Work With Samreen Ahmed, LSW
Online Therapy for Anxiety, Trauma, Grief & Life Transitions Throughout Chicago & Illinois
Helping first-generation and BIPOC women move from survival mode to feeling safe, grounded, and more like themselves again.
Hi, I’m Samreen (she/her)
I'm really glad you're here.
Whether you've been thinking about therapy for a while or you're only beginning to wonder if now is the right time, I'm honored you're taking a few moments to learn more about me.
I'm a Licensed Social Worker providing online therapy for adults throughout Chicago and Illinois.
I specialize in helping people navigate anxiety, trauma, grief, life transitions, and cultural stress through a warm, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approach. Whether your story has been shaped by culture, faith, family expectations, or difficult life experiences, therapy can become a place where you no longer have to carry everything alone.
If you've been living in survival mode for so long that feeling "okay" seems unfamiliar, you're not alone.
Maybe your mind never truly slows down, even when everything around you is quiet.
Maybe your body always feels tense, like it's waiting for something bad to happen.
Maybe you're carrying grief, navigating a major life transition, or trying to balance your own needs alongside family and cultural expectations.
Or maybe you've spent so much time holding everything together that you've forgotten what it feels like to simply exhale.
If any of that feels familiar, I want you to know something.
You don't have to carry it alone anymore.
Therapy with me is a place where your whole story is welcome.
Together, we'll move at a pace that feels safe, helping you better understand what you've been carrying while creating more steadiness, self-compassion, and a deeper sense of safety in both your mind and body.
Meet Samreen
Who I Help
You might recognize yourself in some of these experiences...
Your Mind and Body Never Really Get a Chance to Rest
Maybe anxiety has become such a familiar part of your life that you don't even notice how much energy it takes. Your mind is always preparing for what could go wrong next. Your shoulders stay tense. Your chest feels tight. Even when you're resting, your nervous system doesn't seem to believe you're actually safe.
You're Carrying the Weight of Culture, Family & Expectations
As a first-generation or BIPOC woman, you may find yourself balancing family expectations, cultural values, faith, and your own well-being all at once. You love your family deeply, but sometimes you're left wondering where your own needs fit into the picture.
You're Living in the "Messy Middle"
Life doesn't always fall apart all at once. Sometimes it's a new marriage. A career change. A loss. A new season of motherhood. Or simply realizing the life that once fit no longer feels like your own. Transitions can bring uncertainty, grief, and questions you never expected to ask.
Past Experiences Still Feel Present
Trauma doesn't always stay in the past. Sometimes it shows up as hypervigilance, difficulty trusting, feeling constantly "on edge," or struggling to relax even when everything around you seems okay. Together, we'll gently make sense of those experiences while helping your mind and body begin to feel safer again.
You've Been Holding It Together for Everyone Else
From the outside, you seem calm and capable. Inside, your nervous system feels like it's constantly scanning for danger. Maybe it's hard to truly relax. Maybe you're always anticipating what might go wrong next. Or maybe you've spent so long in survival mode that feeling calm almost feels unfamiliar. Therapy can help your mind and body begin to experience safety again, so you're no longer living in a constant state of "on."
You're Looking for Therapy That Understands Your Whole Story
You don't want to spend your sessions explaining your culture, your faith, or why certain family dynamics feel so complicated. You want a therapist who understands those layers and honors every part of who you are with warmth, curiosity, and respect. Many of the women I work with come to therapy feeling anxious, emotionally overwhelmed, or exhausted from living in survival mode.
You don't have to wait until you're completely burned out before reaching out.
We'll begin exactly where you are.
If you're looking for compassionate online therapy for anxiety, trauma, grief, or life transitions in Chicago or anywhere in Illinois, I'd be honored to support you.
What therapy with me feels like
Clients often describe our sessions as a space where they can finally exhale; it’s a thoughtful, relational conversation designed to help you find safety in your own skin.
Move at Your Pace: You don’t need a script. We start exactly where you are today.
