Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

Main character energy is something that you deserve to give off. Why? Because this is your life and everyone deserves to live the life that they want to live (yes, including you), and I deeply believe this. Since this is something I am passionate about, I will work with you to help make sure that you are able to live life fully and happily. I do this through active listening, patience, open mindedness, kindness, and support. I ensure that you will have a space that is welcoming to be who you are, as you are, safe and judgment free. I know that college is a whole new world, with new fun experiences and stress. I will partner with you to navigate the unique challenges of adjusting to school, friends, independence, and this stage of life. Whether you are experiencing; stress, anxiety, depression, or any unpleasant emotion. You are not alone, and together we will make sure that you are living a life aligned with your goals! Together, we will identify strategies to help you achieve those goals. As the expert of your own experiences, feel free to provide feedback and actively participate in the therapeutic process. It's a team effort, and my goal is to ensure that you get the most out of our sessions, so you can live a life aligned with your goals. Remember, you are not alone, and together we will navigate and overcome any challenges you may face. As an African American woman living in Chicago, I understand the pressure to ‘have it together’ or the need to be emotionally and mentally strong at all times. Life is extreme and when you add in the pressures to conform to the way of the world, life can be unbearable. Growing up on the west side of Chicago, I was able to see the inequities faced by brown and black people. I was able to see the negative impact of the injustices placed on the brown and black people. I was able to see the clear segregation of people, resources, and support and I am able to understand the pain the world has caused. My goal is to remind people of color that they are powerful, that their voices should be loud and clear, and that their presence is necessary. My passion is to be and create a safe space for those who struggle with just being. I enjoy working with the LGBTQIA+ community, the houseless community, and with Black Lives Matter to create a movement for equity, not just equality.

CORE - Center Of Relational Empowerment, PC helps individuals, couples and families strengthen their core selves, and in doing so, empowers them to strengthen their relationships with others. CORE provides psychological therapy, workshops, groups and psychoeducational seminars for people from all walks of life. At the heart of CORE is our belief that everyone has leadership and healing qualities - perspective, confidence, compassion, and acceptance - crucial to our highest, most harmonious functioning. Today you are one step closer to a new you where you feel empowered and on a positive path to growth and well-being. While we can't change difficult situations of the past, we can work together to better understand and resolve challenges in your life. Therapy and counseling can help uncover long-standing patterns and behaviors that can get in the way of feeling fulfilled in our relationships with ourselves and others. We believe that no family or cultural system operates the same way and that there is no "right" way to live life. Therefore, it is our goal to understand the problems you are facing through your own context in order to find the meanings and solutions that work best for you. If you're looking for extra support and guidance through a challenging situation or you're just ready to move in a new direction in your life, we look forward to working with you to achieve your goals.

I work with college students, emerging adults, and professionals navigating anxiety, identity concerns, workplace stress, career exploration, and life transitions. I see therapy as an opportunity to pause, reflect, and reconnect with yourself during moments of uncertainty or change. My approach is grounded in authenticity, curiosity, and presence, and I value being sincere and direct while maintaining warmth and thoughtful reflection. I aim to create a supportive, respectful therapeutic space where clients feel understood and empowered. My work integrates psychotherapy with mindfulness-informed and holistic practices that support self-awareness, grounding, and connection. I’m drawn to approaches that invite clients to slow down, tune in, and build a more intentional relationship with themselves, while honoring the whole person beyond symptoms alone. I completed my doctoral internship at Duke University Counseling and Psychological Services, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Headspace Health. I hold a PhD in Psychology from Tennessee State University’s APA-accredited program and a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Boston College. I am also certified in Mental Health Coaching.

I work with young adults and students navigating life transitions, identity development, relational stressors, or mood dysregulation. I enjoy working with a diverse range of students, and have experience with immigrant, first-gen, or international students. I am a Middle-Eastern American clinician who appreciates and is curious about the impact of culture, religion, and family upbringing on my client's perspective, values, and emotional experiences. I take a trauma-informed and relational approach and classify myself as an integrated psychodynamic and humanistic therapist. This means that I put you at the center of the work we do and am especially curious about how past relational dynamics and experiences impact the way you show up today.

