Lauren Kaplan, PsyD
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- Licensed in Illinois
- Accepts Cash, Aetna, Aetna - Allied Benefits, + 6 more
- Helps with Anxiety, Grief, + 10 more
About
My work has taken me through a variety of clinical settings, where Iâve developed a strong foundation in ACT, DBT, and client-centered approaches. At the core of my work as a therapist is a genuine belief in the importance of compassion, respect, and real human connection.
I bring a deep understanding of ACT and use it to help people create change in intentional, practical waysâespecially when they feel stuck in familiar patterns that no longer serve them.
I work to create a space where people feel understood and supported as they move toward a life that feels more meaningful, grounded in their values, and aligned with who they are.
First session
The first session is really about getting to know each other. Iâll want to learn a bit about your background and whatâs brought you to therapy, and together weâll start to figure out what youâre hoping to get out of our work. Some people come in with very clear goals, while others are looking for something less definedâlike more clarity about what matters to them or a greater sense of confidence in the choices theyâre making. After that, I encourage clients to bring whatever feels most important into each session. That might mean talking through something that happened during the week, sharing thoughts or feelings you donât feel comfortable expressing elsewhere, or exploring experiences from the past and how they still affect you today. Thereâs no ârightâ way to do therapyâour work is shaped around what feels most helpful to you.
Strengths
Iâve been working and training alongside other professionals in the field since 2005, and that experience has shaped how I see therapy. I view clients as whole people, not a set of symptoms to fix. I bring a deep understanding of ACT and use it to help people create change in intentional, practical waysâespecially when they feel stuck in familiar patterns that no longer serve them.
Ideal clients
I really enjoy working with young adults and adults who are navigating transitions, searching for purpose or insight, or wanting to improve their overall quality of life. I find it meaningful to support people as they work through anxiety, grief, and overwhelm, and as they find more clarity, balance, and direction.
Treatment methods
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Iâve been practicing from an ACT perspective since 2009, and it continues to be the foundation of my work. I'm drawn to ACT for the way it brings together mindfulness, values, behavioral action, compassion, and radical acceptance. Rather than focusing only on reducing symptoms, ACT emphasizes improving overall quality of lifeâhelping people move toward what truly matters to them, even when life feels difficult. ACT can be applied across a wide range of concerns and diagnoses, and itâs always tailored to the individual.
Faith based therapy
Since 2019, Iâve offered faith integration as an option within therapy and have built relationships with local Catholic and other Christian organizations in my community. Faith integration is always client-ledâthe level of involvement (or choice not to include faith at all) is entirely up to you. When desired, I offer a thoughtful understanding of how faith and spirituality can shape a personâs worldview, values, and internal resources, and how these can be meaningfully incorporated into the therapeutic process.
Humanistic
Sometimes whatâs most helpful is simply having a safe, nonjudgmental space to talk things through. When clients are looking to process their experiences verballyâwithout a strong focus on coping skills or structured interventionsâa humanistic approach can be especially supportive. This style of therapy emphasizes being heard, understood, and accepted exactly as you are.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I often integrate DBT skills into my ACT-based work, as I find these two approaches complement each other well. Many clients benefit from the practical, concrete skills DBT offers, especially around emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. I have formal training in DBT and spent several years facilitating DBT skills groups, which informs how I thoughtfully weave these tools into individual therapy.
Location
Virtual sessions