Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

Therapy works best when we start with a strong working relationship and center our approach on what works best for you. I will always start by getting to know you and collaborating on goals. Together, we find the tools and frameworks that respond to your strengths and preferences. You are the expert on your own experience. I practice a Neurodiversity Affirming (NDA) approach that affirms the full and natural range of neurological diversity and human development, supports self-advocacy, and rejects a conceptualization of “normal” that pathologizes difference and marginalizes communities. Nothing for you, without you. I take a person-centered, integrative, and relational approach with individuals from all backgrounds, utilizing trauma-informed and NDA lenses. As a therapist and Social Worker, I strongly believe in identifying the social, political, and environmental factors that impact your well-being and the harm within the dominant culture. Whether it’s a particular life transition or the compounded impact over time, I will unpack the complexity, grief, and potential with you. It’s your story. I’m here to help you decide what happens next.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

As a trauma-informed & versatile therapist, I use evidence-based interventions specialized for anxiety, depression, and relationship issues such as Mindfulness, Solution-focused, Relational, & Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. We will identify stressors that may impact thoughts, feelings, & behaviors and apply skills to improve your quality of life. All of the systems around us (work, school, family, social, etc) often can contribute to chronic stress, pain, anxiety, and depression, thus directly impacting the way we connect with others, make daily decisions, or how we coexist. Whether you are new to therapy, going through major (or minor) life transitions, having existential fears, or stresses like a move, job change, breakup, or a loss, I am here to help you navigate through seasons of change.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

We provide individual, couples, family, and group therapy to people of all ages and for most problems in life, including depression, anxiety, and relationship difficulties. Our mission is to deliver the highest-quality, culturally-sensitive counseling services in a client-friendly manner. We are driven by a desire to empower clients to heal, grow, and achieve balance. Our therapists have experience providing therapy to people from all walks of life. We work with life-long residents of Chicago as well as people who are more transitory. Many of our clients are students, faculty, and staff of local colleges and universities. Wherever you live and whatever your reason for seeking help, we are here to support you (or your child) in reaching your goals.

Welcome! We are a woman owned small private therapy practice that specializes in mood disorders (anxiety/depression), OCD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, phobias, executive functioning (ADHD), chronic health conditions and adjustment disorders. Our clinicians are extensively trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and focused on helping you meet your goals. Our practice is also dedicated to teaching and supervising student and new clinicians to help ensure future generations have access to quality, evidence based mental health treatment. We have daytime, evening, and weekend hours for in-person or virtual sessions. Come see how good better can feel!

I'm a bilingual therapist offering both in-person and virtual sessions. Whether you're navigating life transitions, pursuing personal growth, or simply in need of support, I commend you for taking this meaningful step. My goal is to create a space where you feel safe, understood, and genuinely supported. Together, we’ll explore your experiences, uncover your strengths, and develop practical tools to help you move forward with clarity and confidence. I bring a unique perspective to my practice, rooted in connection, trust, and shared understanding. My approach is shaped by my professional experience, education, and personal journey—including my roles as a wife, mother, large family dynamic, and as a Chicago native. I look forward to the opportunity to support you on your path to growth and healing.

If you’re here, chances are you are looking for a change. Maybe you are unhappy in your relationship, or struggling with body image or food, or perhaps you are stuck in what seems like a never ending cycle of depression, anxiety and hopelessness. It might feel like you can’t catch a break, and that life is coming at you too fast. It's okay if you've gotten knocked down- let's get you back on your feet. As a therapist specializing in anxiety, eating disorders, depression, and adolescent/young adult life transitions I can help you reconnect with your true self and lead a life full of value and meaning. I take a non-pathologizing approach to therapy and focus on the therapeutic alliance to help you feel comfortable, capable, and in charge of your own path. If you are ready to create lasting change that helps you build a life worth living, take the first step and visit my website to learn more. I practice many types of therapy, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Let's get honest, let's laugh (or cry), and get going. I think you'll learn you are already on your way!

