Therapists for college students near University of Chicago

Welcome to The Healing Palace ✨ College life can feel like a whirlwind — balancing classes, relationships, work, and figuring out your future. At The Healing Palace, we understand that behind the hustle, students often carry stress, anxiety, trauma, and unspoken challenges. We’re here to be your safe space. A place where you can breathe, unpack the weight you’ve been carrying, and discover healthy ways to thrive mentally, emotionally, and socially. Our team of therapists specializes in supporting young adults as they navigate identity, relationships, and the pressures of everyday life. Whether you’re seeking one-on-one therapy, group support, or just a space where you can feel heard without judgment, The Healing Palace is here to walk with you. Because your mental health matters. Your voice matters. You matter.

Welcome! I'm a passionate healthcare professional dedicated to providing compassionate and effective telehealth therapy. With a focus on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness, I offer supportive counseling services for adults and older adolescents. My experience in counseling and case management has equipped me with the skills to provide impactful mental health therapy, ensuring my clients receive the care and support they deserve. I see clients almost exclusively during morning hours, up until noon (CST) and can easily accommodate people with non-traditional schedules, since I have appointments as early (or late!) as 1am CST. Just like a good workout, a therapy session first thing in the morning can help you start your day off right. In addition to counseling, I've been instrumental in developing innovative strategies for Medicaid Special Needs programs, emphasizing quality assurance and improvement in Illinois. My cross-functional leadership has enabled me to work collaboratively with community partners, optimizing program outcomes and enhancing quality of care. I hold certifications as a Case Manager (CCM) and Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), which reflect my commitment to providing holistic care. I'm dedicated to meeting my clients where they are at, and helping them to achieve their mental health goals, without judgement. My goal is to help you navigate your health journey with expertise, empathy, and unwavering support. Let's work together towards your well-being.

Many of the clients I work best with are navigating periods of change, uncertainty, or emotional overwhelm. Whether you're managing depression, anxiety, or mood swings, exploring your identity, or feeling stuck despite trying therapy or other strategies, you're not alone — and you're not expected to have all the answers. My approach is warm, collaborative, and focused on what works best for you. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, I primarily support clients through medication management, but I also offer brief supportive therapy and education about mental health. I believe that medication is just one tool — and not always the first or only one — and I work closely with you to make thoughtful, informed decisions together. I often support clients in the LGBTQ+ community, those exploring non-traditional relationships, and individuals who appreciate a nonjudgmental, sex-positive space. If you're someone who values open communication, shared decision-making, and a personalized approach to care, we may be a good fit. Whether you're starting treatment for the first time or returning after a break, I'm here to listen, guide, and help you feel more in control of your mental health journey.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

College can feel like a lot. Classes, deadlines, money, relationships, family pressure, and trying to figure out who you are all at once. When the stress keeps stacking up, it can feel hard to focus, sleep, or even slow your thoughts down. If your head feels like it’s constantly spinning, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to power through it by yourself. I work best with college students and young adults who feel overwhelmed, anxious, burned out, or stuck. That might look like anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, or just feeling off and not sure why. I offer virtual therapy for students in Illinois and California, with a focus on helping you feel more grounded, more in control, and more like yourself again. Therapy with me is practical, supportive, and collaborative. We focus on what’s actually getting in your way right now and what will help you feel better moving forward. You don’t need to have everything figured out before starting. If you’re ready for some relief and want support that meets you where you are, I’d be glad to work with you. When you’re ready, you can reach out by email or schedule a first session through therapywithmicah.com.

The students I work best with often feel a disconnect somewhere in their lives, even if they cannot quite name it. For some, that shows up as a body that will not settle, thoughts that will not quiet, or a mind that stays one step ahead of the moment they are actually in; for others, it looks like falling behind on the very things that used to feel manageable, and not understanding why motivation and follow-through feel so out of reach. Some are holding everything together so well that no one around them realizes how much effort it takes, while others are visibly struggling and carrying shame about it. What they tend to share is not a grade point average or a diagnosis; it is the sense that something feels harder than it should, paired with the belief that they should simply be able to push through it on their own. Many are navigating anxiety, OCD, or ADHD that has gone unrecognized for years, often because it does not look the way they expected it to. My work is to help them reconnect body, mind, and daily life, so college can feel less like something to survive and more like a place they can actually be present in.

