel of the first therapy session can depend on your immediate needs. I may ask some questions about what you are hoping to get out of therapy, your past experiences with therapy, as well as how things are going in different parts of your life (like home, work, and school). We will begin discussing what your ultimate goals are for the space, and how we will both work toward those goals. Because building a complete picture takes time, this initial intake and goal-setting process often organically carries over into our first few sessions to ensure our work is fully tailored to you.
Strengths
My approach is rooted in the belief that true growth happens when clarity meets compassion. Clients often describe me as clear, kind, and gently challenging—providing a supportive, direct space where you feel genuinely heard while empowering you to step into the change you're looking for. Because you are the expert on your own life, I lead with curiosity to understand your unique experience. I meet you where you are with compassion, acceptance, and a bit of humor! Depending on your preference and goals, our sessions can be structured, open-ended, or a flexible combination of both to meet your changing needs. I integrate a variety of clinical specialties into my work, such as: -Cognitive & Behavioral Therapies: CBT, Trauma-Focused CBT, DBT -Expressive & Play Therapies: Play Therapy, Sand Tray Therapy, Trauma Art Narrative Therapy (TANT) -Support for Caregivers & Families: Parent Management Training (PMT), Youth Mental Health First Aid -Crisis Recovery: Psychological First Aid, Skills for Psychological Recovery, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) Whatever brings you into therapy, we will build a path forward that feels authentic and aligned with your personal goals.
Ideal clients
This is a hard thing for me to conceptualize. There is no "ideal person" and, therefore, no "ideal client" to me. I work with humans you are navigating the complexities of "human-ing". Throughout the past 13+ years, I have worked with individuals (children, adolescents, young adults, and adults) and their families as part of their therapeutic journeys, providing mental health assessment and diagnostics, individual therapy, family therapy, and group therapy. I feel comfortable and confident in working across the full spectrum of presentations and diagnoses (e.g., no former diagnoses, depression, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, bipolar disorder, psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, complex trauma, substance use disorders, intellectual and developmental disorders). I work to validate and affirm all identities and experiences.
Treatment methods
Trauma-Focused CBT
I am a trauma-informed therapist. That means I bring in perspectives of attachment (like our early relationships) and trauma (the big or bad things that have happened) to understand the "why". Taking this approach leads to less shame about the way you think, feel, and react to things. The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) piece helps guide self-understanding of these patterns, and teaches practical skills to both heal and regulate what is coming up for you.
Strength-Based
I believe we make the “most right” choice for us based on the information and resources we have at the time. I have not met anyone who has been effectively "shamed" their way into sustained change. I believe that we can and will make different choices once our information or resources change. A strengths-based perspective builds on those strengths, and works to capitalize on them to support your growth and healing.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing can sound formal, structured, and potentially intimidating. In reality, it’s simply about curiosity. I ask questions to help me understand your unique experience, and within the safety of therapy, those thoughtful questions allow you to reflect deeply on your personal values, goals, and desires for growth. This approach is never forceful or judgmental. You are the expert on your own life and your own healing, and my role is simply to meet you where you are and walk alongside you. By honoring your autonomy and focusing on your strengths, Motivational Interviewing helps bridge the gap between where you are today and where you want to be—at a pace that feels safe, sustainable, and entirely your own.
Play Therapy
Play is a child’s natural language. For children and adolescents, the deep work of therapy is often done most effectively through play—using art, toys, and sand tray work to express internal experiences and practice new coping skills. Traditional talk therapy can feel intimidating or exhausting, especially after a full day at school spent sitting through lectures and completing worksheets. Play removes that pressure, making therapy an engaging, low-stress space where young clients can heal without fatigue.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Like CBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) fosters deep self-understanding. I like to blend the compassionate core of DBT into our sessions by focusing on its four key skill areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Together, these strategies create a practical toolkit you can use in daily life to feel more grounded, in control, and resilient.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Spiritual but not religious
White
Woman
Top specialties
Addiction / Substance Use
Anxiety
Depression
Other specialties
Attachment Issues
Bipolar Disorder
Burnout
Childhood / Intergenerational Trauma
Codependency
Emotional Regulation
Family Conflict
Grief
Parenting
Trauma and PTSD
Serves
Adults (18 to 64)
Children (6 to 12)
Family Therapy
Individual Therapy
Man
Non-binary
Teenagers (13 to 17)
Transgender
Woman
Licensed in
IllinoisLicense 149017566
MichiganLicense 6801123006