5 Highly Recommended Chicago Anxiety Therapists
Anxiety can be so pervasive that it can be hard to think that therapy can help. While there is no instant fix for anxiety, research shows that consistent trauma-informed and relational therapy is highly effective over time. This therapeutic approach helps by addressing the root causes of anxiety rather than just managing symptoms.
At Watch Hill Therapy, our Chicago trauma specialists understand that anxiety often develops in the context of our relationships and life experiences. That's why we take the time to understand your story and build a therapeutic relationship where lasting healing can happen.
Anxiety is often an old wound speaking.
For many people, anxiety isn't random. It's the body still bracing for something it learned long agoโoften inside a relationship that was supposed to feel safe and didn't. As trauma specialists, we hear that history in the things our clients tell themselves:
"I'm fine, I just didn't sleep well again."
"I can't let my guard down, even with people I love."
"Why is my heart already pounding before I've even gotten out of bed?"
"I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop."
"If they really knew me, they'd leave."
If any of those sound like the voice inside your head, it doesnโt mean you are broken, it means you adapted to survive something hard. The most lasting relief doesn't come from silencing those alarms, but from stepping into them, understanding where they came from, and doing so inside a relationship that finally feels safe. That's the work we're trained to do.
Jump to a therapist
Caitlin Lawler: Good fit for adults wanting EMDR for trauma-driven anxiety
Kaitlyn Rippel: Good fit for anxious kids and teens, including those on the autism spectrum
Angie Zara: Good fit for adults managing anxiety alongside substance use
Sabrina Mirza: Good fit for BIPOC adults whose anxiety is tangled up with systemic stress
Aspen Fultz: Good fit for LGBTQIA+ teens and adults exploring identity
Meet our Chicago anxiety therapists
Caitlin Lawler
Good fit for adults wanting EMDR for trauma-driven anxiety
If your anxiety lives in your bodyโracing heart, chronic tension, nights you can't sleepโI want you to know there's a way through it.
I work with adults whose anxiety is rooted in childhood abuse, relational trauma, or violence they've survived. My focus is on reaching the original wound rather than only managing what shows up on the surface, and I hold that work with a steady, patient care that keeps you feeling safe every step. Together, we rebuild the internal calm that trauma took from you.
Credentials: Licensed Professional Counselor #180018041, EMDR trained
Specialty Areas: Anxiety, childhood abuse, domestic violence, sexual violence, attachment or relational trauma
Availability: Virtual & in-person in Chicago
Kaitlyn Rippel
Good fit for anxious kids and teens, including those on the autism spectrum
When a child or teen is anxious, the whole family feels itโand I'm here for all of you. I work with kids, adolescents, and adults whose anxiety often sits alongside trauma, grief, or attachment wounds, meeting each person in the way that fits their age and how they process the world. My background as a school social worker also gave me deep experience supporting anxious young people on the autism spectrum. My first priority is always to be a safe, trusted relationship your child can lean on.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker #149026332
Specialty Areas: Anxiety, trauma, grief, loss, attachment wounds, depression
Availability: Virtual & in-person in Chicago
Angie Zara
Good fit for adults managing anxiety alongside substance use
Anxiety and the ways we cope with it often go hand in hand, and I won't shame you for that. If your past experiences and the pain and anxiety theyโve caused have led you to use substances, youโre welcome here. Iโll meet you where youโre at and together, weโll gently examine your relationship with substancesโand other coping mechanismsโto understand how itโs kept you safe and explore new ways to move through overwhelming emotions. My goal is a space where you feel genuinely seen, never judged, and free to heal in a way that feels safe.
Credentials: Licensed Professional Counselor
Specialty Areas: Anxiety, trauma, substance use, relationship issues, depression, grief
Availability: Virtual & in-person in Chicago
Sabrina Mirza
Good fit for BIPOC adults whose anxiety is tangled up with systemic stress
So often, anxiety is the body's response to systems that were never safe for you to begin with. I work with adults across BIPOC and intersecting identities whose worry exists alongside oppression, grief, and complex trauma. My approach is anti-oppressive and rooted in consent, which means nothing happens without your say-so and we move only as fast as feels right. I want to help your nervous system finally exhaleโand to offer care that understands your whole context, not just your symptoms.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker #149026874
Specialty Areas: Anxiety, complex trauma, navigating BIPOC identity/ethnocultural experiences, systemic oppression, grief & loss, depression
Availability: Virtual & in-person in Chicago
Aspen Fultz
Good fit for LGBTQIA+ teens and adults exploring identity
For so many of my clients, anxiety is wrapped up in the work of figuring out who they are. Iโm especially passionate about working with teens, young adults, and adults who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and I bring both clinical expertise and lived experience to the therapy space. I offer an affirming, grounded space where you can explore gender and sexuality without assumption, and where the anxiety that comes with transition or self-questioning is met with care.
Credentials: Licensed Social Worker
Specialty Areas: Anxiety, relationships, sexual & gender identity, parenting, complex trauma, LGBTQIA+ identity, grief, PTSD
Availability: Virtual & in-person in Chicago
What sets our practice apart from other Chicago anxiety treatment providers
At Watch Hill Therapy, our trauma specialists understand that stress runs deeper than surface-level symptomsโitโs often rooted in deeper wounds that need compassionate, expert attention. Hereโs why our clients choose us.
13 years specializing in trauma. Anxiety frequently has trauma at its root, and we're trained to treat the source, not just manage the symptom.
Beyond trauma-informed. We're recognized leaders in Chicago for advanced trauma treatment, and we train other therapists in this work.
A genuinely diverse team. Bilingual, LGBTQIA+ affirming, anti-oppressive, and neurodivergent-affirming clinicians who reflect the city we serve.
Body-based and relational care. We integrate somatic and evidence-based modalities like EMDR, DBT, ACT, polyvagal and mindfulness practices, and TREโข.
Flexible access. Evening and weekend availability, plus hybrid sessions. Meet us in person in downtown Chicago or virtually by telehealth.
FAQs about therapy for anxiety
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Anxiety looks different in everyone, but a few signs tend to show up again and again:
A mind that races or won't shut off, especially at night
Physical symptoms like a pounding heart, tight chest, stomachaches, or fatigue
Trouble sleeping or a constant sense of restlessness
Avoiding people, places, or tasks that feel overwhelming
Difficulty concentrating, or feeling permanently on edge
Saying yes when you mean no, then feeling resentful or panicked
If several of these feel familiar, we can help you understand whatโs happening and what to do about it.
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Our clinicians work with anxiety in all its forms, including:
Generalized anxiety and chronic worry
Panic attacks
Social anxiety
Trauma- and PTSD-related anxiety
Anxiety tied to grief, loss, or major life transitions
Anxiety in children and teens, including school refusal
Relationship and attachment-related anxiety
Anxiety alongside ADHD, neurodivergence, or substance use
Whatever shape your anxiety takes, we're here to help.
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There's not just one best therapy for anxietyโthe right approach depends on you. We blend evidence-based and body-focused methods like DBT, ACT, EMDR, polyvagal and somatic work, and relational therapy, then tailor that mix to your history and goals. What matters most is finding a therapist who truly fits you.
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Yes. Many people find lasting relief through therapy alone, especially approaches that work directly with the nervous system. Medication helps some people, and it's a personal choice. We'll support whatever path fits you, with or without it, and we'll never pressure you either way.
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Yes, anxiety therapy is often covered by insurance. We're in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO plans. If you have a different insurer, we're happy to provide a superbill you can submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement.