Anxiety Therapy
Begin Your Journey with Anxiety Therapists in Chicago
Anxiety may be common, but it shouldn’t feel like your normal. Whether you’re managing racing thoughts, sleepless nights, panic attacks, or a persistent sense of unease, anxiety can quietly interfere with your relationships, career, and overall well-being. The good news? You don’t have to face it alone, and healing is possible.
At Serengeti Wellness, we offer compassionate, culturally attuned anxiety therapy in Chicago, designed to help you reconnect with calm, clarity, and control. Our therapists don’t just treat symptoms; they get to know you. With evidence-based techniques and a trauma-informed approach, we create a safe, inclusive space where you can slow down, speak freely, and begin to understand what’s underneath your anxiety.
Whether you’re exploring counseling for anxiety for the first time or returning after a challenging experience, we’ll meet you where you are with care, curiosity, and respect. Here, healing happens at your pace, and every part of your story is welcome.
Key Takeaways
- Anxiety is common and treatable.Over 40 million U.S. adults experience anxiety each year (ADAA), but many never seek support. You don’t have to go it alone.
- Counseling for anxiety gives you real tools.Anxiety therapy equips you with practical skills to manage overwhelm, shift thought patterns, and regulate your nervous system.
- We take a whole-person approach.Our trauma-informed therapists for anxiety integrate somatic practices, mindfulness, and cultural sensitivity to support all parts of you.
- Care that fits your life.From individual and group therapy to yoga-based modalities, we tailor treatment to your needs, preferences, and pace.
- Expertise across anxiety types. Whether you’re dealing with GAD, panic, OCD, social anxiety, or trauma, our anxiety therapists in Chicago offer both clinical depth and cultural attunement.
You Are Not Alone. Start Your Healing Journey Today.
Schedule a free consultation with one of our anxiety therapists in Chicago.
What Does Anxiety Look Like? Common Symptoms and Disorders
Anxiety doesn’t always look the way you might expect. For some, it’s a loud, overwhelming fear. For others, it’s a quiet, persistent hum. It can show up as overthinking, irritability, fatigue, or physical discomfort. Because anxiety manifests in so many different ways, it often goes unrecognized or dismissed.
Understanding how your anxiety symptoms are showing up in your life is a powerful first step towards determining what kind of anxiety you have – and starting to heal. Below are some of the most common anxiety disorders, as outlined by theAmerican Psychological Association, and how they often show up in everyday life.
Specific phobias involve an intense fear of a particular object, activity, or situation, such as flying, needles, or heights. While the fear may seem irrational to others, it can feel overwhelming to the person experiencing it. Left untreated, phobias can restrict movement, freedom, and confidence.
Panic Disorder involves sudden episodes of intense fear, often described as panic attacks. These episodes may include chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or a feeling of detachment. The fear of having another attack can lead to avoidance of certain places or situations.
Social anxiety is the deep fear of being judged, rejected, or humiliated in social or performance situations. It may manifest as dread before meetings, fear of speaking in groups, or avoiding gatherings altogether. Over time, this can lead to isolation and reduced self-confidence.
OCD is characterized by intrusive, distressing thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or rituals (compulsions) used to relieve the anxiety they cause. These patterns can become time-consuming and emotionally exhausting. Common themes include cleanliness, safety, or needing things to feel “just right.”
PTSD can develop after a traumatic experience. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, emotional numbness, hypervigilance, and difficulty trusting others. While often associated with major trauma, PTSD can also result from ongoing stress, loss, or systemic oppression.
PTSD can develop after a traumatic experience. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, emotional numbness, hypervigilance, and difficulty trusting others. While often associated with major trauma, PTSD can also result from ongoing stress, loss, or systemic oppression.
When to Seek Counseling for Anxiety
There’s no “right” time to start therapy. If you notice that anxiety is interfering with your ability to live, connect, or thrive, it may be time to connect with a therapist for anxiety help. You might benefit from working with an anxiety therapist if you’re experiencing:
- Difficulty staying present or managing everyday responsibilities due to persistent worry
- Physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, or trouble sleeping
- Avoidance of social situations, professional obligations, or tasks you used to handle with ease
- Panic attacks, chest tightness, or a feeling of dread that seems to come out of nowhere
- A quiet but constant feeling that something isn’t quite right
Therapy is not a last resort; it’s an act of self-respect and care. You don’t have to be in crisis to deserve support. Starting now allows you to build resilience and reclaim your sense of peace, step by step. Start working with one of our anxiety therapists in Chicago today, in person or online, and start your healing journey.
Why Choose Serengeti Wellness for Anxiety Therapy in Chicago
Meet Our Team: Anxiety Therapists in Chicago
Our therapists are here to support you. We pride ourselves on having a fantastic team of professionals who treat every client with personable, culturally attuned care. Every clinician is licensed, experienced in anxiety-focused modalities, and committed to building a therapeutic relationship centered on trust and respect.
