Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor and Art Therapist who believes in the power of art to help us communicate, explore, and understand our inner worlds. I combine talk therapy with creative expression to help clients process their experiences, uncover insights, and create meaningful change - whether or not you consider yourself “artistic.” My approach is collaborative and tailored to you. I take cues from each client to ensure therapy sessions meet your individual needs and goals, moving at a pace that feels comfortable. I practice radical empathy and unconditional positive regard, providing a safe, non-judgmental space where you can explore challenges and work toward growth. I specialize in supporting adults navigating substance use, depression, anxiety, identity concerns, and the complexities of being a child of immigrants. I also enjoy working with neurodivergent clients and LGBTQIA+ individuals, providing affirming and inclusive care. A little about me: Outside of therapy, I love creating arts and crafts, spending time outdoors, and exploring the Midwest. I also enjoy quality time with my family and our cat.

I work with individuals, couples, and families ages 16+, helping clients explore and address challenges in relationships, mood, and communication. Trained in systemic therapy, I view each client holistically, examining patterns within the individual, family, and relational systems to foster meaningful growth and change. I create a safe, judgment-free, and positive space where we can explore core issues, relational dynamics, and past trauma. My approach is collaborative, solution-focused, and often infused with humor, empowering clients to step outside their comfort zones and build healthier relationships with themselves and others. I specialize in supporting clients navigating relationship challenges, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and communication difficulties, providing guidance and tools to create the life and connections they desire.

I am committed to providing person-centered, diversity-affirming care where clients feel safe, supported, and empowered to explore their experiences. My passion lies in helping individuals heal from trauma, complex trauma, and intergenerational trauma, reclaiming their voice and building the life they want to live. As a Hispanic American therapist, my lived experiences, along with my professional and educational background, have shaped my dedication to offering culturally sensitive, LGBTQIA+ affirming, and neurodivergent-affirming therapy. I value honoring each client’s unique perspective while creating a therapeutic space where authenticity and growth are always welcome. My career has spanned outpatient substance abuse treatment, inpatient and intensive outpatient programs, and private practice across urban, suburban, and rural communities. These experiences have strengthened my belief in meeting each client with empathy, respect, and collaboration. Together, we’ll build on your resilience while developing new ways to cope, shift unhelpful patterns, and create a more balanced way of seeing the world. I use an integrative, individualized approach, drawing from CBT, ACT, EMDR, ERP, and DBT to provide therapy that adapts to your needs and goals. A little about me: Outside of therapy, I enjoy playing video games (especially J-RPGs and fighting games), reading, baking, and crafting — particularly needle felting and diamond painting.

I have over a decade of experience supporting high-performance students and professionals in academic, medical, and military settings. My professional background also includes roles promoting community wellness, with organizations like the Clinton Foundation and NYU Law School. I am trained in a range of clinical modalities which allows me to use an integrative and holistic therapeutic approach that is individually tailored to each of my clients and rooted in empirically-supported treatments. I am excited to support you in building on your strengths and taking steps towards positive change.

My approach to therapy is warm, laid-back, and collaborative. I want my clients to feel like they’re sitting with someone who genuinely cares and meets them where they are, without judgment or pressure. I focus on creating a safe and comfortable space where you can open up, explore your thoughts and emotions, and move at your own pace. My goal is to support clients with a wide range of mental health concerns and promote overall well-being through culturally-responsive care, with a warm, empathetic, detail-oriented, and solution-focused approach.

Life can feel messy, complicated, and overwhelming at times. Therapy offers a space to pause, breathe, and untangle the parts that feel heavy. My goal is to create a warm, collaborative, and judgment-free environment where you can show up exactly as you are. I work with teens and adults navigating life transitions, grief, relationship or family challenges, ADHD or autism, anger, trauma, and the process of rediscovering yourself after major life changes. My approach is trauma-informed, flexible, and rooted in mindfulness. Together, we’ll use a blend of evidence-based approaches—including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and psychodynamic therapy—to support your unique goals and pace. I believe that healing happens through connection. In our work together, I bring warmth, curiosity, and compassion to help you feel seen and supported as you learn to make sense of your experiences. You may also get to meet my calm and gentle poodle, Ralph, who often joins sessions as a grounding and comforting presence. If you’re feeling stuck, anxious, or ready for change, therapy can be a powerful space to find clarity and connection. I’d be honored to walk alongside you on that journey.

