Jake Barack,
He/him
Therapy is where we learn how to build better relationships with ourselves and the people we love.
Therapy is a place to gain clarity about what we’re feeling, why it matters, and how to move forward. I see it as a collaborative process in which a clinician helps turn your expertise in your own life into meaningful change and acceptance. Greater understanding of ourselves and others can improve not only our individual lives and relationships, but also the world around us.
My role is to help you clarify what matters and offer tools and insight that help you move toward it. At its best, my work combines deep respect for the stories people carry with evidence-based practice, authenticity, curiosity, and compassion.
Specialties
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Relationship Issues
- Trauma & PTSD
- LGBT & Queer
- Grief
- Men's Issues
I specialize in working with adults (and teens) navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, identity concerns, and life transitions. Many of my clients are high-functioning but internally overwhelmed—people who’ve “held it together” for a long time and are ready for a space where they don’t have to.
My style is warm, direct, and engaged. I’m not a blank slate, and I won’t offer generic advice. I ask thoughtful questions, offer honest feedback, and help you make sense of your experience in a way that feels practical and emotionally grounded. We’ll do that by building an authentic relationship steeped in humor, compassion, and support.
I primarily work from an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) orientation, though I also draw from relational, psychodynamic, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approaches. When working with people seeking evidence-based trauma treatment, I typically utilize relational interventions to build a relationship prior to using Prolonged Exposure, Written Exposure, or Cognitive Processing Therapy. Ultimately, I tailor my style to you and your needs.
I came into this work by way of teaching folks how to meditate to deal with intractable pain as a biofeedback technician. Since then, I have trained and worked within community mental health, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, integrated medical and mental health teams in medical hospitals, and both veteran and active-duty military settings. I have also worked as an aeromedical psychologist, evaluating and treating helicopter pilots, mechanics, and paramedics.
I completed my master’s and doctorate (PsyD) at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and completed rotations at The Ark, Riveredge Hospital, and Advocate Christ Medical Center. I also completed my internship and residency at Brooke Army Medical Center.