Work With Summer Stewart, PsyD
Online Therapy for Black & Brown Women Throughout Chicago & Illinois
Helping women heal from anxiety, burnout, trauma, and the pressure of always having to be the strong one.
Hi, I’m Summer (she/her)
I'm so glad you're here.
Whether you've been thinking about therapy for a long time or you've only recently started wondering if you need support, I'm honored you're taking a few moments to learn more about me.
I'm a therapist providing online therapy for Black and Brown women and young adults throughout Chicago and Illinois. I specialize in helping women navigate anxiety, burnout, trauma, perfectionism, life transitions, and the emotional weight of always having to be the strong one.
If you’re tired of holding it all together while quietly falling apart inside, I see you.
Maybe you've spent years meeting everyone else's expectations while putting your own needs last.
Maybe you're exhausted from constantly being the dependable one…the one everyone leans on, but no one checks in on.
Maybe you're carrying anxiety, self-doubt, or the weight of cultural expectations while telling yourself to "just keep going."
Or maybe you've become so good at pushing through that you've forgotten what it feels like to truly rest.
If any of that feels familiar, I want you to know something.
You don't have to carry it all by yourself anymore.
Therapy with me is a place where the performance ends.
You don't need the perfect words.
You don't need to have everything figured out.
Together, we'll make space for your story, help you reconnect with yourself, and move toward a life that feels lighter, more grounded, and more like your own. This space is for you.
Meet Summer
Who I Help
You might recognize yourself in some of these experiences...
You're Tired of Shrinking to Fit Into Spaces That Were Never Built for You
You've spent years carrying pressure, expectations, or the weight of always having to be "strong." Many of the Black and Brown women I work with feel emotionally exhausted from constantly having to prove themselves while carrying so much internally.
Your Mind Never Fully Shuts Off
From the outside, things may look successful. Internally, you're stuck in cycles of overthinking, self-doubt, anxiety, and the pressure to keep pushing.
You Keep Wondering Why the Past Still Shows Up Today
Past experiences may still be shaping how you trust, communicate, set boundaries, or show up in relationships today. Therapy can help you understand those patterns with compassion while creating new ways of moving through the world.
You've Been Strong for So Long That You Don't Remember What Rest Feels Like
You've handled the responsibilities, met the expectations, and kept going because you felt like you had to. Now you're emotionally exhausted. Burned out. Running on empty. Together, we'll create space for you to finally put down what was never yours to carry.
Many of the women I work with come to therapy feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, pressure, burnout, and the emotional weight of always holding everything together.
Together, we work toward moving from survival mode to feeling more grounded, connected, and 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.
What Therapy Looks Like With Me
Therapy isn't about fixing you, because you were never broken. Together, we’ll unpack what’s weighing you down and explore new ways to feel lighter, stronger, and more connected to yourself.
Together, we’ll explore not just what happened to you, but how those experiences shaped the way you think, feel, and show up in your life and relationships today.
I offer:
A Holistic, Evidence-Based Approach: I integrate Relational Therapy and Narrative Therapy to help you rewrite the internal stories about your worth and identity.
Trauma-Informed: We honor your pace and boundaries, using mindfulness to help you feel safe in your body again.
Humor as Healing: Healing doesn’t always have to feel heavy. We use humor and fresh perspectives to help you see that "what happened to you" doesn't have to define your future.
My goal isn’t just for you to cope better — it’s for you to feel better, more free, and more like yourself.
Free from guilt.
Free from comparison
Free from carrying what was never yours.
How I Support You: From Survival to Healing
Instead of just managing symptoms, we work together to transform the way you move through the world.
Here is how I help my clients navigate their most common challenges:
Quiet the Constant Mental Noise from Anxiety
Calm your nervous system and finally find relief from the constant cycle of overthinking, worry, and "what ifs."
Heal from Trauma Without Letting It Define You
Together, we'll gently process painful experiences at a pace that feels safe, helping trauma stop shaping how you see yourself and your relationships.
Put Down the Weight of Burnout & Constant Expectations
We'll explore the beliefs, pressures, and responsibilities that have kept you carrying everything on your own, so you can create healthier boundaries without guilt.
Find Yourself Again During Life Transitions
Whether you're navigating career changes, relationships, motherhood, or identity shifts, therapy can help you reconnect with yourself and move forward with greater confidence.
Feel More Connected to Yourself
Move away from constantly performing for others and toward a life that feels more authentic, grounded, and aligned with who you truly are.
Build Healthier Relationships & Stronger Boundaries
Understand your attachment patterns, communicate more confidently, and create relationships that feel supportive instead of emotionally exhausting.
Areas I Commonly Support
Every person's story is different, but many of the women I work with come to therapy for support with:
Anxiety and chronic overthinking
Burnout and emotional exhaustion
High-achiever pressure and perfectionism
Trauma and difficult relationship patterns
Low self-worth and imposter syndrome
Boundary-setting without guilt
Women's mental health and identity exploration
Life transitions and feeling emotionally "stuck"
Cultural expectations and the pressure to always be "strong"
Relationship anxiety and attachment wounds
Stress, overwhelm, and nervous system regulation
Healing from childhood emotional wounds
You don't have to know exactly what's "wrong" before reaching out. Therapy begins with your story, not a perfect label. Together, we'll make sense of what you're carrying and create a path forward that feels right for you.
