Mike Keaveny, Psy.D.
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Mike Keaveny, Psy.D.
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Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Specialist in Disordered Eating and Body Image
Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, Trauma,
Relationship Therapy (Couples), and Chronic Health Conditions
Welcome. I try to make therapy a place where you feel comfortable, accepted, and able to talk openly about what’s weighing on you. People often come in feeling stuck or disconnected, and together we work to sort through what’s happening and create new possibilities. My approach is collaborative and active—I balance listening with offering perspective and guidance so therapy feels both supportive and purposeful. I often draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which helps people clarify what matters most and take steps toward lasting change. My goal is to bring warmth, persistence, and humor into our work, while helping you build a life that feels authentic, balanced, and meaningful.
My Personality
Overall, I’m a pretty laid-back and down-to-earth person. I don’t take myself too seriously, and I like to bring in some humor and lightness when it feels right. I think laughter can be important, even in the midst of difficult work, and I enjoy finding moments that make therapy feel more natural and human. I’m non-judgmental and aim to create an atmosphere where you can be yourself without worrying about how I’m perceiving you. It’s hard to shock or offend me—I’m genuinely open and interested in hearing whatever you bring to the room. I tend to notice patterns and think things through carefully, but I also stay attuned to what you’re feeling so we can connect on an emotional level, not just an intellectual one. I don’t give up easily. If you’ve struggled for a long time or felt discouraged in the past, I’ll keep exploring new ways to help you move forward. I’m generally an optimistic person and try to find hope and possibility, even in tough situations. Lastly, one of the exercises I often do with clients is that I have them rank order their top values from a list of 300+ that I provide. I have done this exercise myself, and my own top values—compassion, honesty, closeness, acceptance, playfulness, love, freedom, wisdom, adventure, and creativity—continue to guide me in life as well as in the therapy room.
How I Work in the Room
I tend to be collaborative in our direction, often asking what feels most important for you to work on in each session. My aim is to balance being warm, caring, and flexible with also being willing to challenge you when it’s helpful. If I notice we might be getting off track or avoiding something important, I’ll bring it up so we can decide together how to move forward. I’m also mindful of how easy it is to become tangential. I’ll check in with you about how you’d like me to redirect if that happens, and I hold myself to the same standard—I try not to go off on long psychological tangents either. The goal is to make sure our time feels purposeful, while still leaving space to explore what naturally comes up. I often use metaphors to make complex ideas easier to grasp, and sometimes I’ll guide an exercise so you can experience a concept rather than just talk about it. My primary model is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a well-researched approach that helps people relate differently to difficult thoughts and feelings, stay more connected to the present, and take action that aligns with their values. In the end, my goal is to help you live in a way that feels authentic and consistent with what truly matters to you. By the end of most sessions, I usually suggest something practical to reflect on or try out between meetings, and we’ll revisit how it went the next time we meet. This creates continuity, so therapy doesn’t stay in the room—it becomes something you carry into your life.
Your First Session
I know that starting therapy can feel a little strange—walking into a new space and sitting with someone you’ve just met to talk about personal things isn’t easy. I do my best to make it comfortable and welcoming. My office is set up to feel peaceful and inviting, and I try to keep the tone conversational so it doesn’t feel clinical or stiff. Our first session is a comprehensive intake, where I’ll ask questions to understand the history of what you’re struggling with and how it’s been showing up in your life. I don’t usually take notes in regular sessions because it feels too impersonal, but in the first meeting I’ll jot things down so I can remember important details and not lose sight of what matters to you. By the end of that first hour, we’ll put together a plan tailored to your needs and goals. What happens after that depends on you. Some people value having space to reflect, process emotions, and explore the deeper issues shaping their lives and relationships. Other times, the focus is more structured—building specific skills or problem-solving around current challenges. I adjust the balance as we go, offering direction when it feels helpful and stepping back when more room is needed for reflection and growth.
My Training
I received my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in 2012. My training included seven years of intensive coursework, extensive supervision, and hands-on clinical experience, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship. This depth of training gave me the opportunity to learn in a wide range of settings and continues to shape the way I practice today. My supervisors during graduate training were leaders and authors in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which gave me the chance to learn the model in depth and apply it across many contexts. Since then, I’ve trained other therapists in ACT and even served as a therapist to ACT clinicians themselves. In session, I’m always keeping your goals in mind and how our work connects to them. Many clients who have tried therapy before tell me that this approach feels more focused and productive, and I give a lot of that credit to ACT—it often helps people get unstuck in ways that other therapies don’t. I completed my postdoctoral fellowship at Linden Oaks at Edward Hospital in Illinois, where I worked with individuals in inpatient, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs. That experience gave me advanced training in eating disorders, which continues to be one of my central specialties. At the same time, I have extensive experience treating trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, relationship concerns, and chronic health conditions. Many people begin therapy focused on one main struggle, but often we discover that other challenges are woven in as well, and I work with clients to address the full picture of what they’re facing.
My Identity
I’m a 41-year-old, straight, white, cisgender man of Irish descent, raised in a middle-class suburb of Chicago. When I left home for college, I chose to live in Chicago partly because I wanted to be in a place with greater diversity. Since then, I’ve found that I thrive in environments where I can meet, learn from, and connect with people whose lives and perspectives are different from my own. Over the years I’ve worked to understand my cultural biases and to be mindful of how my background shapes the way I see the world. I know there will always be blind spots, and it’s my intention to stay aware of them and to name them when they show up in the room. My priority is that you feel respected and understood. When there’s an opportunity to learn more about your background, I do the work to listen, ask questions, and deepen my understanding of how your experiences shape your life. I am also an ally for LGBTQIA+ rights and believe in advocating for clients when it’s needed to make sure you receive the resources and care you deserve.
My Outside Interests
Outside of work, I enjoy a wide mix of hobbies and interests. I like creating art with a variety of mediums and subject material, though making fantasy oil paintings is my favorite. I also enjoy playing the piano which often consists of playing moody classical pieces. Games are a big part of my life. I play board games weekly with a local group and I’m a longtime roleplayer who enjoys running and playing Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. I’m also an avid sci-fi and fantasy reader, especially when it comes to epic series you can really sink into. I love spending time outdoors, whether it’s hiking or canoeing. One of my favorite trips was exploring the Boundary Waters in Minnesota. More recently, I’ve taken up Judo—despite being told it might not be the wisest hobby to start at 40, I find it too fun to give up. I’m originally from Chicago, but I’ve lived in Richmond with my wife for the past decade. At home (and sometimes in the office) I share my space with Loki, our hypoallergenic Shih Tzu–Bichon mix, who adds plenty of character to daily life.
