Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Areas of Expertise (include but not limited to) Anxiety, Depression, and Psychological Trauma Stress Management Life Transitions (academic, occupational, relational, familial) Relationship Challenges Identity and Expression

Everyone deserves to feel heard, empowered, and respected, especially during life’s most challenging moments. Therapy provides a safe space for healing, and I would be honored to support you in your journey toward self-empowerment. As a collaborative and non-judgmental therapist in Chicago, my goal is to work with you to find the best path to healing that aligns with your unique needs. With personal experience navigating anxiety, depression, and life transitions, I understand the emotional and relational challenges that many face. I have had the privilege of working with clients from all walks of life, helping them process difficult emotions and navigate major transitions—whether in relationships, work, or health. I specialize in supporting folks as they manage the pressures of life, relationships, and mental health. Together, we will address anxiety, depression, and other emotional struggles, develop strategies for managing overwhelming feelings, and create practical plans to face challenges with confidence. I approach therapy with humor, thoughtfulness, and a focus on affirmations, believing that trust and respect are the foundation of any therapeutic relationship. During our sessions, I will bring my genuine and authentic self to create a warm and empowering environment. A phone consultation is available to explore your treatment intentions and schedule an initial session, where we will discuss your goals and begin to shape your healing journey. My modalities include: Trauma-Informed Therapy Play Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Strength-Based Therapy Mindfulness-Based Therapy My specialities: Anxiety Depression ADHD LGBTQ+ Issues Academic Stress Parenting Support Trauma

You thought by now you'd feel more certain. Maybe you're doing all the things you're supposed to be doing, going to class, working toward a degree, and making plans for the future, but still find yourself feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or unsure of where you're headed. You might be questioning relationships, struggling with confidence, feeling disconnected from yourself, or wondering why this stage of life feels harder than everyone else makes it look. I work with college students, graduate students, and emerging adults who are navigating life's in-between seasons. Many of my clients are figuring out who they are outside of other people's expectations while managing academic stress, relationship challenges, family dynamics, anxiety, and major life transitions. My goal is to create a space where you can be honest about what's working, what's not, and what's been difficult to put into words. Together, we'll slow things down, make sense of the patterns and experiences shaping your life, and help you move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and self-compassion. You don't have to have everything figured out to start therapy. You just have to show up as you are.

Life can be challenging. I believe psychotherapy with a therapist who is a good match can help one more successfully navigate those challenges. I work collaboratively with my clients. I aim to create a nonjudgmental and supportive environment to explore difficult issues together -- to better understand what one is currently facing, to help manage those difficulties, and to ultimately make life more rewarding and meaningful. I have over 30 years of clinical experience and have worked in a variety of settings including university counseling centers (Univ. of Illinois, Univ. of Michigan, Northwestern Univ., The School of the Art Institute of Chicago), and LGBTQ and feminist services (Howard Brown Health Center, Planned Parenthood, Chicago Women's Health Center). I maintain a general practice where I see a wide diversity of men and women for issues including anxiety, depression, relationship problems, and identity.

We live in a hectic, high-pressured world. It can be hard to stay connected to one's true self when managing the stress and expectations of our nonstop culture - especially when life doesn't go according to plan. I provide a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment to help you gain perspective, process past experiences, clarify your values, and experience healing and deeper fulfillment. Together we will use sessions to set goals, identify barriers to growth, increase coping skills, and build on your existing strengths. I enjoy working with individuals of diverse ages, sexual orientations, genders, & backgrounds. I employ an individualized, person-centered approach and utilize aspects from several research-based approaches. I have over 10 years of experience providing therapy for a variety of presenting issues including anxiety, depression, and difficult life transitions. I'm grateful for your courage and interest in therapy. It can be a life-changing process and I would be honored to support you on your journey toward healing and wholeness. If this resonates with you, please reach out today to schedule an initial session with me.

At Resilient Creatures Counseling, we encourage people from all walks of life to honor their resilience. We specialize in treating Trauma and PTSD and serving marginalized communities including queer and gender diverse clients as well as POC and immigrants.