Grey Area Therapy is a small, private practice conveniently located in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood with easy access to public transportation and an emphasis on building meaningful, authentic connections with clients. As a therapist with Grey Area Therapy, I work with clients on needs related to anxiety, major life transitions, chronic illness, and depression. With individualized approaches to empathetic therapy, we will work to help slow things down, become more intentional, and build awareness of our life experiences. I offer both in-person and virtual appointments. I accept Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and Cigna insurance and offer free 15-minute phone consultations to help you find a therapist that works for you!

Our world can be a tough place that leaves many of us feeling overwhelmed and misunderstood. If you’re tired of the systems working against you and are ready to receive unwavering support in breaking down the walls keeping you from your best relationships and self, I would love to assist you. You can expect our sessions to provide a sanctuary that is polyamory, sex worker, kink, and LGBTQIA+ affirming, QTBIPOC-centered, antiracist, trauma-informed, COVID-safe, and nonjudgmental so that you feel safe to show up as your authentic self. I work with individuals, couples, and families to utilize a person-centered, strengths-based, and evidence-based approach. In my work, I implement systemic modalities such as Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). I value building trust in our therapeutic relationship so that we can collaborate and customize a plan to explore what’s been holding you back, tap into your desires and strengths, and empower you to make the changes needed to claim the life you truly want. Via the structured and validating environment that we will foster together, we will be able to tackle concerns including intergenerational trauma, emotional and physical intimacy issues, sexual dysfunction, life transitions, sexual abuse, childhood abuse, domestic violence, religious abuse, and unlearning sexual shame. I aim to help uncover the resilient parts of you that have gotten muddled throughout daily life under current societal systems by working through a decolonial lens that uplifts marginalized groups. I studied Biology, Philosophy, and Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and have work experience with foster care youth, emergency medicine, interpersonal violence peer support, shelter animals, queer sexual health and pleasure advocacy, conflict mediation, and environmental canvassing. My diverse school and work background have deepened my understanding of systemic oppression and have prepared me to advocate for underserved populations. I am pursuing my master’s degree at National University in Marriage and Family Therapy with an emphasis on sex therapy, and I have the privilege of being supervised by Brittney Brooks, LMFT. I know it can be challenging to be open with people outside your support system, and I also know that none of us deserves to navigate hardship alone. If you are prepared to embark on this courageous journey together, I invite you to reach out!

The Aspen Center is a small group practice providing insight-oriented psychotherapy. We offer a personalized approach that focuses on individualism, partnership, respect, and education, with an emphasis on the mind-body connection. We see you as a “whole person,” recognizing that your symptoms are only a part of the picture. We work with you to understand what might be out of balance in your life, and then develop strategies to restore that balance and promote well-being. At The Aspen Center, you can expect an environment that conveys warmth, comfort, confidentiality, and professionalism. We offer you the flexibility of seeing your therapist in-person or via Zoom for Healthcare, allowing you to meet with your therapist regularly to get the support you need.

I see therapy less as a pursuit of perfection and more as a space for curiosity and self-understanding, where we begin to loosen the psychological barriers that keep us stuck and open up possibilities for a more meaningful, connected, and balanced life. I work with adolescents and adults navigating life transitions, relationship challenges, autism and ADHD, LGBTQIA+ and identity-related challenges, and the everyday weight of stress. I support clients with concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and struggles with self-esteem. I look forward to working alongside you as you build on your strengths, navigate challenges, and create meaningful, lasting change.

It's been some time since you felt like you. Have you noticed that you been withdrawn? Overwhelmed? Maybe you are noticing that your feelings of being down, sad, worried, or anxious just aren't going away. Maybe you're unsure about the future of a relationship, that your life is turned upside down, or just feel that you aren't living the life you were meant to lead. You've thought about reaching out for therapy, but you weren't sure. It's ok. We are here. Reach out today. We help you feel like you again. Through engaging in counseling we will assist you in accomplishing your goals. We believe that each of us encounters our own challenges in the course of creating a full life and that through partnering with a helping professional the path of improving your own wellness may be a bit brighter. We strongly believe in each individual’s capacity for growth and insight. Engaging in therapy with one of our therapists and starting (or continuing) your healing process, we believe you can develop and strengthen your own inner light and we hope to share in this process with you. As your collaborative partner, our clinicians will use their attuned listening skills, reflections, and specialized training to provide quality, individualized, and counseling and psychotherapy. Taking the first step towards change is never easy, but is often rewarding. When you are ready to take a step on a new path, let us be there to help you strengthen your own Bright Light. Our clinicians work with young adults, college students, and adults who are diverse in their identities, life experiences, and backgrounds. Areas of expertise include treating anxiety, depression, life transitions/adjustments, emotion regulation, traumas and stressful experiences, cultural and racial stress, and relationship issues. Additionally, each of our clinicians have their own areas of expertise. You can learn more about our clinicians on our website.

