Venera Bekteshi

You may be managing work, family, and everyone else’s needs while quietly wondering, “What about me?” Perhaps anxiety is taking up too much space, a relationship feels difficult, or life has changed in ways you are still trying to understand.

I’m Dr. Venera Bekteshi, a licensed clinical social worker in Illinois with a PhD and MSW from Boston College. My background combines individual, family, and group therapy with university teaching and research on mental health, migration, and cultural context. I help adults with anxiety, depression, stress, and life transitions, with particular experience supporting women and people from immigrant backgrounds.

Having built a life across cultures myself, I bring a personal appreciation for questions of identity, belonging, and family expectations. I want to understand what those experiences mean for you—and what you would like your life to feel like.

My style is warm, engaged, and collaborative. I listen closely, ask thoughtful questions, and help you make sense of what feels tangled or overwhelming. There is room for difficult feelings, honest conversation, and moments of humor when they come naturally.

I draw on CBT-informed, strengths-based, and solution-focused approaches. In everyday terms, we explore how thoughts, emotions, relationships, and life circumstances affect you, then find practical ways to respond. That might mean working with self-critical thoughts, practicing a boundary, or developing tools for anxious moments.

Your family, culture, and the pressures around you matter in this process. We will build on what already helps you, agree on meaningful goals, and check in about how therapy is working for you. I welcome your feedback throughout.

You do not need to rehearse your story or arrive knowing exactly what to say. We can begin with what made you reach out—even if your starting point is simply, “I’m overwhelmed, and I need something to change.”

I will explain how therapy and confidentiality work, answer your questions, and get to know what life is like for you. We will talk about what has been difficult, what you have already tried, the support you have, and what you hope will be different. You can ask questions, pause, and tell me when something feels difficult to discuss.

By the end, my aim is for you to feel heard and have a clearer sense of our next steps. Together, we will identify initial priorities and discuss a plan that fits your needs.