Sleep & Insomnia Therapy in Chicago
When you’re not sleeping well, it can start to affect almost everything—your mood, focus, energy, relationships, and ability to feel like yourself. And the harder you try to sleep, the more frustrating and stressful bedtime can become.
Whether you’re struggling to fall asleep, waking throughout the night, lying awake with a racing mind, dreading bedtime, or dealing with recurring nightmares, therapy can help you understand what may be keeping the cycle going and develop new ways to approach sleep.
At Balanced Awakening, we offer Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), a structured, evidence-based approach to treating insomnia, as well as therapy for nightmares and other sleep-related concerns. Sleep-focused therapy can be relatively short-term and targeted, whether it’s your primary reason for coming to therapy or focused work alongside an ongoing therapist.
Meet Our Sleep & Insomnia Therapists
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Lucy Stock, MA
When Sleep Stops Feeling Restorative
Sleep is supposed to be something your body knows how to do automatically. But when you’ve been struggling with sleep for a while, bedtime can start to feel like something you have to work at.
You may feel exhausted all day and then suddenly wide awake when your head hits the pillow. Maybe you fall asleep easily but wake up at 2 or 3 a.m. and can’t get back to sleep. You might find yourself watching the clock, calculating how many hours you have left, worrying about how you’ll function tomorrow, or changing your routines in increasingly complicated ways just to try to get a decent night’s rest.
Over time, worrying about sleep can become part of what makes sleeping harder. Your bed can start to feel associated with frustration, anxiety, and being awake rather than rest.
The good news is that chronic sleep difficulties aren’t something you simply have to learn to live with. CBT-I helps identify the patterns that may be keeping insomnia going and uses targeted behavioral and cognitive strategies to help rebuild a healthier relationship with sleep.
Does Any of This Feel Familiar?
Burnout doesn’t look the same for everyone. You may recognize yourself in one—or several—of these experiences.
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Emotionally Exhausted
You care deeply, but it feels like your emotional reserves feel depleted. Even after a full night’s sleep or a weekend off, you still feel drained, overwhelmed, or like you have nothing left to give.
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Constantly “On”
Even when you finally have time to relax, your mind won’t slow down. You may feel guilty for resting, struggle to disconnect from work or responsibilities, or find yourself always anticipating the next thing that needs your attention.
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Feeling Disconnected
Things that once felt meaningful or enjoyable may now feel like obligations. You may feel detached from your work, your relationships, your emotions, or even yourself, wondering where your energy or motivation went.
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Running on Empty
You keep showing up because people depend on you. But underneath it all, you’re tired of holding everything together. It feels like you’ve been pouring from an empty cup for far too long.
Who Is Most Vulnerable to Burnout?
Burnout doesn’t happen because someone is weak. More often, it happens because someone has been carrying too much for too long.
While anyone can experience burnout, some people face higher levels of chronic stress because of the roles they hold, the expectations placed upon them, or the emotional labor they carry each day.
Burnout often affects people who are deeply compassionate, highly responsible, and committed to caring for others. The very qualities that make someone an exceptional caregiver, parent, teacher, therapist, healthcare worker, or leader can also make them more vulnerable to emotional exhaustion when they aren’t receiving enough support themselves.
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👤 Caregivers
Whether you’re caring for children, aging parents, a partner, or another loved one, constantly tending to others’ needs can leave little time to care for your own.
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👶 Parents
Parenting can be deeply meaningful, but it can also be emotionally, mentally, and physically demanding—especially when you’re trying to balance work, relationships, and the invisible responsibilities that often go unnoticed.
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🩺 Healthcare Professionals
Long hours, compassion fatigue, increasing demands, and caring for others during vulnerable moments can place tremendous strain on healthcare workers.
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🤝 Therapists & Helping Professionals
Supporting others through difficult experiences is meaningful work, but continually holding space for others while managing your own life can contribute to burnout over time.
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🍎 Teachers & Educators
Educators often carry heavy workloads while supporting students academically and emotionally, frequently with limited resources and increasing expectations.
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💼 Perfectionists & High Achievers
When success becomes closely tied to your sense of worth, it can become difficult to slow down, ask for help, or recognize when you’ve reached your limits.
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🫶 BIPOC & LGBTQ+ Individuals
For many people, burnout is shaped not only by work or family responsibilities, but also by discrimination, identity-based stress, pressure to code-switch, concerns about safety, or the emotional labor of navigating systems that were not designed with them in mind.
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❤️ Anyone Carrying Too Much
Sometimes burnout isn’t about your job title at all. It’s about feeling like everything depends on you—and rarely feeling like someone is there to support you.
When Perfectionism Leads to Burnout
Perfectionism can look like having high standards, being responsible, or caring deeply about doing things well. But underneath, it can also feel like constantly moving the finish line.
You might accomplish something and immediately focus on what you could have done better. You may procrastinate because you’re afraid you won’t do something perfectly, spend far more time on tasks than they require, struggle to delegate, or feel anxious when you make a mistake. Even rest can become difficult when part of you believes you should always be doing something productive.