What It’s Like in Session With Me
Think of our sessions like talking to someone who really gets you.
You don’t have to show up perfect.
You don’t need a plan.
You don’t have to know what to say.
In our first session, we’ll focus on helping you feel comfortable. You won’t be asked to share everything all at once. We’ll talk about what brought you here, what you’re hoping for, and what support feels safest right now.
We’ll take it one step at a time.
Most clients describe therapy with me as warm, honest, and grounding. Some sessions are emotional, some are calm, and sometimes we even laugh — because healing doesn’t have to feel heavy every minute.
Everything happens at your pace — never rushed, never pushed.
Why This Work Matters to Me
I believe every woman, especially Black and Brown women, deserves a place to feel seen, supported, and valued.
We live in a world that expects women to be strong all the time, to carry everyone else’s burdens, and to silence their own pain. I’m here to remind you: you deserve care, too.
Healing isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about reconnecting with the person you were before the world told you who to be.
I am dedicated to providing care that is culturally sensitive, trauma-informed, and personalized to your lived experience.
Education, Training & Supervision
Education
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), Clinical Psychology — Adler University
Master of Arts (MA), Clinical Psychology — Adler University
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Psychology — Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Clinical Training
Doctoral internship in college counseling working with university students
Advanced training in trauma-informed and culturally responsive therapy
Clinical experience in community mental health settings
Experience supporting clients navigating anxiety, trauma, life transitions, and women’s mental health
Licensure Status
Dr. Summer Stewart has completed her doctoral degree in clinical psychology and is currently practicing under clinical supervision while working toward independent licensure in Illinois.
Working under the expert clinical supervision of Dr. Aretha Steele, I bring a high-level, trauma-informed perspective to our work together.
Dr. Stewart provides online therapy to clients in Chicago and throughout Illinois, supporting women navigating anxiety, trauma, and major life transitions.
Common Questions
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Yes. Many of the women I work with feel mentally exhausted from constantly overthinking, second-guessing themselves, or carrying pressure they rarely talk about out loud. Therapy can help you better understand the patterns underneath anxiety while building healthier ways to cope, set boundaries, and feel more grounded in your daily life.
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Many high-achieving women are used to carrying responsibility, meeting expectations, and pushing through stress without slowing down. Over time, constantly being “the strong one” can lead to burnout, emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and feeling disconnected from yourself. Therapy can help you reconnect with your needs, process what you’ve been carrying, and stop feeling like you always have to hold everything together alone.
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Absolutely. Burnout and perfectionism often go hand-in-hand, especially for women who feel pressure to succeed, care for others, or constantly prove themselves. Together, we work on quieting the internal pressure, understanding where those patterns come from, and building a healthier relationship with rest, boundaries, and self-worth.
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Therapy can become a space where you no longer feel like you have to shrink yourself, stay silent, or carry everything alone. We may explore cultural expectations, generational patterns, identity stress, relationships, trauma, and the pressure of always having to appear “strong.” My approach is culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and grounded in honoring your lived experience without judgment.
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That’s completely okay. Many people feel nervous before starting therapy, especially if they’re used to handling everything on their own. You do not need to have the “perfect words” or know exactly where to begin. We move at your pace and focus first on creating a space where you feel safe, supported, and understood.
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Yes. Online therapy can be highly effective for anxiety, burnout, trauma, life transitions, and relationship stress. Many clients also find virtual therapy more comfortable because they can attend sessions from their own space anywhere in Illinois.
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Mindful Healing Counseling accepts several insurance plans, including BCBS PPO and Aetna. If you have questions about coverage or benefits, our team can help walk you through the next steps before your first appointment.
A Few Things That Help Me Recharge
Outside the therapy room, you'll usually find me laughing with friends or family, or simply enjoying the slower moments in life.
On any given day, you'll probably find me curled up on my couch binge-watching Netflix or diving into a good book.
I believe laughter is healing, too. Sometimes the moments that help us reconnect with ourselves aren't the biggest ones. They're the quiet evenings, meaningful conversations, and simple joys that remind us to slow down, breathe a little deeper, and just be.
Those everyday moments help keep me grounded, and they're a gentle reminder that healing doesn't always happen through life's biggest breakthroughs. Sometimes it begins by giving ourselves permission to rest.
Culturally Attuned Online Therapy for Women Across Illinois
While our sessions take place through a secure, private video platform, I'm honored to support Black and Brown women throughout Chicago and across Illinois, including:
The City of Chicago: South Side and West Side communities, Hyde Park, Bronzeville, South Shore, and surrounding neighborhoods.
The South Suburbs: Orland Park, Tinley Park, Homewood, Flossmoor, and nearby communities.
The Western Suburbs: Oak Park, River Forest, and surrounding areas.
Whether you're a professional working in the Loop, a graduate student in Evanston, or a mom in Tinley Park, I provide a warm, culturally responsive space where you can put down the pressure of always being "strong" and begin reconnecting with yourself.
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 session, 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?
You’ve looked after everyone else. Let’s spend some time looking after you. Click below to see my current availability and book your first session
I offer online therapy for women in Illinois, including Chicago and Tinley Park, and I currently have daytime and evening availability.