Anxiety Therapist in Chicago

Helping people pleasers rebuild their self-confidence in Illinois

Anxiety Therapist in Chicago: Feeling Invisible, Overwhelmed, and Longing for Connection

anxiety therapist chicago

Every morning feels heavy before you even open your eyes. The worries rush in – what you’re behind on, what could go wrong today, how you might fail. You push through each day with a tight chest, trying to keep it together, feeling like no one really sees you.

At work, you keep to yourself. You feel awkward and disconnected, like everyone else belongs to a club you weren’t invited to join. Even small rejections – like offering to grab coffee for coworkers and hearing “no thanks” – sting deeply. It reminds you of growing up in your sibling’s shadow, wondering why you couldn’t be like them: confident, charismatic, accepted.

Your anxiety whispers that you’re boring. Forgettable. A burden. Every mistake feels catastrophic. You fear losing your job, disappointing your family, proving what you’ve always feared – that you’re just not enough.

But deep down, you long for peace. To feel calm in your own skin. To wake up without dread, to connect with others without that constant voice telling you you’re doing it wrong. You want to feel confident, grounded, and able to stand tall in who you are.

Therapy for Anxiety in Chicago: Reclaiming Calm, Confidence, and Connection

As an anxiety therapist in Chicago, I help people who spend so much of their lives taking care of others that they’ve forgotten how to care for themselves. You’re often the strong one, the one who sacrifices, the one who stays silent to keep the peace. But inside, you’re exhausted.

anxiety therapist chicago

My clients share that working together feels “cathartic.” They often feel a deep sense of trust and comfort where they can finally bring up taboo topics they’ve hidden for so long – things like sex and intimacy, grief, eating disorders, or questioning what’s healthy versus unhealthy in relationships.

Some begin dating again after loss, feeling ready to open their hearts without fear ruling every decision. Others feel more connected with their emotions, especially sadness, loneliness, shame, guilt, anger, and fear, after years of feeling emotionally “detached.”

Clients tell me therapy helps them dismantle rigid gender roles that kept them confined, explore their identities with openness, and rediscover parts of themselves they’d tucked away to survive. Many share a deep desire to do better by their own kids, to break the destructive intergenerational cycles they’ve lived through.

Okay, so tell me, if you were my therapist, how does therapy work with you?

anxiety therapist chicago
 

In our sessions, there is no pressure to share everything at once. Some days, you might come in ready to talk about the hard things. Other days, we may spend half the session talking casually before finding our way to what’s really hurting. There’s no one-size-fits-all all. We will find our unique therapy flow.

Many of my clients have learned to share their painful stories quickly and without emotion because it felt too scary to linger. In therapy, we slow down. We create space for your feelings to unfold naturally and safely – without fear of judgment or pressure to “fix it all today.”

Every session starts with where you are that day. If something feels too heavy, we can pause and return when you’re ready. Healing isn’t rushed here – it unfolds at your pace.

So…how do I know therapy is working for me?

I know it sounds cliché but everyone is going to see progress differently. That being said, many of my clients have noticed these shifts during our time together:

  • Speaking up without guilt

  • Feeling grounded and calm, even when anxiety shows up

  • Understanding and honoring feelings, instead of fearing them

  • Setting boundaries without feeling selfish

  • Exploring goals, dreams, and relationships with courage

  • Humanizing and empathizing with others

  • Leaving toxic relationships or environments with clarity

  • Healing their relationship with intimacy, sexuality, grief, and their bodies

  • Parenting in a way that breaks destructive intergenerational cycles

  • Experiencing life with more peace, confidence, and connection

anxiety therapist chicago

Imagine waking up and feeling like you belong to yourself. Imagine trusting your voice, setting boundaries, and building relationships where you feel seen, respected, and accepted – just as you are.

Hi, I’m Shirley Khong.

anxiety therapist chicago

Anxiety therapist in Chicago, IL

 

Convinced yet? Why Work With Me as Your Anxiety Therapist in Chicago

I see you – the anxious people-pleaser juggling too much, feeling drained and unseen. You’re the peacemaker and problem-solver, but your needs always come last. Therapy with me isn’t about fixing you – it’s about helping you reconnect with your strengths, feel confident, and create calm in your life.

Clients describe me as warm, calm, and deeply attuned. My goal isn’t for you to stay in therapy forever, but to leave feeling equipped, empowered, and ready to live with clarity and connection – for yourself and the generations after you.

anxiety therapist chicago

If you’re tired of feeling invisible, overwhelmed, and alone, therapy can help you reconnect with yourself and the world around you in a way that feels safe, grounded, and hopeful.

Click below to schedule your free 15-minute consultation. You deserve to feel calm, connected, and confident in your life.

Book a free consultation today

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Anxiety therapy helps you understand your worries, reduce overwhelming stress, and learn tools to calm your mind and body while exploring the deeper roots of anxiety in a safe space.

  • If anxiety is impacting your work, relationships, or daily peace, therapy can help you find relief and regain balance.

  • We’ll start by discussing your goals, needs, and any concerns you have about therapy – no pressure to share everything at once.

  • This is a valid question, and it depends on your goals and what you want to work on. Some clients feel relief within a few months, while others choose longer-term therapy for deeper healing.

  • Yes, I provide online therapy to fit your schedule and comfort.

  • Some discomfort is normal as you start exploring your feelings, but therapy ultimately helps you feel calmer and confident.

  • Yes, many clients experience both, and therapy can support you in navigating these experiences with care and compassion.

  • That’s okay. You don’t need to have it all figured out. We will begin exactly where you are.

  • For 50-minute individual sessions, it will cost $210 out of pocket, while for a 50-minute couples’ session, it will cost $220. I understand that therapy is an investment in your well-being, and I am committed to providing high-quality care. If you have insurance, I can help you navigate your benefits to see if any coverage is available. Additionally, please feel free to discuss any financial concerns with me, as I want to ensure that therapy is accessible for those who need it.

  • Click here to schedule your free 15-minute phone consultation today.