Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

Professional Statement As a clinician, my philosophy is to meet clients where they are and help them establish their own goals. I believe in empowering individuals to take ownership of their healing process, providing a safe and supportive environment where they can explore their thoughts, feelings, and challenges. My areas of specialization include trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, mood dysregulation, and domestic violence. I work with a diverse range of clients from various backgrounds and belief systems, and I am fluent in Polish, which allows me to connect with a broader population. One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is hearing clients express that they feel better after our sessions, knowing that I have helped them take another step toward healing and growth. I am deeply committed to understanding others' perspectives and feelings, and I genuinely care about helping clients achieve the goals they set for themselves. Listening actively and without judgment is a core part of my approach, and I find great fulfillment in supporting clients as they work toward positive change in their lives. What should a new client know about working with you? I believe in creating a supportive and respectful space where clients can move at their own pace. I will never push them beyond their comfort zone unless they specifically request it. With nearly 20 years of experience in providing mental health services, I understand the importance of fostering trust and allowing clients to guide their own healing process. My approach is grounded in patience and understanding, empowering individuals to take the steps they’re ready for while offering the encouragement and support they need to move forward when they feel ready. What is your typical process for working with clients? I begin by providing a brief overview of the services offered, as well as a clear explanation of HIPAA policies to ensure clients understand their rights and confidentiality. During the initial session, I conduct a thorough mental health assessment, working collaboratively with the client to develop a personalized treatment plan. This process includes helping the client identify their own goals for therapy, empowering them to take an active role in their healing journey. I also prioritize scheduling a follow-up appointment, ensuring continuity of care and the opportunity to revisit and adjust goals as needed. This approach creates a foundation of trust and allows for ongoing progress in therapy.

I want to support you in finding mental and physical health through counseling and body-centered approaches to healing. Whatever challenges you may be facing at this time, I look forward to helping you meet your goals and find a satisfying life filled with ease, happiness, and connection!

I’m here to support college students and young adults as they figure out who they are and where they’re going. My approach is all about creating a space where you feel genuinely safe, heard, and never judged. With a background in schools and working with families, I’ve spent years helping teens and young adults navigate the tough stuff—like transitioning into adulthood, managing ADHD and executive functioning challenges, or understanding learning differences. I love helping people build confidence, work through relationship challenges, and grow into themselves with curiosity and self-compassion. I’m LGBTQIA+ affirming, sex-positive, and support body liberation. If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just unsure, therapy can be a great place to start finding your way.

You’re driven, capable, and used to pushing through. On the outside, it looks like you’ve got it together—but inside, the pressure can feel relentless. Maybe your thoughts are often focused on food, weight, appearance, or productivity. You might feel anxious, guilty, or exhausted trying to meet impossible standards. Even your accomplishments don’t bring the relief you hoped for. You’re not alone—and you don’t have to keep doing this by yourself. Therapy can be a space to pause, reflect, and begin shifting the patterns that keep you stuck. Together, we’ll create a plan to help you reconnect with what matters to you—not just what you feel you should be doing. We’ll explore new ways of responding to self-criticism, perfectionism, and burnout. I offer a compassionate, inclusive space where you can show up as you are—no need to perform, prove, or push. My approach is warm, collaborative, and personalized to you. I focus on your strengths and always make space for humor. I offer virtual and in-person (Ravenswood and Wicker Park) sessions with flexible scheduling.

Whatever challenges are impacting your life, you don't have to face them alone. That's where I come in – to help you heal, gain new insights and perspectives, and develop the tools you need to best care for yourself. At the heart of my approach is building an authentic, egalitarian therapeutic relationship where you feel safe, heard, and best able to work towards your goals in a supportive environment. My primary population focus is LGBTQIA+ clients, and as a queer woman myself, I believe creating a safe, affirming space is key to successful counseling. I provide therapy that is culturally humble, trauma informed, and strengths-based. As a creative person, I am keen on customizing counseling to you and your passions in life. My integrative counseling approach combines humanistic/person-centered principles with techniques including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), creativity, and mindfulness. Since every client has different needs, goals, and nuances, the two of us will work together to develop a treatment plan that is as unique as you and able to grow with you. I graduated from Roosevelt University with an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I completed my internship year at Renew You Counseling Center where I worked with a diverse array of individuals, couples, and groups ages 18-65. In my free time, I love playing guitar, rock climbing, going on nature walks, writing, performing stand-up comedy, gaming, and spending time with my loved ones and two cats. Reaching out for help is never easy, so my aim is to provide unconditional acceptance of all aspects of your identity and experience. My hope is to support you on your journey of healing and growth.

