Counsel + Comfort

By Mark Loehrke
Appears in the January 2026 issue.

The connection between physical environments and mental health

Kristen Breese understands the power of mental health therapy—no matter where it unfolds. “I honestly think great therapy could happen in a broom closet,” she says.

But the Naperville native also believes that when you create an environment that’s more welcoming than a broom closet—a place where people feel safe, comfortable, and at ease with their surroundings—both clients and staff members alike have a better chance for success. That’s why Breese has been very intentional about the look and feel of the offices of Counseling Works, the mental health counseling group she founded as a solo practice in 2016 that has expanded over the past decade to include a team of more than 40 therapists across locations in Naperville, Shorewood, Frankfort, and Lemont.

Despite her background in graphic design and past experience in the hospitality industry (where making people feel comfortable and cared for was part of the job description), what Breese didn’t have as she set down this path toward a therapy-friendly office aesthetic was any formal training in interior design. But she did have a clear vision for a setting that would mirror what she hoped to convey in her practice—something that felt natural, calming, and emotionally supportive—and a drive to make it happen.

“I’ve always loved to be creative,” Breese says. “And this has been a great way to tap into that natural creativity while also maintaining my commitment to being a therapist and a businesswoman.”

What that vision looks like in practice in the Counseling Works offices tends to feel very homey, with soft lighting, clean lines, muted colors, and usually one anchor piece like a nice rug to bring things together. Most of the elements have come from Breese’s own journeys to local secondhand shops and online expeditions, all of which helps keep her ideas from breaking the bank (though she is willing to splurge on those anchor items from time to time). And while she admits the results are nothing flashy or revolutionary, that was never really the goal.

“The idea is to have a space that doesn’t feel intimidating so that people feel free to open up and have a conversation,” she explains. “I want our physical offices to reflect the way we’re trying to treat people, which is with a lot of care and listening and understanding.”

Breese says she can’t decisively quantify the effect her design choices have had on the efficacy of her team’s work, but she’s confident that the look and feel of the offices are having a positive influence on the interactions between her clients and staff. After all, while she knows appealing design is no substitute for excellent treatment, she believes the intersection of those two things can be extremely powerful.

“The most important thing is the quality of the work that we do, but doing it in a place that feels thoughtful just makes it that much better,” she says. “There’s a lot going on in the world right now, and being in a safe and comfortable environment for this kind of work just feels more important than ever before.”

Photos: Counseling Works