Therapists for college students near University of Chicago

Thank you for considering us as your source for therapy. We are located just outside of Chicago and offer a variety of therapy options for Adults and Adolescents from all backgrounds. Whether you are seeking support for mental health, performance coaching, or struggling with substance use in your life we are here to help. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing compassionate and personalized care to ensure your well-being.

I specialize in utilizing Art Therapy to work with people with ADHD, LGBTQ+ issues, anxiety, OCD, depression, & late-diagnosed autism in women & AFAB individuals. Don’t worry if art isn’t your thing, we can leave it out or go at a pace that feels comfortable for you! Being a member of the LGBTQ+ & disabled community & embracing my Latinx identity, I am committed to working with clients through an intersectional lens. I am dedicated to fostering an inclusive, non-judgmental, & open-minded environment, & encourage clients to process both emotionally & creatively. I am enthusiastic about creating a safe space for clients to thrive.

We understand how hard it can be to balance life, school, friends, and sports and other activities. There is so much going on in your lives right now! We are a full service counseling practice accepting new clients in person and via telehealth. We have been around for over 18 years and have an entire team that can see new clients with various presenting issues. We work with young adults who experience anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, family issues, stress, identity, racial identity and struggles with life transitions. We're here to help!

At RISE Wellness & Therapy, PLLC our philosophy is to believe in you when you have difficulty believing in yourself and to hold on to hope until you can hold it on your own. Following a strength based, relational model we believe that you are the expert in your life and through the therapeutic relationship you have the opportunity to create a healing experience. Now, therapy may not always be easy, but it will be intentional. Just like all relationships, it will be imperfect, but it will be a safe and accepting place for you to explore how to become the version of yourself you want to be. Much like the phoenix, you can rise from the ashes renewed, and ready to raise your possibilities.

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I value serving clients from a strengths-based perspective and utilizing a client’s internal strengths as a motivation for change. I enjoy incorporating mindfulness and helping clients use the present moment to better understand their experiences. An early inspiration for myself was being inspired by Patch Adams and finding humor as a way to help others heal. While I know that therapy can be challenging, I try to bring in lighter moments to help allow ourselves breaks on your journey to change. I have a social work degree from Aurora University with a specialty in addictions counseling and am a member of the National Association of Social Workers. I have over 5 years of experience in the mental health field and have worked with clients in a variety of settings including: inpatient hospitalization, residential and outpatient therapy. I have served as a therapist in both individual and group settings. I have had the opportunity to serve clients who have experienced substance use, eating disorders, anxiety, and depression. I am comfortable serving survivors of trauma, and I am here to pay witness to what you need to share. I have experience using the therapeutic modalities: CBT, DBT, ACT, Motivational Interviewing, and Mindfulness. I am happy to incorporate your spirituality into our practice and to help you explore your faith. In my free time, I enjoy aerial yoga, reading fantasy books, and listening to Harry Potter based podcasts. I look forward to hearing from you and continuing your journey together, because you don’t have to do it alone.

It's my belief to "Keep life simple." Life is stressful enough. Balancing work, family, social life, friends, and relationships can be overwhelming at times. I practice from a harm reduction holistic theoretical orientation. It combines person-centered (respect for autonomy) with CBT/systemic therapy (a critical look at culture and attachments). By identifying wants and needs, I can assist clients with locating triggers and establishing healthy coping skills to alleviate any mental, emotional, or physical stress. I work particularly with parents and clients dealing with ADHD, Life choices, anxiety, self-esteem and accountability. I assist clients in adjusting to unexpected life transitions by constructing healthier boundaries with themselves and others to balance their lifestyles. I value the importance of creating a supportive, transparent, and collaborative relationship throughout the therapy process. I do this by providing a safe space for clients to embrace their vulnerabilities. Difficult experiences often show up in the body. Accessing embodied experience helps clients evolve. These shifts in the body have a corresponding effect on our actions, routines, and relationships. Through mindful awareness, we discover how the body holds our experiences. We learn to recognize habitual patterns and create new ones. The healing starts now...

