Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

JPA offers fee-for-service outpatient psychotherapy at its Lincoln Park office for people navigating challenges in all stages and walks of life. A trusting relationship is the foundation of the therapy we provide our clients daily. At New Light, therapists meet with clients in a comfortable, confidential setting. Clients safely explore what's on their minds, sharing their stories at their pace. Our therapists help people heal past hurts, gain clarity, improve communication skills, better handle stress, develop problem-solving techniques, and overcome change and loss. We help people conceptualize, create, and sustain the lives they want to live. Our non-judgmental stance respects our client's values, beliefs, and right to self-determination. We help people gain insight and maintain their goals. New Light gives people the support and tools they need to thrive.

Do you struggle with racing thoughts, distressing feelings, anxiety, depression, or trauma? Are you and your partner(s) struggling with communication, intimacy, or distrust? Exploring how counseling can be beneficial is a brave first step that I am so glad you are taking! Regardless of what you want to work on in therapy, I treat my clients with compassion, respect, and empathy. I help you navigate this progression while creating a safe and supportive space to explore and create new ways to grow towards your goals. Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with children, adults, and couples across a variety of settings with various clinical needs. My goal is to provide services to diverse populations across socioeconomic backgrounds. My skills in counseling include LGBTQ+ and BIPOC affirmative care, trauma-informed practice, and human sexuality. I believe that forming a strong therapeutic alliance is principal to healing and growth. Should we work together, you can trust that I will prioritize building a therapeutic relationship based on empathy and positive regard in a judgment-free space. After sessions, I hope you feel equipped to tackle the challenges in your life by tapping into your potential.

Cornerstone Counseling Center of Chicago provides exceptional counseling and therapy services to individuals of all ages, couples, and families from a faith-based perspective. We would love to work with you to find a counselor well-suited to talk with you about your life situation.

I love working with young adults who are dealing with things like stress, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, life transitions, and the pressure to be perfect. Life can feel overwhelming at times, but you're not alone in this! Whether you're trying to manage stress, navigate tricky relationships, or simply find more balance, I'm here to support you every step of the way.

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It takes a lot of courage to reach out to someone for help. To share your most private thoughts and feelings with someone you don’t know. Yet entering into a relationship with a therapist is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself. Whether you're an 18 - 22 year old student facing the new challenges of college life or a returning student coming back to school after years away, the demands of college can take a real toll on your mental health. I'm here to help you sort out your feelings and organize your thoughts, to help you focus on what really matters to you. I practice depth-oriented psychodynamic therapy. This means that I will spend time listening to you to fully understand what's troubling you and how you got here. Through that shared understanding, we will chart a path towards healing.

Nothing human can be alien to me -Terence. Within the bounds of a safe relationship, I hope you can let the ugly, shameful and irrational parts of you breathe. Together, we can encounter them with compassion, as this is often where the work lies. I endeavor to create a warm holding environment for you as we explore issues more deeply and understand their origins through psychoanalytic, relational and existential perspectives. I share my conceptualizations with clients and provide psychoeducation to increase insight into our unconscious experiences, while honoring individual uniqueness, cultural nuances, and other complexities. I enjoy working with BIPOC individuals (especially AADPI and South Asian), first- and second- generation immigrants, LGBTQIA+ identifying individuals, men’s issues, and those with religious or spiritual backgrounds. I’m also interested in therapy with couples and intimate unions. I integrate a variety of approaches, fitting the needs of each client. I am currently a fellow at the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis. I received my Master’s in Counseling from Northwestern University and have two years of clinical experience working with clients from a range of backgrounds and presenting issues. I feel honored to do this work and I look forward to working with you.

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You’re thoughtful and self-aware. You can name your patterns and handle daily demands and yet you still feel burnt out, empty, or stuck. Maybe you’ve tried therapy before and learned helpful strategies and yet something deeper still feels unsettled. For many, college brings more than academic pressure. It can intensify questions about identity, belonging, relationships, family expectations, and who you’re becoming. Sometimes what looks like anxiety or procrastination is tied to something more relational — how safe you feel being fully yourself, how you learned to manage closeness, or how you’ve had to adapt in order to be accepted. My work is depth-oriented and relational. That means we pay attention to what unfolds between us, not just the symptoms you want to reduce. I won’t rush to give you techniques or quick fixes. Instead, we slow down enough to understand what’s been shaping your experience and create space for something different to emerge.

