Therapy for Parents of Special Needs Kids in Chicago
Therapy for Special Needs Parents in Chicago and greater Illinois with Sarah Schufreider, LCSW
It Never Feels Calm
Parenting is non-stop. You deserve to have your needs met too.
It never feels calm. Not in your body, not in your home, not in the in-between moments that are supposed to be restful but never are. There is always another moment that needs your full attention.
Your nervous system is fried. You cannot relax. And no one around you really gets it. You are worrying about every aspect of your child's health and life, constantly monitoring while also keeping everything else from falling apart.
You are constantly researching: Doctors, therapists, specialists, experts. You are trying to find every possible support for your child. They need so much, and you refuse to let them fall through the cracks. You are trying to meet the needs of a child who requires more. And at the same time, your other kids are watching and needing you too. You are doing everything for everyone. All the time.
And somewhere in the middle of all of that, you disappeared. You still want to matter. You feel guilty for even wanting that. But it is there and it is real.
You want to feel like yourself again.
That Person is Still There
Underneath the exhaustion, the guilt, the endless to-do lists and appointment reminders and middle-of-the-night worries, there is still a person who wants AND deserves more than survival.
Wanting that is not selfishness. It is the most honest thing about you right now.
Therapy for Parents of Special Needs Kids in the greater Chicago area
Sarah Schufreider, LCSW working with parents with special needs children in Chicago ara
I'm Sarah Schufreider, LCSW, and I work with parents of special needs and medically fragile children in Chicago who are burned out, exhausted, and quietly wondering if they will ever feel like themselves again.
This work is personal to me. Not just professionally, but in the way that only lived experience can make something truly personal. I am also a parent to multiple special needs and medically fragile children. I have sat in those waiting rooms. I have navigated hospitalizations, difficult treatment decisions, and IEP meetings where you have to fight for everything your child deserves. I know what it is like to carry all of that while also trying to hold your family together and still show up as a whole person.
For over 17 years I have worked as a social worker with people from many different walks of life. But nothing prepared me for how profoundly my own parenting journey would shape the way I do this work. I join you not as an outside observer, but as a fellow parent on the same road.
I know your plate is already full. I know the last thing you need is someone handing you more homework or offering advice that sounds good in theory but doesn’t work in real life. Instead, I offer a space where how hard this actually is gets named, held, and witnessed. From there, we can gently begin realistically work on bringing you back into the picture.
Many clients find that simply being seen, without having to explain or justify the weight of their daily life, is itself a turning point. Clients report feeling less alone, more grounded in their own sense of self, and more able to access small moments of care for themselves without the guilt that usually follows.
You Do Not Have to Keep Doing This All On Your Own!
You have been holding so much for so long. You do not have to figure out how to feel like yourself again alone. If any part of this felt like it was written for you, I would love to connect.
Reaching out is the first step. To learn more, either:
email Sarah at sarah@sixheartscounseling.com
fill out the this contact form
I’d love to help you. Click here to schedule your free 15- minute phone consultation for therapy for special needs parents in Chicago and greater Illinois. My other specialties include mid-life issues such as menopause, postpartum depression, anxiety, relationship support, SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), and grief.
Frequently Asked Questions about Therapy for Parents of Special Needs Kids in Chicago
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Not unless you want to. This therapy is focused on you, not on becoming a better caregiver or solving your child's challenges. You are welcome to share as much or as little context as feels right. The goal is to help you reconnect with yourself, and that does not require a detailed medical history.
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It is one of the most common things parents in this situation feel, and it makes complete sense. You have spent so long putting everyone else first that taking up space for yourself can feel selfish or even wrong. Part of the work is gently untangling that guilt so you can begin to see your own needs as legitimate, not indulgent. You cannot pour from an empty cup, and you deserve care too.
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There is no single answer to this because every person and every situation is different. Some clients find significant relief in a focused short-term period of work. Others find ongoing support helpful given the long-term nature of parenting a special needs child. Sarah will work with you to figure out a pace and structure that fits your life and your goals.
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Yes. This therapy is open to any parent or primary caregiver who is feeling the weight of this particular journey, regardless of gender.
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That is exactly why this work is designed to be realistic and grounded in the life you actually have, not an idealized version of it. Sarah understands that your schedule is not flexible in the way other people's schedules might be. Session logistics, frequency, and format can be discussed during your consultation so that getting support does not become just one more thing that feels impossible.
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What sets this practice apart is the combination of deep clinical experience and genuine lived experience as a special needs parent. Sarah is not offering advice from the outside looking in. She has navigated hospitalizations, IEPs, and the particular exhaustion that comes from loving a child who needs more, while also trying to stay whole herself. That combination of professional training and personal understanding shapes every session.
