Anxiety

Anxiety often belongs to the people others rely on. You keep track of everything, anticipate every problem and hold the family together, and the worry rarely switches off, even when things are going well.

As an anxiety therapist, I work with you on both sides of it: the thoughts and habits that keep anxiety going, and the practical steps that make daily life feel more manageable.

What anxiety can feel like

• Worry that is hard to stop, even when you know it's out of proportion
• Racing thoughts at night, or waking already tense
• A tight chest, upset stomach or headaches with no clear cause
• Sudden waves of panic or a constant sense of dread
• Overthinking, perfectionism or trouble making decisions
• Avoiding things because of how anxious they make you feel

Who I work with

• Adults with persistent worry that affects sleep, work or relationships
• People who have panic or a constant sense of dread
• People who look calm and capable but rarely feel it
• Anyone whose anxiety is tied to responsibilities for family here or abroad
• Teens with worry, panic or school stress, with a parent or guardian involved

How we work together

Cognitive behavioral therapy to notice and change the thought patterns that feed anxiety, with solution-focused work on the small, concrete steps that make daily life easier.

We start by mapping your anxiety: when it shows up, what it says, and what you do to cope. Many coping habits make sense in the moment and keep anxiety going in the long run.

With CBT, you learn to catch anxious thoughts, test them, and respond differently. We also practice ways to calm your body when anxiety rises.

With solution-focused work, we keep returning to what you want your days to look like, and build toward it in steps that feel doable.

Anxiety, family and responsibility

For immigrants and children of immigrants, anxiety is often tangled up with responsibility: supporting family in another country, carrying parents' hopes, or being the one who translates, arranges and worries for everyone.

We can look at those expectations openly, without asking you to give up the people and values that matter to you.

Online sessions across Illinois, in English or Albanian

Sessions are by secure video, so you can meet from home or anywhere private, as long as you are in Illinois at the time of the session. We can work in English or in Albanian, whichever feels more natural.

The first session

• Understanding what brought you to therapy
• Agreeing on what you want help with
• Talking through how we will work together

Fees and insurance

Sessions are $180 for 50 minutes. Most major insurance plans accepted. See fees and insurance for the details.

Questions people ask

See also: Depression, Trauma and PTSD, Grief, Life transitions, Acculturative stress.