Anxiety Therapist Chicago, IL for Adults & Couples
For people who feel stuck in anxious relational patterns and want something different
Therapy That Helps You Reclaim Your Voice (Without Pretending to Be Someone You’re Not)
Maybe you’re feeling…
✅ Emotional. all. the. time.
✅ Empty, the shell of a person you used to be, trying to keep the peace.
✅ Worried that you’ll get hurt if you put yourself out there to date again.
✅ Guilty when you set boundaries with others.
✅ Worried that you’ll repeat the same relationship patterns with your kids (or future ones).
You don’t have to go through this alone.
These patterns didn’t appear out of nowhere.
Maybe you grew up believing love meant being helpful.
Conflict was scary and should be avoided.
Maybe you learned to put everyone else's needs before your own.
Those coping strategies may have helped you then…
But after a breakup or divorce, they left you questioning yourself, overthinking every interaction, and struggling to trust your own intuition.
The goal of therapy isn't to blame or vilify your past.
It's to understand it with compassion so you can begin making different choices moving forward.
Many clients discover that what they've called self-sabotage is actually their nervous system trying to protect them.
I’m not here to force you into a cookie-cutter version of “healed.”
We work together to understand yourself in new ways so you can build relationships that feel healthier, calmer, and more authentic.
How I Help You Move Forward
Many of my clients learned growing up that love meant keeping the peace, overextending themselves to meet others' expectations, or putting themselves last.
After experiencing a breakup or divorce, those old patterns often become impossible to ignore.
Together, we'll explore where those patterns came from and help you build relationships that reflect who you are today.
You do not have to stay in the role of the caretaker if it no longer fits who you are becoming.
Hi, I’m Shirley!
Hanging out with my dog-nephew!
A Space Where You Can Reconnect With Yourself
I am a second-generation Chinese-Vietnamese American who knows firsthand the struggle of not speaking up for myself and how that affects my self-confidence.
I want to give you the space and (more importantly) permission to slow down.
My approach blends Psychodynamic therapy, IFS, mindfulness, and attachment theory, meaning we get to know your story and the parts of your identity within it.
Together, we'll practice sitting with uncomfortable emotions instead of running from them.
They don't scare me.
Services I provide
What clients often tell me…
“I learned to trust myself and my body’s signals to spot abusive behaviors within MONTHS, instead of years! And walked away without feeling guilty.”
“All these years I felt shame about my circumstances, thinking that if I carried it for others, it would help. Now I realized it was never mine to hold.”
Anxiety Therapy in Chicago, IL
Taking the first step can feel intimidating, especially if you are used to putting yourself last.
You do not have to have everything figured out before reaching out.
If you are ready to start understanding yourself in a new way and begin healing from patterns of anxiety and self-sabotage, I invite you to connect.
No pressure. Click the link below to explore what support could look like for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
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I work with individuals who experience anxiety, self-sabotage, difficulty with boundaries, and patterns rooted in past relationships or family dynamics. Many of my clients find themselves stuck in cycles of people-pleasing, overthinking, or feeling responsible for others while losing connection with themselves.
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Anxiety therapy with me focuses less on fixing your thoughts and more on helping you understand your internal experience. While approaches like CBT can be helpful for some people, our work together is centered on slowing down and getting curious about your emotions, patterns, and nervous system responses.
We start by meeting you exactly where you are each day. Instead of assigning structured homework, we focus on building awareness, self-trust, and emotional regulation in a way that feels supportive and sustainable.
When it is helpful, I will offer tools, reflections, or practices you can return to between sessions. There is no pressure to perform or “get it right,” only space to understand yourself more deeply and begin responding differently over time.
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Session fees and details about payment and insurance are outlined on the Fees page. You are welcome to review that information or reach out with any questions. We can also talk through what feels manageable during your free 15-minute consultation.
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Yes. I offer virtual therapy for clients located in Illinois, including Chicago and surrounding areas. This allows you to attend sessions from a space that feels comfortable and private.
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You can reach out through the contact page to schedule your free 15-minute consultation. This is a chance to ask questions, share what you are looking for, and see if this feels like the right fit.
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