If you find yourself not feeling good enough, struggling to cope with worries, traumas, and pain from the past, or wanting to learn more about yourself and why you think and behave in the ways that you do, my therapeutic approach may be right for you. Depending on your goals/needs, we will work together to increase your insight, explore alternative coping strategies, and help you feel empowered to make different decisions in life to get your closer to who and where you want to be. My intention in our work together is to see you, understand you, and challenge you to grow. When necessary/needed, we will use humor along the way! I specialize in working with adults struggling with feelings of Unworthiness/Low Self-Esteem, Trauma/PTSD, Family/Relationship Conflict, Anxiety, and Depression. I am passionate about working with the LGBTQIA+ community, BIPOC, Mental Health Professionals, Artists, Immigrants, First-Generation Americans, Bi-cultural Individuals, and the Kink community. I would be honored to be a part of your journey. Through our work together, you can learn to practice more self-compassion, feel more grounded, and better manage all the thoughts and feelings you're experiencing. If you connected to what I've shared and feel like we would be a good fit, feel free to message me to arrange a free phone consult.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

At Carlson Counseling Connection, we work best with undergraduate and graduate students who are trying to navigate the intense pressure, independence, and constant transitions of university life. Many of the students who thrive in therapy with me look like they are managing everything just fine on the outside—staying on top of classes, keeping up social lives, or building impressive resumes—even when they are feeling burnt out, anxious, or uncertain on the inside. You might be a great fit for my practice if you are experiencing: Academic & Future Anxiety: You feel an overwhelming pressure to perform, maintain high grades, or figure out your career path, leading to frequent overthinking, perfectionism, or fear of failure. Major Life Transitions: You are adjusting to life on campus, moving away from home, managing increased independence, or preparing to transition out of university into the workforce. Burnout & Emotional Fatigue: You find it difficult to rest without feeling guilty, often feeling mentally drained, overextended by commitments, or running on empty. Boundary & Identity Stress: You are navigating shifting family dynamics, roommate conflicts, complex friendships, or learning how to stand up for your own needs without feeling like you're letting others down. Therapy can be a candid, low-pressure space where you don't have to keep up appearances or put on a brave face. Together, we'll cut through the noise, build practical ways to handle stress, and help you create a balanced university experience that actually feels sustainable.

Hi! I'm Aaliyah McNair, LCSW, and I'm passionate about helping adolescents and adults navigate life's challenges with compassion, honesty, and practical support. I have experience working across hospital, emergency, and outpatient mental health settings, supporting individuals through anxiety, trauma, major life transitions, and emotional overwhelm. I also enjoy working with professionals and caregivers experiencing compassion fatigue and burnout. I believe therapy should be a space where you don't have to pretend you're okay. Whether you're feeling anxious, navigating a difficult transition, processing past experiences, or simply feeling stuck, my goal is to create a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where you feel heard and understood.

Hey there!! My name is Kim Koehler and I am the founder and lead therapist at Afterglow Counseling. I am accepting new clients in Indiana and Illinois! I have several years of experience in counseling and therapy with individuals of diverse backgrounds. I specialize in treating individuals who are survivors of various forms of trauma, and those struggling with body image issues/changes, low self-esteem, life transitions, women’s issues, depression, OCD, and anxiety disorders. My approach is to meet you with patience, understanding, and empathy as you share your vulnerable moments with me. I believe that everyone has the power to make changes to parts of their lives that no longer feel aligned with themselves, and am here to offer you encouragement to do so. I have extensive training in trauma and crisis intervention, as well as several years in the private practice setting working with clients of various backgrounds and presentations. I value collaborative relationships, and believe that creation of your own goals for your journey in therapy is the first positive step towards regaining control and autonomy. I believe in empowering individuals to reflect on barriers in their lives, and the strengths they currently possess and skills they can add to overcome these barriers. I believe in practicing self-compassion during difficult periods of our lives, and am committed to working with you to improve your sense of self in the hopes of leading a life you love.

Jenna is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and the owner of Daylily Counseling. She graduated from Boston University's School of Social Work and has been privileged to work with clients as a therapist since 2015. Prior to starting Daylily Counseling, Jenna worked in community mental health settings in Boston and Chicago, working across the life span with children, adolescents, and adults. She has significant experience working with college and graduate students and is passionate about supporting them through the unique transitions of being a student such as navigating first jobs, moving away from home, new relationships and friendships, and adjusting to a new country for international students Jenna is also passionate about working with individuals who have experienced trauma and is a nationally certified provider of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy. She also has specialized experience providing services to immigrant and refugee youth and young adults who have experienced trauma in their home countries or along their migration journeys. Her experiences with clients from around the world have informed her approach to cultural humility in the therapy space as well as her unwavering belief in every individual's capacity to heal and to grow. Jenna’s approach combines strengths-based, client-centered, and cognitive-behavioral strategies. She believes every individual is the expert in their own life and in meeting individuals where they are. She works together with her clients to collaboratively develop a treatment plan and she hopes to create a therapeutic space where there is warmth and safety so that she can best support clients to build insight, problem solve, and take steps to heal and create change in their lives.