For four years, I sat in my corporate cubicle daydreaming of becoming a psychotherapist. I could only ignore my calling to work in service of the human condition for so long before ultimately embarking on a 180° career change. Since then, I have come to intimately understand that transformation does not happen in isolation. In the sanctity of private sessions, I have witnessed clients encounter shame with tender curiosity, reparent themselves, uncover and mindfully address values-incongruent tendencies, reframe disempowering personal narratives, implement boundaries, somatically resolve trauma, and develop deep trust in intuition. Stigma often mischaracterizes the pursuit of psychological healing and emotional reckoning through therapy as a testament to one’s weakness. But the term “psycho-therapy” translates to “serving the soul.” Commitment to the therapeutic process, and therefore acknowledging a need for additional support, is a reflection of one’s quiet strength, humility, and capacity for self-advocacy. Within my professional purview, a person’s choice to seek therapy is an act of redemptive warfare for their soul. My clinical interests include counseling adolescents, young adults, and adults seeking support for anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD, and recovery from early childhood trauma. My therapeutic style is predominantly informed by psychodynamic theory and neuroscience, however my educational and clinical experiences have equipped me with the skills necessary to facilitate interventions aligned with additional modalities, such as CBT, DBT, and ACT. I am compassionately direct in my counseling approach and appreciate the injection of humor into sessions where appropriate. I have received certification in both Levels I and II of Applied Polyvagal Theory (PVT) in Yoga (16-hour) and I am currently a student in the Somatic Experiencing (SE™) Professional Training Program, seeking to complete the educational & related requirements of the program to use the Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP) credential.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a Master's Degree in Social Work, dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based care in a supportive and nonjudgmental environment. My goal is to help clients build on their strengths, develop practical coping skills, and create meaningful, lasting change that supports their overall well-being. I specialize in working with individuals navigating anxiety, depression, and grief. Alongside this, I have experience working LGBTQ+ concerns, men's issues, behavior modification, coping concerns, ADHD, Autism, chronic illness, dual diagnosis, and emotional regulation. You have already completed the first step in getting support which is just research a therapist! Even this takes such courage. I invite you to schedule a free 15 minute introduction call to see how best we can work together to address any concerns you are having. I look forward to hopefully working with you soon.

I earned my PhD in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University Chicago and my Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University. I completed my APA-Accredited internship in health service psychology from the University of Pennsylvania Counseling & Psychological Services program. I’ve worked in many diverse settings with diverse roles in college counseling centers, private practice, and community mental health. I provide individual therapy and have extensive experience in outreach and consultation services related to mental health topics, advocacy, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additionally, I have extensive program development and evaluation experience. I am process-oriented and work from a relational-cultural perspective heavily considering how my client’s unique life experiences such as their family dynamics and upbringings, significant life events, communities, values, and cultural identities relate to their presenting concerns and needs in our work together. I view therapy as an opportunity to cultivate a collaborative relationship with my clients while centering connection, exploration, validation, and growth. I invite my clients to use therapy as a space to slow down and practice curiosity towards themselves and their experiences. I have worked with clients presenting with all types of concerns and therapeutic goals. From my clinical and research experiences, I have particular expertise in working with individuals managing the imposter syndrome (objectively successful people with feelings of self-doubt and incompetence); BIPOC individuals and individuals from historically minoritized groups; individuals navigating interpersonal relationship challenges such as identifying relational patterns, addressing conflict, and learning how to communicate and set boundaries that honor the client and their unique personal and cultural values; individuals seeking to explore the impact of the sociopolitical climate on their mental health, particularly with clients holding multiple minoritized identities; and college, graduate, and professional students with issues related to work/life balance, academic identity, and self-worth. --- The Center for Liberation & Wellness, PLLC (The CLW) is a private therapy practice located in Chicago founded by Dr. Lincoln Hill. The CLW has a mission of providing culturally humble therapeutic services utilizing Black feminist and relational-cultural theoretical paradigms as guiding principles towards health, liberation, and wellness. The CLW believes that prioritizing healing is not a luxury, but a necessity for self and communal growth. The CLW is committed to advocacy efforts that promote anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and, subsequently, a more just society for all humanity, particularly those from historically minoritized communities.

