Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

I earned my master’s degree in social work, with a concentration in mental health, from the Jane Addams School of Social Work at UIC in 2017. Since then, I have worked in multiple settings, including residential treatment, schools, and traditional clinical placements. I have a passion for doing this work and absolutely love my job. I have worked primarily with adolescents and families from diverse backgrounds, and I am excited to work with clients from all walks of life, whether they are on specific journeys of growth and healing, or just trying to figure some things out. I believe that everyone already has within them the inner strength and talents they need to create the life they want. Sometimes, we just need some help recognizing or tapping into our gifts. I’m a firm believer in the strengths-based approach, along with cognitive behavioral and reality therapy, and work from a combination of these perspectives. This means that in essence, I believe that learning the how and why behind the choices we have made in the past, is the most important part of learning how to choose wisely in the future. My goal is to create a safe place where we can talk openly about those choices without judgment, process the consequences both good and bad, and progress towards making different choices leading to different outcomes.

Ali King, LCPC, earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. She went on to work as a behavioral therapist for children with Autism at the Minnesota Autism Center before moving to Chicago and earning her master’s degree in Community Counseling from DePaul University. After graduate school, Ali worked as a therapist at Insight Behavioral Health Center’s residential facility for people struggling with eating disorders, as well as mood disorders. She led groups and supported people with everyday living tasks, as well as general skills coaching and meal management. Ali recently stepped down as the Director of the Young Adult PHP and IOP programs at Compass Health Center where she worked for 8 years in many different roles helping to build the Young Adult program and support the growth of the organization. While at Compass, Ali provided supervision and mentorship to newer clinicians and helped establish the group curriculum they currently use, as well as instituting effective policies and protocols. While at Compass, she received the award for Continuous Improvement, which highlights her drive and dedication to learning and growth. For over a decade, she has been providing person-centered, solution-focused, skills-based care. Her direct though nurturing, fun, and empathetic approach, is well received and has shown tangible results for her clients. With consistent encouragement and support, clients feel safe to explore their values and to learn successful coping strategies to improve their lives. While Ali has a passion for working with young adults through the tough transitions they face, she also appreciates working with adolescents and adults. She is well-versed in helping people manage struggles with self-esteem, relationships, low motivation, and simply feeling “stuck”. Ali is adept at working with clients with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, adjustment disorders, personality disorders, psychosis and substance use struggles. She has extensive experience working with DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), and often incorporates these modalities into her eclectic therapeutic approach. Ali is currently accepting new clients virtually and at the downtown Chicago location.

Hello. My name is Bridget Montgomery, I am a Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist. I specialize in treating stress, trauma, depression, anxiety, Borderline and OCD tendencies. If you are looking to improve your mood, make change, accomplish new goals, process your past, or learn ways to improve your life or your relationships- please reach out. I am available virtually or at my Chicago office. I offer a free phone consultations. Thank you.

Liberation Therapy Collective is a private practice based in Chicago. We center the care of queer, trans, brown and Black communities and prioritize the liberation of all who have been marginalized. This includes our clinical staff who we believe are frontline workers in the fight against oppression

I am a queer, feminist, down-to-earth therapist who prioritizes the comfort of and connection with my clients. I have experience working with clients from a wide variety of identities, but I am especially passionate about working with LGBTQ+ people, mothers and parents, and navigating life transitions. If you’re looking for a therapist who sees therapy as a healing process, which addresses feelings, experiences, and parts of yourself that have been ignored or are causing you distress, we may be a good fit. I work with clients of all ages and specialize in LGBTQ+ affirming care, maternal mental health, trauma/PTSD, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and grief. The core of my practice involves centering each client’s needs and intersectional identities, focusing on individual strengths, and providing relational, trauma-informed care. I believe that each individual is the expert on their own experience, and my goal is to help you gain insight into the impact of those experiences. By taking this first step in starting therapy with me, we’ll create a space that is safe, trusting, and led at your own pace.

