Social Anxiety and Anxiety Therapy Near Lockport, IL
For teens and adults who want to stop hiding and start showing up
Social anxiety can make a busy hallway feel like a stage. Our New Lenox therapists help Lockport teens and adults feel more at ease around people, one small step at a time.
- Help for social anxiety, from the lunchroom to the classroom
- Support for teens, college students and adults
- In person in New Lenox or by telehealth across Illinois
- In-network with Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare and UMR
- No waiting list, and we reply within 24 hours
Lockport life
A Big High School Can Feel Even Bigger When You’re Anxious
Lockport Township High School District 205 serves Lockport teens across its Central and East campuses, and younger students come up through districts like Fairmont 89, Taft 90, Milne-Kelvin Grove 91, District 92 and Homer 33C.
For a teen with social anxiety, a big school can be exhausting. Walking into a crowded cafeteria, answering a question in class or texting a new friend can take more energy than anyone sees. Over time, many anxious teens start avoiding the very things that would help them feel connected.
Social anxiety is common and very treatable. With the right support, teens learn they can handle uncomfortable moments, and that people are usually judging them far less than their anxiety claims.
Small, steady steps beat big leaps. We always move at your teen’s pace.
Does this sound familiar?
What Social Anxiety Can Look Like in Teens
Hiding Out at Lunch
Eating in the library, a bathroom or the car to avoid the crowded lunchroom.
Silent in Class
Knowing the answer but never raising a hand, and dreading group projects and presentations.
Overthinking Every Text
Writing and rewriting messages, then worrying for hours about how they came across.
Saying No to Plans
Turning down games, dances and hangouts, even when part of them really wants to go.
If your teen is avoiding more and more, it is a good time to reach out. Avoidance tends to make anxiety grow.
How therapy helps
Practice, Not Pressure
We never push teens into the deep end. Therapy for social anxiety starts with understanding what your teen fears and why it feels so real.
From there, your teen’s therapist uses tools like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to question anxious thoughts and build skills for the moments that feel hardest. Progress usually comes in small steps, like speaking up once in class or saying yes to one invitation.
Each step adds proof that your teen can handle it, and confidence grows from there.
College and beyond
For Lewis University Students and Other Young Adults
Lewis University in nearby Romeoville is a short drive from Lockport, and plenty of young adults in the area are balancing classes, work and life at home. Social anxiety doesn’t always fade after high school. Sometimes it gets stronger in a new setting, like a crowded lecture hall or a first job.
Our therapists work with young adults on anxiety, self-esteem and life changes, in person or by telehealth anywhere in Illinois. Fun fact: Sidra, one of our counselors, earned both her bachelor’s degree in psychology and her master’s degree in school counseling at Lewis University.
Learn more about young adult counseling.
Meet your team
Therapists Who Help With Social Anxiety
Every therapist on our team works with anxiety. For social anxiety in teens and young adults, these three are a great place to start.
Sidra Shoaib, LPC
Works with kids and teens ages 5 to 17 on anxiety, school stress and social skills. She knows school life from the inside through her work as a school counselor.
In-network: Aetna, BCBS and Cigna
Danielle Moon, LSW
Helps kids 10 and up, teens and adults with anxiety, low self-esteem and school problems. She is a listening ear first and offers real guidance along the way.
In-network: Aetna, BCBS and Cigna
Alexandra Morgan, LCPC
Spent years leading groups for teens with a big focus on self-image. She helps teens and young adults quiet the fear of judgment and feel better about who they are.
In-network: Aetna, BCBS and Cigna
An easier first step
Start From Home if That Feels Better
For a teen with social anxiety, walking into a new office can be its own hurdle. Some teens start with telehealth from their own room and come in person once they feel ready. Either way, they keep the same therapist.
Good to know
Getting Started Is Simpler Than You Think
0
Waiting list
We have chosen not to keep one
24 hrs
To hear back
After you fill out our form or call
3
Plans every therapist takes
Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Cigna
Weekly
How most people start
At least three sessions in a row to build a real connection
Counseling for every age
Counseling for Kids, Teens and Adults Near Lockport
Looking for counseling near Lockport for your child, your teen or yourself? Our licensed counselors see clients from Lockport at our New Lenox office and by telehealth anywhere in Illinois. Every counselor on our team specializes in anxiety, and we also help with depression, trauma, self-esteem and big life changes.
Child Counseling
For kids 5 and up who are dealing with worry, big feelings, school stress or separation anxiety. Sessions are built for kids, with simple tools they can use at home, and parents stay in the loop.
Teen Counseling
For teens stuck in anxiety, overthinking, school pressure or low self-esteem. Your teen gets a space that’s their own and real skills to use at school and at home.
