Our Team
Alexandria Gohla, Founder & Clinical Director
MSW, LCSW, Ed.S, C-DBT, PMH-C, RYT-200
Burnout, Maternal Mental Health & High-Functioning Stress Specialist
(Licensed in Illinois, Indiana, Florida, Vermont, & Wisconsin)
Are you the one everyone relies on?
The capable one. The helper. The person who keeps showing up, holding everything together, and managing everyone else’s needs — even when you’re quietly running on empty yourself.
Maybe from the outside, your life looks “fine.” You’re functioning. Working. Parenting. Accomplishing. Taking care of what needs to get done.
But internally, you feel exhausted.
You’re overstimulated, emotionally drained, disconnected from yourself, or carrying a level of stress that never fully shuts off. Maybe you’ve spent so much time being responsible for everyone else that you no longer know what it feels like to slow down without guilt.
You don’t have to keep carrying it all alone.
I work with high-functioning adults, professionals, caregivers, and parents navigating burnout, chronic stress, anxiety, trauma, emotional overwhelm, and major life transitions. Many of my clients are deeply capable people who have learned how to push through stress and keep going — even when they’re emotionally exhausted underneath it all.
I also specialize in maternal mental health and supporting individuals through pregnancy, postpartum, identity shifts, and the invisible emotional labor that often comes with caregiving and parenthood. Becoming a parent can change nearly every part of your life and identity, and many people find themselves struggling in ways they never expected.
Therapy becomes a space where you no longer have to perform, hold it all together, or minimize your own needs.
My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in both emotional insight and practical support. I integrate DBT, CBT, Internal Family Systems (IFS), trauma-informed care, mindfulness, and nervous system-based approaches to help clients better understand themselves while also building realistic tools for managing stress, emotions, relationships, and overwhelm.
As a Registered Yoga Teacher, I’m especially attuned to the connection between the mind and body. Stress, burnout, anxiety, and trauma don’t just live in our thoughts — they often show up physically, too. When it feels helpful, we incorporate grounding tools, mindfulness, and nervous system awareness to help you feel steadier emotionally and physically.
Before founding Bluebird Counseling Services, I worked extensively with children, adolescents, and families navigating Autism, developmental differences, emotional regulation challenges, and complex family dynamics. That experience continues to shape my understanding of caregiving, emotional labor, and the invisible pressure so many people carry behind the scenes.
Together, we focus on:
reducing burnout and emotional exhaustion
managing anxiety and chronic stress
navigating motherhood and identity shifts
improving emotional regulation
healing perfectionism and people-pleasing patterns
building healthier boundaries
reconnecting with yourself outside of your responsibilities
For many high-functioning people, burnout doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like irritability, emotional numbness, brain fog, difficulty relaxing, resentment, or feeling disconnected from yourself despite continuing to “function.”
Therapy can become a space to slow down, process what you’ve been carrying, and begin building a life that feels more sustainable, grounded, and connected.
In our work together, you can expect honesty, warmth, collaboration, and moments of humor alongside the deeper work. I believe healing happens in relationships where people feel genuinely seen, supported, and safe enough to show up fully as themselves.
Best Fit For Clients Who:
feel emotionally exhausted from constantly holding everything together
are navigating burnout, overwhelm, or chronic stress
struggle with perfectionism or people-pleasing
are adjusting to pregnancy, postpartum, or motherhood
feel overstimulated, anxious, or disconnected from themselves
want healthier boundaries and more balance
are high-functioning externally but struggling internally
Outside of the therapy room, I find grounding through yoga, reading, baking sourdough, strong coffee, spending time with my family and dog, and teaching yoga locally as another pathway toward mindfulness and balance.
If you’re ready to feel more grounded, less overwhelmed, and more connected to yourself again, I would be honored to walk alongside you.
Yoga Alliance - Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200)
Certified Dialectical Behavior Therapy Professional (C-DBT)
60-Hour ICASA training in Child/Adult Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention
Perinatal Mental Health Certified (PMH-C)
Crisis Prevention Institute- NCVI training in prevention and de-escalation.