For many high-achieving people, perfectionism has also been rewarded. It may have helped you succeed in school, advance in your career, care for other people, or become someone others can depend on. That can make it difficult to recognize when the same patterns are beginning to cost you more than they’re giving you.
Over time, the pressure to continually perform, achieve, and get things “right” can contribute to chronic stress and burnout.
Therapy for perfectionism isn’t about lowering your standards or caring less. It can help you understand where those expectations come from, become more flexible when things don’t go according to plan, separate your worth from your performance, and learn how to pursue what matters to you without constantly exhausting yourself in the process.
Burnout Doesn’t Exist in a Vacuum
One of the biggest misconceptions about burnout is that it’s simply the result of poor time management or not taking enough vacations.
In reality, burnout often develops within larger systems that place constant demands on our time, energy, and attention.
Many of us have absorbed messages that our worth is measured by how much we produce, achieve, or accomplish. We push through exhaustion, postpone rest, and tell ourselves we’ll slow down “after this week” or “once things settle down.” But that moment often never arrives.
For others, burnout is compounded by experiences that extend far beyond the workplace. Discrimination, financial pressures, caregiving responsibilities, chronic illness, identity-based stress, perfectionism, or the emotional labor of navigating inequitable systems can all keep the nervous system in a prolonged state of vigilance.
Sometimes burnout isn’t a sign that you’re doing something wrong.
Sometimes it’s a very human response to living in circumstances that ask too much while offering too little support.
Understanding the many factors that contribute to burnout isn’t about assigning blame. It’s about approaching yourself with greater compassion. When we recognize the full picture, we can begin making choices that support our well-being in ways that feel realistic, sustainable, and aligned with our values.
What If You Can’t Change What’s Burning You Out?
One of the most frustrating realities of burnout is that we can’t always eliminate the source of our stress.
You may not be able to leave your job right now. Financial pressures may limit your options. You may be caring for children, aging parents, or loved ones who depend on you. You may be navigating discrimination, chronic illness, or responsibilities that simply can’t be put on hold.
When the stressor can’t immediately be removed, it’s easy to feel trapped.
But even in those moments, there may be opportunities to create small pockets of relief and reconnect with yourself.
You might begin by:
Leaning on community. Who can you ask for help? What would it look like to let someone support you?
Creating a realistic game plan. Even small moments of intentional breathing, stepping outside, or taking a brief pause can help interrupt the stress cycle.
Setting boundaries where possible. Notice where you can say “no,” delegate responsibilities, or let go of expectations that no longer serve you.
Limiting constant input. Pay attention to how news, social media, and endless notifications affect your nervous system.
Making time to create. Creativity reminds us that we have autonomy. It doesn’t have to be artistic—cook without a recipe, dance in your kitchen, write a few lines in a journal, tend to a garden, or simply make something that belongs only to you.
These moments won’t eliminate every stressor. But they can help your nervous system experience moments of safety, connection, and restoration while you continue navigating life’s challenges.
Rest Isn’t Something You Earn
For many of us, rest has become something we believe we have to earn.
We’ll rest after we finish the project.
After the house is clean.
After everyone else’s needs have been met.
After we’ve finally done enough.
But that finish line has a way of moving farther away.
Over time, many of us learn to measure our worth by how productive we are. We feel guilty for slowing down, uncomfortable with stillness, or anxious when we’re not accomplishing something. Even when we have time to rest, our minds may continue racing through to-do lists, responsibilities, or everything we “should” be doing instead.
Real rest isn’t simply taking a day off while criticizing yourself for not being productive.
It isn’t endlessly scrolling your phone or staying busy in different ways.
Rejuvenating rest means giving yourself permission to slow down without guilt. It means listening to what your mind and body actually need in that moment.
Sometimes that need is sleep.
Sometimes it’s movement.
Sometimes it’s laughter, creativity, music, time in nature, meaningful connection, or simply allowing yourself to be without needing to accomplish anything.
As children, many of us didn’t feel guilty for resting or playing. Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that our value depended on what we produced rather than who we are.
Burnout recovery often involves gently questioning those messages and deciding whether they’re still serving the life you want to live.
How Therapy Can Help
You don’t have to carry everything on your own.
Therapy offers a space to slow down, take a breath, and explore what has kept you feeling stuck in survival mode.
Together, we’ll work to better understand the personal, relational, cultural, and systemic factors contributing to your stress and burnout. We’ll explore the beliefs, expectations, and coping patterns that may have helped you survive difficult seasons but are no longer supporting your well-being.
Therapy can help you:
Feel supported, understood, and less alone.
Better understand the sources of chronic stress in your life.
Process the impact of identity-based stress, discrimination, or chronic invalidation.
Develop healthier boundaries that honor both your needs and your relationships.
Reconnect with your body and recognize early signs of stress before burnout develops.
Explore new ways of resting, creating, slowing down, and caring for yourself that align with your values.
Build sustainable coping strategies that support long-term well-being rather than simply getting through another day.
Burnout recovery isn’t about becoming more productive.
It’s about creating a life that feels more balanced, meaningful, and sustainable.
