Responsibility & visibility · Individual therapy · Chicago
Therapy for actors and performers in Chicago
Being evaluated is often part of performing, but repeated rejection or unpredictable opportunities can still hurt. You may find yourself trying to appear confident while privately questioning your direction.
Request a consultation
What you may be noticing
- Taking rejection personally
- Feeling uncertain between engagements
- Struggling to switch off after public evaluation
Your experience may look different. These examples are starting points for a conversation.
How we can work on this
We can discuss what your work asks of you and how it affects your sense of self. Our work can include anxiety, boundaries, and maintaining sources of meaning that are not dependent on being selected.
I am Sam Rustum, LCPC. My work is collaborative: we will discuss your priorities, choose a starting point, and check whether our approach is useful to you.
Having a life between the decisions other people make
An audition can be over while your attention remains caught in the waiting. You may replay what you did, compare yourself with someone who was selected, or treat silence as an explanation of your worth. We can examine the story that forms when you have little control over the outcome.
In a session, we might look at the day after a disappointment. What did you tell yourself? What did you stop doing? Did you reach out to someone, avoid another opportunity, or become absorbed in checking for updates? These details can help us understand how uncertainty and evaluation affect you.
We can choose a response to explore, such as reconnecting with a routine, noticing comparison sooner, or communicating what kind of support you want. We may also talk about boundaries, changing opportunities, and the relationship between your public presentation and private experience. You can bring questions about continuing, taking a break, or building a life with room for more than being chosen for the next role.
Questions you may be asking
Can therapy include rejection even when it is a normal part of the work?
Yes. An experience can be expected and still affect you. We can examine the meaning you give it and how you want to respond in the days that follow.
What if I feel embarrassed about how much a result matters?
You can discuss that directly. We can explore the hopes, identity, and expectations attached to the opportunity without judging you for caring about it.
Can I talk about who I am outside performing?
Yes. Our conversations can include relationships, interests, values, and what you want from daily life. You can explore those questions whether performing remains central to your future or is changing.
A place to begin
Let’s make room for what you need.
A free 15-minute consultation gives us a chance to talk about what is difficult, answer your questions, and consider whether working together fits what you need.