Adult Counseling
For young adults and adults dealing with anxiety, stress, burnout, depression or a big life change. Meet in person in New Lenox or online, with early and evening times available.
Lockport questions
Questions Lockport Families Ask
Take the First Small Step
Filling out a form can feel easier than making a phone call. Tell us a little about what’s going on, and we’ll reach out within 24 hours.
What People Are Saying About Us
5.0 Based on 5 Google reviews
“Davis-Smith Mental Health truly cares about their clients. The therapists are compassionate, skilled, and genuinely committed to helping you grow and heal. It’s clear that Jessica has built a team that shares her values and dedication. Highly recommend to anyone looking for meaningful support and real results.”
Kasia Budyn · Posted on Google
“Jessica provides a safe and welcoming environment for all the teens she sees. She tailors treatment to each teen and is incredibly patient and open to their needs. I have seen first hand the work she does and the connection she has with kids. I cannot recommend her enough as someone who will care for your teen and your family!”
Google User · Posted on Google
“Davis-Smith Mental Health is a trusted resource for providing compassionate, high-quality therapy for teens and emerging adults. I know confidently that clients are supported with empathy, professionalism, and respect. Jessica leads her team with integrity and intention. She clearly prioritizes the well-being of her staff, which allows them to show up fully for the clients they serve. Their commitment to the healing journey is evident in every interaction. I’m grateful to have them as a referral partner and deeply value their work in the mental health community.”
Sherri Wick · Posted on Google
“Jessica is a dedicated therapist and absolutely loves working with teens. You are able to feel the love from the moment you walk through the door. She and her staff will provide a safe and private environment for that one on one attention you deserve.”
Melanie K. Hall · Posted on Google
“Jessica and her team are so passionate and helpful! I would recommend this practice to anyone looking!”
Biljana Krzywinski · Posted on Google
More ways we can help
Other Ways We Help
Anxiety Therapy
Anxiety is the most common reason families come to us, and it’s the foundation of everything we do. Whether your teen is avoiding school, your young adult can’t stop overthinking, or worry has taken over your daily life, we can help. Our therapists use CBT and EMDR to help clients understand what’s driving their anxiety and build real tools to manage it.
Teen Anxiety Counseling
The teen years are when anxiety tends to hit the hardest. School pressure, social stress, comparison, and the weight of figuring out who they are can leave teens feeling overwhelmed and stuck. We work with teens to understand what’s behind the anxiety and give them real skills they can actually use, at school, at home, and in the moments that feel like too much.
EMDR Therapy
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is one of the most effective approaches available for anxiety, trauma, and overwhelming emotions. It works by helping the brain reprocess difficult memories and experiences that are keeping you stuck. Our EMDR-trained therapist works with teens, young adults, and adults.
Depression Therapy
Depression and anxiety often show up together. If your teen has lost interest in things they used to enjoy, is sleeping too much or too little, or seems hopeless about the future, therapy can help. We work with clients to find what’s underneath the depression and build a path forward that actually feels possible.
Trauma Counseling
Trauma is one of the most common drivers of anxiety in teenagers and young adults. It doesn’t always look like what you’d expect. It can show up as constant worry, anger, trouble concentrating, or emotional shutdown. Our therapists help clients work through trauma at their own pace, in a space where they feel safe.
Emotional Regulation
When anxiety runs high, emotions feel unmanageable. Some children, teens, and adults feel everything. Small frustrations become explosions. Sadness becomes despair. We help clients understand their patterns and develop strategies for handling intense feelings without shutting down or lashing out.
Relationship Counseling
Anxiety doesn’t just affect the person experiencing it. It changes how they show up in every relationship. We help teens, young adults, and adults work through the ways anxiety and other challenges are impacting their connections with family, friends, and partners.
Life Transitions
Starting high school. Leaving for college. A new job, a divorce, a move. Life transitions can trigger anxiety, depression, and self-doubt, even when the change is something you wanted. We help clients work through the uncertainty and build confidence in who they’re becoming.
Young Adult Counseling
The years between 18 and 30 come with a unique kind of pressure. A lot of young adults are dealing with anxiety they’ve carried since their teenage years but never had the chance to address. We help them get unstuck and start building a life that feels like theirs.
You don’t have to figure this out alone
If something told you to keep reading this far, trust that feeling. Whether it’s for yourself, your teen, or your young adult, the hardest part is deciding to start. We are here when you are ready.
there is courage in change ♥
- Anxiety specialists for children, teens, and adults
- Rated 5.0 on Google
- In-network with Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare and UMR
- Telehealth anywhere in Illinois
- In-person in New Lenox
- EMDR therapy for anxiety and trauma
- We truly care about every client
- There is courage in change
