Therapists for college students near 60637

Therapy can be many things and is different for each person. Whether you are new to therapy or returning, my hope is to meet you where you’re at, explore what may feel stuck, painful, or challenging, and support you in living a life aligned with what is most important to you. Throughout my career I have really enjoyed working with college students and I know that this time of life can bring unique challenges, both in concerns that arise now and in reflecting on what has brought you to this point. No situation is too big or too small to explore and work to understand how to navigate together.

Birchwood Clinic, LLC provides in person and telehealth mental health services to adults in the Bucktown/Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago. Our holistic approach strives to empower each client to achieve balance, clarity, and overall health and wellness.

I am a Counselor with a passion for supporting emerging adults as they wade through the complexities of today's world. I believe in a Person-centered, Humanistic approach to therapy, building therapeutic relationships based around trust and mutual respect, fostering an environment of non-judgement, positive regard, and authenticity. I assist my clients on their journey towards their goals. Working together, we will discover ways to spur your personal growth and foster a greater sense of fulfillment in your life, utilizing, expanding, and developing skills and abilities, including ones you might not even know you already have. I have experience working with a broad range of clients. Including emerging adults struggling with life transitions, self-esteem, anxiety, and assisting clients of all genders with relationship concerns. I particularly enjoy working with clients involved in the creative arts as well as those living with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions. Drawing on my own experience living with a disability, I strive to listen and understand without judgment, and to honor your individual perspective on life and your world. I am excited to collaborate with my clients, providing compassion and support as we work together to address life's hurdles.

If it feels like everyone else got the handbook for adulthood except you, you're not alone. I work with young adults navigating anxiety, OCD, perfectionism, and relationship stress. You might struggle with intrusive thoughts, panic, people-pleasing, or the pressure to have everything figured out. Together, we'll move beyond insight by building practical tools, facing fears gradually, and creating healthier patterns so you can feel more confident, grounded, and free to fully engage in your life. Our work is collaborative, supportive, and focused on real change. Together, we'll understand the patterns keeping you stuck while building practical skills to regulate your nervous system, face fears, and respond differently to life's challenges. Therapy isn't just about talking—it's about helping you feel more confident, grounded, and free. Starting therapy can feel intimidating, especially if you're used to handling everything on your own. You don't have to keep carrying it all alone. If you're looking for a space that's both supportive and practical, where we can work toward meaningful change together, I'd love to connect and see if we're a good fit.

If you've ever felt misunderstood, struggled with recognizing your worth, grappled with questions about your identity, or faced challenges in relationships, we're here to listen to you. If you find yourself weighed down by deep-seated emotional experiences, memories that are confusing, unclear, conflicted, or downright painful, we can help you. We understand the importance of processing and unpacking trauma. Sometimes you need to explore the deepest and darkest aspects of your experiences in order to find the inner strength that will push you forward. These moments can produce actual healing and growth which occurs most often in a safe therapeutic relationship with a therapist who listens carefully and responds with genuine acceptance and empathic understanding. Our approach centers on you, providing a nurturing environment where you can delve not only into topics like self-image, self-esteem, sexual and gender identity, and relationship difficulties, but also into those complex emotions and memories that might be lurking beneath the surface. Those who find our approach most beneficial often seek a space where they're free to be themselves without fear of judgment, a place to sift through their emotional landscapes with care and attention. If you're looking for a therapeutic experience where you feel heard, valued, and empowered to explore your emotions, memories, and challenges at your own pace, then our client-centered approach might just be the right fit for you. Our psychologists offer individual, family, relationship and sex therapy that is affirming and sensitive to all aspects of diversity. We also offer affordable neuropsychological assessment and evaluations for attention, memory, learning, and neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and Autism. If you are uninsured or paying out of pocket, please ask us about sliding scale fee options for students so we can accommodate your needs.

Erika Siesennop, Beckie Magnuson, and Sarita Aguirre are Registered Dietitians who specialize in working with individuals who struggle with disordered eating and body image. An anti-diet, weight-inclusive approach. We accept BCBS PPO and Blue Choice PPO plans.

