Anxiety Therapist and Post-Breakup Therapy in Chicago, IL

You’ve been feeling too much after the breakup/divorce. Life is NOT what you expected after the relationship ended. Today is one of those days when you’re drowning in your shame and guilt for leaving an unhealthy relationship.

You want to tell someone and get it out of your system. But you hold back because you’re afraid of being a burden, especially the person who retells the same story over and over again.

Maybe you'll try therapy. Everyone keeps saying to. And here you are, considering it. You don’t want to stay stuck forever.

Hi, I’m Shirley!

Want to learn more? Click the link below!

Get to know me

Anxiety therapist and post breakup therapy in Chicago, IL

I work with women who are recently divorced to explore their sexuality and new relationships.

They are often afraid of being a burden to others.

They want to find the confidence to set boundaries and reconnect with their emotions.

They want to create real change in their lives and relationships.

If you have spent years putting others first, as a high-achiever, a people-pleaser, or a caregiver who keeps showing up for everyone else while quietly running on empty, you are exactly who I work with.

The work we do together is not about forcing you into a shape that was never yours to begin with. We focus on the strengths you already carry, the ones that make you uniquely you, and build from there.

You don't have to perform or present a polished version of yourself here.

Some of what becomes possible in this work:

Recognizing the patterns that have kept you stuck in relationships that drain you
Building the language and confidence to communicate your needs without guilt or fear
Developing a relationship with your own emotions so they inform you rather than overwhelm you
Releasing the belief that needing support makes you a burden
Finding your way back to yourself to explore other parts of your identity

With each step, my clients feel more confident, more grounded, and more at home within themselves.

The work is not always easy, but it is yours. And it moves at a pace that respects exactly where you are.

Clients have said, “I learned to trust myself and my body's signals to spot abusive behaviors within MONTHS, instead of years.”

You don't have to have it all figured out to reach out. You just have to be a little bit ready. And it sounds like you already are.

You don’t have to keep carrying this alone.

Getting over someone as fast as possible after a breakup/divorce takes time. We slow down to understand what happened, what patterns played a role, and what you actually want your life and relationships to look like going forward.

You don't have to keep retelling the same story for fear of judgment. You can start telling a new one, with support, at your pace, in a space where you are genuinely welcome.

Book a free consultation by clicking on the link below.

Schedule a free consultation

You don't have to keep retelling the same story.

Let’s help you write a new one.

FAQs

Yes. This is one of the most common reasons people reach out. A breakup, especially one that follows a long relationship or a painful pattern, can leave you questioning yourself, your choices, and what comes next.
Post-breakup therapy is a space to process what happened without judgment, understand the dynamics that played a role, and start building toward the life and relationships you actually want.
If you are exhausted, stuck in the same patterns, and something in you is looking for a way through, that is enough of a reason to try. You don't have to be in crisis to benefit from therapy.
Many people who seek post-breakup therapy or anxiety counseling in Chicago come in feeling exactly the way you might feel right now: worn out, uncertain, and quietly hoping something could be different. That is a completely valid place to start.
The first session is a conversation. There is no pressure to share everything at once. We spend time getting to know each other, exploring what brought you in, and beginning to get a sense of what you're carrying.
Many clients say they feel genuinely heard and relieved after that first meeting, sometimes for the first time in a long time. You set the pace from day one.
That experience is more common than you might think, and it matters. Not every therapist is the right fit, and not every approach works for every person. My work is relational, meaning we move at your pace and build trust over time.
You won't be pushed into anything before you're ready. If you've had a frustrating experience with therapy before, I encourage you to bring that into the room. It's useful information, and it's welcome here.
There is no single answer to this because therapy is not one-size-fits-all. Some people find meaningful relief in a few months. Others find that longer-term work allows them to go deeper and create lasting change. We will move at a pace that makes sense for you, and we will check in along the way to make sure the work continues to feel relevant and useful.