—— YOU MAY BE HERE BECAUSE
You've been holidng it together for a long time.
And most people have no idea because you're good at it. You're capable, dependable, and from the outside your life looks like it's working. But when you're alone, the conversation in your head sounds different. You have a good life, you should be grateful, you shouldn't feel like this.
You've tried therapy, self-care, meditation, or all the things that people recommend. Some of it helped for a while, but but it never really got to the root of what you're feeling. Because this goes deeper than stress, habits, and better routines.
YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR ANXIETY, BUT IT STILL RUNS YOUR LIFE.
You know where it comes from. You recognize some triggers and understand why you feel the way you do. You can look calm on the outside while feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or on edge inside.
YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT AND YOU'RE STILL TIRED.
You see your patterns clearly and repeat them anyway. You've done the work and it hasn't been enough because what's underneath the exhaustion is not a habits problem. It's not something a routine can fix. You know that by now.
ON PAPER EVERYTHING LOOKS FINE. SO WHY DO YOU STILL FEEL THIS WAY?
You know you have things to be grateful for. That doesn't stop you from feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or emotionally drained. Then you feel guilty for feeling that way.
YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE YOURSELF ANYMORE. YOU'RE NOT SURE WHEN THAT HAPPENED.
Perimenopause is changing you. Maybe you spent so many years living by other people's expectations or taking care of everyone else that you've lost touch with yourself. Either way, you know something is different. And you're ready to understand why.
—— THIS IS DIFFERENT
Therapy that honors your intelligence and your nervous system.
Your mind, body, your relationships and your life experiences all matter. They're not separate problems to fix one at a time, but parts of one person who makes complete sense when you actually look at the whole picture.
Most therapy will help you cope.
This work asks you what you're coping with & why it's still here.
—— MY APPROACH
Therapy rooted in science and compassion.
I use an integrative, trauma-informed approach that blends relational neuroscience, somatic therapy, nervous system, attachment theory, and IFS parts work.
Some sessions focus on processing difficult experiences.
Others focus on building resources that help you feel calmer, more gorunded and more connected to yourself.
We work at the pace the feels right for you.
I'm Michaela
I am a licensed clinical professional counselor serving women throughout Illinois via telehealth.
I specialize in anxiety, trauma, burnout, and perimenopause & midlife transitions.
My goal is not to keep you in therapy indefinitely. It's to help you understand what's driving your symptoms and patterns, work through it with care, and help you reach a place where you actually feel different.
For some women, that happens through weekly therapy.
For others, therapy intensives provide time and space to make deeper progress.
Therapy Intensives/Extended Sessions
Rather than spreading the work over months of weekly sessions, an intensive creates a dedicated block of time to go deeper without the week-long gaps that can slow momentum.
It's not faster therapy. It's therapy with more time for more intense work.
Half Day
3–4 hours. Ideal if you're already in therapy or have done some personal work and want to go deeper on something specific. We have time to move beyond insight and into meaningful change.
Full Day
A full day of therapy with a breaks built in to rest, eat, reset. Long enough to move through more than one layer, without having to stop right when something starts to open up.
Multi Day
2–3 consecutive or closely spaced days.Designed for women working through long-standing trauma, anxiety, or major life transitions. Multiple days give us space to explore, process, and integrate without feeling rushed.
Therapy intensives can be a stand-alone experience or complement your ongoing therapy. If you're not sure which option is right for you, we can talk it through during a free consultation.
—— FREE RESOURCE
Not ready to book yet?
Start here.
If you're still thinking about if therapy is the right next step, the free guide is a good place to begin. Inside, you'll find simple practice to help you slow down and better understand your nervous system.
WHAT'S INSIDE:
13 simple nervous system practices
• Brief explanation of each practice
• Simple exercise you can use in everyday life
• Journaling prompts to reflect and notice
Stay connected with supportive practices
and reflections to slow down and simplify your life.
Something brought you here
Maybe you've been telling yourself you'll reach out when life settles down. Or that you should be able to handle it on your own. Many women wait until they're completely exhausted before asking for support. You don't have to wait for for things to get worse.
Whether you're ready to schedule a consultation or simply want to learn more, you're welcome to begin wherever feels right for you.