I especially enjoy working with student creatives—actors, musicians, dancers, writers, designers, and more—who are navigating rejection, comparison, self-doubt, and uncertainty. With a background in the entertainment industry, I personally understand the unique emotional challenges that come with being a performer. We can work together to build resilience, strengthen your sense of self, and help you stay grounded in an industry that often feels anything but. My approach is warm, collaborative, and encouraging. Therapy is a space where we slow down, ask the right questions, and help you move forward in a way that feels aligned with the life you want to live. If this resonates, I'd be glad to connect. I look forward to taking this journey together.

Peace, love and a few good laughs…in one way or another, most of us hope to maximize the presence and growth of these delicious things in our lives. After working in a university counseling center for ten years, I have a strong sense of many of the most common concerns students may face. That being said, we are all individuals with our own strengths and struggles. Every one of us experiences unique challenges that arise within the context of living our human lives. I am a queer-identified, neurodivergent, trans-affirmative, body positive, sex positive, emotion focused, experiential therapist, working with traditional college age students and adults of all ages. I am a generalist practitioner and have experience working with a wide range of concerns. Areas of specific clinical interest include working with those addressing issues related to gender diversity and sexual orientation. My clinical expertise includes providing treatment for depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder (Asperger's/Pathological Demand Avoidance) body image concerns, eating disorders and disordered eating. I find that my approach to therapy resonates well with college students in general and specifically with therapists in training, artists and creatives (of all sorts). Please contact me directly to schedule a brief (15 minute) consultation to discuss how we might work together to increase the peace and love you find in life and to share a few good laughs along the way.

Hello! I am a psychoanalytic psychotherapist. Please learn more by visiting my web site! I am very experienced with international students! I am a depth therapist so I see patients for longer-term therapy. I see families and couples, too!

Healing begins when you finally feel seen, heard, and understood—and that's the kind of care I'm committed to providing. As a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I offer compassionate, evidence-based care in a safe and supportive environment where you can openly share your experiences without fear of judgment. Together, we'll develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs, whether you're navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, mood disorders, or other mental health concerns. My goal is to help you regain balance, build resilience, and create meaningful, lasting change. With more than 20 years of nursing experience, I bring a strong clinical foundation and a compassionate, patient-centered approach to every visit. I am dual-certified as both a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, integrating medication management with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to provide individualized care across the lifespan. No matter where you are in your mental health journey, you don't have to face it alone. I'm here to help you feel supported, empowered, and confident as we work toward your goals together. I look forward to partnering with you to build a healthier, more fulfilling future. Schedule your appointment today, and let's take the first step toward healing together.

At Fables Counseling, we believe that every individual has a unique story worth telling and improving. Our mission is to support and guide our clients through their personal journeys, helping them rewrite their narratives in a way that fosters growth, healing, and empowerment. We provide a warm, welcoming environment that feels far from uncomfortable—our focus is on creating a space where you can truly feel at ease to be uniquely you as you embark on your journey toward healing. At Fables, we are deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our team of dedicated therapists brings a diverse range of experiences and specialties to our practice. Each therapist is committed to ongoing professional development and staying current with the latest in mental health research and techniques. We strive to create a safe space for all individuals, regardless of their background, identity, or experiences. Our practice is built on the principles of respect, empathy, and understanding. We look forward to engaging with you!