Meridian Psychiatric Partners provides best-in-class mental health services to children, adolescents, emerging-adults, and adults with an expert team of psychiatrists, psychologists and psychotherapists. Specialists cover many areas, including mood and anxiety disorders, women's mental health, child and adolescent mental health, addictions, eating disorders, ADHD and personality disorders. Let’s work together to achieve your goals of symptom remission, better functioning and improved well being.

You can be externally successful in life but internally worried you are going to have a total meltdown. I want to help you get better at taking care of yourself so you can achieve whatever awesome things you are here to contribute to the world. My career spans decades but for some reason the majority of women working with me are in their 20s and 30s. I help clients get some new perspective and stop beating themselves up. You may need to make some very real changes. It can be hard work but you don’t need to do it alone. Maybe you need to get better at speaking up for yourself, making decisions, managing your time. Maybe your relationship with substances needs to change. I help clients process their stress and add coping skills to build a personal routine that improves daily life. Many women I work with have gone through traumatic experiences in the past. It is important to me that the woman I am working with directs when and if we discuss the actual traumatic events. What I have learned is that adding better coping is possible with or without dredging details. Healing is possible but it takes work and support. I am also dedicated to helping clients expand their supports even if it's just a little bit at a time. I know it's tough to ask for help. I'd rather DIY everything but I know how useful it is to have therapy while you're in school. It saved my sanity when I went to therapy the first time when I was in college. For those wanting online therapy I use Google Meet for telehealth. It is completely HIPAA compliant. I also meet with clients for Walk and Talk therapy sessions when it seems useful and appropriate. North side of Chicago along the lake.

Anxiety doesn't always look like panic. Sometimes it looks like overthinking every decision, constantly questioning yourself, feeling like you have to get everything "right," or struggling to quiet your mind long enough to enjoy the present. If fear, perfectionism, or self-doubt have been keeping you stuck, therapy can help you build confidence and move forward with greater clarity. I work with college students, graduate students, and young adults navigating anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), low self-esteem, identity development, family-of-origin challenges, and major life transitions. Together, we'll identify the patterns that keep you feeling stuck, better understand the fears driving them, and develop practical strategies to help you live with greater confidence and flexibility. My approach is warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental. I believe you are the expert on your own life, and my role is to help you better understand yourself while building on your strengths. Rather than letting anxiety make your decisions, we'll work toward creating a life that feels more aligned with your values, goals, and the person you want to become. I also work with couples navigating communication challenges, intimacy concerns, relationship transitions, and sexual wellness. Whether you're seeking support as an individual or in a relationship, my goal is to create a space where you feel heard, understood, and empowered to make meaningful, lasting changes. My hope is that therapy helps you trust yourself more fully, strengthen your relationships, and move through life with greater confidence, self-compassion, and purpose.

Intuit Healing is for people who are ready to take initiative of their own life. We’re more than a spa, where after your 90 minute massage you’re back to your same old life. No, our goal is that you find true life-long healing. At Intuit it is all about you. We are your oasis, your getaway place. We will give you the tools you need to become your best self. How exactly do we make this promise? We provide healing modalities to take care of your body, mind, & spirit. We have everything you need for your self care journey all under one roof. So you can have talk therapy followed by a massage. Or maybe a reiki session followed by a sound healing class. From experiencing physical pain, to healing grief, to dealing with burnout, we are here to support you through all of life’s transitions. If you’re on your pregnancy journey, we’re there for you too. Our perinatal classes & our maternity massages ensure that you will be physically & mentally ready for baby. We’re a home for people who are looking to better themselves. Feeling like you have so much more to offer but you’re stuck? Make an appointment with us & we’ll help you sort things through.

Charissa Simon-Wright earned her BA in Criminal and Social Justice from the University of Arizona (formerly Ashford University), MS in Psychology with a Specialization in Addictions from Perdue University (formerly Kaplan University). Charissa has received a doctoral degree at Walden University- Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Health Psychology. She is a member of Psi Chi, International Honor Society in Psychology, since June of 2019. Charissa has also obtained certifications as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), a Co-Occurring Disorder Professional (CODP-I), and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP). Charissa has worked passionately in the behavioral health field for over fifteen years with children and families in multiple roles such as a case manager, housing specialist, family preservation worker, and counselor. While working at the second largest health department in Illinois, Charissa gained vast knowledge and skills that encompasses group counseling, individual counseling, clinical assessments, crisis counseling, addiction counseling, and trauma counseling. Charissa believes in treating the whole person. This means that she takes into consideration the underlying factors that can inhibit a person’s ability to practice healthy habits, so that she and the client can address the root of the issue and not just the symptoms in a collaborative manner. Charissa believes that the client is in charge of their own treatment which creates a sense of autonomy and empowerment that enables the client to move towards identified goals.

