Thomas Bateman, LMFT

In my therapy, I work in collaboration with clients, seeking a balance to help them live their lives as fully as possible. We each bring expertise to our collaboration – I bring my therapeutic training and skills, you bring your expertise in your own life, and together we work to meet the goals and make the changes that will help your life and relationships flourish.

Therapy, from my perspective, is all about balance and curiosity. High hopes and occasional tough love balanced with gentleness and compassion for yourself and your loved ones. Embracing and working toward change while also accepting oneself and loving our immutable parts. Curiosity about why we are the way we are and where we might go from here, and the openness and vulnerability to get there.

Thanks to my training at Northwestern’s Family Institute, I have extensive background in family systems therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as training in narrative therapeutic methods as well as sex therapy. I embrace the challenges of working with anxiety, depression, trauma, communication in relationships, and conflict in families.

As a former middle and high school teacher, I enjoy working with children & adolescents and their families in a number of areas. Anxiety, particularly around school, socializing, and identity formation, is one of my favorite topics, and I find deep satisfaction in helping adolescents and their families find the tools to navigate these challenging issues.

In my couples and relationship work, I tackle difficulties ranging the spectrum from day-to-day communication issues to deep-seated conflicts. I frequently work with issues of gender & sexuality, am LGBTQIA affirming, and enjoy helping partners explore non-monogamy and polyamory. Some of my favorite therapeutic work has involved negotiating the challenges of intercultural, interracial, and interfaith relationships. I also specialize in pre-marital counseling and working with partners to set themselves up for success as their approach their life partnerships.

In all of my therapeutic work, be it with partnerships, individuals, or families, I strive to bring my utmost authenticity to our therapeutic relationship and will ask the same of you. Therapy at its best is a challenging but deeply rewarding endeavor, and I look forward to being a supportive and steadfast companion on your therapeutic journey.