At HumanKind Psych we specialize in anxiety and eating concerns, but we also work with a variety of different struggles, from mood and panic to relationship difficulties, addiction, and trauma. We are passionate about helping high-achieving young adults let go of perfectionistic tendencies, treat themselves with more compassion, and stop being so hard on themselves. We also offer ADHD evaluations. We are not here to tell you what to do-- we believe YOU are the expert on yourself and we will help you build trust in yourself to move forward toward the things that matter most to you. We use the Intuitive Eating framework and the Health at Every Size approach when working with food and body image concerns. We work hard to ensure you feel safe and understood, and we welcome your feedback along the way. We're always learning and growing, so if something doesn't land quite right, we encourage you to tell us so that we can move through it together and help you get the support you need. Our therapists are warm and authentic, and it's important to us to keep it real. We don't sugarcoat or tiptoe around things (even the difficult things!) because we truly want to help you live your best life.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

My goal is to assist you in feeling more effective in how you face them. As a therapist, I prioritize warmth and validation to help you understand yourself, find ways to cope, and meet your goals. I work primarily with emerging and established adults who are managing anxiety, life transitions, relationship issues, and chronic pain. I also help parents feel more confident in handling behavioral challenges and emotional regulation concerns in children. I believe it is important to examine how early childhood experiences shape our mindset and behaviors. I will support you in feeling more in control, accessing your strengths, gaining insight, and breaking unhelpful patterns. With curiosity and compassion, I will encourage you to embrace discomfort, identify your values, and address anxious thoughts. I use various strategies to explore symptoms, relationships, and behaviors to develop a treatment approach that is unique to you. We will work to better understand how you have adapted to and made sense of the world around you. Let's collaborate to help you feel empowered, discover (or rediscover) your worth, and move confidently through life's journey.

You may feeling like you are not supported, seen or heard by others. You could be feeling alone, frustrated or hurt. Perhaps you’ve been putting others’ needs first and allowing no space for yourself. This could lead to burnout, frustration or even depression. You deserve to have someone listen to you, and someone to talk to who is not judging you, your feelings or your situation. You can have space and time for yourself. I have always been drawn to helping people since I was a very young age. I know what it is like to feel frustrated with your everyday reality and fumbling to figure out what is the next best step forward. Through my own experience and work environment, I can firsthand confirm how helpful it is to lean on someone. I provide a warm, understanding, and grounded presence. I strongly encourage people to have self-love and acceptance as we begin to talk through problems and concerns. I'm dedicated to helping people shift towards the changes they want to see. I understand how difficult it is not to feel like yourself or be understood by others. You are not alone and deserve to be heard. I am dedicated to creating a healing space where we can explore your unique experiences, perspectives, and obstacles. I am here to support you no matter what you are coping with. Let’s work through things together.

Ignite Counseling is trauma-focused private practice located in the Lincoln Park and Lakeview neighborhoods of Chicago, with options for in-person or virtual appointments. We provide therapeutic services with a commitment to compassionate, relational, and authentic treatment in a culturally-sensitive and inclusive environment. Our therapists have a specialized focus in trauma along with the treatment of anxiety, depression, grief, relationship distress, family issues, identity struggles, racial/cultural issues, and challenges with life transitions, and we approach all clients through a trauma-informed lens. We are a close knit and highly intentional team of clinicians, and value safety and authenticity in all that we do.