Somatic & Nervous System Focus: We don't just "talk about" problems; we look at how stress shows up physically so you can find genuine calm.
No Cultural Translation Needed: Your full identity is honored here. Whether we are discussing family dynamics, faith, or intergenerational stress, you are seen as a whole person, not a diagnosis.
Over time, therapy can help you:
Feel calmer and more "at home" in your own body.
Process past trauma at a pace that feels safe, not overwhelming.
Navigate life’s "messy" middle parts with more clarity and self-trust.
Therapy with me is a place where your nervous system no longer has to stay in survival mode. Together, we create a space where your mind and body can begin to experience safety, steadiness, and healing, at a pace that feels right for you.
How I Support You: Finding Peace in the "In-Between"
We focus on the connection between your mind, your body, and your culture. Here is how I help my clients move toward a sense of groundedness:
You’re Carrying Stress in Your Body: We’ll use somatic tools to calm your nervous system, helping you release the physical tension and "hum" of anxiety you’ve lived with for years.
You’re Navigating Heavy Family Roles: We’ll work on finding a balance between honoring your family and protecting your own mental health, setting boundaries that feel respectful yet firm.
You’re Tired of "Translating" Your Identity: In this space, your cultural and religious background is a source of strength, not something you have to justify or explain.
You’re Facing a Major Life Transition: Whether it’s a new career, a relationship shift, or an identity change, we’ll build the steadiness you need to navigate the "messy middle."
You’re Healing from Past Wounds: We gently process past trauma at a pace that respects your boundaries, ensuring you feel supported and heard every step of the way.
Areas I Commonly Support
Every person's story is unique, but many of the adults and women I work with come to therapy for support with:
Anxiety, chronic stress, and overthinking
Trauma, PTSD, and nervous system overwhelm
Grief, loss, and major life transitions
Burnout and emotional exhaustion
First-generation experiences, cultural pressure, and identity stress
Relationship challenges, communication, and boundary-setting
Hypervigilance and feeling constantly "on edge"
People-pleasing, perfectionism, and difficulty trusting yourself
Faith, cultural identity, and emotional well-being
BIPOC and culturally responsive therapy
Women's mental health and self-discovery
You don't have to know exactly what's "wrong" before reaching out. Whether you're feeling anxious, overwhelmed, grieving, emotionally exhausted, or simply not like yourself lately, therapy begins with your story, not a perfect diagnosis.
Together, we'll create a path toward feeling calmer, more grounded, and more connected to yourself.
My Approach
I believe your responses make sense given what you’ve lived through.
My work is trauma-informed and body-focused. Rather than just pushing you to “think differently,” we focus on building genuine safety in your nervous system.
Whether we are discussing family dynamics, cultural expectations, or faith, this is a space where you are seen as a whole person—not a diagnosis.
Care That Honors Your Culture, Faith & Identity
As a South Asian Muslim woman, I understand how culture, faith, family expectations, and the pressure to "hold it all together" can shape the way we experience anxiety, trauma, grief, relationships, and emotional well-being.
Many of the people I work with have spent years balancing their own needs alongside deep loyalty to their families, communities, or cultural values. They often carry the quiet pressure to be strong, avoid burdening others, or put everyone else's needs before their own.
In therapy, you shouldn't have to spend your time explaining why those experiences matter. Your culture, faith, identity, and lived experiences are welcomed here and honored as important parts of your story, not barriers to understanding.
Needing support isn't a sign of weakness. It's an act of courage. You deserve care that respects your whole story and creates space for every part of who you are.
Education, Training & Licensure
Education
Master of Social Work (MSW) — University of Chicago
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Psychology — DePaul University
Clinical Training
School social work intern in a Chicago inner-city school community, supporting students and families navigating behavioral and emotional challenges
Provided trauma-informed therapy to individuals navigating anxiety, depression, PTSD, grief, and suicidal ideation during advanced clinical training at University of Chicago Medicine.
