Therapists for college students near 60657

Life can sometimes move too fast, too slow, or just become a bit too much. You may feel overwhelmed, frustrated or discouraged as you try to keep up, while the world around you continues to change. Your thoughts run on overdrive, you feel stuck moving through the motions but no closer to where you’d like to go. In our darkest moments, we often need someone else to shine a light on our capabilities. I believe there’s strength in every person, even when it feels out of reach. Wherever you are on your path, I hope to honor your lived experience while also noticing the glimmers of change as they come. Together, we will identify the root of what’s holding you back, strengthen intrinsic motivation, and take steps toward meaningful, lasting change. Drawing from an integrative, holistic and affirming approach, I work with individuals and couples from all walks of life. With training in Somatic Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Gottman Method, Motivational Interviewing, LGBTQ+ and neurodiversity affirming practice, I weave experiential methods of therapy with evidence-based interventions. I love supporting people to gain self-insight, and build better communication skills that support fulfilling and intentional relationships. Sometimes the first step is the hardest. If you feel that my approach may be a good fit for you, I invite you to reach out. Whether with me or another counselor, it would be a privilege to witness you on your new path.

We are a group of mental health professionals skilled in the practice of individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapy. We specialize in reproductive mental health, mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, sexual challenges, and relationships. We are on a mission to build a world where every individual’s worth and dignity is affirmed and celebrated.

I specialize in helping college and graduate students manage anxiety, stress, and navigate relationships. My approach to therapy is rooted in wellness, incorporating mindfulness techniques that are both practical and powerful. Whether you're dealing with the pressures of academics, relationship challenges, or personal stressors, I’m here to support you in finding balance and clarity. In our work together, I integrate a variety of mindfulness exercises—some that you can use in the moment when you're feeling overwhelmed, and others that, with practice, will help you build long-term resilience. My goal is to equip you with tools that not only address immediate concerns but also foster your overall well-being. I offer both virtual and in-person therapy in Chicago, allowing us to create a space that fits your needs. Whether you're on campus, at home, or balancing a busy schedule, therapy is accessible and fits into your life. If you're ready to take a proactive step toward managing your stress, anxiety, or relationship challenges, let’s connect and work together to create a meaningful path forward.

Change can feel intimidating and overwhelming, but it can also be a chance to grow, learn, and build resilience. As college students, you’re in a unique time of transition—navigating new responsibilities, relationships, routines, and decisions about your future. It’s natural to feel a mix of excitement and uncertainty as you let go of familiar comforts and take on new challenges. Giving yourself the space to process these changes, reflect on your experiences, and prepare for what’s next is an important part of your journey. One of the most empowering steps you can take is to explore and understand your own story. I offer a supportive and nonjudgmental perspective to help you uncover your strengths, tackle challenges, and celebrate your growth. Together, we can work toward helping you feel confident as you take healthy risks, build meaningful connections, and embrace the opportunities ahead in college and beyond. I have experience working with individuals dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, and the impacts of past traumas, as well as navigating major life transitions. I’m especially interested in helping you identify what brings purpose and joy to your life, so you can create a future that feels authentic and fulfilling. Above all, I want to get to know you—your experiences, your goals, and how I can support you along the way. Wherever you’re at right now, you don’t have to face it alone. Let’s work together to help you feel more grounded, self-assured, and ready to take on whatever comes next.

Our group therapy practice has trained our clinicians to be trauma and systems informed, neurodivergent and LGBTQ affirmative, and knowledgeable in incorporating and integrating the body and mind in therapy. We consider the individual, societal, and environmental factors and contexts for each client. We also explore the identities you hold and the intersectionality of how your identities inform who you are. We also recognize how macro societal level systems, those that influence experiences of power, privilege, and oppression, deeply impact the experiences of every individual. We use our expertise and understanding about neurodiversity and learning styles in conjunction with Mary Jo Barrett’s Collaborative Change Model to structure and pace healthy trauma informed therapy. We also acknowledge and take into account that when we experience something painful, we experience it on multiple levels. Our approach allows us to integrate the body into therapy and explore what the body needs to feel safe or calm again.