My approach is gentle, grounded, and trauma-informed. I meet you where you are with compassion, curiosity, and no pressure to rush the process. I believe real healing happens when you feel safe, understood, and supported in exploring what's beneath the surface. Together, we will explore the patterns, beliefs, and experiences that are keeping you stuck. We'll work to build insight, process unresolved trauma, and strengthen your connection to yourself. Using EMDR, parts work, and other interventions, we'll move at a pace that feels safe, towards clarity, healing, and lasting change. I specialize in working with people who feel stuck in patterns of anxiety, low self-worth, or trauma, especially those navigating dissociation, generational trauma, or postpartum challenges. Many of my clients are insightful and motivated for change, but need support reconnecting with themselves and healing what's underneath. I became a therapist because I believe in the power of healing through connection. My own inner work, including doing EMDR as a client, showed me how transformative therapy can be. I wanted to offer others the same kind of support: a safe, attuned space to be seen, understood, and truly heal. *Current availability is Mondays at 12pm, Tuesday at 5pm, Wednesdays at 11am, 12pm, and 3pm, and Fridays at 11am.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

You are capable of change and deserve to be heard with empathy and compassion. Understanding that starting therapy can be daunting, I create a warm, non-judgmental environment where you'll feel comfortable sharing your challenges. Together, we’ll collaborate to overcome obstacles and achieve personal goals, building tools to navigate life's difficulties while nurturing self-love and confidence. My client-centered, trauma-informed approach is tailored to each person. I value exploring thoughts and feelings in a supportive space, encouraging self-reflection and growth.

I believe that my clients know themselves better than anyone else, so my role is to provide resources and support to help them meet their goals. As a social worker, I also help my clients unpack how larger systems impact their mental health and relationships. I work from a queer-affirming, anti-oppressive, and neurodivergent-affirming approach to therapy.

Dr. Jay works with individuals- especially women of color and those with immigrant backgrounds- who: - Struggle to manage the stresses of daily life and experience emotional distress like depression, grief and/or anxiety - Are survivors of complex trauma, inter-personal, generational and/or collective trauma - Experience existential, spiritual, identity-based questions and are yearning to clarify their purpose in life - Seek a space to dream beyond the moment they are in to create new futures for themselves and those they love - Value holistic, compassionate, relational care

Hi, I’m Jocelyn Foust—thanks for stopping by. College is a time of change, discovery, and a lot of pressure—whether it’s figuring out who you are, navigating relationships, dealing with anxiety or depression, or just trying to keep your head above water. If life feels overwhelming or like you’re stuck in a cycle of overthinking, sadness, or self-doubt, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to go through it alone either. As a therapist, I believe that healing happens through connection. My approach is warm, collaborative, and centered around you—your goals, your values, your unique experiences. Together, we’ll create a space where you can feel safe enough to explore what’s really going on beneath the surface, and start to build more clarity, confidence, and direction in your life. I often use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which means we’ll work on getting some distance from those painful thoughts and feelings that tend to pull you off track. We’ll also practice making space for your emotions, while moving toward the life you want—step by step, in ways that feel manageable and real. Therapy with me isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about waking up to your own story with compassion and curiosity. You’re the expert on your life—I’m just here to help you reconnect with your own strength, your inner wisdom, and what matters most to you. If you’re feeling stuck or weighed down right now, that makes sense—and it’s okay to ask for help. Therapy can be the place where things begin to shift. Let’s take the next step together when you’re ready.

I love working with young adults who are dealing with things like stress, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, life transitions, and the pressure to be perfect. Life can feel overwhelming at times, but you're not alone in this! Whether you're trying to manage stress, navigate tricky relationships, or simply find more balance, I'm here to support you every step of the way.

I support people experiencing life transitions, stress, and relationship issues. I personalize treatment to each client using our relationship, scientific approaches, and collaboration to meet your goals. I also provide trauma centered therapy and EMDR.

We are an evolving collective of mental health professionals who have committed to the pursuit of personal and systemic growth on every level of our society. Our practice began as a friendship and has continued to grow as we have built associations with highly competent, seasoned and relationally oriented therapists. We have become a vibrant community, with a broad base of clinical expertise. However, we remain small enough to be accessible and responsive to each individual we support. Our practice is effective, innovative and totally down to earth. The client and our relationship with them is the central focus of treatment. Our clinical expertise and relational approach work in harmony to provide an ideal foundation for exploring a co-constructed, mutual process of growth.