Provided emotional and spiritual support to patients and families navigating grief, serious illness, and end-of-life care during clinical chaplaincy training at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Clinical Experience
Experience working with diverse communities and populations across the South and West sides of Chicago
Advanced training supporting clients navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and life transitions
Skilled in trauma-informed counseling, culturally affirming therapy, and strengths-based therapeutic approaches
Professional Credentials & Licensure
Samreen Ahmed, 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.
Samreen provides online therapy to clients across Chicago and throughout Illinois, supporting individuals navigating anxiety, trauma, grief, and major life transitions.
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Not at all. Many of the people I work with are not in a major crisis. They’re simply overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, anxious, or carrying stress that has built up over time. Therapy can help before things reach a breaking point.
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Yes. Anxiety does not always look like panic attacks. Sometimes it feels like overthinking, difficulty relaxing, emotional exhaustion, tension in your body, or constantly waiting for something to go wrong. Therapy can help you better understand these patterns and begin feeling calmer, more grounded, and more connected to yourself.
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Somatic therapy focuses on the connection between your mind and body. Stress, trauma, and anxiety often show up physically through tension, fatigue, hypervigilance, or feeling emotionally “stuck.” In therapy, we gently explore how your body responds to stress while building tools that help you feel safer, calmer, and more regulated over time.
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For many first-generation and BIPOC women, therapy can become a space where you no longer feel like you have to carry everything alone. We may explore family expectations, cultural pressure, identity, boundaries, faith, people-pleasing, or the emotional weight of always feeling responsible for others while trying to care for yourself too.
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Yes. Online therapy can be highly effective for anxiety, trauma, burnout, grief, and life transitions. Many clients also find virtual therapy more comfortable because they can attend sessions from a familiar environment anywhere in Illinois.
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Yes. I accept BCBS PPO, Blue Choice PPO, and Aetna. Our team can help verify your benefits and guide you through the process so there are no surprises.
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That’s completely okay. You do not need to have everything figured out before starting therapy. Many people begin therapy simply knowing they are overwhelmed, emotionally tired, or struggling to cope. We move at your pace and start wherever you are.
Common Questions
A Few Things That Help Me Feel Grounded
Beyond the therapy room, I'm a wife, mom, sister, and daughter. I'm also a proud pet parent to a Siberian kitten and a German Shepherd (who occasionally make surprise appearances during virtual sessions!)
I love traveling, playing video games, and finding joy in gentle movement and life's quieter moments. I do my best to practice what I encourage in therapy…that healing doesn't always happen through life's biggest breakthroughs. More often, it begins in small, intentional moments of rest, connection, and self-compassion.
Those everyday moments help keep me grounded and remind me that caring for ourselves isn't selfish. It's one of the ways we build resilience, reconnect with who we are, and create space for healing.
Providing Virtual Therapy Throughout Chicago & Illinois
While all sessions take place through a secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform, I'm honored to support adults throughout Chicago and across Illinois with trauma-informed, culturally responsive care.
I frequently work with clients located in:
The Southwest Suburbs: Bridgeview, Oak Lawn, Palos Heights, and Orland Park.
The North Side & North Suburbs: Skokie, Lincolnwood, West Rogers Park, Devon Avenue, and surrounding communities.
The Western Suburbs: Lombard, Villa Park, and nearby areas.
Whether you're navigating anxiety, trauma, grief, cultural stress, or a major life transition, therapy is available from the comfort, privacy, and convenience of your own home.
Insurance & Getting Started
Mindful Healing Counseling is in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO and Aetna PPO. We also accept private pay, out-of-network benefits, and offer a limited number of sliding-scale appointments.
Before your first appointment, our team will verify your insurance benefits and answer any questions you have about coverage, costs, or payment options, so you can begin therapy with confidence.
Ready to get started?
If you’re looking for a trauma-informed, culturally responsive therapist in Illinois, I’d be honored to support you.
Reaching this page already means you’re listening to yourself—and that matters.