about

Kathleen O'Connor

LCPC (Illinois), LMHC (Iowa), LPC (Wisconsin)

Certified Eating Disorder Specialist

kathleen@ailmtherapy.com; 708-580-6818

Specialties:

Like many therapist profiles, this page could list my degrees and credentials, provide a vague description of what clients I work with, and be distant but warm; however, that is not how I work with clients or how I am in the world. I want this page to help you decide if we’ll work well together, not just list the things I’ve done. What you probably want to know is 1) do I know what I’m doing and 2) are we a good fit in working together. 

I have been working in the mental health field, specifically with eating disorders, for nearly a decade in variety of capacities including inpatient, residential, and crisis stabilization programs. I work best with people who have thought through a number of solutions but can't quite get things to stick--that's where therapy can be so beneficial in creating lasting change. While my primary focus lies in treating eating disorders, I also treat disordered eating, body image concerns, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and relational stress for those ages 12+. I am anti-diet and HAES (Health at Every Size) aligned.

There are so many people who hesitate to come to therapy or to move forward in eating disorder recovery due to having been previously unsuccessful with a “one size fits all” approach. I work with you to figure it out. I’m not a smile-and-nod, sit in silence type of therapist. I'll call you out on your BS, but I can do that in kind, humorous way. I'm not afraid to talk about anything you need to talk about. Intrusive thoughts? Feeling like you’re the only person to feel this way? You’d be surprised to find that you’re not alone. Therapy with me is a balance between giving feedback and providing practical skills, while not being overly structured or stuffy.

Credentials & Community Engagement:

Jillian Larmon

LCPC (Illinois)

jillian@ailmtherapy.com; 708-581-8743


Specialties:

Why did Kathleen and I create Ailm Therapy? I can speak for myself on my vision for our private practice, but I am sure Kathleen would agree. I have been working in the eating disorder field for the past 9 years and 6 of those years were within a leadership role. I think what makes me the most excited about Ailm Therapy is getting back to spending one on one time creating change with clients and their support systems. 

 

Do we only treat eating disorders? Nope! Despite our niche being eating disorders, I also have experience working with those struggling with depression, anxiety, and life transitions from children through adulthood. Together we will create a treatment plan that feels aligned with your values and goals for treatment. Collaboration with the client’s treatment team is vital to make sure we are all supporting the immediate issue in which a client is seeking help. Don’t have one? Both myself and Kathleen have resources within the midwest to provide you with quality care.

 

Connection with your therapist is essential. I find balance in an empathetic approach with being straight-forward and direct. Often, the therapeutic process involves exploring both past and present patterns that keep you stuck. I strive to create a comfortable space for you to cope with the uncomfortable that comes along with this work. 

Similar to Kathleen, I am also body-positive and Health at Every Size (HAES) aligned. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is often what I go back to when discussing different steps of recovery including distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. I find this important to incorporate because therapy is only 1 hour out of your week and I want to help explore tools for you to become your own support system outside of our session time.  I will always plan to meet a client where they are at in recovery. That might include this being your first therapy experience, or your hundredth and we need to find what will work for you to have a sustainable recovery.