Therapy for When Life Doesn't Match What You Expected

Even when you've strived to do everything right

in Chicago, IL and across most of the US

So Now Here You Are...

Maybe it’s burnout. Maybe it’s a season of life you didn’t expect: questioning your career path, finding yourself single and wanting a family, or simply feeling stuck in patterns that no longer fit who you are.

Whatever brought you here, this is a place to slow down, get clear, and find your way through it.

The roles you’ve played thus far got you here. But they don’t have to define what comes next.

Does any of this sound familiar?

My Specialties

Every specialty below reflects real work I do with real people. Whether you’re navigating burnout, considering a career pivot, exploring single motherhood by choice, or trying to focus and follow through on what matters most, there’s likely a page here that speaks to it.

Professional man who feels exhaustion and burnout is holding the bridge of his nose between his fingers and has his eyes closed.

Burnout


Burnout isn't just exhaustion. It's often a sign you've been living through your roles instead of your self. Together, we'll find our way back to what matters most.

Man looking up from his computer and smiling

Focus + Follow-Through

Ever feel like you know exactly what to do, but still can't get yourself to do it? Trouble starting tasks, staying organized, or following through isn't a character flaw. It's often a sign your executive functioning system needs support, not more willpower.

Hypnosis

Sometimes talk therapy isn’t enough. Sometimes your body holds the story, even when your mind can’t explain it. That’s where clinical hypnosis can help.

Asian woman sitting on a bed, looking down and smiling at her pregnant belly that she is cradling.

Single Moms by Choice

Thoughtful, compassionate support for women exploring becoming mothers on their own — from the earliest moments of considering solo parenthood, through fertility or adoption decisions, to navigating the daily realities of raising a child without a partner and creating a life that feels both empowered and supported.

Entrepreneurs & Leaders


Behind the success you've built, there's often an unspoken weight: pressure, isolation, the fear of letting others down. This work helps you reconnect with the clarity and energy that fuel both your leadership and your life.

Midlife Transitions


What if midlife isn't the end of the road, but the turning point? This work helps you move from autopilot to a life with real clarity and vitality.

Meet Dr. Monika Sharma

I’m a licensed clinical psychologist based in Chicago, IL. I’ve spent over 25 years helping people move through burnout, productivity, big life transitions, and the moments life doesn’t unfold the way they expected.

This work is personal to me too. I bring both training and lived experience to every session.

What if, instead of pushing through, you found peace in the pause?


What if therapy didn’t feel like another task — but like a space that restores you?

 What if you could move through your day with more ease, intention, and self-trust?

Your past experience with therapy, whatever it was, is welcome here.

Maybe it felt like you didn’t get the help you were hoping for…

Maybe it felt like you did all the talking, without much input coming back. Maybe you felt unseen, or like you had to earn your therapist’s trust, instead of the other way around. Maybe you were handed strategies without ever being asked what truly matters to you.

Or maybe therapy did help…

Maybe you got real value from your work with someone, and now you’re ready for a different approach to take that growth further. Maybe you still want to keep working with your current therapist, and you’re simply looking to add support in a specific area they don’t focus on.

Wherever you’re starting from, we begin where you actually are, and go at a pace that feels safe. You don’t have to perform to heal. This can be a space that restores you, not another task on your list.

While I don’t share client testimonials for confidentiality, I often hear things like:

“This is the first time I’ve actually felt seen.”

“I didn’t expect therapy to feel this grounding.”

“It’s not easy work. But it’s been so worth it.”

“I found this so helpful. I never thought my life could look like this.”

If this resonates, let’s talk.

You might be wondering...

This is for you if…

This is not for you if…

What could be possible for you in
six months if you start today?

It starts with one conversation, whenever you’re ready for it.

Then begin to find relief just by making that first appointment.

Gain clarity and motivation within a few sessions.

And begin to see tangible shifts in your job and relationships within a few months.