Katherine "Katie" Saraga, LCSW - Therapist in Illinois

About Katherine

Katherine "Katie" Saraga is a licensed clinical social worker with four years of practice in Illinois. She uses a calm, down-to-earth manner when meeting people and focuses on practical ways to manage stress and life changes. Katie is comfortable talking about issues like anxiety, sleep problems, grief, anger, and low self-esteem.

She also helps people who are navigating ADHD, relationship concerns, and compassion fatigue. Katie leans on straightforward therapies that teach skills you can use between sessions.

Background and approach

She draws from cognitive behavioral therapy to spot unhelpful thinking patterns and from acceptance and commitment therapy to help people make values-based choices. Mindfulness and dialectical behavior tools are used to build emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills. Sessions aim to be collaborative and paced to each person's needs.

Katie emphasizes identifying strengths and practical steps rather than long lectures. She also incorporates coaching-style work when people want clear goals and action plans. Katie has worked with a wide range of concerns including chronic illness and disability, communication problems, autism and Asperger syndrome, dissociation, and sensory impairments.

She supports people through pregnancy and childbirth issues, life purpose questions, and challenges common to young adulthood. Therapy is offered in English and delivered online through a mix of video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Katie holds an Illinois licensed clinical social worker credential, LCSW, and provides care under that license.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people clarify what matters to them and take small, values-driven steps even when feelings are hard. It is useful for anxiety, low mood, and life transitions because it focuses on actions rather than trying to eliminate difficult thoughts.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, teaches how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connect and offers concrete tools to change patterns that get in the way. It suits worries, sleep issues, and mood problems by breaking problems into manageable parts.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that fit their goals, preferences, and day-to-day life. Sessions can mix approaches and be adjusted as needs change over time.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, continue care from home, and pick the format that feels most comfortable. Licensed professionals can use these formats to teach skills, set goals, and check progress between meetings.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Katie commonly address?

She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, anger, grief, self-esteem, and coping with life changes. Other focuses include ADHD, compassion fatigue, relationship issues, and coaching for goals.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her approach is calm and practical, emphasizing skills people can use between sessions. She blends gentle coaching with evidence-based techniques to meet individual needs.

What is her professional background?

She has four years of clinical experience working with a variety of concerns, including chronic pain and disability, communication difficulties, sensory impairments, and young adult issues.

What credentials and region should I know about?

She is a licensed clinical social worker, LCSW, licensed in Illinois with license number IL LCSW 149026549 and practices from that state.

Which languages and international arrangements are supported?

Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not accepted at this time.

What session formats are offered?

Therapy is available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.

How is cost handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working together?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a time according to the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

ADHD
Anger management
Autism and Asperger Syndrome
Chronic pain, illness, and disability
Coaching
Communication problems
Compassion fatigue
Depression
Dissociation
Family conflicts
Grief
Hearing impaired
Intellectual disability
Life purpose
Pregnancy and childbirth
Relationship issues
Self-love
Sleeping disorders
Social anxiety and phobia
Visually impaired
Young adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 4 years
Licensed: Illinois
Languages: English

Next step

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