Amy Botta, Therapist
MA, LPC
Anxiety, Identity & Self-Worth Specialist
Do you constantly second-guess yourself, overthink interactions, or feel like you’re never quite “enough” no matter how hard you try?
Maybe your mind feels noisy all the time — replaying conversations, worrying about how others perceive you, or questioning whether you’re making the “right” choices. Maybe you look put together on the outside, but internally feel anxious, disconnected from yourself, or unsure of who you really are beneath everyone else’s expectations.
You don’t have to figure all of that out alone.
I work with adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, identity exploration, self-esteem challenges, body image concerns, and the pressure of trying to hold everything together while quietly struggling underneath it all. Many of my clients are thoughtful, high-functioning, and deeply self-aware — but feel emotionally exhausted from overthinking, self-criticism, people-pleasing, or constantly comparing themselves to others.
Therapy becomes a space where you can slow down, feel understood, and begin building a stronger sense of confidence and trust in yourself.
I also proudly support members of the LGBTQIA+ community and enjoy helping clients explore identity, relationships, sexuality, and self-expression in a way that feels authentic and affirming.
My approach is warm, collaborative, and supportive while also focused on helping you create meaningful, lasting change. I integrate CBT, ACT, DBT, and person-centered therapy to help clients better understand their emotional patterns, quiet anxious thinking, and develop healthier ways of responding to stress, insecurity, and overwhelm.
Together, we focus on:
reducing anxiety and overthinking
building confidence and self-trust
improving body image and self-esteem
navigating identity and relationship concerns
creating healthier boundaries
feeling more grounded and connected to yourself
Before becoming a therapist, I worked in high-pressure, client-focused roles within the travel industry. That experience strengthened my ability to remain calm under stress, listen thoughtfully, and support people through emotionally overwhelming situations — skills I continue to bring into the therapy room every day.
In our work together, you can expect honesty, warmth, and a space where you don’t need to filter yourself or have everything figured out. Therapy isn’t about becoming a completely different person — it’s about helping you feel more secure, confident, and comfortable being yourself.
Best Fit For Clients Who:
struggle with anxiety or constant overthinking
feel stuck in self-doubt or people-pleasing patterns
want to improve confidence and self-esteem
experience body image concerns or body dysmorphia
are exploring identity, sexuality, or relationships
feel emotionally overwhelmed despite appearing “high-functioning”
want to feel more grounded and connected to themselves
Outside of the therapy room, I enjoy traveling, attending Cubs games, spending time with my nieces, picnics, and finding balance through connection, fun, and meaningful experiences.
If you’re ready to feel more confident, more grounded, and more connected to yourself, I’d love to support you.
Doria Goll, Therapist
MSW, LSW
High-Performance Anxiety & Burnout Specialist
Do you feel like you’re constantly pushing yourself to keep up — at work, in school, in relationships, or in life — while quietly feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or emotionally exhausted underneath it all?
Maybe you’re the dependable one. The high achiever. The person others see as capable, responsible, and successful.
But internally, it feels like your mind never shuts off.
You replay conversations. Overthink decisions. Hold yourself to impossible standards. Push through stress even when you’re completely drained. And no matter how much you accomplish, it still doesn’t quite feel like enough.
You don’t have to keep living under that level of pressure alone.
I work with adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, perfectionism, burnout, emotional overwhelm, and the pressure of constantly feeling like they need to perform, achieve, or hold everything together. Many of my clients are high-functioning on the outside but internally struggle with self-criticism, stress, overthinking, and difficulty slowing down.
Therapy becomes a space where you can step out of survival mode, better understand your emotional patterns, and begin building a steadier, more sustainable relationship with yourself.
I have a particular passion for supporting:
high-achieving professionals
students experiencing academic pressure
educators and helping professionals
individuals struggling with perfectionism
adolescents navigating social stress or bullying
people who feel emotionally exhausted from constantly “doing”
My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in honest conversation. I want therapy to feel like a space where you can show up as yourself — not the polished or high-performing version you feel expected to be everywhere else.
I integrate DBT, CBT, Narrative Therapy, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help clients better understand their emotional experiences while also developing practical, realistic coping tools. Therapy is not just about insight — it’s about learning how to respond differently when anxiety, pressure, or emotional overwhelm start taking over.
