Therapy for individuals, couples, and families in Chicago and throughout Illinois, Ohio, and New Mexico.

Therapy That Goes Deeper Than Coping Skills

We help you get to the root, so the change actually sticks.

Not just symptom relief or surface-level strategies. We work with you to understand what is driving your patterns, reactions, and disconnection so you can show up more fully in your life and relationships with clarity that lasts.

Let’s Talk About It

Therapy that meets you where you are + helps you understand why you are there.

  • Illustration of a tangled brain representing relational therapy for complex emotional patterns

    Relational, Even in Individual Work

    We do not just look at what is “wrong.” We help you see how your relationships, past and present, shape the way you think, feel, and respond. Whether you are coming in on your own through Individual Therapy, or working together in Relationship Therapy, our work is rooted in connection.

  • Illustration of hands writing and a tablet, symbolizing therapy that combines insight with practical strategies

    Insight + Strategy

    You deserve therapy that is both reflective and practical. We help you understand the deeper reasons behind your patterns and give you tools that support meaningful, lasting change in daily life, emotional regulation, and relationships.

  • Lightbulb illustration representing clarity and thoughtful therapy without clichés

    Clarity Without Clichés

    We will not tell you to “just set boundaries” or “let it go.” Our support is warm, honest, and grounded. You receive guidance that fits your real life, not an idealized version of it.

Let’s Figure It Out Together

You do not need to have the right words. You do not need to know what kind of therapy you should choose. You just need to be here.

Whether you are navigating a relationship, a major life shift, or the emotional weight of parenting, our work meets you there. Each path looks different, but they all lead to greater clarity, stronger connection, and a steadier sense of self.

A small team of women therapists offering virtual therapy across Illinois, plus individual, couples, family, and premarital support in Ohio and New Mexico. Warm, direct, and focused on what's happening underneath.

Meet the Team

Real humans. Relational therapists. No one-size-fits-all approaches.

We are a small team of therapists based in Chicago, IL, founded by licensed marriage and family therapists Mollie Bass, LMFT, PMH-C, and Emily Buettner, LMFT.

Each clinician brings a different lens to the work, but all are grounded in relational therapy and a belief that meaningful change happens when therapy looks at the whole story, not just symptoms.

Learn more about our approach and clinicians on the Meet Our Team page.

Meet Our Team

Blog Highlights

Because sometimes you need to read the words before you are ready to say them out loud.

Featured
Can You Go to Therapy for Relationship Problems Alone?
Can You Go to Therapy for Relationship Problems Alone?

In couples therapy, the relationship itself is the client. That's a great fit when the trouble mostly lives in the space between the two of you, and you're both ready to look at it.

But plenty of relationship pain isn't shaped like that. Some of it's yours: how you react under stress, what you expect from the people you love, what you learned about closeness long before this person came along. Some of it's a decision you haven't made yet. And some of it has followed you through more than one relationship.

When that's the case, individual therapy isn't the consolation prize you settle for while you wait on your partner. It's the right room for the work.

Read more →
Relationship Anxiety: Why You Can't Stop Second-Guessing a Relationship That's Fine
Relationship Anxiety: Why You Can't Stop Second-Guessing a Relationship That's Fine

Relationship anxiety is ongoing worry, doubt, or insecurity about a relationship that doesn't line up with what's actually happening in it. It isn't a formal diagnosis. It's a pattern, and we see it at every stage, from three months in to fifteen years married.

Read more →
Postpartum Anxiety or Normal New Parent Worry? How to Tell the Difference
Postpartum Anxiety or Normal New Parent Worry? How to Tell the Difference

Every new parent worries. You check whether the baby is breathing. You wonder if that cough means something. You replay a moment from the afternoon and decide you handled it wrong. That's the job, and some amount of it is what a nervous system is supposed to do when it's suddenly responsible for someone so small.

Read more →

You don’t have to keep holding this alone.

We are here to help you figure it out at your pace and in your own words.

Hearten (v) : To inspire and uplift by offering encouragement, comfort, and support.

That definition guides our work. Learn more about our philosophy and values on the About Hearten Therapy page.

Read More About Hearten

This guide is designed for couples eager to strengthen their connection, deepen emotional intimacy, and boost overall satisfaction in their relationship. Think of it as your weekly roadmap for discussing what went well, what needs a bit more attention, and how to move forward as a unified team. Our newsletter offers a low-pressure way to stay connected while you consider Individual Therapy, Relationship Therapy, or Parenthood Support.

Download the Relationship Check-In Guide

Relationship Guide

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  • "Mollie is very warm and compassionate! She is easy to talk to and very professional. It's clear she really cares about her job and helping people. I highly recommend Hearten Therapy!"

    — Shelby

  • "Mollie and Emily are amazing therapists and a trusted referral of mine! Hearten Therapy is a wonderful practice offering insight, building strong connections and providing compassionate care -Highly recommend."

    —Mackenzie

  • "I couldn't be luckier to have Emily as a colleague. Her compassion, care, and excellence in this field is the reason I consistently refer clients to her. I highly recommend Hearten Therapy and wish I could be a client there myself!"

    — Amanda

You don’t have to wait for things to fall apart.

You do not need a crisis to begin therapy.

If something feels off, or if you sense that something more is possible, we are here to help you understand what is happening beneath the surface.

We work with clients across Illinois navigating Individual Therapy, Couples Therapy, Parenthood Support, and Perinatal Therapy, especially during seasons of transition, uncertainty, and emotional shift.

Let’s talk about what support could look like for you.

Schedule a Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

  • You do not need to decide before reaching out. We help you determine whether individual therapy, couples therapy, or discernment counseling is the best fit based on what you are navigating.

  • Yes. We provide both individual and couples therapy. Even in individual work, our approach remains relational and focused on patterns shaped by past and present relationships.

  • Discernment counseling supports couples who feel uncertain about whether to continue or end their relationship. It offers structured space to understand the relationship dynamics and clarify next steps without pressure to decide immediately.

  • Our team is based in Chicago, IL. Services are available to clients in Illinois, Ohio, and New Mexico through telehealth.

  • The consultation is a brief, supportive conversation focused on understanding your concerns, answering questions, and exploring whether working together feels like a good fit.

  • Hearten Therapy is in network with BCBS PPO, UnitedHealthcare PPO, and Aetna PPO plans. Coverage varies by plan, so we recommend confirming your specific mental health benefits directly with your insurance company.

    For clients whose plans are out of network, we can provide a superbill that you may submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.

    Private pay options are also available for clients who are not in network, prefer not to use insurance benefits, or do not want a mental health diagnosis submitted to insurance.

    A mental health diagnosis is required when using insurance because insurance companies only reimburse therapy services when they are considered medically necessary.