Growing up, I did not know much about mental health and therapy until I was in my own crisis. I was greatly impacted by mental health stigma that has had such a big impact of my Latinx community, and my own experience. I understand stigma is something that many different communities may face, and I hope to help break down that stigma so people can openly receive the help they need. After reaching out for help myself, I was able to start living up to a better version of myself. Now I hope to provide similar hope to others. I believe therapy is not just a tool to be used when you are at your lowest, but a resource in instances of uncertainty, challenge and life transitions. You have unique experiences and have been impacted by the systems that surround you whether they are cultural, familial, religious or something else. My goal is to work hand-in-hand with you to create an empathic space where you can share your feelings and work through learned patterns to discover what serves you best today. Together, we can start the healing process, using with self-awareness, exploring the past, gaining empowerment, and creating meaningful changes within your life and relationships. I have been a clinician with Active Therapies for the past year. Active Therapies offers in person therapy in North Park, Ravenswood and Telehealth.

I aim to make therapy a space where, above all, two humans can come together to connect, while working to understand and process the difficult thoughts, feelings, and sensations that come along with life. I work primarily with adults, and always seek to create a therapeutic space based on connection, empathy, understanding, and sometimes humor. I specialize in the treatment of OCD and anxiety diagnoses, as well as experiences with chronic pain, illness, and other somatic-based problems. Others areas within my experience include: depression, trauma-based diagnoses, relational problems, and psychodynamic informed talk therapy. I aim to make therapy a space where, above all, two humans can come together to connect, while working to understand and process the difficult thoughts, feelings, and sensations that come along with life. I work primarily with adults, and always seek to create a therapeutic space based on connection, empathy, understanding, and sometimes humor. I specialize in the treatment of OCD and anxiety diagnoses, as well as experiences with chronic pain, illness, and other somatic-based problems. Others areas within my experience include: depression, trauma-based diagnoses, relational problems, and psychodynamic informed talk therapy. I have experience and expertise working in CBT, specializing in the modality of ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). I also utilize techniques and philosophies from DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and RO-DBT (Radically Open Dialectical Behavioral Therapy). We will work to clarify your strengths, current obstacles in life, and create a path forward.

Hi! I'm Eleanor. I love working with both queer and neurodivergent individuals, especially individuals who are just beginning to explore or understand their identities or may have doubts about if their experiences are “enough.” Many of my clients experience anxiety and struggle to trust themselves or express their needs and are ready to start exploring what is most important to them and how to build a value-aligned life. Additionally, I have a specialty in treating OCD and use a mix of exposure therapy as well as non-exposure based therapies. I am warm, collaborative, and transparent with my clients. In sessions, you can expect me to ask questions, provide education and resources, and add a little humor into the mix. My main goal when working with clients is to help them understand themselves and their patterns better and practice responding flexibly and compassionate to the difficulties that inevitably rise in life. This is often a mix of exploring past experiences and relationships to understand how this shows up in the present as well as learning new coping skills. It can be hard and scary to start therapy! If you're feeling ready, feel free to reach out to me to learn more about my style and see if we might be a good fit.

Hi and welcome! I'm a clinical psychologist in a small private practice with 2 other clinicians. I've worked extensively with college students and enjoy helping clients sort through life challenges and transitions. I know college can be a time filled with changes related to identity and relationships and I hope to be a sounding board to those experiences while providing support and guidance. Please do not hesitate to reach out to ask questions or schedule an appointment.

Gabi is a board-certified, licensed clinical counselor and a Registered Art Therapist. She holds a masters degree in Counseling & Art Therapy from Adler University. Rooted in a passion for fostering community, connection, understanding, and belonging, Gabi is committed to guiding clients through their unique journeys, holding space for their truths and experiences. Through a blend of talk therapy, art therapy, mindfulness, body-centric work, and play, she fosters trust and belonging. Her art therapy encourages intuitive expression, allowing clients to authentically explore emotions, memories, and body-felt experiences, creating a safer inner space for self-discovery. Outside of private practice, Gabi worked as a therapist and clinical supervisor within community mental health, as well as an art therapist with marginalized Chicago youth. She has experience working with the spectrum of age, from as young as 5 into adulthood, as well as families. Gabi has experience working with a wide range of presenting concerns, but specifically has a passion for working with 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, those navigating past and present trauma, those experiencing significant life transitions (transitioning into adulthood, college, becoming a parent) as well as those wanting to further connect with the experiences of their body.