At CFC Therapy Group, we believe in possibilities—and we empower you to realize yours. Working with our team of experienced therapists, you’ll gain the strength to navigate life’s challenges, confront what’s holding you back, and achieve your fullest potential. We are Relationship Experts. Whether you’re looking to create a more positive dynamic with family and friends, a significant other, or simply with yourself, we’ll help you get there. At CFC Therapy Group, we’re committed to your possibility. Contact us today to book an appointment

Your grades are declining. You nap because it's the only way to shut your brain off. You're reviewing everything you said in that last conversation because you're sure you said something embarrassing. You feel like something is wrong, but you don't want anyone to know. You've come to the right place! We will explore your challenges from a non-judgmental and self-compassionate place. Believe me- I've heard and seen it all, and I can still honestly say my clients are the most amazing people. You are not lazy or weird or any of the other negative things your brain is telling you. My clients often struggle with challenges related to anxiety, depression, social anxiety, autism, and perfectionism. I will help you learn to manage your anxious or depressive thoughts differently so that you can function and succeed. You've struggled long enough. Let's work together to get you unstuck.

I bring a background in the arts to my work as a psychotherapist — I consider that training just as central to how I practice as my clinical training. Leading with curiosity and drawing on that creative lens lets me offer care with both breadth and depth. Patients describe me as calm, patient, collaborative, straightforward, and humorous when it fits the moment. I work from a psychodynamic approach: paying close attention to how your past shapes your present, so that new insight can loosen old patterns and free you from concerns that no longer serve you. I see individuals and couples, and have extensive experience with LGBTQ clients. I especially enjoy working with creative professionals, since I have deep knowledge of those fields. Time living abroad shaped my interest in working with immigrants navigating identity and belonging across cultures. I have a clinical interest in illness, end-of-life care, and grief. My goal is to create a space where you feel safe enough to work toward real resolution — and toward flourishing, not just symptom relief — especially as we get underneath the feelings that brought you in. If you think we might be a good fit, reach out by phone or email — I'd be glad to talk.

Hi, I'm Lucy, LSW (she/her)! I believe that our environment, community, and positionality work together to shape our mental health. I view therapy as a collaboration between the therapist and the client, as you are the expert of your own experience. Together, we will explore the approaches and skills that best fit your needs to support you in navigating depression, anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, ADHD, neurodivergence, identity and LGBTQ+ related concerns, as well as relationship challenges, family dynamics, and major life transitions. I approach therapy from an integrative and holistic, trauma-informed lens to recognize the importance of the client’s self-determination when engaging in therapy and trauma work. I primarily utilize CBT and DBT when working with clients with anxiety, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, and depression. In my work with couples, I primarily utilize IFS (Internal Family Systems) and narrative therapy to identify the roles and stories within a relationship. As your therapist, I am here to help you challenge negative thoughts and look at situations through different lenses, while also providing a space for you to express your vulnerabilities and reflect on past experiences. My hope is that our work feels meaningful and that you feel comfortable and seen in the space we create together.

I offer engaged, purposeful therapy on relationships, work and school-related issues, life transitions, and stress management. I specialize in working with adults as they navigate increasing responsibilities at school and work, while also managing life transitions such as dating, marriage, parenthood, and losses. Many of my clients describe feeling stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, or depressed. I integrate current research and traditional approaches: many benefit by learning skills for emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness; others explore bigger-picture issues related to values and sense of purpose. I completed my clinical training (Doctoral Internship and Fellowship) at Northwestern University after having graduated with a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School. In my previous life, I obtained a Ph.D. in Economics from Princeton University.