Belle Counseling and Wellness provides individual therapy for adults 18+. We offer a safe and confidential space to explore yourself, your values, process your past and heal. As a trauma informed practice, we realize the widespread impact of trauma and seek to help our clients and the community find their path to recovery and holistic wellness. We recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma in our clients, their families, our staff and our community. Our response to trauma seeks to fully integrate the trauma informed values into our policies, procedures and practices in order to actively resist re-traumatization. Our values include safety, trust, empowerment, collaboration, and acknowledging the historical barriers to wellness for women, communities of color, the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized groups. All services are currently being offered online for the health and safety of our staff and clients. We utilize a secure HIPAA compliant video platform – just click the link in your appointment confirmation text message or email to connect with us from any device.

Leslie is a licensed clinical social worker. She earned her Masters in Clinical Social Work at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration, and her Bachelors in Social Work at Luther College in Iowa. Leslie has experience working with children, adolescents, young adults, and adults with various issues including depression, anxiety, coping skills, difficult life transitions, and building self-compassion. She has worked with individuals in many different settings ranging from individual and group therapy to crisis intervention in the Emergency Room. Leslie practices from a strength-based approach and combines several modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, dialectical behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness. Throughout treatment, she works with clients to utilize coping skills, identify their core values, and develop a strong sense of self. Leslie believes that regardless of age, clients are their own expert and therefore aims to build a strong therapeutic relationship that provides a warm and accepting environment that can lead to positive change.

I specialize in assisting adults with relationship and family concerns, depression, anxiety, trauma recovery, and identity exploration and development. I also have a passion for working with young adults, university students, and developing professionals as they navigate life transitions. I provide individualized, collaborative, evidence-based treatment. Body-image concerns and sports performance are also areas I am well-versed within.

I meet clients where they are at. My goal is that my clients feel heard, seen, and validated when coming to therapy. I am always actively learning and studying through Somatic work, continuing education classes, reading, and attending conferences. I am in the process of earning my Somatic Experiencing Practitioner credentials. I’ve started my second year of a three year training (Intermediate I) and I deeply enjoy integrating somatic therapy into my work with clients. Meeting people where they are is essential because we want to create safe spaces to discuss their concerns. Whether talk therapy or Somatic, lets give you the space. I’ve started my second year of a three year training (Intermediate I) and I deeply enjoy integrating somatic therapy into my work with clients. Meeting people where they are is essential because we want to create safe spaces to discuss their concerns. Whether talk therapy or Somatic, lets give you the space to explore. Somatic work can help release the stored energy that is stuck, recurrent, or rising to the surface. If interested in Somatic work, consent is key and asked constantly throughout sessions. If either talk therapy or Somatic interests you, please contact Astute.

Are you exhausted? Is your anxiety running the show? Do you feel burnt out from your classes, your responsibilities, or living through a pandemic? Maybe you know what you want but need assistance getting started. Maybe you're unsure of what you want, but know that something feels off and your current situation isn’t serving you. The good news is things CAN get better. Together we’ll talk about where you are, where you want to be, and create a plan to get you there. I have experience in a number of concerns including burnout, depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, and life transitions.

Augustyn Family Services is a group psychotherapy practice located in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago. Our therapists utilize a warm, supportive, and collaborative approach in order to partner with our clients to create a path towards positive change. All of us at Augustyn Family Services understand that the trust our clients put in us is a great privilege and we work to create a safe and supportive environment where clients can feel very seen, heard, understood, and supported. Using a client-centered and relational approach, we integrate different strategies to work towards increased insight and self-awareness, identifying challenges in accepting and coping with difficult or painful experiences, and working towards positive change.

I honor the strength and courage it takes to begin therapy. Engaging in therapy can support emotional expression, deepen self-reflection, and open the door to self-compassion and empowerment. My approach is collaborative—we’ll work together to explore your experiences, gain understanding, and create meaningful change. I strive to offer a supportive and affirming space where authenticity can be safely expressed and embraced. I have experience working with a wide range of concerns and tailor my approach to each individual. I recognize how self-expression and self-advocacy can sometimes be overshadowed by the ways people learn to protect themselves from pain. I also understand that the past can shape the present in subtle ways, and that societal expectations can lead us to disconnect from our true selves. My experiences working with college students started during my doctoral training and have continued throughout my ten+ years in private practice. I provided psychotherapy to students at the UIC counseling center, where I completed both my training as an extern and my training as a Postdoctoral Fellow; at DePaul University Counseling Services where I completed my training as an extern; and at NIU Counseling and Consultation Services where I completed my training as an intern.