Hi there, I'm Sylvia! I focus on providing care to people of color, women, children of immigrants, and queer folks experiencing anxiety, depression, stress management, life transitions, racial/cultural identity exploration, trauma, and self-esteem. The clients I work with are typically seeking out support for reparenting their inner child, restoring a sense of safety within themselves and in relationships that are important to them, and healing wounds from generational trauma. I understand what feels supportive for one person may not work for another, so I collaborate with folks creatively and invite decolonized approaches to care. My therapeutic approach centers you and your experiences. I incorporate body-based interventions to build skills to soothe oneself, regulate emotions, and live a more nourishing life. I also integrate experiential, sensory forms of processing like art therapy and mindfulness meditations to access and express emotions, trauma that may be trapped in the body. I understand it takes a lot of time and energy to find a therapist who fits your needs and understands you. I believe it’s important to create a safe space with you where all parts of yourself can feel seen and heard, which can take time. If what you read aligns with you, I would be honored to be a part of your healing journey and encourage you to reach out. If you resonate with what you read so far and would like to learn more about me and the values of the group practice I work at, I invite you to read more at https://mindfullifechicago.com. If you are interested in an initial free 15 minute phone consultation, feel free to email me at sylvia@mindfullifechicago.com or fill out the form at Mindful Life Counseling's contact us page :)

I enjoy helping people navigate things like the coming out process, grieving a death or anticipated one, relational struggles, exploring their sexual and gender identities, loss, major life transitions, and more. I specialize in treating grief, loss, complex trauma, and life transitions using attachment-based therapies and Internal Family Systems. Grief is a part of life that surfaces during death, loss, breakups, identity shifts, and more. As a grief therapist, I guide clients through the often overwhelming emotions that accompany these changes. Whether you're grieving a death, navigating a breakup, or facing life transitions like coming out, I offer tools to express pain, honor your experiences, and find meaning. Together, we’ll work on reconciling parts of you that may feel isolated in your grief or afraid to show your true feelings, while another part is longing for help and connection. Please reach out if you're ready to begin your healing journey. I care deeply about attuning to you and encouraging your healing process by asking meaningful questions and creating a space where safety and vulnerability can thrive. Therapy offers us a chance to collaborate on the issues you’re facing. Please reach out if you are interested in working together.

When navigating life, sometimes you don't have the feedback, tools, support or insights that will help you resolve issues or move ahead in your life. Sometimes you simply need a thought partner, accountabilibuddy or confidante. In this journey, you make many attempts to deal with the traumas and hardships you encounter. Sometimes, you need a knowledgable and nonjudgemental partner on that journey. I approach therapy by building a strong bond with clients that assists us in reaching your goals and making meaningful and informative connections between behavior and thoughts, between past and present and between your private and your public self. We will develop coping skills, reframe thoughts, redirect intentions and purposes. Take this opportunity to prioritize your mental health. Begin your highly personalized journey toward resilience, stability and personal advancement. I'd love to be your fellow journeyman and guide.

Empowered Mind Therapy is a private practice serving college students and young adults throughout Illinois. We specialize in supporting students navigating anxiety, academic stress, burnout, relationship concerns, life transitions, and family challenges. College can feel overwhelming, whether you're balancing classes, work, finances, or figuring out your next steps. We provide a supportive, structured space where students can build coping skills, strengthen emotional regulation, and gain clarity during stressful seasons. We offer: • Individual therapy (Virtual) • Flexible scheduling for students • Spanish-speaking services • Acceptance of BCBS PPO, BCBS Community (Medicaid), Aetna, and other major insurance plans

College can be exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. Between classes, relationships, family, and figuring out your future, it’s easy to feel stressed or stuck. Therapy can be a space to sort through all of that. My approach is collaborative and flexible—I want you to feel comfortable showing up just as you are. I use evidence-based tools, but more than anything, I listen and help you find what feels supportive and meaningful for you. You don’t have to go through things alone. Reaching out for therapy is a powerful act of self-care, and together we can work toward balance, growth, and emotional freedom.

Hello, and welcome. We're a small relational trauma-responsive strengths-based psychotherapy practice that serves clients across incomes, race, gender, age, ability, interests, etc. We're also a diverse group of therapists with our own specialties, modalities, and service populations -- one of our therapists worked in higher education for over 10 years. But each one of us can see any type of client. Check out our profiles for more information and please don't hesitate to reach out.