I am a clinical therapist specializing in individual therapy for adults, including young adults and college/graduate students. My therapeutic approach is rooted in psychodynamic and relational frameworks, with an emphasis on exploration and understanding of how your experiences have shaped the way you see yourself, your relationships, and the world around you. I strive to help clients feel empowered by integrating skills- and values-based interventions drawn from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I view therapy as a collaborative process and bring an empathetic, compassionate, and curious approach to helping clients identify patterns that may keep them feeling stuck while building the confidence to make meaningful changes. My areas of specialization include supporting individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, non-suicidal self-injury, relationship and dating concerns, family issues, identity exploration, life transitions, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), perfectionism, stress, grief, and self-esteem challenges. I also work with couples and welcome clients from diverse backgrounds and with intersecting identities, including first-generation individuals, immigrants, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and international students. I strive to provide a culturally responsive and affirming space where clients can bring their full selves to therapy. *I am able to accept BCBS PPO, select BCBS HMO sites (see below for complete list), Blue Choice, Aetna, and Cigna plans. I earned my doctorate in clinical psychology (PsyD) from The Chicago School and am currently working toward independent licensure. My professional experience includes providing care to adults and adolescents across higher levels of care—including inpatient hospital settings, partial hospitalization programs, and intensive outpatient programs—as well as university counseling centers and outpatient private practice. I grew up on the East Coast and have called Chicago home for the past five years. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time outdoors, traveling, connecting with loved ones, trying new restaurants, and attending comedy shows, concerts, and neighborhood festivals. Accepted HMO Sites: - 099: Advocate Medical Group West - 124: Advocate Lutheran General Physician Partners - 294: Advocate Good Samaritan Physician Partners - 302: Advocate Christ Hospital Physician Partners - 331: Advocate Good Shepherd Physician Partners - 357: Advocate Illinois Masonic Physician Partners - 398: Advocate Medical Group - 464: Advocate Condell Physician Partners - 474: Advocate Sherman Physician Partners - 600: Advocate Health Care

College can be exciting, overwhelming, and everything in between—and you don’t have to navigate it alone. Chicago Talk Therapy is a downtown practice designed with college students in mind, offering individual therapy for concerns like anxiety, burnout, relationships, identity, and the pressure to “have it all figured out.” Our therapists are warm, down-to-earth, and genuinely engaged, creating a space where you can be real about what’s going on—without judgment or expectations. We approach our work with cultural humility, honoring the many layers of who you are—your background, identities, and lived experiences—and how they shape what you’re going through. We also know that when you’re ready for support, you don’t want to wait weeks to get it. That’s why we offer immediate availability, flexible scheduling around your classes, and accept many major insurance plans. Whether you’re dealing with something specific or just feeling off, we’re here to help you make sense of things, feel more grounded, and get back to being yourself—on your terms.

Charissa Simon-Wright earned her BA in Criminal and Social Justice from the University of Arizona (formerly Ashford University), MS in Psychology with a Specialization in Addictions from Perdue University (formerly Kaplan University). Charissa has received a doctoral degree at Walden University- Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Health Psychology. She is a member of Psi Chi, International Honor Society in Psychology, since June of 2019. Charissa has also obtained certifications as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), a Co-Occurring Disorder Professional (CODP-I), and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP). Charissa has worked passionately in the behavioral health field for over fifteen years with children and families in multiple roles such as a case manager, housing specialist, family preservation worker, and counselor. While working at the second largest health department in Illinois, Charissa gained vast knowledge and skills that encompasses group counseling, individual counseling, clinical assessments, crisis counseling, addiction counseling, and trauma counseling. Charissa believes in treating the whole person. This means that she takes into consideration the underlying factors that can inhibit a person’s ability to practice healthy habits, so that she and the client can address the root of the issue and not just the symptoms in a collaborative manner. Charissa believes that the client is in charge of their own treatment which creates a sense of autonomy and empowerment that enables the client to move towards identified goals.

College can look manageable from the outside while feeling overwhelming behind the scenes. I work best with students who may be struggling with anxiety, depression, difficulty focusing, burnout, or the pressure to keep up academically and socially. You may feel like you are working harder than everyone else to stay organized, wondering whether ADHD could explain lifelong challenges, or finding that strategies that once worked are no longer enough. I offer thoughtful, individualized care that looks beyond symptoms to understand your health, daily life, and goals.

