Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

Your grades are declining. You nap because it's the only way to shut your brain off. You're reviewing everything you said in that last conversation because you're sure you said something embarrassing. You feel like something is wrong, but you don't want anyone to know. You've come to the right place! We will explore your challenges from a non-judgmental and self-compassionate place. Believe me- I've heard and seen it all, and I can still honestly say my clients are the most amazing people. You are not lazy or weird or any of the other negative things your brain is telling you. My clients often struggle with challenges related to anxiety, depression, social anxiety, autism, and perfectionism. I will help you learn to manage your anxious or depressive thoughts differently so that you can function and succeed. You've struggled long enough. Let's work together to get you unstuck.

If you’re struggling, you’re not alone—and things can get better. Living with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or other mental health challenges can feel like you’re constantly trying to stay afloat, unsure of where to turn next. It can be exhausting—and isolating. But the truth is, healing is possible. You deserve to feel supported, understood, and hopeful again. I’m here to help you take that next step. I specialize in working with individuals facing depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and related conditions. I know how overwhelming it can be to ask for help, and my goal is to make that process as comfortable and collaborative as possible. Together, we’ll explore what’s been holding you back and find a path forward that truly fits you. Whether through therapy, medication management, or both, I offer personalized care tailored to your unique experiences and goals. You won’t be handed a one-size-fits-all solution—instead, we’ll work side by side to build a plan that supports your mental and emotional well-being in a way that feels right for you. You don’t have to navigate this alone. Let’s talk, and take that first step toward feeling more balanced, connected, and in control of your life. If you’re ready—or even just considering it—I invite you to schedule an appointment today. Let’s start the conversation and see what healing can look like for you.

Coral Heart Counseling provides therapy to those who want to live their best life, but find it hard to do so because of the various life stressors that have gotten in the way. These individuals usually feel like aspects of their life are too much and that their mind, body, and spirit are out of sync; they’re overwhelmed. Our clientele are young adults who are tired of struggling with life events such as relationships, transitions, racial and cultural identity, adulting, imposter syndrome, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, academics and success, perfectionism, and past traumatic moments. We want to help our clients move beyond what’s holding them back. We assist in our clients’ growth by utilizing various modalities that are meant to bring out a person’s strengths, show them their power, and allow them to see how much they matter in this world. We also provide guidance on difficult issues that individuals may be faced with so that they can decide what is best for them. We believe in providing a safe space and necessary skills for our clients to achieve their goals. Our aim is that our clients encounter enhanced emotional intelligence, relational/relationship advancement, and peace. We hope that you will take a step towards freedom of the mind, feeling at ease, and self-love by reaching out to us.

At Resilient Creatures Counseling, we encourage people from all walks of life to honor their resilience. We specialize in treating Trauma and PTSD and serving marginalized communities including queer and gender diverse clients as well as BIPOC and immigrants.

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.

I am an individual and sex therapist specializing in working with clients exploring sexuality, gender, life transitions, and anxiety.

At DK Therapy, we work with adults struggling with anxiety, depression, life transitions, trauma or unpleasant life events, grief/loss and more. We work with a lot of college students regardless of their age and understand that being a college student comes with its own unique stressors. We offer in-person sessions which are great for students who may not have the privacy to meet virtually. We also offer virtual sessions. Please contact us to schedule an appointment with one of our therapists. We are located very close to many college campuses, right next door to Roosevelt University, Columbia College, Depaul loop campus, UIC, and University of Chicago to name a few!