At Restartt, we work with individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, anger, emotional dysregulation, addiction, procrastination, relationship stress, and life transitions. Many clients feel stuck in cycles of overthinking, avoidance, people-pleasing, shame, or self-defeating behaviors. Our team uses evidence-based approaches, including REBT and CBT, to help clients understand how their beliefs influence emotional distress and behavior. We focus on building emotional discipline, self-awareness, healthier coping, and lasting behavioral change.

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We work with adults of all ages as well as teenagers. We see many clients who are working through anxiety, depression, stress, life transitions, "failure to launch," and the effects of trauma. Our clinicians have expertise in neuro-diversity including ADHD/ADD and ASD. We have therapists with clinical interests in so-called “men’s issues” as well as therapists who identify as LGBTQIA+ and who speak Mandarin. We facilitate a process by which clients are able to build their resiliency skills, empowering them, long-term, to survive the inevitable challenges of life.

At Piece by Piece we offer comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations for children, adults, and older adults facing a range of cognitive, behavioral and emotional concerns. We have locations in Oak Brook and Lake Forest and now in Chicago in the Lincoln Park area. We are now offering services including therapy, executive functioning coaching as well as telehealth evaluations so we can offer services to a wider population who may not have access otherwise. We also offer neuropsychological evaluations in Spanish. Common reasons for referrals include ADHD, ASD, learning disorders, dementia, brain injury and various neurological conditions. Our evaluations are fast, with a typical two-week turnaround time and we work closely with referring providers to ensure all referral questions are addressed. We accept most insurance as well as offer self-pay and pro-bono options.

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.

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At Sacred Stories Counseling our focus is on supporting BIPOC, queer individuals and those who hold both identities! Your story matters and we want to support you as you navigate the current reality we're living in globally and nationally, while also holding space for your personal difficulties too! We've got your back if you're working through anxiety, perfectionism / strong black woman struggles. If you're neurodivergent - we got you! The trauma you carry, you don't have to carry it alone - we'll be with you in it and use EMDR and IFS to help you move through it. It won't disappear forever but it will no longer be all consuming, hold you back, or keep you stuck! We're in your corner! Schedule a free 15 min call with us to ask any questions and see if we're a good fit!

Everyone tells you that college is the best time in your life and to enjoy it because it flies by. But what people don’t tell you is all the challenges that it can bring. Maybe it’s the first time you are away from your family and friends from home. It can also bring many challenges with pressure to drink or use drugs, navigating friendships and dating in a more complicated way, and figuring out what you want to do with the rest of your life. You might be in a position where in order to afford school you need to work on top of doing well in all your classes. I know personally how challenging, yet exciting, this time can be, and I am here to tell you that you don’t need to figure it all out on your own or even right now. Are you ready to enjoy your college experience, be fully present in the great moments without feeling stresses weighing you down everyday? It’s time to feel a sense of relief, confidence in who you are, and in your decisions. Together, we can make your life feel lighter and free up space for everything else you have going on! My Approach: I am a strong believer in the power of relationships. Having someone to talk to can increase our sense of happiness and positivity, and most importantly let us know that we are not alone. Life has many ups and downs, but it's what you do with them that matters. I am here to help you transform the tough moments into growth. Therapy with me looks like an open dialogue, where we both respect each other's point of view and collaborate to find solutions that help you overcome what’s been holding you back. We can talk about anything, no matter how hard it is to share. Whether it’s the good things or the bad, I am ready to hold space for even the strongest emotions that come up, because I know we can work through it together. I believe in a holistic approach to therapy that not only looks at your thoughts and feelings, but also how your environment, your cultural experiences, close relationships, and health, affect your mental wellbeing. We’ll use a variety of therapeutic techniques to best fit what you need, because therapy is not a one size fits all approach. We’ll make sure that those techniques are really working for you. It might be practicing mindfulness or trying out different coping skills to help things feel less overwhelming. Our approach will continue to grow as our therapeutic relationship develops. I know that therapy is not always easy, but I am here to support you each step of the way and I will always accept you for how you are in that moment, even the hard ones. A Little About Me: I went into undergrad undecided and had a hard time knowing what I wanted to do. I knew that I wanted to do something to help people and I wanted a career that I would enjoy. I always felt behind in some way because I didn’t know what I wanted to do right away. I have learned that a lot of people have a unique path to get to where they are. I worked as a school social worker for 8 years before private practice and that is when I really knew I loved counseling and wanted to continue on this path. I have lived in the Chicago area for most of my life and love the city! You can find me by the lake or exploring all the city has to offer. My hobbies are all over the place and include a mixture of baking, triathlons, knitting, going on long walks and finding the best matcha. I also love traveling (but hate flying) and have an ever growing list of places I want to visit.

