ONLINE BOUNDARIES AND PEOPLE-PLEASING THERAPY ∙ CHICAGO & ACROSS ILLINOIS
You wanted to say no. Somehow, you said yes.
You were already tired, your schedule was full, and you needed that time for yourself. But you pictured their disappointment and heard yourself agreeing. Now you’re rearranging your day, feeling frustrated, and wondering why saying no is so hard.
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Accepting New Clients
We have immediate availability for boundaries and people-pleasing therapy sessions across Illinois.
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Insurance Accepted
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) PPO, Aetna PPO, Aetna Better Health Plan, BCBS Medicare, BCBS Community Health Plan (Medicaid) and CountyCare Medicaid accepted.
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Therapy That Fits Your Life
Virtual anxiety therapy from the comfort of home. Day and evening appointments available.
WHY SAYING NO FEELS SO RISKY
People-Pleasing Is a Way of Keeping You Safe
Maybe being helpful was how you earned approval. Disagreement may have led to criticism, guilt, or someone pulling away. So you learned to notice everyone else’s needs before your own.
Family and cultural expectations matter too. Being dependable may be important to you, and you don’t have to give that up.
Therapy isn’t about becoming someone who never helps. It’s about sorting out what you choose freely, what you feel pressured to do, and what you fear might happen if you respond differently.
WHAT PEOPLE-PLEASING ACTUALLY FEELS LIKE
If This Feels Familiar
You’ve had the conversation in your head
You know what you want to say. But when the moment comes, you soften it, apologize, or decide it’s easier to leave it alone.
You take it back when they push
You finally speak up, the other person seems upset, and you start explaining until you’ve taken back the very thing you wanted them to understand.
Keeping the peace is wearing you down
You avoid calls because you expect another request. Small things irritate you, and then you feel guilty for being annoyed with people you love.
WHAT ACTUALLY CHANGES
What We Do Together
Therapy goes beyond talking about why boundaries are hard. You’ll practice the real conversations and work on the guilt that shows up afterward.
You rehearse the hard conversation
Need to tell your mom you’re unavailable or ask your partner to share a responsibility? You’ll say the words out loud in session, notice where you get stuck, and try again.
You stay steady when guilt shows up
Grounding skills help you pause when guilt, worry, or frustration feels intense, so you can respond instead of giving in.
You quiet the “thought bullies”
A thought like “They’re upset, so I must have done something wrong” can undo a boundary in seconds. Together, we look at what actually happened and whether that thought tells the whole story.
You protect the relationships that matter
You can love your family and want more privacy. You can value a friendship and still be unavailable for a favor. Ashlee Rodgers-Pritchett, LCPC, draws from CBT, ACT, and DBT to help you consider your needs, your responsibilities, and the relationship itself. If you fear threats, control, or retaliation, she’ll take that seriously when discussing your options.
WHAT CHANGES
Life Without Constant People-Pleasing
You give yourself time to think
“Let me get back to you” becomes a real option, not something you’re afraid to say.
Over time, clients describe changes like these:
You say no without defending it
A simple no stays a no. You can hear someone’s disappointment without immediately changing your answer.
You give without resentment
When you help, it’s because you chose to. Your relationships feel lighter, and your needs finally have a place in them.
THE PRACTICAL STUFF
How It Works
Virtual sessions from anywhere in Illinois. No commute, no waiting room, no awkward parking lot encounters.
💻 MEET FROM YOUR HOME
✅ CULTURALLY INFORMED CARE
You should not have to explain your whole world before therapy can actually help. As a Black-owned practice, we understand that culture, identity, and lived experience shape the work we do together.
We know you're busy. We offer flexible scheduling including evenings and weekends.
🕐 EVENING APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE
💳 WE ACCEPT INSURANCE
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) PPO, Aetna PPO, Aetna Better Health Plan, BCBS Medicare, BCBS Community Health Plan (Medicaid) and CountyCare Medicaid accepted.
Get to know us
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Tasha Young
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Veleka Avant
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Deja Phillips
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Ashlee Rodgers-Pritchett
What Our Clients Say
We're dedicated to quality, ethical care and are proud to partner with respected organizations
You’ve practiced keeping the peace. Now practice saying what you need.
You’ve been holding everything together for everyone else for a long time.
You don’t have to keep saying yes when you mean no.
We work with adults across Illinois who want to speak up, set limits, and enjoy their relationships without feeling responsible for everyone’s happiness.