Kathleen O'Connor, LCPC, CEDS

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. In addition, I have earned the distinction of being a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS) by the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals and have been an officeholder for the Heartland chapter of iaedp since 2019, furthering my commitment to pursuing ongoing education within the field. 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 is a balance between giving feedback and providing practical skills, while not being overly structured or stuffy.