Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

Hi, I’m Payton Smith, and I believe therapy should be a space where you can show up fully as yourself, without judgment, pressure, or expectations. I strive to create an environment where you feel safe enough to explore your experiences, process what’s been weighing on you, and begin to make sense of your story. My role as a therapist is to walk alongside you, helping you reconnect with your strengths while building the tools needed to navigate life with more confidence. I use a flexible, collaborative approach that allows me to meet you where you are and adapt to what you need in each moment. I value going beyond surface-level conversations and creating space for meaningful, honest work.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

We are a dedicated team of mental health professionals passionate about supporting individuals on their journey toward balance, meaningful connections, and a more fulfilling life.

At New Narratives, our goal is to make therapy a rewarding and transformative experience, helping individuals lead fulfilling, meaningful lives. Whether you’re facing uncertainty about your future, coping with loss, struggling to understand your identity, or navigating conflict in your relationships, we're here to support you. If you’re dealing with recurring challenges like anxiety or depression that feel overwhelming, therapy can help restore balance and bring back a sense of control and purpose. When we work together, you’ll find a warm, nonjudgmental space where we can explore your concerns.

My approach to therapy is based in collaboration and empowerment with the goal of helping you better understand yourself and creating lasting change in your life. I believe that each individual and their needs are unique, and therapy should reflect that. I aim to create a therapeutic space that is safe and non-judgmental to allow you to explore the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. My role is to support you in making choices that align with your values and becoming confident in your ability to manage your mental health and navigate life’s challenges.

My name is Abosede Babalola; I go by Abby. I am a doctoral-prepared Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. I specialize in evaluating and treating a comprehensive range of psychiatric conditions, including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, panic disorders, PTSD, ADHD, OCD, and psychotic disorders like schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. I understand the emotional and physical suffering people experience with mental health disorders and dedicate myself to easing patients’ distress, offering empowerment and hope for mental well-being.

Balancing the demands of being a student while maintaining your mental health can be overwhelming. I hope that therapy can be a space to intentionally care for yourself, gain a better understanding of your identity and experiences, and process the stressors that you encounter. I use a person-centered and trauma-informed approach to therapy while integrating practices of Internal Family Systems (IFS), Attachment, and Strengths-Based theories. I have experience serving individuals in high crisis situations such as suicidal ideation and domestic violence, as well as people experiencing PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Through this work, I have developed a passion for working with the LGBTQ+ community, adults in transitional periods of life, and with topics such as trauma, sex and relationship issues, and anxiety. Reaching out to begin therapy services can be intimidating, but I hope to help you lighten the load you're carrying. If any of this resonates with you, please reach out!

Life’s challenges can leave us feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from ourselves and others. I strive to create a warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel comfortable exploring their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. I work with emerging adults and adults navigating anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship challenges, self-esteem concerns, body image issues, grief, trauma, and questions related to identity, culture, and belonging. Life’s challenges can leave us feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from ourselves and others. I strive to create a warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel comfortable exploring their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. I work with emerging adults and adults navigating anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship challenges, self-esteem concerns, body image issues, grief, trauma, and questions related to identity, culture, and belonging. I have a particular interest in supporting women, individuals navigating multicultural or first-generation experiences, and those recovering from sexual trauma, intimate partner violence, and unhealthy patterns. I draw from psychodynamic therapy, motivational interviewing, and strengths-based approaches. As a first-generation American with a multicultural background, I understand that culture, family dynamics, and identity can play a significant role in how we experience ourselves, our relationships, and the challenges we face. My goal is to help clients develop greater self-understanding while creating meaningful and lasting change.