Bella Valore Therapy specializes in individualized treatment for each client and couple, intermixing holistic practices with evidence based psychological healing interventions. This creates a safe space to explore needs, desires, relationships, traumas, and more, by bringing awareness to the self. We can then identify patterns, communication, internalized belief systems, and thought processes in which we operate. Treatment can include a variety of holistic modalities to create healing that has never been possible before. This will allow yourself the time, space, and attention it takes to find healing and create the meaningful changes in your life that you desire.

College can come with a lot of pressure to figure things out while also keeping up with classes, relationships, activities, work, sports, and expectations for your future. You might be doing well on paper but still find yourself overthinking, feeling anxious, comparing yourself to others, or wondering why you never quite feel like you’re doing enough. I especially enjoy working with college students, student-athletes, performers, and high achievers navigating anxiety, perfectionism, burnout, body image, confidence, relationships, identity, and major life transitions. You may be adjusting to college, questioning what you want next, struggling with the pressure to perform, or trying to figure out who you are outside of other people’s expectations. As a lifelong athlete with coursework in sport and performance psychology, I also understand the unique pressures that can come with competing and performing at a high level. We can talk about performance anxiety, injuries, burnout, confidence, relationships with coaches or teammates, and what happens when so much of your identity becomes connected to how well you perform. My approach is warm, curious, and collaborative. I believe you know yourself better than anyone else, so therapy with me isn’t about being told what you should do. Some sessions may be a place to talk things through, while others may involve more direction or learning new ways to manage what you’re experiencing. I draw from CBT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing when helpful, and humor is always welcome. You don’t have to stop being ambitious or caring deeply about the things that matter to you. Therapy can help you better understand yourself, feel more confident in your choices, and build a life that feels like yours, not just one that looks successful from the outside.

Hi, I'm Sierra! I'm a licensed therapist in Chicago offering therapy virtually and in-person in downtown Chicago. I am experienced in helping people heal from trauma, manage anxiety, and navigate relationships, and explore their identity. Working with a new therapist can sometimes feel daunting, so I get to know each person on a human level with a bit of humor. I accept all major insurance plans and can work with anyone living in Illinois. If you'd like to see if we'd be a good fit, feel free to email me and we can set up a time to chat!

Welcome to looking for a bit more help. I have over 27 years of experience working with people of all ages. I offer weekly meetings and have found appointments can really help reduce feelings of being stressed, anxious, overwhelmed and alone. Please feel free to contact me via email or call and we can chat for a few minutes to see if you’d like to set up an initial appointment. I work a schedule that allows clients to find a time that work for them weekly. I'm grateful to be able to help when needed, and have worked with young adults and children and adults in and out of schools and clinics throughout my career. Telehealth and in person sessions are offered to make the most out of your time and tailor help to what you deserve. *Will help with insurance billing

If you've ever felt misunderstood, struggled with recognizing your worth, grappled with questions about your identity, or faced challenges in relationships, we're here to listen to you. If you find yourself weighed down by deep-seated emotional experiences, memories that are confusing, unclear, conflicted, or downright painful, we can help you. We understand the importance of processing and unpacking trauma. Sometimes you need to explore the deepest and darkest aspects of your experiences in order to find the inner strength that will push you forward. These moments can produce actual healing and growth which occurs most often in a safe therapeutic relationship with a therapist who listens carefully and responds with genuine acceptance and empathic understanding. Our approach centers on you, providing a nurturing environment where you can delve not only into topics like self-image, self-esteem, sexual and gender identity, and relationship difficulties, but also into those complex emotions and memories that might be lurking beneath the surface. Those who find our approach most beneficial often seek a space where they're free to be themselves without fear of judgment, a place to sift through their emotional landscapes with care and attention. If you're looking for a therapeutic experience where you feel heard, valued, and empowered to explore your emotions, memories, and challenges at your own pace, then our client-centered approach might just be the right fit for you. Our psychologists offer individual, family, relationship and sex therapy that is affirming and sensitive to all aspects of diversity. We also offer affordable neuropsychological assessment and evaluations for attention, memory, learning, and neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and Autism. If you are uninsured or paying out of pocket, please ask us about sliding scale fee options for students so we can accommodate your needs.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