Is life feeling heavy, complicated, or just… a lot? I help adults and couples slow down, make sense of what’s happening inside, and take doable steps that actually shift daily life. My style is warm, collaborative, and action-oriented. I blend Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with expressive arts and somatic, body-based practices - breathwork, mindfulness, and gentle movement - so you can regulate emotions, reconnect with your body, and rewrite the story you’re living. I’m bilingual in Spanish and English, and deeply committed to culturally attuned care; every part of you is welcome in the room. You may be navigating anxiety, perfectionism, panic, or a sense of being stuck in old patterns that no longer feel aligned. Perhaps you’re moving through a major life transition - immigration, a new role, the aftermath of a difficult relationship- and want grounded tools to feel more centered and capable. Together, we identify what’s causing overwhelm, build skills for emotional regulation, and create meaningful change through a mix of skill-building, self-acceptance, and deeper exploration. When helpful, we incorporate Jungian archetypes to explore “both sides of the story,” integrating shadow and light to cultivate clarity and compassion. For couples, I work with partners who feel disconnected, stuck in recurring conflicts, or overwhelmed by communication patterns that no longer serve them. I incorporate Imago-informed dialogue, a structured and intentional way of communicating that helps partners move out of reactivity and into understanding. Through this approach, couples learn to slow down, speak from vulnerability, and genuinely hear each other’s needs without judgment or defensiveness. Imago also helps partners explore the emotional histories that shape present-day interactions, promoting empathy, reducing blame, and supporting deeper repair. Together, we strengthen relational skills that rebuild safety, foster intimacy, and create a more conscious, compassionate partnership. As a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist*, I integrate movement, body awareness, and creative expression into sessions for clients who struggle to fully express their experiences through words alone. Because trauma and emotion often live in the body, movement can create powerful pathways for grounding, regulation, and insight. Through gentle somatic practices, guided movement, breathwork, and expressive arts, you can access and process parts of your story that feel harder to articulate verbally. This work supports deeper self-awareness, emotional clarity, and meaningful healing across trauma, anxiety, relationship stress, and major life transitions. As an Imago Therapist in training, I facilitate the Imago Dialogue for couples for the co-creation of intentional relationships that heal.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Rick McEwan's guiding philosophy is to be a "friend in healthcare," recognizing that seeking help is a courageous act. He recognizes that the healthcare system is a bit broken, and that it can be an overwhelming place for many individuals. Always meeting patients where they are in their journey, Rick focuses on individualized care plans that support mental and emotional well-being. He brings a wealth of expertise in a comprehensive patient-centered approach. Adopting a therapeutic framework that emphasizes trust, collaboration, and empathy, Rick strives to create a therapeutic alliance where patients feel empowered to engage in their healing process. He integrates the latest in psychopharmacology and therapeutic modalities, using technology to offer convenient and comfortable interactions. Rick is especially passionate about working with marginalized communities, fostering an affirming space where care is free from judgment and bias. His approach is deeply rooted in integrative care, leveraging a biopsychosocial model to address both physical and mental health needs.

Feeling obsessive thoughts swirling around? Does it seem like your emotions and behaviors are controlling you more often than not? Life is feeling just too much? I hear you. You are stressed out. Everything you do to try and be in control isn’t working anymore. I know anxiety, relational stress, and sadness are overwhelming, and confronting it seems almost impossible. I want to tell you, you are not alone. Together we will develop healthy strategies to break free from what's holding you back. Together we take what feels unmanageable, and make it manageable. Through a focus on patience, support, and action; I will empower you to uncover new ways of conquering old problems. I look forward to partnering with you. My Background and Approach My approach and focus in therapy is to create a safe space for you to explore your experiences with anxiety, depression, relational issues, and daily life stressors. I do this through a multi-modality approach using exploratory conversation and weaving in structured approaches (CBT, DBT, ERP). In the first several sessions, I will ask a lot of questions so that I can get to know you and what brings you to therapy. Then you will also ask me questions about who I am and how I work. Finally, together we’ll identify your goals for therapy and what you hope to achieve. To me, therapy is a collaboration, so I will ask for feedback along the way to make sure sessions are going well or if we need to try new strategies. I will be your supporter throughout our work. I am gentle, yet direct with my feedback. Together, we will work to identify the root cause of your worries, fears, phobias, and stressors and then through guided strategies, we will break free from what is holding you back and and build the life that you want to live. My Personal Beliefs and Interests As a long-time vegan, I am passionate about animal welfare and sampling all of the delicious animal-friendly food that my city has to offer. I view people through an intersectional lens and am explicitly antiracist and LGBTQIA+ affirming in my therapeutic practice. I am committed to providing safe spaces for clients, which hinges upon staying mindful of the privileges I continue to receive as a white, cis woman. I believe that current events have a profound impact on sociocultural norms, quality of life, and our general wellbeing. It is crucial to consider, and to name, how past and current events influence society and affect individuals, especially in terms of systems of oppression. My hope is to show clients that although, I may not fully understand your experiences, I can provide a safe space to work on your goals for therapy with support and without harm.

Welcome. I am a UCLA-trained psychiatrist and psychotherapist who treats a variety of mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, psychosis, substance use disorders, and more. I believe that high-level clinical care can and should be provided with curiosity, compassion, and precision. I view my role as extending far beyond prescribing medications; I also emphasize treatments such as psychotherapy and lifestyle interventions aimed at building your agency and well-being.