Hello and welcome! If you are looking for a psychiatrist-- or, perhaps, looking to switch from the psychiatrist you are currently seeing-- the chances are good that you have been asking yourself some difficult questions. For example, you may be asking yourself: * Do I really "need" to take psychiatric medications? Are there any other strategies available for managing my symptoms and reaching my goals? * If I decide to take psychiatric medications, which ones should I take (and what should the dosage be)? How risky are these medications? For how long will I need to take them? * Am I on too many medications? How many medications are "too many"? * Should I be seeing a talk therapist? If so, what kind? * Are there any lifestyle changes that might help me to feel better? * What about all of these "alternative medicine" treatments that I've read about? Do they work? Are they safe? * What should I know about newer FDA-approved treatments such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and ketamine (Spravato)? My goal as a psychiatrist is to help you find answers to these questions. I am not here to "dictate" a course of treatment, but instead to advise you of a range of possible treatment approaches, describing the benefits and risks of each one.

I strive to do this in manner that is clear, detailed, easily understood, and-- most important of all-- unbiased. I do not accept "speaking fees", free steak dinners, or other forms of payment from drug companies.

Thank you for considering us as your source for therapy. We are located just outside of Chicago and offer a variety of therapy options for Adults and Adolescents from all backgrounds. Whether you are seeking support for mental health, performance coaching, or struggling with substance use in your life we are here to help. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing compassionate and personalized care to ensure your well-being.

Arena specializes in serving individuals who are currently struggling with the weight and pressures of daily life, as well as those feeling the heaviness of their past, difficult life experiences. We often see survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, community violence, and childhood trauma, and also work with individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, and stress surrounding their every day life who want to improve their mental wellness, happiness, and quality of life. Our team reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. Among our staff are individuals who are immigrants and Muslims, each bringing lived experience and cultural insight to their work. Together, we are committed to increasing access, representation, and visibility for historically underrepresented communities, and to providing care that honors the full identities of those we serve. We offer flexible scheduling. If you don't see your preferred availability, please reach out and we will do my best to accommodate your needs.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

At Personal Balance Counseling, we work with students who may look like they’re managing everything on the outside but feel overwhelmed, anxious, stuck, or exhausted underneath it all. You might be adjusting to college, struggling with relationships, feeling pressure to succeed, questioning what comes next, or simply realizing that the ways you’ve always coped aren’t working as well anymore. Our therapists work with students experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, relationship concerns, difficulty managing emotions, eating and body-image concerns, and major life transitions. We also understand that college can bring a unique mix of independence and uncertainty—balancing classes, work, family expectations, friendships, dating, and figuring out who you are along the way. You don’t need to have everything figured out before starting therapy. Our goal is to provide a comfortable, supportive space where you can be yourself, understand what’s going on beneath the surface, develop practical ways to cope, and build healthier patterns that actually fit your life. Personal Balance Counseling offers both in-person and telehealth therapy, with a team of clinicians who bring different personalities, specialties, and approaches to therapy. We’ll help you find someone who feels like the right fit for you.

You might be someone who, from the outside, has built a life that looks steady—getting into college, building friendships, increasing responsibilities—but inside, you feel more anxious, alone, or unsure of yourself than expected. Many of my clients struggle with anxiety, self-esteem, identity, and relationships—often shaped by life transitions, adjusting to a new environment, or disappointment and unmet expectations. These experiences make sense. Navigating them alone is hard. College is hard! My work is grounded in the therapeutic relationship. I believe growth happens in the context of feeling safe, understood, and emotionally supported. I strive to create a warm, attuned, and collaborative space where we gently explore patterns shaped by relationships, attachment, and life experiences. Starting therapy can feel vulnerable, especially if you’re used to carrying it all on your own. You don’t have to know where to start to begin. If you’re curious about working together, I invite you to reach out. I'm available in-person in the North Shore of Chicago or virtual across Illinois. I'd be so glad to partner with you!

At the North Suburban Center for Anxiety, we specialize in using cognitive behavior therapy to treat anxiety, OCD, and related disorders. We recognize that anxiety can be overwhelming, scary, and isolating. However, it is also treatable! As cognitive behavior therapists, we provide research-supported and results-oriented treatment. We believe that how individuals think and behave directly affect how they feel. Therefore, we use a compassionate, collaborative, and direct approach to empower clients with the necessary skills to modify their irrational thoughts, confront their maladaptive fears, and decrease their overall anxiety. By the end of treatment, our goal is that clients have learned the essential tools to master their anxiety or OCD and are living a more fulfilling life.

