Tara Hiller, LMHC

Tara Hiller is a licensed mental health counselor who focuses on practical help for people under stress. She talks plainly and works to make therapy feel doable. Tara aims to help people reduce anxiety, manage mood shifts, and handle life changes in ways that fit their daily routines.

Tara brings 18 years of clinical experience in both public and private settings across Washington. That background shaped a flexible approach to common problems like depression, panic, grief, and relationship strain. She also supports people facing identity-related concerns such as gender dysphoria and LGBT issues.

Her work centers on building a trustworthy relationship first. Tara follows a client-centered stance and listens to what each person already knows about their needs. From that starting point she uses concrete tools people can try between sessions to notice change and keep momentum.

Practical methods often include cognitive behavioral strategies to change unhelpful thinking and behavior, acceptance and commitment ideas to clarify values, and mindfulness skills to reduce reactivity. She also draws on dialectical behavior techniques for emotion regulation when intense feelings interfere with daily life.

Sessions are offered in English and use a range of formats including video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. Tara works with concerns across stress, trauma, addictions, parenting, ADHD, and more, and she helps people find doable steps toward better functioning.

To begin, a short matching process connects a person to scheduling options based on availability and location. Tara aims to make the first steps straightforward and to meet people where they are.

Therapeutic approaches and how online therapy works

Many people find cognitive behavioral therapy helpful for sorting out anxious thoughts and changing routines that keep problems going. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing small behavior changes to see what helps. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy encourages noticing thoughts and feelings without trying to fight them, then choosing actions that align with personal values to build a more meaningful life. Client-centered therapy emphasizes a respectful, listening stance so people feel heard and can access their own strengths.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss your goals and preferences, try techniques that fit your situation, and adjust the plan based on what helps. That lets therapy stay practical and personally relevant rather than following a fixed script.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging, which can make scheduling easier around work, school, or caregiving. Video lets you work face-to-face when that matters, phone can be simpler when bandwidth is limited, and chat or messaging supports shorter check-ins or ongoing reflections between sessions. These options aim to increase flexibility and make it easier to use therapy consistently.