I am deeply passionate about supporting young adults who are navigating the heavy waves of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. These challenges often speak much louder than our day-to-day living, making it difficult to feel present or "at home" within ourselves. I also specialize in walking alongside those moving through grief, trauma, and major life transitions—those seasons where the ground feels like it has shifted and you’re searching for a new way to stand.

As a therapist who specializes in Dance Movement Therapy, I believe in the full integration of mind and body in the therapeutic process. I strive to provide a space where all parts of you can be seen and accepted. I want to hear your story and support you as you cultivate a more compassionate relationship with your body and mind. I specialize in supporting people dealing with complex trauma, anxiety, struggles with identity, neurodiversity, and body image issues. I am strongly committed to challenging systems and narratives that tell people their worth is tied to their size or ability. Everyone deserves to inhabit their body with dignity, compassion, and freedom from shame. I see therapy as a collaborative process, building from a place of safety and authenticity. Together, we will cultivate a sense of open curiosity to help you find and use your inner strengths and resilience. My process is strongly rooted in body justice and fat liberation, and I approach our time together through trauma-informed and neuro-affirming lenses in order to decolonize the therapeutic process. These values will guide our verbal and embodied processing, and our work together in these ways will help you to connect the body and mind and aid you in self exploration. We will find a pace and structure that feels safe for your body and mind, and give you a space to step into your most authentic self.

You may be feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, navigating the effects of past experiences, or seeking support around identity-related stress. Therapy can be a space to slow down, reflect, and better understand yourself. I work with children, adolescents, adults, and couples experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, and LGBTQ+-related concerns. To support our work together, I draw from a blend of evidence-based, trauma-focused approaches, including psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness, and expressive therapies such as art, narrative, and movement-based work. My training is rooted in a relational approach that integrates the neurobiology of trauma, allowing us to explore how early experiences and ongoing stress impact the nervous system and mind–body connection. I also incorporate IFS and ACT to help clients shift unhelpful patterns, build self-worth, and move toward meaningful goals. I am mindful of how identity, culture, and lived experiences shape mental health and the therapeutic process. My goal is to offer care that feels affirming, thoughtful, and responsive to each person’s story. If you’re looking for a therapist who values collaboration, reflection, and authenticity, I welcome you to reach out.

I'm Liam, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in downtown Chicago where I offer individual therapy appointments. I primarily use the methods of Strengths Based, Client-Driven, and Person-Centered talk therapy. That basically boils down to me believing that you know yourself best and my role is to help you find a path forward. Everybody's life is wildly different; I can assist you in your decision and achievement of treatment goals that ring truest to you, even if that goal is just having someone to talk with. Wanting a better quality of life and seeking support in that is totally normal. Frankly, reaching out for help in and of itself is terrifying; let alone help from a stranger on the internet. If you are struggling I would be glad to hear from you. To avoid phone tag I am most accessible via e-mail to set up a time for us to talk and see if you'd like to come in for a session.

Hi! My name is Destinee Wells (she/hers). I enjoy getting to know new clients and look forward to our potential work together! I believe that we all go through times in life when we encounter challenges that are rooted in our past and affect our present. Therapy can be a great place to make these connections and gain insight and power over our present-day experiences. As a therapist, I am focused on how our past experiences can form who we are and how we interact with others in the present. I am curious about your early relationships, the relationships you have today, and the relationship we will build together. As we look at patterns in your life, we can work together to make sense of present day experiences. I have worked with a variety of identities including different cultural and racial backgrounds, religions, and sexual orientations. I have worked with differing levels of needs from depression and anxiety to substance use, complex trauma and dissociation to name a few. I approach each client with their unique needs and with a trauma-informed lens.

