- Stress and anxiety
- Grief and loss
- Caregiver support
About Katie
Katie Tapert Mercado is an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) licensed in Illinois with 29 years of clinical experience. She helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and major life changes. Katie also focuses on issues such as compassion fatigue, aging and geriatric concerns, caregiver stress, cancer-related challenges, domestic violence, hospice and end-of-life counseling, immigration matters, isolation, loneliness, and questions of life purpose.
Her style is straightforward and practical. She listens without judgment and encourages clear conversation about what is most distressing. Sessions tend to focus on what is happening now, how it affects daily life, and small steps that can ease pressure.
Katie draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques to address symptoms and coping skills. She helps people learn ways to manage overwhelming feelings, handle role changes, and find steadier routines. Therapy can include talking through recent losses, planning for end-of-life concerns, or working through caregiver burnout.
She works in English and accepts international clients. People meet her because they feel stuck after a change in work, relationships, health, or caregiving roles and want practical support. Katie frames therapy as a collaborative process where concerns are laid out and strategies are tried and adjusted.
To begin, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. Costs vary by location and use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
Approaches Katie Uses and how online sessions work
Evidence-based therapeutic techniques often focus on skills people can use right away. One common approach teaches practical coping skills for anxiety and stress, such as breathing strategies, grounding exercises, and step-by-step planning to reduce overwhelm. These tools help when worry or pressure makes it hard to concentrate or act.Another approach centers on grief and loss work, which involves naming the change, tracking how it shows up in daily life, and trying concrete ways to remember or adjust. This can help with decision points related to hospice, end-of-life conversations, or transitions after loss.
Picking the right approach is part of the work. Katie collaborates with each person to see what fits their needs, goals, and preferences. She will suggest options, try methods in session, and adjust based on what helps most.
Confirm current session options before booking to know which formats are available. Online sessions can make it easier to fit appointments into busy days, reduce travel time, and enable shorter check-ins when needed. They also allow people in different locations to connect with a licensed professional without relocating.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Experience
29+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue. Additional focuses include aging and geriatric issues, cancer, caregiver stress, domestic violence, hospice and end-of-life counseling, immigration issues, isolation and life purpose.
How does she approach someone who feels stuck?
Her approach is practical and conversational. She listens, helps identify current problems, and tests small changes to reduce stress and improve daily functioning.
What is her professional background?
She is an LCSW with 29 years of experience in clinical work. Her background includes supporting people through grief, caregiving strain, and major life transitions.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is licensed in Illinois as an LCSW and practices with that credential in that state.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the US work with her?
She accepts international clients. Confirm session logistics and any regional considerations before booking.
How are sessions billed?
Costs vary with location and sessions are paid through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.