The Aspen Center is a small group practice providing insight-oriented psychotherapy. We offer a personalized approach that focuses on individualism, partnership, respect, and education, with an emphasis on the mind-body connection. We see you as a “whole person,” recognizing that your symptoms are only a part of the picture. We work with you to understand what might be out of balance in your life, and then develop strategies to restore that balance and promote well-being. At The Aspen Center, you can expect an environment that conveys warmth, comfort, confidentiality, and professionalism. We offer you the flexibility of seeing your therapist in-person or via Zoom for Healthcare, allowing you to meet with your therapist regularly to get the support you need.

Do you often feel anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck in cycles of overthinking and self-doubt? You may be navigating academic or career pressure, family expectations, or the emotional complexity of living between cultures. Many of my clients struggle with anxiety, depression, burnout, perfectionism, and feeling “never good enough,” even when they appear capable on the outside. Therapy can be a space where you slow down, feel understood, and move forward with greater clarity, emotional balance, and self-trust. As a bilingual therapist fluent in Mandarin and English, I bring both professional training and lived experience into my work. Having studied abroad since high school, I understand the challenges of living between cultures and am deeply attuned to the invisible pressures related to identity, family expectations and adapting to new environment. My approach is client-centered and trauma-informed, grounded in empathy, authenticity, and empowerment. I believe that healing begins with understanding—and that every small step toward self-acceptance is a powerful act of growth. I look forward to walking with you on this journey of healing and rediscovery.

Magdalena is a psychotherapist who specializes in treating anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. She is passionate about supporting adolescents and adults navigating eating and body image concerns, mood and anxiety disorders, relational challenges, life transitions, and identity exploration. Magdalena finds great fulfillment in supporting clients on their path to healing and feels honored to be part of their journey toward growth and well-being. Known for her warm and down-to-earth presence, Magdalena creates a safe, transparent, and non-judgmental space while helping clients work toward their goals. Magdalena's therapeutic approach is integrative, drawing from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), among other evidence-based modalities. She brings compassion, validation, and the understanding that recovery is not one-size-fits-all. Magdalena is committed to helping clients become their most authentic selves and empowering them to pursue meaningful goals. She recognizes that taking the first step toward change can be difficult and meets clients where they are, approaching each person with curiosity and empathy. You can directly schedule online at www.allow-wellness.com

It is hard to be a young person in today’s world! There is so much pressure to perform, to look a certain way, to achieve. Perfectionism, disordered eating, body-image stress, these are all ways to cope with the world we live in. I get that and am here to support you with zero judgement. It's hard to take the first step in looking for help, but you deserve a safe, supportive space, where you can find healing through connection and curiosity. I love helping young people find new ways of being that move them toward the life they want. Working from a Health at Every Size (HAES)-Aligned/all foods fit, feminist framework, I use a strength based, client-centered approach to help you reclaim your narrative and re-discover your joy. I have an integrative approach to treating eating disorders, OCD, and trauma using ERP, CPT, ACT, and narrative therapy. I really enjoy working with teens, young adults, and their families. I treat clients with a range of general mental health concerns with my main focus areas being eating disorder treatment, OCD, and trauma recovery. I am looking forward to hearing from you and co-creating an individualized treatment approach to support you in feeling better.

