Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

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.

I believe that trust and rapport are crucial in therapy, as they create a foundation for healing and growth. I have extensive experience in providing evidence-based therapies to help clients effectively manage PTSD symptoms, depression, and anxiety. I am well-versed in addressing the unique challenges that individuals with complex trauma face, such as dissociation and relationship difficulties. By fostering a trusting and supportive environment, I strive to empower clients to explore their emotions, thoughts, and experiences at their own pace. Together, we work towards building resilience, ultimately promoting improved well-being. My approach is rooted in a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and person-centered techniques, allowing us to examine the connections between past experiences and present challenges. Through our collaborative efforts, we will create a safe space where you can gain insight, heal from past wounds, and ultimately achieve personal growth and fulfillment. I strive to create a safe and inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and valued. By embracing diversity, I aim to provide personalized services that cater to the unique needs and backgrounds of each individual client. During our free consultation, we can discuss your specific needs and goals. Remember, you don't have to face this alone.

I am a firm believer that making the decision to address your issues takes a great deal of courage and bravery. Many of us come from circumstances or environments that encourage us to push through pain by burying it, outworking it, or avoiding it. While these coping skills help us to survive, they don't necessarily encourage us to thrive. As a therapist with psychodynamic training and extensive life coaching experience, it is important to me that our sessions focus on identifying where core issues are coming from, encourage collaborative problem solving, as well as create space for intentional goal setting. I have a great deal of experience helping young adults and professionals with life transitions. Building an authentic sense of self is the first step to cultivating a sense of purpose, empathetic relationships, and healthy boundaries. I approach therapy from a multi-modal lense and take great care to address and honor differences in lived experiences. If anything above resonates please contact me! Being a first-generation Arab American myself, I know how difficult it can be to move past the stigma of pursuing mental health services. That being said, I also know that the most difficult things in life also tend to be the most rewarding. You should be proud of yourself for taking this first step!

I work with young people about to graduate or young career adults who instead of excitement and anticipation, feel frozen. You have done it all right, gotten the degree that is supposed to be "useful" and yet it feels empty. I work with perfectionistic, high achieving students and early career adults who thought their life would look one way at this stage but are finding it is not what you hoped or thought you would feel. Our work untangles perfectionism, comparison and the pressure to be exceptional at all times.

At Chicago Therapy Group, we are committed to ethical conduct that creates a safe and trusted environment for you to explore your challenges and achieve personal growth. I am a bilingual (English/Serbian, Bosnian, Croatian) therapist. I offer culturally informed therapy and acknowledge individual, intergenerational, historical, racial, and social trauma. These traumas are often at the root of modern human issues. As someone who grew up in unstable socio-political circumstances and as an immigrant, I have reinvented myself many times, and I can help you do the same. I am a fierce fighter for social justice and a supporter of oppressed people.

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I am currently accepting new clients! Seeking therapy and finding a professional you trust can be difficult, even overwhelming. I aim to ease this transition by creating a nonjudgmental, flexible, and supportive space for our sessions- one that promotes your growth and healing. I believe meaningful change starts with meaningful relationships. As such, I will partner with you to build an alliance that fosters curiosity, strength, and resilience. I value depth-based work and use an integrative, individualized approach to therapy. Inherent in this approach is diligently staying attuned to your goals and what you need from our sessions. I work with individuals (16+ years old) and couples who are struggling with problems related to life transitions, anxiety, depression, and relationships. I also have experience exploring gender and sexuality, LGBTQ+ issues, problematic eating patterns, and sexual/relational trauma. I am honored to work with individuals holding many identities, backgrounds, and life experiences. I especially enjoy working with students, creative minds, or anyone trying to untangle the meaning of life. If you think we may be a good fit, I encourage you to reach out and look forward to hearing from you.

Our team of licensed clinicians, social workers and supervised counseling students offers individual, couples and group therapies. To request counseling services, please call a member of our Social Services team at 773-525-1777 ext. 244 or email mentalhealth@nourishinghopechi.org. We will make every effort to get you scheduled for an appointment as soon as possible. Certain times of year are busier than others and a short wait may be necessary. The only residency requirement for our mental health program is that you live in the city of Chicago. As a free, private resource, your goals and hopes determine our course of action.

College life can be exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming, stressful, or isolating at times. At The Noel Approach, we create a safe and supportive space where students can process challenges, explore their identity, and build healthy coping tools. Our approach combines traditional therapy with creative and expressive practices—like art, mindfulness, and intentional journaling—to make healing feel approachable and personal. Whether you’re navigating academic stress, relationship shifts, trauma, or simply trying to balance it all, we’re here to walk alongside you. Our goal is to help you find your voice, strengthen your resilience, and create habits that support both your mental health and your personal growth.

Life can be hard and the idea of starting the process of therapy can add to that stress and anxiety. You've already taken the first step by being here. If you are constantly feeling frustrated, anxious or overwhelmed, I am here to help you figure out what's going on and move towards the life you want to live. I will support you on your journey towards positive change and emotional well-being. My approach is warm, engaging, collaborative and sometimes even humorous. I have a strengths-based and non-judgemental mindset to assist you in creating goals for therapy that fit your needs in order to cope with the curve balls life has thrown. Whether those curve balls are long-last anxiety, depression, self-esteem, etc. or new stressors such as grief, life transitions, general life or work, we will come up with a plan. It is my top priority to make sure you feel comfortable. Whether it is your first time in therapy or you are looking for a fresh start with a new therapist, new is uncomfortable and sometimes that stops us from following through with this. I genuinely hope you find the strength to reach out and begin this journey because you deserve to feel content in life.