Our Services: A Holistic Approach to Healing
We know that healing is deeply personal and it’s never one-size-fits-all. That’s why, in addition to anxiety therapy, Serengeti Wellness offers a wide range of services designed to support the full spectrum of emotional, physical, and cultural experiences. Whether navigating stress, trauma, identity exploration, or life transitions, our care model ensures you receive support that reflects your values, pace, and whole self.
We also provide care for a range of related concerns, including depression, OCD, perinatal and postpartum mental health, chronic stress, grief, immigration-related anxiety, BIPOC-centered therapy, and more. Whatever you’re navigating, there’s space for you here.
Tools and Techniques to Support Your Healing
Counseling for anxiety at Serengeti Wellness is both grounding and growth-oriented. Our anxiety therapists in Chicago use an integrative, trauma-informed approach that combines evidence-based strategies and holistic tools to help you better understand your anxiety and learn how to shift it with care and clarity. Every technique is offered with flexibility, attunement, and deep respect for your pace.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a structured, skills-based approach that helps you identify, challenge, and reframe unhelpful thought patterns that fuel anxiety. It’s especially effective for generalized anxiety, panic, and social fears. You’ll learn how to respond to anxious thoughts with more awareness, compassion, and choice through CBT.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
EMDR is a powerful, evidence-based modality used to process traumatic memories and reduce the emotional charge they carry. It’s especially helpful for individuals experiencing PTSD, panic, or anxiety tied to past events.
Please note: There is currently a waitlist for EMDR therapy.
Mindfulness-Based Practices
Mindfulness helps you anchor in the present moment, rather than getting pulled into future fear or past regret. These practices cultivate awareness of your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations, giving you more space to respond rather than react. In counseling for anxiety, you can build habits of mindfulness that can help you increase your emotional resilience.
Breathwork and Somatic Awareness
Anxiety often lives in the body. Through breathwork and somatic techniques, you’ll learn to regulate your nervous system, recognize how anxiety shows up physically, and safely reconnect with your body. This work supports groundedness, especially during moments of overwhelm or shutdown.
Emotion Regulation Skills
Learning how to tolerate and regulate intense emotions is central to managing anxiety. Working with a therapist for anxiety will give you a safe space to explore strategies like self-soothing, distress tolerance, and emotional expression so you feel more capable of navigating big feelings without becoming consumed by them.
Grounding Techniques
Grounding exercises are practical, in-the-moment tools that help you stay connected to yourself when anxiety spikes. Working with a therapist for anxiety can help you increase your sensory engagement, body awareness, and orientation to your environment. Grounding can offer immediate relief when your nervous system feels flooded.
Reflective Practices
Journaling, guided prompts, and expressive writing can help you process your thoughts and deepen your insight between sessions. These practices strengthen your relationship with yourself and often uncover patterns or emotions that are ready to shift.
Behavioral Activation
Anxiety often leads to avoidance, which can reinforce fear and disconnection. Behavioral activation is a gentle, structured way to reintroduce meaningful activities into your life one step at a time. It’s about rediscovering what brings you joy, purpose, and energy.
Attachment and Emotion-Focused Therapy
Your relationships with others and yourself can shape how anxiety develops and heals. Attachment and emotion-focused therapy help you explore emotional patterns, core wounds, and unmet needs in a supportive, nonjudgmental space. This work in therapy for anxiousness deepens your capacity for connection and self-trust.
Anxiety Therapy Chicago
Find the Joy and the Calm You’ve Been Searching For
Your anxiety doesn’t define you, and it doesn’t have to run your life. Whether you’ve been searching for ‘anxiety therapy near me’, dealing with anxiety quietly for years, or only recently recognized the signs, you deserve the opportunity to feel better. You deserve to feel free. Our anxiety therapists in Chicago will walk beside you with warmth, skill, and deep respect for your process. We believe in your capacity to heal and are here to help you rediscover peace, joy, and connection.
FAQs: Individual Therapy in Chicago
What happens in the first session?
Textion is a space to explore what’s been going on, talk through your goals, and begin building a connection with your therapist. There’s no pressure to share everything at once. You can start getting to know our team of anxiety therapists in Chicago here:Meet the Team.
Do you offer virtual sessions?
Yes. If you are searching for ‘virtual anxiety therapy Chicago’, you are in the right place. We provide secure teletherapy for clients throughout Illinois, so you can access anxiety support from the comfort of your home.
Can your therapists prescribe anxiety medication?
Our therapists do not prescribe medication. However, we’re happy to refer you to a trusted psychiatrist or medical provider and collaborate on your care plan if medication becomes part of your healing.
What if I’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t work?
That’s completely valid. Counseling for anxiety is most effective when the relationship feels safe and aligned. We’ll work with you to find a provider who meets your needs and honors your story.
How long will I need to be in therapy?
Therapy timelines vary based on your goals and what you’re working through. Some clients come for short-term support, while others stay longer to dive deeper. You set the pace, our anxiety therapists in Chicago will walk with you.