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.

Hello there! I'm Neha and accepting new clients. I emphasize collaboration as a key part of my approach and want to make sure the therapy space feels safe, genuine, and collaborative when working with folks. I take an eclectic approach to therapy with a base in psychodynamic, relational and humanistic theories. I round out my approach with interventions from several different modalities including CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, and solution focused. While I pull from several different modalities, my practice is rooted in multicultural humility and intersectionality, tailoring my approach to meet folks’ unique needs and preferences. I highly value multicultural humility and intersectionality. As the daughter of immigrants and holder of several different identities, intersectionality is something I see a lot in both my personal and professional lives. I also know what it feels like to feel isolated or alone in holding different intersectional identities and is partly what motivated me to become a therapist. Feel free to reach out if you think we might be a good fit!

JD Peters (he/him), is Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). He earned his master’s degree in Addiction Studies: Advanced Practice from the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School, and spent his career walking alongside individuals and families navigating the challenges of addiction to alcohol and other substances, as well as the broader journey of healing and recovery. He works with people facing a wide range of concerns—from anxiety and depression to grief and trauma—and offers both abstinence-based and harm-reduction approaches depending on what feels most supportive for each person. He believes healing is deeply personal, and that change is hard to do alone. His role is to create a space where you feel safe, seen, and empowered to explore what works best for you. JD has experience working with LGBTQIA+ individuals as they navigate identity, relationships, internalized stigma, and family or societal stressors. He strives to offer affirming care that honors each person’s truth and lived experience. He draws from evidence-based practices like DBT, CBT, ACT, and Motivational Interviewing, blending these approaches into conversations that support growth, healing, and hope. Whether you're just beginning your journey or looking to deepen your understanding of yourself, JD is here to support you with compassion and curiosity.

Lizzie’s therapeutic approach is client-centered and strengths-based, focusing on collaboration and respect for each person's unique journey. She uses CBT techniques to help clients identify and challenge negative thought patterns, develop coping strategies, and achieve their personal goals.Over her years in the field she has worked with a variety of clients with a multitude of diagnoses and issues, ranging from but not limited to addiction, alcoholism, anxiety, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and depression. She also has experience working with individuals on the Autism Spectrum and LGBTQ teens. Lizzie has worked in various settings, including schools, mental health facilities and community based practices and is passionate about advocating for social justice and equity. She believes in the transformative power of support and connection, and strives to create a safe, non-judgmental space for her clients. Whether you are facing personal challenges, family issues, or seeking guidance in your mental health journey, Lizzie is looking to help.

Do you struggle with anxiety that affects your daily life? Do you feel overwhelmed just getting through the day? Do you hope that life could be better? Now more than ever, people are feeling uncertain in life. I believe there is hope. I offer a safe, holistic, and client-centered approach to therapy, so you can get the help you need. I am passionate about helping young adults learn to cope with anxiety, depression, body image/eating, and life transitions. I will guide you to accomplish your goals.

Welcome! My approach to therapy is warm, affirming, nonjudgmental, and inquisitive. I am passionate about helping individuals navigate life’s challenges with compassion and evidence-based care. I have experience working with people across various stages of life who are managing stressors, anxiety, depression, trauma, disordered eating, body image issues, and self-esteem concerns. My work is rooted in empowering clients to foster personal growth and resilience. By blending empathy, advocacy, and practical skills, I tailor my approach to meet the unique needs of every client. Collaboration is at the heart of my practice. Whether it’s helping you build healthier relationships, overcome internal struggles, or set meaningful goals, I am committed to supporting you every step of the way. If you’re ready to take the next step toward healing and transformation, I am here to guide and support you. You deserve a safe, comfortable space to process and feel, and to find the joy you’re looking for. Let’s work together to create meaningful change!