Taking the first step toward improving your emotional and physical health and well-being is a big step and I am glad you are here. My name is Tania and I am a licensed clinical therapist. I have had the privilege of supporting individuals in clinical and educational environments. My thirty years of experience spans a diverse array of populations. Prairie View Counseling offers flexible in-person and teletherapy. You can conveniently schedule sessions between classes, during your lunch, or in the evening. Adjusting to college and exploring your life goals can be challenging, and I want you to know you are not alone. This is a safe, judgment-free space where your feelings, experiences, and goals matter. We will work together to identify what may be standing in your way, uncover your strengths, and take meaningful steps toward the changes you want to see.

My name is Buck, I am relatable, empathic, and easy to talk to. I love working with teenagers and adults of all ages, including athletes. My clinical specialties include working with athletes struggling with performance anxiety, depression, burnout, difficult life transitions, occupational stress, low self-esteem and self-confidence, stress management. Clients who have made the most progress working with me have been those who identify as athletes or other performers, teenagers and adults of any gender. Regardless of athletic ability, I am always happy to be someone's teammate in their therapy process. Obtaining my dual master’s degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Sport and Human Performance was just the start of my ongoing learning. Interventions I commonly focus on most include values identification, reframing thinking patterns, boundary setting, mindfulness, motivation exploration, and emotional regulation. As an athlete myself, I have experienced performance anxiety that led to difficult athletic transitions as well as the struggle of what my identity entailed beyond college. A combination of personal experience and supporting clients has allowed me to fully understand the grueling nature of attempting to juggle many obligations and roles in life that can create the feeling of being “spread too thin” and leading to potential burnout. My hope is to create a strong sense of rapport from our first session, creating a safe and comfortable atmosphere, where we can collaborate to help you identify and reach your therapy goals to promote an enhanced quality of life.

My name is Jenna Schloss and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois. I specialize in treating OCD and other anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder. I also have experience treating eating disorders within the outpatient level of care. My experience includes providing individual and group therapy, as well as facilitating trainings about evidence-based treatment. I have had the opportunity to receive intensive training and consultation in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). I utilize these approaches as a foundation for treatment, and tailor my approach to the individual needs and goals of each client. All of my work with clients incorporates a collaborative approach, warmth, trust, and humor. I believe that laughter is an essential part of life and mental health. Outside of my work with individual clients, I engage in regular training and consultation with colleagues and also participate in one on one supervision in order to foster continuous clinical growth in service of providing the best treatment for my clients. For more information about me and my practice, please visit my website: schlosspc.com

A lot of the students I work with look like they’re holding it together, but inside they feel overwhelmed. You might be lying in bed with your mind racing, replaying conversations, worrying about grades, or second guessing where you stand with friends, a roommate, or a partner. College transitions can make everything feel louder, with new expectations, new relationships, and sometimes pressure from back home. In therapy, we’ll slow things down, figure out what’s fueling the stress, and build tools you can use right away so you feel more grounded, more confident in your choices, and more like yourself.

Battling mental health struggles can be isolating and lonely. People can believe that no one knows what they are experiencing. You are not alone. Struggling with obsessive behaviors or destructive thought patterns? Perhaps severe anxiety and panic attacks feel debilitating. Does a past or recent traumatic event feel unbearable? Do you often feel worthless and "never good enough?" You are not alone and there is help! My intention in working with clients is to promote self-understanding and concrete skill-building, so that each individual owns their agency, and trusts their resilience. I bring a wide range of experience in mental health and wellness and have experience in multiple therapeutic approaches. This allows me to effectively use evidence-based approaches for a specific issue. I tailor a plan specially designed for you - your unique goals, characteristics, and drives. Therapy is a process, and I would love to be on that journey with you. I offer free 10 min phone consultations. This allows for us to get to know each other and offers an opportunity to ask questions. You can call or email to set up your free session. If you desire, we will set up our first session during the call and support you toward your health goals.