It is important for you to know that I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Illinois who treats young adults, adults, and older adults. I graduated, with Honors, from the Adler School of Professional Psychology with both a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and a Master’s in Counseling & Organizational Psychology. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have also matriculated through Tulane University, where I double majored and received my Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Sociology. These are my credentials, and they have served me quite well in building my foundation in psychological theory, research, evidence and practice. Yet, this only tells a small fraction of my story.

Thomas M. Kaufman, Psy.D.


Personal Journey
My journey to becoming a psychologist was non-linear, and the diversity of my experiences has profoundly shaped the ways in which I practice. To begin, I spent a number of years working in commercial real estate, leasing shopping centers, prior to pursuing my graduate degrees. As a career-changer, I integrate my background in business, my Master’s Degree, and the 'lived experience' of it all to provide unique and practical solutions. In addition, I want you to know that I have personally navigated life’s challenging moments. I understand what it means to live those days when all you want to do is stay in bed. I also appreciate just how much courage, strength, and fortitude it takes to seek help, confront one's inner struggles, and discover the undeniable resilience that is the human spirit. The fact is, I have been to the darkest reaches of the human psyche, and I am not afraid of 'it' or 'them' anymore. Through our trusting and collaborative work together, you will not be either.
My Approach
I believe that life is a journey that often come in waves or phases. At times, these waves are manageable; but, at other times, the waves can knock us off our feet and feel unsurmountable. To help you restore and maintain balance, I use a sincere, personalized, authentic, compassionate and integrative approach. We will quickly build a collaborative and egalitarian relationship to help empower your journey. While leaning upon the awesome possibilities that are inherent to the therapeutic relationship, we will harness insight-oriented, systems, existential, constructivist, narrative and person-centered theories to make lasting change. Most of my clients describe me as active, interactive, and engaged.
Professional Organizations
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American Psychological Association (APA)
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American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)
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Illinois Psychological Association (IPA)
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National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP)
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Psi Chi - The International Honors Society in Psychology
Outside the Therapy Room
In my free time, I enjoy being with my wife and son. I am also very passionate about music, both listening as well as playing, and movies. My favorite movie is The Natural and my favorite song is What a Wonderful World. When I really want to unwind, I love watching and listening to comedians, including standup, podcasts, and even just stories about their lives. I do have a strong admiration for story, myth, and legend, which I attribute to my grandfather and my time living in both Western Samoa and New Orleans. As an extension of this, I also enjoy history and writing.