College life can be a time of major transitions, and balancing academics, relationships, and self-care isn’t always easy—especially if you're a first-generation and/or low-income (FGLI) student, far from home, or struggling with self-esteem and perfectionism. I’m here to support you as you navigate these challenges and grow more confident in managing them. I specialize in helping students who may feel the pressure to succeed in a new environment, who worry about "getting it right," or who are simply adjusting to life away from family and familiar support networks. Together, we’ll explore strategies that feel true to you, build on your strengths, and work toward a healthier balance. If you’re new to therapy, I provide a welcoming space where you can be yourself and learn how to prioritize your mental and emotional well-being. Let’s take this journey at your pace, and find ways to make college life a little less overwhelming and a lot more fulfilling.

Hello! My name is Dr. Ashly Lawrence. I have been working with college students and young adults for almost twenty years. College is a time of self-exploration, transition, and identity development. It can also bring great stress, existential questions, and family of origin issues. I am here to support it all. I practice from a relational feminist lens and am best suited to support clients struggling with stress, anxiety, identity development, trauma, family of origin issues, relationship stressors, and life transitions. I am LGBTQ+ affirming and often work with folx with one or more marginalized identities.

You weren’t meant to spend your life in survival mode. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, stress, or a major life transition, or noticing patterns in relationships, self-doubt, or emotional overwhelm that feel hard to break, therapy can help you make sense of what’s going on beneath the surface. I work with adolescents and adults to understand how anxiety, trauma, and current life stressors shape your present experience, helping you move with self-compassion, reconnect with your authentic self, and build a life that feels more grounded and fully your own. Stress, anxiety, trauma, self-esteem concerns, relationship challenges, and major life transitions can leave you feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected. Therapy offers space to slow down, understand patterns, and gain clarity. Using a trauma-informed, collaborative approach, I support clients in building resilience and a more authentic way of living. Taking steps toward change takes courage, especially when you’ve been carrying things on your own. I’m here to walk alongside you in that process. If you’re looking for a therapist who will honor your strengths, respect your story, and offer a supportive space to make sense of what you’ve been carrying, I’d love to connect.

I am a licensed clinical social worker offering telehealth psychotherapy to adults (18+) across Illinois and Maine. I work with students and young adults navigating anxiety, stress, trauma, identity exploration, and major life transitions—particularly those who may appear high-functioning on the outside while feeling overwhelmed internally. My approach is collaborative, relational, and trauma-informed, integrating ACT, CBT, psychodynamic, and mindfulness-based interventions. I aim to create a supportive, nonjudgmental space where clients feel truly seen and can build insight, resilience, and practical coping skills. Telehealth allows for flexible, accessible care that fits into busy academic schedules and supports students who are living off campus, balancing work and school, or transitioning between home and school environments. I am happy to serve as an off-campus referral resource and collaborate with campus partners as appropriate to support continuity of care.

Life can be hard and the idea of starting the process of therapy can add to that stress and anxiety. You've already taken the first step by being here. If you are constantly feeling frustrated, anxious or overwhelmed, I am here to help you figure out what's going on and move towards the life you want to live. I will support you on your journey towards positive change and emotional well-being. My approach is warm, engaging, collaborative and sometimes even humorous. I have a strengths-based and non-judgemental mindset to assist you in creating goals for therapy that fit your needs in order to cope with the curve balls life has thrown. Whether those curve balls are long-last anxiety, depression, self-esteem, etc. or new stressors such as grief, life transitions, general life or work, we will come up with a plan. It is my top priority to make sure you feel comfortable. Whether it is your first time in therapy or you are looking for a fresh start with a new therapist, new is uncomfortable and sometimes that stops us from following through with this. I genuinely hope you find the strength to reach out and begin this journey because you deserve to feel content in life.

Are current or past stressors leaving you feeling overwhelmed, disconnected in relationships, or unfulfilled? At times, it may feel hard to understand or process what you are experiencing emotionally, leaving you feeling stuck or uncertain about how to move forward. My goal is to help you gain insight into your thoughts, feelings, and past experiences while exploring how relationships and life systems have shaped your journey, so you can find healing, clarity, and growth.