Intergenerational Trauma Therapy in Chicago, IL
You might be carrying more than just your own pain.
If you’re here, maybe a part of you knows this didn’t start with you and you’re ready to address it once and for all.
Maybe you’ve heard, “That’s not how we do things in this family.”
And yet…something inside you is asking for a different way.
In families shaped by survival, trauma, and silence, emotions often had no space to exist. You may have learned that feelings were unsafe, weak, or just inconvenient. You need to keep pushing, and you’ll get through it.
There might be stories you never heard, secrets that were never spoken, or pain that was passed down in the form of expectations, silence, or fear. These burdens often live in our bodies and spirits, showing up as anxiety, perfectionism, people-pleasing, emotional distance, or an inner voice that tells you you're never good enough.
You usually avoid conflict with others because you don’t want to “rock the boat” or “make things worse”. You might struggle not to “fix” the people around you, or find yourself repeating old patterns, even when you swore you wouldn’t.
When you try to live life on your own terms (i.e., setting boundaries, asking for what you need, raising your kids differently), you’re met with guilt trips, tension, or quiet disapproval. It's confusing. Painful. And often, it leaves you questioning whether you’re the problem.
You Can Break the Cycle Without Breaking Connection
Hi, I’m Shirley!
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois
You've spent years being the responsible one. The one who holds it together, keeps the peace, and puts everyone else's needs before your own. In many families, especially in communities of color, it's a survival strategy passed down through generations. You were taught that taking care of others came first.
Asking for help was weakness, and your needs could wait. They've been waiting a long time.
Through intergenerational trauma therapy, we'll explore the patterns, beliefs, and emotional habits passed down through your family that may be keeping you stuck, the shame that isn't yours to carry, the guilt that shows up every time you prioritize yourself, the grief of relationships that never gave you what you needed, and the resentment that builds when you’ve kept giving without ever receiving.
Healing doesn't mean cutting off your roots. It means learning how to grow beyond what hurt you, understanding that the patterns making your life harder today made complete sense in the family system and culture you grew up in. Together we'll untangle where those patterns came from, build new ways of relating to yourself and others, and develop the clarity, confidence, and self-compassion you were never given permission to have.
If you've spent your whole life carrying what was never yours to hold, this is a space where you can finally set it down.
For once, you get to cut yourself a piece of the cake
Imagine what it looks like to rebuild your family tree…
Reclaiming the energy you've spent managing everyone else's emotions
Understanding that the burdens you carried were never yours to begin with
Unshackling from the shame and self-criticism you inherited
Showing up differently in your own relationships, and giving the people you love something new to pass down
"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."
For someone who is ready but scared
When you're ready, reaching out is simple. Share a little about what you're going through and what you're looking for. There's no pressure and no commitment required.
This is a space where you'll be met with curiosity, compassion, and genuine respect for everything you've been carrying, often for much longer than you should have had to.
You're allowed to live your life differently.
Frequently Asked Questions about Intergenerational Trauma Therapy
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It’s therapy that helps you explore and heal the emotional patterns passed down through family systems. It’s especially helpful for clients who feel responsible for everyone, struggle with boundaries, or were “parentified” as children.
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Feeling guilt when setting boundaries, emotional shutdowns, perfectionism, chronic anxiety, or taking on a caregiving role too young are all common signs.
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Only what you’re ready to share. We’ll go at your pace. Therapy is about safety, not retraumatizing.
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Yes! I offer virtual sessions throughout the state of Illinois, including Chicago and surrounding areas.
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Our first session is about building trust, getting to know each other, frequency of sessions, and reviewing consent forms/policies. There’s no pressure to share more than you’re ready for.
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I am a provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois PPO. You can use your insurance or you can pay out-of-pocket of $210 for for a 50 minute individual session.
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Fill out the contact form below for us to talk about your goals and see if we’re a good fit!
You didn't choose what was handed down to you.
But you get to choose what happens next.
Fill out the contact form below. No pressure, no commitment. Just a conversation to see if this feels like the right fit.