Monika Breidenbach
I'm Monika Breidenbach, LCPC, NCC, NPT-C. My work brings together evidence-based psychotherapy, neuroscience, and an understanding of how our everyday lives affect mental well-being. I work with adults who may look like they are managing on the outside but feel anxious, overwhelmed, stuck, or exhausted on the inside. I specialize in anxiety, OCD and intrusive thoughts, panic, perfectionism, burnout, chronic stress, low self-esteem and major life transitions. I enjoy working with professionals who are navigating demanding careers, leadership responsibilities, career changes, or the challenge of balancing work with life.
Unlearn. Rewire. Evolve. Less Overthinking. More Living. Anxiety, OCD and intrusive thoughts, panic, perfectionism, burnout, chronic stress, low self-esteem and major life transitions.
My approach is active, collaborative, and practical. I draw from CBT, ERP for OCD, ACT, DBT, mindfulness, and somatic work tailoring our work to you rather than expecting you to fit into one particular approach. I incorporate neuroscience because understanding what is happening in your brain and nervous system can make your reactions feel less confusing and can help us figure out what to do differently. I believe therapy should be more than a place to talk about what is wrong. Understanding yourself matters, but so does having tools that help when life gets difficult. Together, we can look at patterns that keep showing up, strengthen your ability to manage uncomfortable thoughts and emotions. I also pay attention to the bigger picture, including how stress, sleep, nutrition, daily habits, and lifestyle may affect emotional well-being. My goal is not to teach you how to be perfectly calm or never have another uncomfortable thought—unfortunately, our brains don’t come with an “off” button. Instead, therapy can help you understand yourself better, trust yourself more, and handle what life and your mind throw at you without letting either one take over. Therapy is available in English and Polish, with daytime, evening, and weekend appointments.
First session
We start with an initial assessment to gain a clear understanding of your concerns, symptoms, background, and what you hope to get out of therapy. From there, we work together to identify meaningful, achievable goals that guide and shape our work moving forward.
Strengths
My strengths include building genuine connections, creating a comfortable, judgment-free space, and balancing compassion with honest, direct feedback. I bring warmth, curiosity, humor, and a practical, solution-focused approach to therapy. I combine evidence-based techniques, neuroscience, and a whole-person perspective to help clients gain insight, recognize unhelpful patterns, build resilience, and make meaningful, lasting changes.
Ideal clients
On the outside, you may seem like you have it all together. You’re responsible, capable, and the person others depend on. But inside, your mind rarely slows down. You replay conversations, second-guess decisions, worry about what might go wrong, or feel constant pressure to get everything right. Even when life is going well, relaxing can feel surprisingly difficult. Maybe you’ve spent years pushing through stress, putting others first, and expecting more from yourself than you would ever expect from anyone else. Now, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, perfectionism, or relationship challenges are taking a toll. You’re mentally exhausted, frustrated with yourself, or simply tired of feeling stuck in the same patterns. You don’t just want to talk about what’s wrong. You want to understand why your mind works this way—and, more importantly, what you can do differently. You want less overthinking, more confidence in your decisions, healthier relationships, and the freedom to enjoy life without constantly questioning yourself. Therapy can help you quiet the mental noise, break unhelpful patterns, and build practical skills that make everyday life feel more manageable. You don’t have to figure it all out alone. When you’re ready for something to change, let’s get started.
Origin story
I’ve always been curious about why people think, feel, and react the way they do—especially why we sometimes keep doing things we know aren’t helping us. Becoming a therapist gave me a career where asking “Why?” is not only encouraged, it’s part of the job. What I love most about this work is helping people make sense of their thoughts, emotions, and patterns without judgment. Sometimes understanding why we react the way we do can be a huge relief. But I also believe insight is only the beginning. I enjoy helping people turn that understanding into practical changes they can actually use in everyday life. Therapy allows me to combine curiosity, science, compassion, and a little humor to help people understand themselves better, make meaningful changes, and occasionally remind their brains who’s actually in charge.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. My experience with CBT spans a wide range of mental health concerns, including anxiety disorders, depression, trauma-related disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and various other mood and behavioral issues.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Navigate discomfort while moving toward what matters. Promotion of psychological flexibility through acceptance. I've found that helping clients cultivate acceptance of their thoughts, emotions, and experiences can lead to profound shifts in their relationship with themselves and others.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Build emotional regulation and resilience to clients cultivate greater self-awareness, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being.
Cognitive Processing (CPT)
Cognitive Processing Therapy effective and valuable approach clients who have experienced trauma to process their experiences, challenge unhelpful beliefs, and reclaim their lives.
Mind-body approach
Mind-body therapy recognizes the interconnectedness of mental and physical health. Helps to explore the ways in which their thoughts, emotions, and beliefs impact their physical health and vice versa. By addressing both aspects simultaneously, clients can experience profound healing and transformation.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
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Serves
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Licensed in
- IllinoisLicense 180015711