I earned my PhD in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University Chicago and my Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University. I completed my APA-Accredited internship in health service psychology from the University of Pennsylvania Counseling & Psychological Services program. I’ve worked in many diverse settings with diverse roles in college counseling centers, private practice, and community mental health. I provide individual therapy and have extensive experience in outreach and consultation services related to mental health topics, advocacy, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additionally, I have extensive program development and evaluation experience. I am process-oriented and work from a relational-cultural perspective heavily considering how my client’s unique life experiences such as their family dynamics and upbringings, significant life events, communities, values, and cultural identities relate to their presenting concerns and needs in our work together. I view therapy as an opportunity to cultivate a collaborative relationship with my clients while centering connection, exploration, validation, and growth. I invite my clients to use therapy as a space to slow down and practice curiosity towards themselves and their experiences. I have worked with clients presenting with all types of concerns and therapeutic goals. From my clinical and research experiences, I have particular expertise in working with individuals managing the imposter syndrome (objectively successful people with feelings of self-doubt and incompetence); BIPOC individuals and individuals from historically minoritized groups; individuals navigating interpersonal relationship challenges such as identifying relational patterns, addressing conflict, and learning how to communicate and set boundaries that honor the client and their unique personal and cultural values; individuals seeking to explore the impact of the sociopolitical climate on their mental health, particularly with clients holding multiple minoritized identities; and college, graduate, and professional students with issues related to work/life balance, academic identity, and self-worth. --- The Center for Liberation & Wellness, PLLC (The CLW) is a private therapy practice located in Chicago founded by Dr. Lincoln Hill. The CLW has a mission of providing culturally humble therapeutic services utilizing Black feminist and relational-cultural theoretical paradigms as guiding principles towards health, liberation, and wellness. The CLW believes that prioritizing healing is not a luxury, but a necessity for self and communal growth. The CLW is committed to advocacy efforts that promote anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and, subsequently, a more just society for all humanity, particularly those from historically minoritized communities.

With the complexities in the world today, it can be tough to catch a breath, decompress, and process the events in our unique lives. As bandwidths are stretched thin, boundaries infiltrated, and burnout ever present, the pressures of our day-to-day lives can pile on top of each other, making it hard to find balance and reach our goals. These challenges do not need to be faced alone. If you are seeking support for anxiety, depression, trauma, relationships, grief, or addiction, together we will create a safe and collaborative space to face these challenges head-on, guiding you to feel more empowered, centered, and fulfilled. I have experience working with children, adolescents, and adults. The most important aspect of my approach is that it matches a client’s support needs and goals. Using an integrative, trauma-informed and person-centered framework, I aim to follow the client's lead and modify our process based on their unique personality, lived experiences, and interests. I'm so glad you are here. Life is full of ups that deserve to be celebrated and downs that deserve to be acknowledged and processed. Let’s dive into this together and start making your goals a reality. I look forward to hearing from you and getting to know you!

Jennifer Harris PsyD & Associates is a group of warm, down-to-earth therapists offering both in-person and telehealth psychotherapy. We’re based in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, just a few blocks south of DePaul University, and provide telehealth services throughout Illinois and other PSYPACT states. Our therapists work well with students navigating big transitions, questions about identity, or simply looking for someone real to talk to. We aim to create a space where you can feel comfortable being yourself. We’re not afraid to use humor or have honest conversations about what’s really going on. We offer a diverse team of therapists, including those who speak Mandarin and Arabic, and we welcome clients from all backgrounds. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, burned out, lonely, or just stuck, we’re here to help you sort through it. Our therapists have specialized training in treating the following areas: Anxiety, Phobias, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Family & Relationship Issues Identity Development and Life Transitions International Students Acculturation Depression, Self-Esteem Concerns Trauma & PTSD Get to know us and our different specialties at www.jhpsyd.com

Will is a psychoanalytic candidate with the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis and practices an integrative approach to therapy that is rooted in psychoanalysis, drawing from experiences of working in residential therapy and community mental health. He is also trained in Child and Parent Psychotherapy, an evidence-based practice that works to mitigate the negative effects of trauma by strengthening the parent-child bond for young children aged 0-6 and their caregivers. Will believes we all make sacrifices to try and fit it; he believes this to be the origin of many of our symptoms which he understands to the be the reasons and experiences that bring clients to therapy. We try to be good workers, family members, and citizens, but oftentimes, in our struggles to fit it, belong, or be good human beings, we lose sight of something inherent in ourselves. “Fitting in” has a price. If you’re coming to therapy, the price probably feels too costly. No matter how hard we try, sometimes we don’t fit in or we feel like an outsider or an imposter. We might feel like there’s something we’ve lost or something we’ve never had. People who hear voices, live through anxiety and fear, think or experience the world differently, and are in mourning have a place in my practice. Will offers a place to relationally understand these sacrifices and symptoms; to discover where they come from and make space for something new. Through a therapeutic relationship built on trust, respect, and collaboration, we’ll work to understand the choices we unknowingly make and look to untangle the knots that oftentimes get in the way of living the life we want.