Supporting Your Recovery Beyond Therapy
Therapy is one part of recovery, but healing from burnout often involves caring for yourself in small, consistent ways outside of sessions as well.
You might find it helpful to:
Prioritize restful sleep whenever possible.
Listen to your body’s cues around hunger, movement, energy, and rest.
Notice whether scrolling social media leaves you feeling connected—or more overwhelmed and disconnected.
Spend time outdoors or in natural light.
Make room for creativity and play, even in small ways.
Laugh often and seek moments of joy.
Reach out to trusted friends, family members, or supportive communities.
Talk with a medical provider if you’re experiencing physical symptoms related to chronic stress.
Slow down while eating, walking, working, or moving through your day.
Remember that different strategies will help on different days. Recovery isn’t about doing everything perfectly—it’s about noticing what helps and giving yourself permission to keep experimenting with what you need.
Recovery doesn’t require perfection.
It begins with paying attention to yourself with the same care and compassion you so often extend to others.
Common Questions About Burnout & Chronic Stress
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Stress is a normal response to life’s challenges and often improves once the situation has passed. Burnout develops when stress becomes chronic and your mind and body don’t have adequate time or support to recover. If you’re feeling emotionally exhausted, disconnected, overwhelmed, or like you’re constantly running on empty, you may be experiencing burnout rather than temporary stress.
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Yes. Therapy can help you better understand the sources of chronic stress in your life, identify patterns that contribute to burnout, develop healthier boundaries, and build sustainable ways of caring for yourself. Therapy also provides a supportive space to process difficult experiences and reconnect with what matters most to you.
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Burnout can develop when chronic stress continues without enough opportunities for rest, recovery, or support. While workplace demands are a common contributor, burnout can also stem from caregiving responsibilities, perfectionism, financial stress, discrimination, chronic illness, relationship challenges, or carrying more than your mind and body can sustainably manage.
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Yes. Burnout doesn’t only affect your emotions—it can also impact your body. Many people experience fatigue, headaches, muscle tension, digestive concerns, changes in sleep, or a weakened immune system when living with chronic stress. Because stress affects the whole person, recovery often benefits from a holistic approach that addresses both emotional and physical well-being.
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Our therapy rate for the first two sessions is $250. After that, 55 minute sessions are $225.
Most of our therapists are in network with United Healthcare/Optum, BCBS PPO and Aetna insurance.
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Absolutely. While therapy can’t always remove the source of stress, it can help you navigate difficult circumstances with greater support, self-awareness, and resilience. Together, we can explore realistic ways to care for your nervous system, establish boundaries where possible, strengthen your support network, and identify meaningful opportunities for relief—even when life feels overwhelming.
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Not at all. Burnout is not a character flaw or a lack of resilience. It’s often a sign that you’ve been carrying too much for too long without enough time, support, or opportunity to recover. Many people experiencing burnout are incredibly compassionate, responsible, and deeply committed to caring for others.
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At Balanced Awakening, we work with women navigating burnout from many different life experiences, including professionals, caregivers, parents, healthcare workers, therapists, teachers, individuals in helping professions, and those experiencing identity-based or systemic stress. We’ll work with you to understand your unique circumstances and create a path toward greater balance and well-being.
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Yes. Therapy can help you recognize perfectionistic patterns, understand where they developed, and explore how they may be contributing to anxiety, procrastination, self-criticism, difficulty resting, or burnout. You can work on developing more flexible expectations, responding differently to mistakes, setting boundaries, and separating your sense of worth from what you accomplish. The goal isn’t to stop caring about doing things well—it’s to help achievement take up a healthier amount of space in your life.
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Getting started is flexible and designed to meet you where you are. You’re welcome to book an appointment directly with a clinician, or complete our matchmaking form so we can help connect you with a therapist whose approach and availability align with your needs.
You’re always invited to ask questions, share concerns, and take your time deciding whether therapy feels like the right next step.
What Our Clients Are Saying
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During our first session Hannah was proactive in creating a plan of action to properly diagnose me and address my concerns. Detailed. Office is beautiful. Love the decor, relaxing ambiance and free tea.
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She was very kind and thorough during intake and the entire office looks like something out of a lifestyle magazine.
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The office is lovely and welcoming, the in-take paperwork helped me prepare for what I wanted to talk about and gave me a starting point.
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Dr. Yang is warm and empathic, and made me feel comfortable from the very beginning.
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Emma has been very supportive through major life changes for me. Her sweet and gentle nature made it easy for me to feel safe to open up to her. I am very grateful for her support and kindness.
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It was my first visit and she made me feel so safe. I opened up right away!
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You Don’t Have to Keep Running on Empty
Burnout can make it feel like you’re simply trying to get through each day. But life doesn’t have to feel this heavy forever.
Whether you’re feeling emotionally exhausted, overwhelmed by chronic stress, or struggling to remember the last time you truly felt rested, therapy can offer a space to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and begin creating a more sustainable way of living.
You deserve more than simply surviving.
When you’re ready, we’re here to support you.
Schedule Your 1st Appointment
Burnout Therapy Across Chicago
We offer burnout therapy at our Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Andersonville, and Loop offices, as well as telehealth throughout Illinois.