Gretchen Aich (she/her), PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified Psychiatric–Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who specializes in treating anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, ADHD, and substance use disorders. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Lewis University and is certified through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Gretchen has advanced training in crisis intervention and trauma-informed care and works with children, adolescents, and adults, including Spanish-speaking clients. Gretchen brings experience from diverse mental health settings, including emergency departments, inpatient psychiatric units, outpatient clinics, private practice, and telehealth. Her background includes supporting individuals in crisis, working in community and court-mandated programs, and collaborating closely with multidisciplinary teams. During her clinical training, she worked extensively with children and adolescents with complex needs, provided substance use and court-ordered therapy, and assisted with advanced treatments such as SPRAVATO and TMS. In her work with clients, Gretchen creates a safe, judgment-free space grounded in empathy, respect, and cultural humility. She believes each person is the expert in their own life and uses a collaborative, flexible approach to care. Through active listening and evidence-based techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy and solution-focused therapy, she partners with clients to set meaningful goals and support healing in a way that fits their lives.

We are a team of anxiety therapists who serve individuals and couples struggling with anxiety. The clients we treat mostly come in to decrease anxiety individually and in their relationships and have a healthier lifestyle. Some clients describe their state of being as feeling stuck and overwhelmed while others present with specific issues such as relationship conflict, panic attacks, social anxiety, depression and/or alcohol and marijuana use. Treatment at our group practice focuses on a holistic approach where trust and self-compassion are the foundation for healing. Our approach is rooted in the relational elements of the therapeutic work, and we strongly value both mindfulness and self-compassion.

With over two decades of experience in behavioral health in a variety of professional positions, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker dedicated to supporting individuals through life’s challenges. My practice is rooted in compassion, respect, and a deep understanding that each individual’s story is unique. I strive to create a safe, supportive space where clients feel heard, valued, and empowered to make meaningful changes. I believe healing happens through connection, trust, and feeling emotionally safe. Together, we will move at a pace that feels comfortable for you, honoring your story and your strengths. I specialize in helping individuals manage anxiety, depression, ADHD, and the effects of trauma. Using a trauma-informed and client-centered approach, I support clients in gaining insight into their emotional and behavioral patterns while developing practical skills to improve focus, regulate emotions, and navigate life’s challenges. I know asking for help can be difficult, If you’re ready to take the next step, I invite you to reach out. I would be honored to support you on your journey toward healing and growth. I am passionate about helping you build resilience, increase self-confidence, and achieve greater balance and stability in your life.

Our worlds are chaotic, messy and sometimes cruel. As a result it is easy to unknowingly repeat that disorganization in our own lives. My goal to challenge these patterns of behaviors and relationships that may be keeping you stuck. I work with eccentric adolescents and emerging adults with strong personalities who have difficulty communicating their emotions with others. Many of my clients struggle with ADHD, complex trauma, self injury, suicidality and mood disorders or seeking a safe space to explore their LGBTQIA+ identity. About me: I am a quirky and challenging therapist who graduated from Northwestern University with a Masters in Counseling Psychology in 2014. Having worked extensively in partial hospitalization, therapeutic schools and private practice settings, I combine practical skill based solutions to increase emotional regulation alongside relational work to reshape the past.

I offer a warm, flexible, and low-pressure space where clients can show up exactly as they are. I honor sensory needs and nervous system responses, incorporating mindfulness practices to bring gentle awareness to our experiences. I often use somatic strategies to support connection and foster a sense of safety that is essential for growth. My background includes training in a wide range of approaches from traditional talk therapy to play-based modalities. I’m especially passionate about working with clients who may feel misunderstood or overwhelmed by conventional models of therapy. Clients can expect to feel supported and encouraged without pressure or judgment. I aim to co-create a space that feels steady and grounded. Whether we’re working through emotional regulation, identity, relationships, or everyday overwhelm, therapy can be a space for you. It can feel overwhelming to know where to start, but reaching out is the first step.

Erika Siesennop, Beckie Magnuson, and Sarita Aguirre are Registered Dietitians who specialize in working with individuals who struggle with disordered eating and body image. An anti-diet, weight-inclusive approach. We accept BCBS PPO and Blue Choice PPO plans.