Many young professionals come to therapy feeling torn between who they are and who they think they should be. You might feel anxious, burned out, or uncertain about how to balance your needs with others’ expectations. Perhaps you’re navigating relationship challenges, loss, or identity shifts that leave you feeling unmoored. However, as a therapist in Chicago, I offer a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and LGBTQIA+ affirming space where you can pause, reflect, and reconnect with yourself—so you can move toward clarity, confidence, and belonging in both work and life. In my clinical approach, I combine trauma-informed and solution-focused therapy to help clients manage anxiety, workplace stress, and relationship issues. Additionally, I specialize in working with young professionals, first-generation individuals, and LGBTQIA+ clients who want to cultivate balance, purpose, and self-acceptance. I also provide couples therapy to strengthen communication and foster understanding, helping individuals and partners deepen connection and growth both within and beyond their relationships. Starting therapy can feel daunting, especially when you’re used to managing everything on your own. Nevertheless, you don’t need to have all the answers before beginning. Whether you’re exploring identity, searching for balance, or healing after change, I’ll meet you with warmth, curiosity, and care. If you’re ready to feel supported and understood, I’d be honored to walk beside you on your path toward healing and growth. Finally, learn more about our LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy and how it can support your well-being.

I’m Zitong ZHENG (Denice). I’m a bilingual (English and Chinese) in-training therapist currently providing services in the Chicago area. For now, I'm only accepting refugee patient at Mount Sinai Hospital. We provide free service for both long-term psychotherapy sessions and medication management. Client does not need to have a medical insurance but have to meet refugee status criteria. Therapy may be new for you, may be not. But no matter anytime you choose come to a session, give your own credit for that braveness! Feeling of sad, nervous, stressful, lonely, confuse, anxious, fear, mad, helpless, hopeless, pain, shame, guilty, and fatigue etc.....these feelings are definitely difficult to cope with and get through in life. Hope therapy can be a safe space for you to talk and provide you insight to understand then express your feeling. In the past practice, I worked in different settings such as hospital and private practice, I’ve been working with client who are from young adulthood to late adulthood with various diagnoses/race/sexuality/gender identity/SES status. I'm open to listen your story and thoughts, to do some exploration with you, then find consistent strategies together that can be useful for you and be kept for the rest of your life. My main approaches are person-centered therapy, psychodynamic, existential, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and narrative therapy. I believe the interpersonal process in therapy sessions is really important for therapeutic effectiveness which can bring you new experiences and insights. I would like to openly discuss about what kinds of methods are exactly working for you. Therapy is not only a treatment which is provided by therapist, also a cooperation between both of us. I would also emphasize the equality and genuineness among therapy. I believe every people is expert for their own life, sometimes we will neglect our own potential. I would also appreciate and respect all people's belief, attitude, and identity. I hold non-judgement attitude for client. There's no right and wrong in life. As a past international student, I’m able to validate the feelings of: challenge, hardness, loneliness, stress, and helplessness that every client is going through. I hope I can provide a safe space for you to talk, and offer you support as best as I can. I know life has too many unspoken moments, which does not only happen during language translation. I hope to create a place for you when you are in need. Every feeling is important, you are important.

School can be exciting, overwhelming, and full of change. For many students, being in a campus environment can also bring increased body image pressures, stress, and challenges with eating, making this a time when eating disorders, OCD, anxiety, and other mental health concerns often show up or become more intense. I've spent years specializing in eating disorders and OCD across higher levels of care and outpatient private practice, giving me the experience to support you wherever you are in your recovery. My goal is to create a warm, collaborative space where you can build practical tools, feel more like yourself, and spend less time stuck in symptoms and more time living the life you want.

SpringSource Psychological Center was founded by two Ph.D., licensed clinical psychologists as a collaborative practice to help individuals heal from eating disorders, depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship concerns, and life stressors and transitions. While we work with clients across the lifespan, we have a particular interest in early adulthood, due to the number of transitions and demands that occur during this phase of life. We have a diverse range of clinicians with many years of insight oriented and skills-based training, so we can accommodate both long and short term psychotherapy, dependent upon the client's needs. We have clinicians with expertise in Latinx issues and LGBTQ+ issues, and we have the ability to conduct sessions in Spanish and Russian. We strive to be a warm, welcoming practice where we work with individuals to improve their emotional, behavioral and mental health.

At Neuroworks, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive. Rooted in innovation and a commitment to wellness, our practice is dedicated to enhancing cognitive functioning, mood, and overall brain performance. We provide high-quality, evidence-based therapeutic interventions designed to help individuals navigate life’s challenges with greater focus, resilience, and effectiveness. Whether you're a student striving for academic success, a professional seeking balance, or someone looking to optimize mental clarity, our mission is to support you in achieving your full potential. At Neuroworks, we don’t just treat symptoms—we empower lives.

