Kelly Dean, Clinical Intern

(She/Her)

Therapy for adults who feel overwhelmed, overextended, or stuck in patterns that leave them disconnected from themselves.

If you’re the one everyone counts on but you’ve been feeling anxious, depleted, emotionally stretched thin, or unsure how to slow down, you’re not alone. I work with adults navigating anxiety, burnout, relationship stress, and identity transitions related to work, family, and major life changes. Many of my clients are caregivers, helpers, or people who are used to being the steady one for others, but you do not have to identify that way to benefit from this work. Therapy can be a place to step out of survival mode, better understand what is driving your stress, and reconnect with yourself in a more grounded and sustainable way.

Specialties:

Burnout, over-functioning, and chronic self-neglect
People-pleasing and anxious attachment
Boundaries without guilt or shame
Identity transitions, including career shifts, marriage, divorce, and changing life stages
Emotional regulation when stress feels cyclical or overwhelming

What You Can Expect

My style is warm, grounded, human, direct, and collaborative. Clients often describe sessions as a place where they can slow down, be honest, and make sense of what is really going on. I lead with empathy and validation while also gently naming patterns and offering thoughtful challenges when something feels important to explore. I believe directness can be kind, especially when it is rooted in trust.

Together, we explore patterns, emotions, and meaning, sometimes connecting current stress to earlier experiences. I may offer reflections, ask clarifying questions, and introduce tools that support insight and emotional regulation. My approach is a blend of structure and openness: enough structure to help you feel supported and contained, with space for curiosity and what naturally wants to emerge. In the first session, we will focus on what is bringing you in, your goals, and your broader context, moving at a pace that feels supportive rather than rushed or
overwhelming. You do not need to have the right words or a clear plan. We can figure that out together.

We Might Be a Good Fit If You Often Feel…

“I’m exhausted all the time, but I don’t know how to slow down.”
“I spend so much time taking care of everyone else that I barely know what I need.”
“I overthink my relationships and feel anxious when things feel uncertain.”
“I look like I’m holding it together on the outside, but inside I feel overwhelmed.”

A Little About Me

I became a therapist because I believe therapy can be a place to reflect, recalibrate, and reconnect with what matters most, especially during uncertainty, change, or loss. My work draws from relational and attachment-based therapy, CBT-informed tools, and somatic and nervous system-informed practices to help you build awareness, self-compassion, and choice.

My approach is centered on helping you understand why you react the way you do, learn how to regulate your nervous system in the moment, and make more intentional choices in your relationships and daily life. I live in Chicago, and outside of therapy, I value time with my partner, daughter, and close friends. Yoga is one of the ways I reset and reconnect with myself. If you are looking for a space to be honest, slow down, and start showing up for yourself in a new way, I would be glad to work with you.

I may not be the best fit for clients seeking highly prescriptive treatment, or for those needing a higher level of care for active substance use, unmanaged psychosis, or acute safety concerns.

If you’re looking for a space to be honest, slow down, and start showing up for yourself in a new way, I’d be glad to work with you.

Schedule a Session