Hello! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois with over 10 years of professional experience as a non profit leader and clinician providing direct services to a diverse population. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression; anxiety; trauma/abuse; adverse child experiences; gender and sexual identity and coming out; and substance use issues. I have received advanced training in evidenced based practices including completing two 40 training modules to work with sexual abuse and assault survivors and survivors of domestic violence. My counseling style is adapted to the needs of the individual that I am working with. I often use a cognitive-behavioral, strengths-based approach within a trauma-informed and harm reduction framework to help the client I am working with achieve their goals. I am part of the Path referral network, which means that when you reach out, my team will get back to you quickly to schedule our first session. I am committed to making therapy affordable. Through Path, I am in-network for most commercial insurances, so you're only responsible for your co-pay!

As a therapist, I strive to co-create a space of curiosity and self-compassion with my clients. I believe that healing and growth are best supported when individuals feel safe, seen, and empowered to explore their inner experiences. This collaborative environment allows for a deeper connection with oneself and the development of meaningful insight. My approach is grounded in two years of post-master’s training in Somatic Experiencing, a body-oriented modality that helps regulate the nervous system and process trauma. I also draw from polyvagal theory, psychodynamic principles, and attachment theory to inform my work.

Dr. Hannah Waldman is a psychotherapist who works with emerging adults, young adults, and older adults facing a range of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, relationship challenges, and difficulties related to stress and life transitions. She takes an integrative and collaborative approach to therapy, blending symptom-focused techniques—such as CBT, DBT, and ACT—within a relational framework. Hannah is committed to staying current with the latest research, particularly in areas relevant to her clients’ needs. She has experience supporting individuals dealing with aging, grief, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), phobias, eating disorders, chronic pain, and navigating gender-affirming care. Throughout her career, Hannah has worked with clients from diverse backgrounds across the lifespan, including varied identities in terms of gender, sexual orientation, religion, race, culture, nationality, and socioeconomic status. Her additional clinical interests include mood disorders, personality disorders, and religious trauma. In her work, she strives to empower clients while fostering deeper insight into the self, personal history, and relationships.

Anxiety fights dirty. When anxiety gets out of control, it can feel like a bully, always pushing you around. I get it, I’ve been there. When you’re really in it, you feel stuck and worse still, it can feel like there’s no way out. Constantly living in survival mode doesn’t feel much like living at all. The good news is that you don’t have to face anxiety alone. Together we can push back against anxiety and get your life back. We can use tried and true methods to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and get you out of survival mode. Imagine being more present and connected to life, feeling more like yourself again. More at ease, as you look to the future with a renewed sense of confidence and hope. A way forward is actually, finally here. If you’re ready to change your relationship with anxiety and want to stop living in survival mode. Let’s talk. Give me a call and let’s get to work.

I enjoy helping people navigate things like the coming out process, grieving a death or anticipated one, relational struggles, exploring their sexual and gender identities, loss, major life transitions, and more. I specialize in treating grief, loss, complex trauma, and life transitions using attachment-based therapies and Internal Family Systems. Grief is a part of life that surfaces during death, loss, breakups, identity shifts, and more. As a grief therapist, I guide clients through the often overwhelming emotions that accompany these changes. Whether you're grieving a death, navigating a breakup, or facing life transitions like coming out, I offer tools to express pain, honor your experiences, and find meaning. Together, we’ll work on reconciling parts of you that may feel isolated in your grief or afraid to show your true feelings, while another part is longing for help and connection. Please reach out if you're ready to begin your healing journey. I care deeply about attuning to you and encouraging your healing process by asking meaningful questions and creating a space where safety and vulnerability can thrive. Therapy offers us a chance to collaborate on the issues you’re facing. Please reach out if you are interested in working together.

I work with individuals and couples who are struggling with anxiety and depression, major life transitions, relationships, and self-discovery. I strive to create a welcoming environment, taking the time to get to know you and work together towards your goals. I am currently studying clinical mental health counseling, and my training includes theater, improv, and yoga. Want to know next steps? I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation and answer any questions via email. Please reach out if you'd like to schedule a call or intake session. At Main Street Counseling, we accept BCBS PPO and offer a sliding scale to those who qualify.

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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.

Past experiences continue to impact us throughout life in ways that we do not always fully understand. Family relationships, environmental stressors, social norms and cultural expectations can also place enormous weight on our shoulders to carry around. As my clients work through grief, sadness, and anger, I am deeply committed to their process. I welcome clients from various backgrounds, and, in addition, I have an ongoing commitment to working with first and second generation immigrants and their families. By allowing space for unprocessed feelings and experiences, my goal is to help my clients find a path to alleviating the intensity of those feelings, leading to improved relationships – with themselves and with the people in their lives. Please reach out over email or phone to schedule an initial consultation call and an in person or virtual meeting.

I support people experiencing life transitions, stress, and relationship issues. I personalize treatment to each client using our relationship, scientific approaches, and collaboration to meet your goals. I also provide trauma centered therapy and EMDR.