College can bring a lot of change at once. You may be adjusting to greater independence, managing academic pressure, questioning what you want for your future, or trying to figure out who you are outside of the expectations you’ve carried with you. You might look like you’re handling everything on the outside while anxiety, perfectionism, OCD, or concerns about food and your body are taking up more space than you want them to. I enjoy working with college and graduate students who are curious about themselves and want to better understand what’s underneath the patterns they’re experiencing. I have extensive experience working with eating disorders, disordered eating and body image concerns, and OCD, and I also support students navigating anxiety, trauma, perfectionism, self esteem, identity exploration, and life transitions. I believe that what you’re experiencing doesn’t exist in isolation. Your culture, identities, family, relationships, and the systems around you can all shape how you understand yourself and move through the world. I especially enjoy working with women of color, BIPOC students, LGBTQ+ students, and students with other marginalized identities, and I welcome these parts of you into our work together. My approach is collaborative, relational, and curious. I’ll take time to get to know you and understand what you’re experiencing rather than assuming there is one right way to approach therapy. We can explore what may be keeping certain patterns in place, identify what matters to you, and build practical tools for navigating difficult thoughts and emotions. I’ll follow your lead while also offering questions, new perspectives, or gentle challenges when they may help you go deeper. I draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS), adapting our work based on what feels most helpful for you. My hope is that therapy gives you space to understand yourself with greater compassion, feel more equipped to navigate challenges, and develop greater trust in yourself as you move through college and whatever comes next.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

E.M. Branch & Associates is a Black woman-owned and led mental health and wellness practice serving individuals, couples, and families throughout the Chicago area. With more than 40 years of experience, our goal is to provide a safe, supportive, and culturally responsive space where clients feel heard, respected, and supported throughout their healing journey. We work well with students who may be feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, depressed, or simply trying to manage everything happening in their lives. Many of our clients are navigating school pressure, relationships, family concerns, major life changes, past experiences, or challenges with finding balance. We also understand that asking for help can feel uncomfortable, especially if therapy is new to you. Our goal is to provide a welcoming and supportive space where you can be yourself, talk openly, and feel heard without judgment. Whether you are going through a difficult time or just want extra support, we are here to meet you where you are. Our team provides individual, family, and group therapy, along with services such as CBT, DBT, EMDR, psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and holistic wellness services. We support clients experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, relationship concerns, stress, and other emotional wellness needs. At our South Loop location, we are especially interested in supporting college students and young adults who may be navigating academic stress, relationships, identity, major life changes, or simply need additional emotional support. We welcome referrals and strive to make connecting with care a comfortable and supportive experience. At E.M. Branch & Associates, we believe mental health care should meet people where they are while honoring their individual experiences, culture, strengths, and goals.

Students who come to work with me often share some things in common: -They're high-achievers. Driven, capable, and holding it together on the outside, but quietly exhausted, burned out, or feeling like something's missing on the inside. -They might be navigating anxiety or OCD, going through a major life transition, or questioning their purpose and what comes next. They may be working through shifts in their relationships, with a partner, with their parents, or with themselves. -Many have never asked for help before. They're used to being the one who has it together, and reaching out takes real courage for them. If any of that sounds familiar, reach out for a free 20-minute consultation and let's get started together :)

I create a space where you are encouraged to express your most authentic self without the fear of judgment or the need to appear in a certain light, all while being witnessed, supported, and challenged. I tend to work best with individuals who possess some insight into their behavior and have a sense of curiosity about themselves and the world around them. At a certain point, reoccurring struggles lead us to look for a therapy to not just lessen the effects of mental health symptoms, but that engages us in a collaborative and authentic experience to produce long-term growth and self-understanding. Through a strong therapeutic relationship, I help individuals understand how past experiences shape current thoughts and behaviors, allowing them to take agency and confront/change what is problematic with greater clarity, intention, and effectivity. I have formal training in psychodynamic therapy and often see individuals multiple times per week. Searching for a therapist is difficult, and oftentimes it's hard to tell who might be a good fit from reading profiles alone. I am happy to speak with perspective patients/clients over the phone before scheduling anything concrete. This way, we can both get a better sense for whether or not we feel that we'd be a good fit to work together. I tend to be laid-back and relaxed, mixing in humor often. I draw primarily from my psychoanalytic training, which emphasizes the importance of the therapeutic relationship, as well as developmental and childhood experiences. Additionally, I have experience with cognitive-behavioral, dialectical-behavioral, and mindfulness therapies.