Work With Briana Booker, LSW

Culturally Responsive Online Therapist for Anxiety, Burnout, Trauma & Relationships in Chicago & Across Illinois

Hi, I’m Briana (she/her)

I’m a therapist providing online therapy for teens, young adults, adults, and couples across Chicago and throughout Illinois.

If your mind never really turns off, even when everything looks “fine,” I see you.

You might be the one everyone depends on. The one who keeps showing up, pushing through, and getting things done.

But inside?

Your mind doesn’t slow down.

You replay conversations.

Overthink everything.

Feel mentally drained. Like you can’t fully relax.

Or maybe you notice this showing up in your relationships. You’re having the same conversations over and over, feeling misunderstood, or not knowing how to fully say what you need.

This is where I often work—with overthinkers, deep feelers, and couples stuck in the same patterns, helping you finally feel calm, clear, and understood.

You might even catch yourself thinking, “Why am I like this?” or “Why does this keep happening in my relationships?”

If that sounds familiar, there’s a reason for it, and it makes sense that you feel this way.

Therapy with me is a space where we slow things down—so you can understand what’s happening underneath the surface and start to feel more calm, clear, and grounded in your day-to-day life and relationships.

You don’t have to have the perfect words here.

You won’t be pushed to share everything all at once.

We go at your pace.

You don’t have to keep living in your head—or stuck in the same patterns.

SCHEDULE YOUR FIRST SESSION WITH BRIANA
SCHEDULE YOUR FIRST SESSION WITH BRIANA

Meet Briana

I am a good fit for…

  • The Overthinker Who Can’t Turn Their Mind Off

    You’re stuck in constant mental loops, second-guessing yourself, and feeling emotionally drained

  • Students & Young Adults Under Pressure

    You’re overwhelmed, struggling to focus, or caught in procrastination cycles

  • Mothers Running on Empty

    You’re constantly giving to others while navigating burnout, identity shifts, postpartum emotions, or fertility challenges

  • Those Healing from Past Relationships

    You notice patterns like people-pleasing, difficulty trusting, or emotional reactivity

  • Couples Feeling Stuck or Disconnected

    You’re having the same arguments, struggling to communicate, or feeling distant from each other, and you’re not sure how to get back on the same page

  • BIPOC, First-Gen, Neurodivergent & LGBTQIA+ Clients

    You’re navigating life while carrying cultural, identity, or systemic pressures that aren’t always fully seen or understood

Many of the clients I work with look “fine” on the outside, but inside feel overwhelmed, anxious, or mentally overloaded.

I also work with couples who feel stuck in patterns they can’t seem to break. Whether it’s communication struggles, trust issues, or feeling disconnected, we work together to slow things down, understand what’s happening underneath the surface, and create more clarity, connection, and understanding in your relationship.

Together, we work toward moving from just getting through the day to actually feeling more like yourself again.

If you’ve been searching for a therapist near you in Chicago or anywhere in Illinois who truly understands this experience, you’re in the right place.

SCHEDULE WITH BRIANA
SCHEDULE WITH BRIANA

What Therapy Looks Like With Me

Therapy isn’t just about coping. It’s about understanding.

Together, we’ll explore:

  • what’s been weighing on you

  • how your thoughts, emotions, and body are connected

  • how past experiences and relationships may still be shaping how you show up

  • and how to feel more grounded and steady in your everyday life and relationships

I take an integrative, holistic approach that includes:

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS): understanding the different parts of yourself and what they’re carrying

  • CBT & DBT: building practical tools for managing thoughts, emotions, and stress

  • Relational & Trauma-Informed Therapy: understanding patterns shaped by your past and how they show up in relationships

  • Nervous System Work: grounding practices like breathwork and sound to help you feel more calm and connected in your body

I don’t just focus on coping skills. I help you understand why things feel the way they do, so things start to feel clearer, lighter, and more manageable in your everyday life.

How I Support You: From Survival to Feeling More Like Yourself

  • Anxiety & Overthinking: Quiet the constant mental loop and feel more calm and present

  • Burnout & Mental Overload: Stop running on empty and feel more balanced

  • Trauma & Relationship Patterns: Understand and shift patterns like people-pleasing and trust struggles

  • Relationship & Couples Work: Improve communication, understand recurring conflicts, and rebuild connection in a way that feels more supportive and less exhausting

  • Life Transitions: Feel more grounded when everything feels uncertain

  • Disconnection from Yourself: Reconnect with your needs, your voice, and your sense of direction

What It’s Like in Session With Me

You don’t have to come in with a plan.

You don’t have to explain everything perfectly.

In our first session, we focus on helping you feel comfortable, supported, and understood.

