What to expect.
Therapy at Tamara Faulker Counseling Associates (TFCA) is a collaborative, thoughtful process rooted in respect for the full context of a person’s life.
We don’t approach therapy as something meant to last forever, but rather as a committed period of time — and we’ll work alongside you with warmth, honesty, and gentle challenge, developing a trust in your capacity to move forward on your own. Our work begins by noticing what’s already working and building from there, integrating insight with action so that change is not only understood but lived.
We bring both intellectual rigor and deep care to the room, leaving space for humor, curiosity, and directness while remaining attentive to the cultural, relational, and systemic forces that shape who you are.
TFCA’s aim is that you’ll leave with a greater sense of hope and freedom from judgment — as well as a deeper capacity to care for yourself and others.
The first session is a chance to begin that work together, with a conversation focused on listening, understanding your goals, and seeing whether or not therapy feels like a good fit.
Grounded in psychodynamic theory, Tamara Faulkner has accrued diverse trainings centered on the integration of mind and body, including modalities such as:
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Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
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Internal Family Systems (IFS)
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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
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Motivational Interviewing (MI)
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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Self-compassion
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Polyvagal theory
Tamara’s tenure at The Family Institute at Northwestern University from 2019 to 2026 (including as Director of Couples Services from 2021 to 2023) reinforced an ecological perspective that individuals shape their environments just as much as their environments shape them.
Prior to becoming a social worker, she was an art historian (MA, the University of Chicago) who worked for the Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Reader.
Do you take insurance? Yes. Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, United Healthcare, Aetna, and Medicare
How long are sessions? Typically 50-60 minutes.
How often will we meet? That depends on the acuity of the problem; typically, all clients start with weekly meetings and move to biweekly until we transition to monthly and eventually, hopefully, termination.
What are your session fees? Please reach out for questions about fees.
What is a clinical social worker? A social worker is trained to consider a person within their environment—their interpersonal, cultural, spiritual, and social systems. A clinical social worker adds diagnostic tools, including assessment and evidence-based interventions, to treat behavioral health conditions.
Do you offer virtual sessions, in-person sessions, or both? Both. Currently, I see people in person just one day a week and virtually four days a week.
What is your cancellation policy? I appreciate 48 hours' notice and will bill a full-session rate if a person cancels less than 24 hours in advance.
2530 Crawford Ave, Suite 312
Evanston, IL 60201