You're a hard worker that prides yourself on being the person that always gets the job done. Others rely on you and you have lot on your plate, but you feel immense guilt saying "no" when people have asked too much of you. You are tired of feeling like you always have to pick up the slack and others expectations of you are wearing you thin.
You find it difficult to keep up with what you, and others, think you should be doing with your life. You often compare yourself to friends, family or peers and feel as though you are not good enough. You believe that you should be accomplishing much more than you currently are and others achievements or successes leave you feeling insecure and less than.
You have high standards for others and even higher standards for yourself. You have a method for completing tasks and you feel annoyed when you don't have enough time or energy to get everything done or when others can't do the job well. Being a perfectionist used to be helpful, but now you are tired of being frustrated and never feeling good enough.
You've perfected the art of seeming like you have it all together, but on the inside it feels like things are falling apart. You're dealing with high amounts of stress, your worry keeps you up at night and you have difficulties saying nice things to yourself.
You have big dreams and life goals, but somehow you can't quite keep up with day-to-day demands. Outside influences and pressures are bringing you down, you find yourself procrastinating on important tasks, and avoidance has become your go-to coping mechanism.
Your anxiety is getting in the way of your happiness. You’re trapped in a never-ending cycle of dread and you're tired of feeling stressed, anxious and burned out.
You have thought about therapy, but you find yourself hesitating to take that next step. You know that you need to do something different, but you feel shame for not being able to work through these challenges on your own. I genuinely get it and I am here to hold space for all of the worry, fear and discomfort that you are experiencing. You deserve to take care of yourself with the unconditional support of someone who is trained to help you navigate through these difficult times.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, burned out or paralyzed by your stress, anxiety, perfectionism or self-doubt, you have come to the right place. I'm glad you are here and I'd love to help.
Coming to therapy does not mean you are crazy, that there is something drastically wrong with you, or that you need to be fixed. Coming to therapy is taking care of yourself, finding security in who you are, and working through the challenges that are holding you back. Therapy might just be exactly what you need.
Finding the right therapist is time-consuming, daunting and, at times, frustrating. You spend loads of time searching profiles, reading about therapeutic approaches and wondering if, or when, you should reach out. Take a look around and if it seems like I'm a good fit, please reach out. I'd love to connect with you and discuss how I can be of support!
Samantha Choudhry, MSE, LPCC (she/her/hers) Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor & Owner
Hello and welcome! Supporting individuals through the ups and downs of their stress and anxiety is my jam. I absolutely love this work and I think it's extremely important for you to have a supportive space where you can build an awareness and understanding of what's fueling your stress and anxiety, how exactly your anxiety is showing up in your everyday life, and what you can do about it. I'm a fellow anxious perfectionist, so I truly get it and when I tell you that I understand or I hear you, I definitely do. This is why I'm so passionate about this specific area of counseling and why I do this work.
Yes, I have a advanced degree from an accredited college. I even went through several painstaking years of supervision and work experience to gain my professional title -- you can read about my credentials and experience below. What is most important for you to know is that I will support and encourage you in a way that works best for your growth and healing process.
In my free time, I enjoy cuddling with my orange tabbies, reading a great belly-laugh book, a strong cup of coffee, exploring the wonders of the world, knitting blankets, crocheting amigurumi, artsy projects and plenty of sweets.
Regardless of who you are, where you are from, or where you happen to be on your journey, you are welcome here.
Licensure
Minnesota Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Education
Master of Science in Education in Community Counseling
Experience
Therapeutic interventions for teenagers with severe emotional and behavioral disturbances in day treatment and residential settings
Group therapy for adolescents to promote skills in communication, coping, relaxation, relationships and self-esteem.
In-home therapeutic interventions for children with Autism and their parents
Outpatient therapy for children, teens, adults and families with social, behavioral and emotional difficulties
Therapeutic skills and coaching for parents of children with behavioral and emotional disturbances and cognitive impairments.
Therapy for teens, young adults, college students and professionals to help address concerns related to heightened or chronic stress and anxiety.
10+ years of therapeutic experience working with teens, adults and families.
Coping and emotion regulation coaching for highly sensitive/highly attuned persons.
Evidence-Based Specialities
I am an integrative and holistic therapist. Depending on the concerns I am treating, I may incorporate several evidence-based treatment models into the therapeutic process. There is not a one-size-fits-all approach to healing, so the models I pull from are dependent upon your unique needs and healing process. Here are the most common approaches I use:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Compassion-Focused Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy
Strengths-Based Therapy
Psychoeducation
Holistic Therapy
As a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, I have received specialized training in treating every person as a whole, and I help clients heal by taking the entire human being and their life experiences into consideration for assessment and treatment purposes. The goal is to help you get unstuck, implement that changes you are seeking, and strike a balance in taking care of yourself.