Our mission is to make mental health care accessible, collaborative, and culturally responsive. Through evidence-based care and a holistic perspective, we help clients create sustainable change and cultivate a life that aligns with their values. We strive to strengthen our community by supporting individuals and families in developing tools for healing, connection, and growth. We deliver high-quality, client-centered therapy that honors the uniqueness of every individual.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Whether you’re a first-time client, returning after a break, or looking for a new therapeutic approach, opening yourself up to someone new is a vulnerable and courageous step toward healing. In my work with clients, I strive to create an environment where we can both be ourselves. I want my clients to enjoy the overall experience of attending therapy, challenges and all, because I believe that growth comes easiest when you don’t dread the process. I utilize humor, warmth, and creative therapeutic techniques in sessions to make therapy feel as approachable as possible. Whether you’re seeking a therapeutic setting that feels casual, direct, or somewhere in between, I strive to understand your needs and shape our time together to help you meet your goals. Areas that I specialize in include navigating sexuality, intimacy, and relationships, PMDD and other mood and personality disorders (BPD, BD I & II, etc.), attachment and family of origin issues, and self-esteem and coping skills. If you are interested in learning to celebrate your uniqueness, understand yourself on a deeper level, better your relationships, and heal from the trauma that has put a negative lens on the way you view yourself or others, I’m here to cheer you on along the way. I am a certified yoga teacher and an artist, and I enjoy utilizing skills from both areas in therapy. I believe in artistic and somatic self-expression as a tool for gaining awareness, and that everyone has an avenue to do so powerfully. In session, you can expect me to guide you through meditation or breathwork when you’re feeling overwhelmed or activated, or to ask you to create something to express yourself when words are hard to find. In couple’s sessions, I utilize similar skills to help open up new lines of communication between partners. Verbal communication is important, but I also recognize that translating feelings into words doesn’t always come easily. Together, we can explore ways to speak to one another that best match our style of being, and learn to navigate and trust our emotions without fear of our words coming out “wrong”. Understanding where feelings come from can serve us in changing how we react to our partners and can allow us to shape our responses in a way that is both healthy and effective. Experience I have worked with adolescents and adults from a diverse range of gender identity, sexuality, and race. In my years of practice, I have helped clients with topics such as gender and sexuality exploration, depression and anxiety, ADHD and ASD, Borderline Personality Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and relational dynamics. I am also happy to work within a healthcare team, such as coordinating your care with your primary care physician and psychiatrist, because I believe mental health is holistic and intersects with physical well-being. I also have experience working as an art therapy assistant and am eager to incorporate creative techniques into sessions with clients.

Our mission is to inspire and empower holistic care by providing our community with a safe, inclusive, and non-judgmental space for mental healing and personal growth. We are committed to making mental health care accessible, service-oriented, and rooted in compassion. We support individuals in managing a wide range of mental health concerns—from everyday work or school-related stress to processing trauma and navigating life crises. At Balance and Entity Wellness Care, we practice a therapeutic approach that emphasizes holistic, culturally inclusive, and transparent care. We strive to create an environment where clients feel welcome, supported, and understood—starting from the very first session.

Therapy has been an essential part of my personal healing journey, and it is my honor to be able to join clients on their own paths towards expansive and resilient wellness. Simply exploring the prospect of therapy is no small feat, so I want to acknowledge the courage it takes to take those first steps. I deeply believe in the healing power of experiencing safety in a therapy relationship. I aim to recognize the bravery it takes to be vulnerable by inviting open discussion about dynamics felt in the therapy room and honoring the time needed for me to earn your trust. The pace you need to feel secure and confident in our therapeutic alliance will be the guiding force of the pace of our time together. As a therapist inspired by Narrative therapy, Queer feminist theory, Gestalt therapy, and IFS, I strive to honor all parts of you and welcome the integration of your personal interests and cultural traditions into our work. While therapy may include examining past pain and grief, I hope to create a collaborative environment that also makes room for joy and play. I’ve witnessed the power of the arts, music, movement, and play in the work towards healing and am eager to support your use of the therapy space creatively. I am passionate about understanding intergenerational, historical, and racial trauma. Using a systems-critical and strengths-based lens, I hope to support clients in their journey towards self-empowerment and resistance to oppressive systems. Feeling “othered” can limit the space we have to truly explore our genuine identity, so I am honored to work with folks exploring facets of their identity including racial, sexual, gender, disability, neurodivergent, cultural, and beyond. You are the expert of your own experience, and I would be honored to join alongside you on your path. Our work together could, of course, include talk therapy, but can also include experimenting with identity through games, using arts and crafts to express nonverbally, and mindful listening to music to access important feelings. I trust in the brilliance of the mind to find a way towards recovery and would be honored to support variations in how you access your healing. Experience I have worked as a clinical therapist with both adolescents and adults whose struggles included living with symptoms of PMDD, Borderline Personality Disorder, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, GAD, disordered eating, substance use, childhood trauma, and dissociative disorders. I’ve had the honor to support clients exploring their sexual, gender, racial, disability, neurodivergent and autism identities. My work with clients has also included exploring relational issues, family of origin dynamics, life transitions, social justice/activism, and acculturation stress. During my NBCC Minority Fellowship, I experienced trainings focused on the use of Motivational Interviewing with marginalized groups and developed skills to continuously pursue working from an anti-racist, neurodiversity-affirming, anti-oppressive, body-neutral, sex/poly/kink-positive and anti-ableist lens. In my role as the coordinator of BrainstormLIVE, a neurocounseling webinar, I learned about deep interconnectedness of the mind and body informing my holistic approach to this work. My research interests include de-pathologizing the community-born, social justice-motivated tools for healing in the Chicago Latine-led queercore DIY punk scene. In my previous lines of work, I taught neurodivergent high school and college students and helped them navigate traditional school systems. I also worked as a caregiver for folks with cerebral palsy and traumatic brain injuries. I have experience in the non-profit sector supporting the development of community events exploring intergenerational and historical trauma through arts and somatic work for the Asian-American and Japanese American Chicagoland communities.