Like many therapist profiles, this page could list my degrees and credentials, provide a vague description of what clients I work with, and be distant but warm; however, that is not how I work with clients or how I am in the world. I want this page to help you decide if we’ll work well together, not just list the things I’ve done. What you probably want to know is 1) do I know what I’m doing and 2) are we a good fit in working together. I have been working in the mental health field, specifically with eating disorders, since 2014 in a variety of capacities including inpatient, residential, and crisis stabilization programs. I am passionate about eating disorder recovery and collaborating with patients to find balance in their lives. I am body-positive and Health at Every Size (HAES) aligned. I have experience in working with families, couples, and individuals in addition to facilitating group therapy. My primary focus lies in helping to support clients and their loved ones in understanding and moving forward in the path to recovery through individual and family therapy. I have earned the distinction of being a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS) by the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, and have been an officeholder for the Heartland chapter of iaedp since 2019 and remained committed to pursuing ongoing education within the field. There are so many people who hesitate to come to therapy or to move forward in eating disorder recovery due to having been previously unsuccessful with a “one size fits all” approach. I work with you to figure it out. I’m not a smile-and-nod, sit in silence type of therapist. I'll call you out on your BS, but I can do that in a way where we can both laugh. I'm not afraid to talk about anything you need to talk about. Intrusive thoughts? Feeling like you’re the only person to feel this way? You’d be surprised to find that you’re not alone. Therapy will provide a safe space to be yourself and a supportive environment to help meet you where you’re at and work towards creating lasting change in your life.

It’s 2:00 a.m. and you’re caught in a "doom scroll" because your brain won't hit the off switch. When anxiety makes even simple tasks feel daunting, just "talking it out" often isn't enough. I am deeply passionate about supporting BIPOC women in navigating the unique, heavy burdens of carrying it all. We’ll use simple creative methods to get those "strong friend" pressures out of your head and into the open—no art skills needed. Combined with practical mindfulness, this gives you a real-world toolkit to stop just surviving and actually start thriving.

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!

Hi, I’m Loren, a psychiatric provider with over a decade of experience in mental health care. I take a compassionate, collaborative, and client-centered approach in supporting individuals across the lifespan. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship challenges, using evidence-based techniques such as cognitive-behavioral strategies, motivational interviewing, and supportive therapy, alongside thoughtful medication management when appropriate. I strive to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where you feel heard, respected, and empowered in your journey toward lasting mental wellness. My process is rooted in partnership: I take the time to understand your unique story and work with you to create a personalized plan that supports growth, resilience, and confidence. My clinical experience spans hospitals, community mental health, skilled nursing, and now private practice and telehealth. These diverse settings have shaped my holistic, practical, and deeply empathetic approach to care. I’m also a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and am currently pursuing certification in holistic integrative medicine to further support whole-person healing. Whether you’re facing new challenges or working through long-standing issues, I’m here to support you with empathy, clarity, and a deep commitment to your well-being.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Hello! my name Renee Smith, I am a dedicated and compassionate therapist specializing in working with children/adolescents, and young adults. With a deep understanding of the challenges that young people face, I provide a safe and supportive environment where you can explore emotions, build resilience, and develop healthy coping strategies. My approach is emphasizing empathy, patience, and trust as we work together to navigate life’s challenges. I have experience helping children, teens, and young adults, with a variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, behavioral difficulties, peer relationships, and family dynamics. I draw from evidence-based therapeutic techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I understand that this stage of life can be complex. My goal is to empower young people to thrive and build a strong foundation for the future. If you're looking for a caring and skilled therapist to support your endeavors, I’m here to help guide you through the journey to emotional well-being and success! Virtual Only....

Finding a therapist who feels like a good fit can matter as much as the therapy itself. I work with students who are thoughtful, capable, and often carrying more than they let on — anxiety, stress, self-doubt, trauma, or the pressure to keep it together while figuring out who they are and where they’re headed. I’m a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) with a background in both clinical mental health and higher education. Before returning to full-time clinical work, I spent many years working on college campuses as well as teaching in undergraduate and graduate courses. I understand the unique stressors students face — academic pressure, financial stressors, identity development, relationships, family expectations, and the emotional toll of trying to succeed in an uncertain world. My approach is warm, collaborative, and trauma-informed. I integrate evidence-based practices with a strong focus on nervous system regulation, emotional awareness, and practical skills you can use in everyday life. Therapy with me is a space to slow down, make sense of what you’re experiencing, and learn how to respond to stress and anxiety with more clarity and self-compassion. Many of the students I work with struggle with anxiety, people-pleasing, perfectionism, burnout, or feeling disconnected from themselves. Together, we work on building a sense of safety, learning how to set boundaries, and developing coping strategies that support both mental health and personal growth. I believe therapy should feel human, respectful, and supportive — a place where you don’t have to perform or have everything figured out. My goal is to help you feel more grounded, more present, and more able to navigate life with confidence and care.