We’ll talk about what brought you here and what kind of support feels right for you, whether individually or as a couple.

I’m:

  • warm and grounded

  • honest and real

  • gently reflective, with directness when it’s helpful

  • supportive while still helping you grow

For couples, sessions are structured to help both of you feel heard and understood, without turning into another argument. We slow things down, unpack what’s happening underneath the surface, and work toward clearer communication and stronger connection.

Some sessions are emotional. Some are calm and grounding. Sometimes we even laugh, because healing doesn’t have to feel heavy every moment.

Everything happens at your pace. It’s never rushed, never forced.

You don’t have to figure this out alone.

LET'S GET STARTED
LET'S GET STARTED

Why This Work Matters to Me

I became a therapist because I’ve always been someone who notices what’s happening underneath the surface, not just what people say, but what they’re actually carrying.

Over time, I realized I didn’t just want to understand that, I wanted to help people make sense of it in a way that feels supportive and grounding.

This work is personal to me. I understand what it’s like to keep going while holding a lot internally and not always having space to slow down or process it.

What matters most to me is creating a space where:

  • you don’t have to hold it all together

  • things start to make sense

  • and what you’re carrying feels less heavy

Healing isn’t about pushing harder. It’s about finally having space to slow down and hear yourself.

A Culturally Responsive Space Where You Don’t Have to Explain Everything

As a Black woman and first-generation professional, I understand what it’s like to carry responsibility while still feeling like you have to keep going.

That really shapes how I show up for people who are always showing up for others but don’t always have space to pause and take care of themselves.

I also use an intersectional, more radical social work lens, which means I pay attention not just to what’s going on internally, but also the bigger picture like family, culture, race, gender, and access, and how all of that impacts the way you cope and move through life.

Because of my lived experience, I’m really intentional about creating a space that feels real and human.

This is a space where:

  • you don’t have to perform

  • you don’t have to explain everything perfectly

  • you don’t have to have it all figured out

You can just show up as you are.

More About Me

Outside of being a therapist, I value slowing down, staying grounded, and spending time with my family. I enjoy reading, music, and being in nature, and I travel when I can as a way to reset and gain perspective. I also stay connected through yoga, meditation, breathwork, and time outdoors, along with simple practices like planting, cooking, and using tarot and crystals for reflection.

Education, Training & Supervision

Education

  • Master of Social Work (MSW) — Tulane University

  • Bachelor of Arts (BA), Psychology — Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Clinical Training

  • Skilled in trauma-informed counseling, culturally affirming therapy, and strengths-based therapeutic approaches

  • Clinical experience in case management

  • Experience supporting clients navigating anxiety, trauma, life transitions, women’s mental health, and relationships

Licensure Status

Briana Booker, LSW is a Licensed Social Worker in the state of Illinois.

She provides therapy under the clinical guidance of Dr. Aretha Steele, PsyD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist and founder of Mindful Healing Counseling, in accordance with Illinois professional guidelines.

Briana provides online therapy to clients in Chicago and throughout Illinois, supporting individuals navigating anxiety, trauma, major life transitions, and relationship struggles.

Online Therapy in Chicago & Throughout Illinois

I provide online therapy in Chicago and across Illinois, including:

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Many people who come to therapy feel this way. On the outside, things may look stable, but internally you might feel anxious, mentally overloaded, or stuck in overthinking. This often happens when your mind and body have been in survival mode for a long time. Therapy helps you understand why this is happening and how to start feeling more grounded and supported.

  • Therapy can help you quiet overthinking, feel less anxious, improve focus, and better understand patterns in your relationships. It’s not just about talking. It’s about feeling different in your day-to-day life, like being able to rest, think more clearly, and respond instead of react.

  • Sessions are warm, supportive, and at your pace. You don’t have to come in with a plan or share everything all at once. We focus on helping you feel comfortable while also gently exploring patterns and building tools that help outside of session.

  • Yes. I work with couples who feel stuck in communication patterns, disconnected, or unsure how to move forward. Therapy helps you better understand each other, slow down recurring conflicts, and rebuild connection in a way that feels more supportive and less overwhelming.

  • Yes. I provide virtual therapy for clients across Chicago and throughout Illinois using a secure video platform.

  • That’s completely normal. Many people feel unsure at first. You won’t be judged or pressured. Therapy is a space where you can go at your own pace and start where you feel ready.

  • We are in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO and Aetna. Coverage varies by plan, and we’ll help verify your benefits before your first session.

Ready to Get Started?

You’ve been carrying a lot for a long time.

You don’t have to keep doing that alone.

Whether you’re coming in as an individual or a couple, support is here.

SCHEDULE YOUR FIRST SESSION
SCHEDULE YOUR FIRST SESSION