Freelife is an LGBTQ+ affirming practice with strong experience serving University Counseling Students with their unique set of needs. We offer therapy online and in-person in the Andersonville area. Whether you are seeking help with relationships, anxiety/depression, autism-ADHD-neurodivergence- trauma, PTSD, adjusting to a new environment, sexual/gender identity, or any life transition, Freelife is here to help.

Hi! I am a clinical social worker with about 15 years of experience working across the lifespan and really enjoy working with young adults. I am in Lakeview/Lincoln Park above the Core Yoga building, and in network with BCBS PPO plans.

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.

The world’s a dumpster fire. I know it, you know it; I’m not about to sugarcoat that. But we only get one shot here, and therapy’s a legitimate excuse to take a deep breath, put your fucking phone away, disconnect from everything, and talk about YOU. What do you want? What are you passionate about? Who do you want to be at this moment in time, and what’s getting in the way? Maybe you don’t have the answers yet, or maybe you have an idea but the way forward is illusive. Regardless, you wouldn’t be here without recognizing change is necessary. That means you’re already invested in you, and the path you're on. I sincerely respect that. My own path began with a love of the arts and storytelling, and these things often find their way into the work I do. I believe that the art and media we consume often becomes the vocabulary of our imagination and our emotions. These can provide an entry way to talk about heavy things. Existential, narrative, and person-centered therapy are my jams. Additionally, I champion science, justice, diversity, kindness, and sex positivity. I strongly believe these values to be fundamental in cultivating the best version of ourselves and our communities. I welcome adolescents and adults of all ages, expressions, and orientations, as well as individuals within relationship dynamics of all kinds.

Many of us are looking for ways to find peace, be more present with our friends and family, and live in a way that feels nourishing. Therapy is an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and the people we love. I aim to use an individualized client-led approach to therapy while honoring intersecting identities. I offer my clients warmth and acceptance in our work together, encouraging curiosity and collaboration that leads to living an authentic life. I like to cultivate a strong alliance and establish a safe and supportive environment to help my clients access the power of vulnerability, honoring their true selves and desires. Some of my favorite groups to work with are gender and sexual minorities, artists, young adults, and folks navigating life and career transitions. Topics such as relational diversity and identity formation are also of special interest. My experience working in the performing arts makes artists, actors, musicians, and other creative professionals a natural fit for me. I celebrate client passion and know the importance of meaningful creativity, striving to encourage my clients to feel confident in presenting a genuine expression of who they are.

Welcome, I'm happy you're here. You may be looking for someone to help you work through stuck patterns in your life related to the pressure to succeed, negative beliefs about yourself and others, and challenges in your relationships. Here's what I can offer you: connection, playfulness, and guidance as you embark on this journey. I have a passion for working with college students and have had the pleasure of working with adults struggling with anxiety, perfectionism, relationship issues, life transitions, depression, and self esteem challenges over the past 6 years. My approach is warm and collaborative, rooted in a client centered, psychodynamic framework while also integrating cognitive behavioral, experiential, schema, and somatic elements. We will make a lot of progress together if you are open to approaching our space with a balance of self curiosity and embracing what is new and different. Asking questions, experimenting with new things, understanding motivations, challenging narratives, celebrating wins, and exploring emotions are all of what you can expect we will do together. My aim is that you are supported with developing both the insight and tools needed for lasting change in your life. I'd love to partner with you on this journey. Book a consultation with me today. I honor your courage and willingness to take this step. You do not have to continue feeling broken, unloveable, or hopeless and you don't have to do it alone— I am ready when you are! Email me today for a FREE consultation.