Together, we focus on:
reducing anxiety and overthinking
managing burnout and chronic stress
improving emotional regulation
challenging perfectionism and self-criticism
building confidence and internal stability
reconnecting with your identity outside of achievement
For many high-functioning people, burnout doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like irritability, emotional numbness, exhaustion, brain fog, difficulty relaxing, or feeling disconnected from yourself despite continuing to “function.”
Therapy can become a space to slow down, recalibrate, and move through life with more balance and self-compassion.
In our work together, you can expect warmth, honesty, humor, and a supportive environment where you don’t have to constantly prove yourself. You deserve a space where you can simply be human.
Best Fit For Clients Who:
struggle with anxiety, stress, or chronic overthinking
feel overwhelmed by pressure or expectations
are experiencing burnout or emotional exhaustion
hold themselves to impossibly high standards
feel stuck in perfectionism or people-pleasing patterns
are high-functioning externally but struggling internally
want to feel more grounded, balanced, and emotionally steady
Outside of the therapy room, you’ll often find me walking through Lincoln Park or along the lakefront with my husband and our dog, visiting farmers markets, or finding joy in small moments that create space to slow down and reset.
If you’re ready to feel less driven by pressure and more connected to yourself beyond achievement, I’d love to support you.
Anna Haveman, Therapist
MSW, LSW
Life Transitions, Parenting & Cultural Identity Specialist
Are you the one everyone depends on — while quietly feeling overwhelmed yourself?
The thoughtful one. The dependable one. The person who keeps showing up for everyone else, even when you’re exhausted.
Maybe you’ve been carrying stress for so long that it’s become your normal. You move through the day taking care of responsibilities, supporting your family, managing work, and holding things together — but underneath it all, you feel emotionally drained, anxious, disconnected, or unsure of where you fit in anymore.
You don’t have to keep carrying all of that alone.
I work with adults, adolescents, caregivers, and mothers who are navigating anxiety, life transitions, parenting stress, identity shifts, and emotional overwhelm. Many of my clients are deeply caring, capable people who are used to putting others first, but are finally realizing they need support, too.
I have a particular passion for supporting individuals through periods of transition and rebuilding — whether that’s adjusting to parenthood, navigating cultural identity, recovering after a difficult season, or trying to reconnect with yourself after feeling emotionally stretched too thin for too long.
My background includes working with immigrant and refugee communities in Chicago, as well as experience as a psychiatric social worker in a hospital setting. These experiences shaped my understanding of emotional overwhelm, crisis, resilience, and the complex ways culture, family systems, and life experiences influence mental health and identity.
As a mother of three, I also deeply understand the emotional and physical demands of parenting. I especially enjoy supporting new and postpartum mothers as they navigate identity changes, overstimulation, anxiety, guilt, and the pressure of trying to hold everything together while caring for others.
My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in both emotional insight and practical support. I integrate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM), CBT, DBT, and mindfulness-based strategies to help clients better understand themselves while also building realistic tools for navigating everyday stress and emotions.
Mindfulness is an important part of my work. Rather than rushing to “fix” what you’re feeling, we create space to slow down, notice what’s happening internally, and respond with greater clarity and self-compassion. Over time, therapy can help you feel steadier, more connected to yourself, and less consumed by stress and overwhelm.
In our work together, you can expect honesty, warmth, and a space where you don’t have to have everything figured out. Therapy becomes a place to exhale, process, and begin moving through life with more intention and balance.
Best Fit For Clients Who:
feel emotionally overwhelmed or stretched thin
are navigating parenting or postpartum stress
are adjusting to major life transitions
struggle with anxiety, guilt, or emotional exhaustion
feel responsible for everyone else
are exploring cultural identity, belonging, or family expectations
want to feel calmer, steadier, and more connected to themselves
Outside of the therapy room, I enjoy spending time with my husband, three children, and our dog, cooking Indian food, traveling, walking, and finding small moments of connection and calm in everyday life.
If you’re ready to slow down, feel supported, and reconnect with yourself, I would be honored to work with you.