Areas of Focus
Anxiety, worry, and stress reduction
Self-esteem, self-acceptance and confidence
Communication, boundaries and self-expression
Relationships and social connections
Self-care and life balance
I enjoy working with professional women, high-achievers, young adults, busy moms, anxious perfectionists, and highly sensitive persons.
If you're ready to get started or would like to know more about how I can be of support, get in touch. I offer a free 15-minute phone or video consultation to so you can get a feel for whether I am a good fit for you.
You've googled and shifted through countless profiles and you haven't quite found the right therapist. Finding a therapist that's a good fit is a fairly overwhelming task. I understand how much work it took to get here and I'm glad you made it. I'd love to help you feel confident in your decision, so let's determine if I'm the right therapist for you.
I truly understand what heightened stress and anxiety feels like, and I can relate to how difficult it is to experience uncontrollable overthinking, worry or fear, how paralyzing perfectionism can be, how difficult it is to get out of avoidance or procrastination cycles, and how awful it feels to be trapped in self-doubt.
I also understand that there is more to your stress and anxiety than what's presented on the surface -- there's a lot going on underneath there. This is why I'm so passionate about this specific area of counseling and why I do this work. If you're here because you want to be seen and heard by a therapist who gets it and can help, you've come to the right place.
My clients appreciate my warm and inviting, yet direct and straightforward approach. I show up as my authentic self and I am extremely transparent. As a fellow being undergoing my own mental health journey, I seek to validate your experiences by sharing space with you as someone who can truly understand your difficulties. I am an active participant in your therapy and I will not tip-toe around your challenges. Your time is valuable and I want you to get the most out of your therapeutic journey.
There's not a one-size-fits all blanket approach to therapy. I cater therapy to your unique needs, whether that's diving in to see what's been keeping you stuck, helping you unpack years worth of stress, anxiety, overwhelm or self-doubt, tackling underlying patterns and themes, or providing you with a toolbox full of coping techniques, I will support and encourage you in a way that works best for your healing process.
You'll work best with my therapeutic style if you come ready to do the work, are invested in the process and understand that I cannot make all of your problems magically disappear. Therapy is a process and it takes time, hard work and investment to experience growth, change and healing.
You'll get the most out of our time together if you come ready to dive in and figure out what's been keeping you stuck. You know it's time to do something different and you are ready to make changes. You are here because you want something better for yourself.
I understand that there is a lot going on underneath all of that stress and anxiety, and I am here to help you unpack everything that's weighing you down. The goal is to help you feel confident in your ability to manage your stressors and not feel so overwhelmed all of the time.
I know that therapy is hard work and I will be with you throughout the entire journey. I am committed to holding space for you as we process and problem-solve your unique challenges.
When you are ready to take the next step, I invite you to connect with me. I offer a free 15-minute phone or video consultation so you can get a feel for whether I'm a good fit for you. I'd love to hear from you
Individual Therapy Sessions
I provide 50-minute individual Telehealth therapy sessions. I most commonly support high-achieving women, young adults and highly sensitive persons.
Therapy for Professional Women
For burned out professional women who feel immense pressure to succeed and shame for struggling.
Highly Sensitive Person Therapy
For deeply feeling women looking for a little extra support coping with overwhelm.
For overwhelmed and anxious over-thinkers with terrible stress keeping them up at night.
For perfectionists that are tired of being frustrated and never feeling good enough.
For self-doubters desiring to feel more confident and better about themselves.
My Minnesota-based mental health therapy and counseling practice offers phone or video therapy services. You can conveniently meet with me without leaving the comfort of your home. My services are 100% online and are offered STATEWIDE, so anyone in Minnesota can have access to therapy.
*Please note: At this time, I can only provide online therapy to clients located in Minnesota at the time of their appointment. I do not offer in-person sessions.
Insurance
I do not accept insurance. I provide documentation for out-of-network benefits.
Rates
15-minute phone or video consultation: Free
50-minute intake session: $205
50-minute follow-up: $155
Paperwork
Intake paperwork and consent forms are completed electronically. Please complete these forms at least 48 hours prior to your initial therapy session.
Cancellation
Clients are charged the full fee for missed counseling sessions with less than a 24 business hour (M-F) cancellation notice.
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Online Counseling for the Twin Cities and Surrounding Areas including:
Minneapolis, Edina, St. Louis Park, Eden Prairie, Bloomington, Burnsville, Apple Valley,
Minnetonka, Plymouth, Chanhassen, Lakeville
Telehealth Therapy Services are Offered Statewide
Praus Guidance & Healing is a Minnesota-based mental health therapy and counseling practice with experienced, integrative and holistic Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Samantha Choudhry., MSE, LPCC.
Praus Guidance & Healing provides virtual support for women, young adults and highly sensitive persons with mental health concerns across Minnesota, which include our virtual locations in Minneapolis, MN 55437 and St. Paul, MN 55116. We specialize in treating stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, perfectionism and burnout.
For more content from me, head over to my instagram
@prausguidanceandhealing