Vicky is a licensed clinical social worker who earned her Masters degree in social work at Loyola University Chicago. Vicky has experience working with young adults, children, adolescents and their parents on a variety of different issues including social skills, self-compassion, emotional regulation, anxiety, life transitions and grief. Vicky has worked in a variety of settings including schools, summer camps and private practice. In her work, Vicky understands the importance of experiences and how they can greatly influence one's perspective in how they relate to themselves and others. She believes it is important to process significant events, in order to gain a better understanding of one’s needs and potential. Vicky uses a relational and strengths-based approach to allow for her clients to feel supported along every step of the therapeutic process. She also uses elements of cognitive behavioral therapy and play therapy to support clients in their therapeutic journey. Vicky aims to provide a warm, welcoming and safe space for her clients and feels honored to walk alongside each individual’s unique path.

Cira Center for Behavioral Health (CCBH) is a group practice that has a Team of Psychologists, Social Workers, Professional Counselors, Doctoral Level Therapists, and Post Doctoral Fellows that serve the age and gender spectrum and specialize in Trauma and Women’s Issues/Health.. Therapy is based on research and science, both of which are incredibly important, but at CCBH, we believe that nothing is more important than feeling heard and understood without any judgment. When a strong, supportive relationship is combined with direct feedback and skill-building, people change, and lives improve CCBH specializes in treating trauma. Trauma includes things that you would typically think of as trauma (war veterans, car accidents, rape, physical assault, etc.) as well as difficult childhoods that may have included: physical, sexual, verbal, and/or emotional abuse; divorce/separation; a caretaker who struggled with their own physical/mental illness; a caretaker who suffered from addiction, etc. CCBH also focuses on treating women’s health issues such as perinatal and postpartum depression/anxiety, relationship difficulties, eating disorders and/or disordered eating, body image struggles, etc

I have been in practice as a therapist for over 10 years and have worked in a variety of treatment settings over the course my my career. As a queer therapist, I enjoy working with LGBTQIA+ individuals and the issues we face, and welcome clients of all races, sizes, genders, cultures, abilities and orientations. I specialize in working with clients with depression and anxiety, binge eating and body image distress, Borderline Personality Disorder, and other struggles in regulating emotions and managing relationships.

At Restorative Collective, we are a dedicated team of compassionate professionals committed to supporting your mental health journey. Our diverse expertise allows us to provide personalized care, ensuring that every client feels heard, valued, and empowered. We believe in a holistic, client-centered approach that fosters healing, growth, and resilience.

Everyone seeks support for different reasons, and I’m here to honor yours. In a world of constant connection, the present moment can still feel distant. As a daughter of Polish immigrants, I value cultural heritage and offer support in both English and conversational Polish. I’m especially passionate about working with people navigating family dynamics, intergenerational trauma, cultural identity, and the journey of reconnecting with younger parts of themselves. I believe healing happens through empathy, humor, and collaboration. I specialize in working with teens and adults experiencing: Identity exploration and cultural stress Trauma and intergenerational wounds Relationship challenges and attachment concerns Anxiety, self-esteem, and perfectionism Queerness and LGBTQIA+ identities Life transitions and emerging adulthood Neurodivergence, including ADHD and sensory sensitivities I am DBT-Certified and I co-facilitate the Thursday Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Class at Mind Body Co-op. Alongside DBT, I integrate somatic therapies, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to support a compassionate, body-aware, and client-centered process. Whether you’re facing long-standing patterns or new changes, therapy offers space for clarity and growth. Through gentle challenge, curiosity, and affirmation, we’ll explore what helps you move forward with confidence. I earned my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from National Louis University, where I learned to value presence and acceptance. A favorite quote of mine is by Eckhart Tolle: “How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at the moment.” Your experience matters—and I’d be honored to support you in making meaning of it.