John Kleber

I've been doing this work since 2008, and the clients I connect with most are the ones who are tired of feeling stuck — whether that's anxiety they can't outrun, obsessive thoughts that won't quiet down, intense emotions that are hard to manage, or patterns in relationships they can't seem to break. I work a lot with men who aren't sure therapy is for them, adults dealing with OCD and intrusive thoughts, and people navigating narcissism and difficult relationships. I also support couples who find themselves stuck in disconnection. I was a collegiate athlete myself, so I understand what it means to be high-functioning and still struggling — and I'm not here to tell you to just breathe through it. I work virtually with clients across Illinois, and I'm in-network with several major insurance plans including Aetna, Cigna, and Carelon. If you're open to bringing faith into your work, I'm comfortable with that — and if you're not, that's completely fine too.

My primary approach is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT. The short version: ACT isn't about getting rid of anxiety, OCD, or hard feelings — it's about changing your relationship with them so they stop calling every shot. Rather than fighting your own mind, we work on building psychological flexibility — the ability to feel difficult things without being driven by them. I also pull from CBT when it's useful, and for couples I explore the impact of attachment, assist in identifying unmet emotional needs, and patterns that decrease feelings of love and trust. I tend to be direct. I'll challenge you when it matters, and I'll be honest about what I'm seeing — but always in your corner. I am here to support you as you face life's challenges.

In our first session, we will spend time getting to know each other. I will learn more about your history and life experiences, current and past struggles, and the goals that bring you into counseling. We will review the pain you are currently experiencing, and then I will spend time getting to know your interests and values in life. From there, we will discuss the process of therapy further going forward, and you are welcome to ask any questions that you have. I enjoy this first session because it gives me the opportunity to learn more about who you are.