Hello there, I’m Elisabeth and I have spent my career working with adults across the life span; much of my experience lies in working with folks experiencing challenges within the developmental transitions of adulthood, such as parenting, midlife, and aging. As a therapist I value and aim for a collaborative, warm, and active approach to your concerns. Perhaps you are coming to a crossroads in your life – a challenging life transition, a shift in roles, relationships, or your identity. You may be experiencing increased stress, grief or loss, or physical or mental health challenges. Perhaps you are rethinking what is truly important to you in your “one wild and precious life” (Mary Oliver, The Summer Day). It may be time to find an experienced professional to walk with you as you figure out what’s next, make a change, or how to cope better. My belief is that therapy starts simply with a conversation. Over time and with “a good fit” in the therapeutic relationship, these conversations can lead to a deep, trusting partnership with the capacity to promote self-awareness, growth and healing. My approach is client-centered; you are the expert of your own life, and my role as a therapist is to listen empathically, respond authentically, and use my skills and training to walk alongside you as a compassionate facilitator of your own unique experience. Like many therapists, my way of working is eclectic, yet also “evidence-guided”; this means I tailor my approach to each client informed by my areas of clinical expertise and experience, client preferences and needs, and what clinical research recommends. My work as an adjunct professor for graduate students at UIC, also informs my practice. As a social worker, I approach my work through an anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and culturally sensitive lens. This lens requires continual refocusing, awareness of my positionality and privilege, and is constantly evolving. Taking the first steps to finding a therapist can be overwhelming, but if this profile has caught your attention, please get in touch with me to set up a free consultation. I am in-network with all BCBS PPO plans (including ACA plans), United Healthcare/ Optum, and Cigna/Evernorth.

If you're feeling stuck in cycles you can't quite explain and want to understand yourself more deeply, I can help. With more than 20 years of experience as a licensed clinical psychologist, I specialize in the assessment and treatment of anxiety, depression, and ADHD in adults. I provide personality and ADHD assessments, not simply to assign a diagnosis, but as a meaningful therapeutic experience in itself. Together, we'll collaborate to clarify and answer your questions, so you leave with a deeper understanding of yourself and a clear roadmap for moving forward. My psychotherapy approach is psychodynamic, mindfulness-based and trauma-informed. Together, we will think about how past experiences continue to shape your present, identify long-standing patterns, and challenge self-limiting beliefs. I try to impart a way of listening that tunes in not only to what is being said, but also to what is not being said. I enjoy working with people from immigrant backgrounds. Identity is complex, especially when forged in the crucible of the immigrant experience. I understand the weight of cultural expectations and systemic stressors and offer a culturally attuned and respectful space where these experiences can be explored with self-compassion, rather than judgment.

My therapeutic style is one of flexibility, active engagement, and a commitment to helping my clients cultivate change in areas of their lives in which they feel stuck. Although people come to therapy for countless reasons, common themes that emerge in my work include relationship concerns, life transitions, identity issues, existential distress, and anxiety and depression. I value helping my clients develop self-compassion, interpersonal awareness, intentionality, and balance in their lives. With an appreciation for the many facets of identity that shape each person’s worldview, I offer a holistic and culturally-informed approach to therapy. Genuine curiosity and cultural humility are guiding forces as I prioritize understanding people within their unique contexts. Prior to private practice, my professional life included experience in university counseling centers and community mental health. As a former professional musician, I continue to maintain a passion for creative endeavors, which I integrate in my therapy work, especially with professional and emerging artists.

Beginning therapy can often seem daunting. It can be the first time you are admitting something isn’t working, or you aren’t feeling okay. I want to provide the space and time for you to sit with that possibility, work together to understand those thoughts and feelings, and use your experiences to guide you toward new, affirming spaces and connections. Together, we can support you in navigating depression, anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, ADHD, neurodivergence, identity and LGBTQ+ related concerns, as well as relationship challenges, family dynamics, and major life transitions. Whether you’re beginning therapy or returning to it, I look forward to connecting and working together.