When looking for a therapist, it can often be a challenge to figure out who will be a good fit based on a bio and a picture. Sometimes there is something very specific that we know we need from therapy, sometimes we are just going in with a vague sense, and it can often feel vulnerable. There is a quote that I often return to in my work: “healing happens at the speed of trust”. When we start our work together, we will be figuring out how to build that trust and communication so that you can do the work and exploration that you need to do to get the most out of therapy. I specialize in supporting individuals navigating addiction and substance use. I also enjoy working with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, isolation, and effects of trauma. My work is grounded in a harm reduction philosophy that aims to meet people exactly where they are and recognizes that we are all experts in our own lives. I won’t have all of the answers, but hope to work alongside you. I approach therapy with deep curiosity and a relational lens, believing that meaningful change grows from genuine connection and collaboration. I like getting to know people and find one of the most profound things to come from therapy is a feeling of being understood.

Across all therapeutic modalities I aim to maintain a safe space, which allows both therapist and client to collaborate and engage in natural conversation. I believe it is through these interactions where a relationship can be developed and certain insights come to light. In our work together, clients are able to learn more about their relational patterns, both through the experience of retelling their stories as well as firsthand within therapeutic interactions. As these insights provide opportunity for better understanding of current difficulties, ultimately, meaningful and empowered change can be pursued. I utilize a variety of therapeutic styles in my treatment approach including humanistic, relational and psychodynamic based approaches. I also make use of emotion-focused therapy and cognitive-behavioral-based approaches when working with couples and symptomatic issues, respectively.

Feeling obsessive thoughts swirling around? Does it seem like your emotions and behaviors are controlling you more often than not? Life is feeling just too much? I hear you. You are stressed out. Everything you do to try and be in control isn’t working anymore. I know anxiety, relational stress, and sadness are overwhelming, and confronting it seems almost impossible. I want to tell you, you are not alone. Together we will develop healthy strategies to break free from what's holding you back. Together we take what feels unmanageable, and make it manageable. Through a focus on patience, support, and action; I will empower you to uncover new ways of conquering old problems. I look forward to partnering with you. My Background and Approach My approach and focus in therapy is to create a safe space for you to explore your experiences with anxiety, depression, relational issues, and daily life stressors. I do this through a multi-modality approach using exploratory conversation and weaving in structured approaches (CBT, DBT, ERP). In the first several sessions, I will ask a lot of questions so that I can get to know you and what brings you to therapy. Then you will also ask me questions about who I am and how I work. Finally, together we’ll identify your goals for therapy and what you hope to achieve. To me, therapy is a collaboration, so I will ask for feedback along the way to make sure sessions are going well or if we need to try new strategies. I will be your supporter throughout our work. I am gentle, yet direct with my feedback. Together, we will work to identify the root cause of your worries, fears, phobias, and stressors and then through guided strategies, we will break free from what is holding you back and and build the life that you want to live. My Personal Beliefs and Interests As a long-time vegan, I am passionate about animal welfare and sampling all of the delicious animal-friendly food that my city has to offer. I view people through an intersectional lens and am explicitly antiracist and LGBTQIA+ affirming in my therapeutic practice. I am committed to providing safe spaces for clients, which hinges upon staying mindful of the privileges I continue to receive as a white, cis woman. I believe that current events have a profound impact on sociocultural norms, quality of life, and our general wellbeing. It is crucial to consider, and to name, how past and current events influence society and affect individuals, especially in terms of systems of oppression. My hope is to show clients that although, I may not fully understand your experiences, I can provide a safe space to work on your goals for therapy with support and without harm.