Hi, I am Emily (she/her), LCSW! It’s no secret that life can have its ups and downs. Whether it be transitions, endings, or new beginnings, it is important to have people who can walk alongside you throughout all these changes; people who can see the good in you, who can be your biggest cheerleader, and who can be a place for you to lean on when you need it the most. My goal as a therapist is to provide that space for you, and to provide you with a place where you can come as you are and become who you want to be. I am passionate about working with teenagers and emerging adults, specifically those who may be experiencing a life transition, have experienced trauma in their lifetime, or who cope with anxiety or depression symptoms and disorders. I thrive when working with individuals who are seeking to build skills in emotional regulation and who want to strengthen their social skills and interpersonal relationships. I have significant experience working within the child and adolescent therapeutic space and believe that providing mental healthcare to the next generation is vital for moving society forward. I believe that the relational aspect between a therapist and client is vital to seeing progress in the areas a client desires, and I strive to be a compassionate, affirming, and honest therapist. My approach often includes humor, and I am not afraid to challenge clients when necessary. I seek to learn what makes an individual tick, what brings them joy, and to develop a deep understanding of their personality, goals, and values so they can achieve what they want from therapy. I draw from a variety of different modalities, including trauma–focused cognitive behavioral therapy, person-centered therapy, and psychodynamic therapy. Each of these modalities brought together allows me to cater an environment toward each individual I work with; what may work for one person may not work for another, and it is my goal to make therapy a space that you enjoy coming to and that you feel you are able to get the most out of. I believe that each person has value and something to offer this world- it can just be hard to see that sometimes. It would be my greatest joy to walk alongside you in discovering what that might look like for you.

Meredith Starr is a Registered Dietitian and Director of Nutrition Services at Allow Wellness in Chicago. She is an alumna of the University of Illinois at Chicago Coordinated Nutrition Program and began her nutrition career at UI Health general inpatient services while working part-time at a residential treatment facility for eating disorders. Meredith is deeply passionate about the treatment of eating disorders and has been practicing in this field for the past nine years. Meredith's personal nutrition philosophy centers on building a healthy relationship with food and is inclusive of mental, emotional, physical and social health. Meredith aligns herself with size-inclusive and non-diet nutrition approaches. She is passionate about empowering others in their relationship with food and their bodies. Allow Wellness is currently offering outpatient group nutrition sessions and profession presentations. Meredith welcomes all stages of readiness with regard to your relationship with food and your body shape and weight. If ready to schedule, please contact her today.

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I am a Counselor with a passion for supporting emerging adults as they wade through the complexities of today's world. I believe in a Person-centered, Humanistic approach to therapy, building therapeutic relationships based around trust and mutual respect, fostering an environment of non-judgement, positive regard, and authenticity. I assist my clients on their journey towards their goals. Working together, we will discover ways to spur your personal growth and foster a greater sense of fulfillment in your life, utilizing, expanding, and developing skills and abilities, including ones you might not even know you already have. I have experience working with a broad range of clients. Including emerging adults struggling with life transitions, self-esteem, anxiety, and assisting clients of all genders with relationship concerns. I particularly enjoy working with clients involved in the creative arts as well as those living with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions. Drawing on my own experience living with a disability, I strive to listen and understand without judgment, and to honor your individual perspective on life and your world. I am excited to collaborate with my clients, providing compassion and support as we work together to address life's hurdles.

As we navigate a life with many ups and downs, there can be a lack of natural guidance to accompany those changes. Sometimes issues we may have thought were long resolved are still impacting the way we navigate relationships, challenges, transitional periods, and our self-image. As your therapist, I aim to help you grow through these experiences and feel empowered. I have extensive experience working with children and families and am especially passionate about helping those navigating anxiety, trauma, attachment concerns, and relationship challenges. Through my work, I have seen how deeply our experiences, relationships, and environments shape our emotional well-being. Because of this, I often view therapy through a systems lens, recognizing the important role that family and support networks can play in our well-being and growth.