Catherine Stull
Catherine brings more than 30 years of nursing experience to her mental health practice. As a mother of five, she understands the complex realities of balancing school, work, family life, and personal well‑being. This combination of clinical expertise and lived experience allows her to support individuals with compassion, clarity, and practical insight. In her practice, she focuses on helping clients build resilience and confidence while strengthening their coping skills and problem‑solving abilities. Sessions may include validating what is already working, identifying challenges, exploring choices, and discussing therapeutic options—whether lifestyle strategies, skill‑building exercises, or medication support. Catherine creates a warm, collaborative environment where clients feel heard, supported, and empowered to move toward meaningful change.
First session
The first session is usually a review of a biopsychosocial inventory and some depression/anxiety/sleep assessments. That information is combined with the client's discussion of current needs and past issues. The client may be looking for therapy, medications, resources, or a combination of these and guides the session after information is gathered. Their should be a feeling of a good fit, or I have referred clients back to existing providers for specific follow up with someone they have known and want to continue to see.
Strengths
This practice is built on the belief that meaningful change begins with feeling heard. We work collaboratively with clients to strengthen coping skills, build resilience, and develop confidence in navigating life’s challenges. Whether you’re seeking clarity, exploring new strategies, or looking for guidance through a difficult moment, you’ll find a warm, supportive environment where your concerns are taken seriously and your goals matter. You’re invited to explore our mental health services and discover an approach that fits your needs, your lifestyle, and your path forward.
Ideal clients
I have experience with teenagers, school agers, college age, new parents, middle life, empty nesting- anyone experiencing challenges with change, stress, substance use, trauma, and confusion. My clients have concerns with anxiety, depression, ADHD/ADD, learning disabilities, chronic stress, trauma issues interrupting their life, processing feelings including grief, and looking for guidance or assistance in moving from one phase in life to another or who are looking for assistance to find and apply coping strategies.
Treatment methods
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I use Acceptance commitment therapy to help patients separate their emotions from their self concept, integrate mindfulness into their daily routine to change unsuccessful patterns. Using the six core processes of the therapy. Acceptance: Openly allowing unpleasant feelings and thoughts to happen without trying to push them away. Cognitive defusion: Learning to see thoughts as just thoughts, not absolute facts or commands. Present moment awareness: Paying attention to the "here and now" with openness and interest. Self-as-context: Recognizing that you are separate from your thoughts and emotions. Values: Figuring out what truly matters most to you in life. Committed action: Setting goals and taking steps that match you ( above taken from ACT therapy in 7 weeks written by Carissa Gustafson PsyD)
Motivational Interviewing
motivational interviewing to assist in defining issues and solutions. The client explores beliefs and behaviors to learn what is keeping them from meeting their goals and needs. The person the resolves feelings that keep them in the same ineffective behavior pattern and find their own inner motivation for self defined positive life changes.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Short-term talk therapy to help a person recognize and change unhelpful connections between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Exposure to learning practical coping skills to manage stress and mental health conditions like anxiety, adjustment to life changes and depression. Also known as reframing how you see a situation and then choosing to react to it differently than you did in the past.
Strength-Based
looking at what tools and strengths a person has and building on them for success. Also working with resiliency- how much stress is enough and how do you "bounce back" from stressful situations
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
combining meditation, breathing, and present-moment awareness with therapy to help people accept their thoughts as thoughts and not defining the person as well as changing responses from automatic negative reactions ("knee jerk") to chosen reactions. There are two main types. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): - using yoga, Tai Chi, other exercise and meditation to cope with stressors Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT): Using mindfulness ( being in the present )with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), reframing to prevent depression or anxiety relapse. Core Principles include Attention: Directing focus to your breath, body sensations, or surroundings in the present moment. Acceptance: Observing internal feelings without judging, fighting, or trying to escape them. Decentering: Learning to view thoughts as mental events rather than absolute facts or judgement of character or ability.
Location
Virtual sessions
In-person sessions1007 Curtiss St, Downers Grove, IL 60515, suite 6
Identifies as
Top specialties
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Licensed in
- IllinoisLicense 37*****31