Mary Kate Hoag, APCC

Hi, I’m Mary Kate Hoag, an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor with several years of experience in the mental health field.

My Background

I began my path into this work while earning my B.A. in Psychology at The Chicago School, where I later completed my M.A. in Forensic Psychology. Since then, I’ve worked across multiple levels of care, including an acute psychiatric hospital, intensive outpatient programs (IOP), and private practice. These settings have given me experience supporting complex and co-occurring concerns, trauma, substance use, and a wide range of life circumstances. I have also worked with court-mandated clients, which strengthened my ability to balance structure, accountability, and compassion in the therapy process.

My Focus

I work with individuals and couples navigating high-stress seasons, major transitions, and patterns that feel difficult to change. In couples work, I help partners build healthier communication, deepen emotional understanding, and develop practical conflict-resolution skills. I also enjoy working with personality disorders and the unique strengths-and-challenges these patterns can bring to relationships, identity, and emotional regulation. I have a long history of loving individuals with addiction, which gives me a nuanced understanding of clients who present with similar issues, and I prioritize ethical care by staying grounded in strong clinical boundaries, ongoing supervision/consultation, and self-reflection.

My Approach

My approach to therapy is grounded, collaborative, and trauma-informed, drawing from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and EMDR-informed care. I believe it’s important to understand how past experiences shape present emotions and behaviors, while also equipping clients with practical tools to manage current challenges.

My Goal for You

My goal is to help you build insight, resilience, and self-compassion so you can move through life with greater clarity and confidence, and I strive to create a non-judgmental, authentic space where you feel safe, supported, and empowered in your healing and growth.