You’ve been carrying so much for so long—maybe trauma from childhood, complicated relationships, or anxiety and shame that live in your body as much as your thoughts. You’re high-functioning on the outside but overwhelmed inside. You want more than coping—you want to actually feel different. My clients often seek EMDR, art therapy, or body-based therapy to help untangle the past and come back to themselves. I offer virtual therapy across Illinois for adults ready to do deep, trauma-informed work in a space that’s creative, collaborative, and affirming. My approach integrates EMDR, art therapy, somatic and body-based methods, and insight-oriented talk therapy. I draw from Polyvagal Theory, IFS, and trauma neuroscience to support healing not just in your thoughts, but in your nervous system. Together, we’ll find what actually helps—not just what sounds good on paper. It’s brave to want more for yourself—and even braver to reach out. Whether you’re processing trauma, managing anxiety or depression, or trying to feel safe in your own body again, you deserve a space where all parts of you are welcome. I offer compassion without pressure and clinical skill without judgment. When you're ready, I’m here.

I am Isa Bogart (they/she), a queer and nonbinary therapist with a background in survivor advocacy and sexual education. I am a provisionally licensed therapist practicing in the Chicagoland area with a M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University. I take a compassionate, creative, and anti-oppressive lens to approaching mental wellness, meaning that I center autonomy, self-expression, and authenticity. As a queer individual, I am passionate about working within the LGBTQ+ community and supporting individuals in navigating their queerness and other identities. Also as a survivor of sexual violence, I find purpose in working with survivors and supporting them in healing and reclaiming joy. I believe every individual should have access to mental health resources not only in times of crisis, but also when they want support in thriving. I am interested in an integrative, relational, and creative approach to counseling, utilizing skills from Internal Family Systems Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Somatic/Body-Based Practices. Reaching out for support and prioritizing your well-being isn’t easy – I hope you’re proud of yourself. If you’ve found yourself here, maybe you are looking to try something new with your mental health and self-care. Maybe you are looking to reclaim your life by unlearning harmful past scripts formed by trauma, upbringing, and societal expectations. Maybe you are looking to explore new or pre-existing identities that you hold. Perhaps you are looking to grow in self-compassion and want to honor and celebrate all parts of yourself. Or maybe you just need a safe space to process all the pain, trauma, and grief that exists in the world today. Whatever feelings and experiences have brought you here today, you are seen here. Together, we can build a space full of warmth, compassion, and authenticity that allows you to safely explore the patterns in your life that contribute to pain and distress. In our space, I will integrate specific approaches to guide our work together - utilizing Internal Family Systems, Feminist and Queer Theory, Liberation Psychology, somatic practices, and creative expression just to name a few. I am passionate about meeting you where you are at and creating an environment that is collaborative and resonates with your unique needs and life experiences. I promise to bring my authentic self with me into the therapy room and will support you in doing the same! By making room for your whole self without judgment, we will work through feelings of shame and work towards valuing your whole, genuine self. In my clinical work, I make space for my clients to process, grieve, rage, and organize around the systemic violence and oppression they face. This looks like asking my clients how they are feeling and processing global atrocities, naming systemic oppression when it shows up in the therapeutic space whether in our clinical relationship or in the client's experiences, supporting the client in unlearning internalized forms of supremacy or oppression, and being clear about my values. I fundamentally believe that mental health and wellbeing is political, and that in order to be truly supportive, counselors must consistently weave racial justice and social justice into their work. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my community and loved ones (ideally outside and in the sun), cuddling my two cats, cooking delicious meals, rock climbing, and browsing local shops. I am a lover of horror movies, reality TV, tarot, astrology, and tattoos. I welcome you bringing your own interests into our therapy space! Additionally, I am a certified domestic violence and sexual violence counselor. Before starting my training as a counselor I worked in advocacy for survivors of sexual violence and relationship violence, as well as in sex education for teens and young adults, two issues I am extremely passionate about. As a queer and non-binary person, I am passionate about working within the LGBTQ+ community and supporting individuals in navigating their queerness, relationships, and other identities. I take private insurance (Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Evernorth, UnitedHealth) as well as private pay ($130/session). In addition to working individually, I also work with relationship systems, couples, and families! To anyone reading this, I am sending caring energy your way and hope to hear from you soon!

We're here because we've been there, so we can't help but to be wholeheartedly invested in your journey. We want to provide you the warmth, validation, and affirmation that can feel so rare in adulthood. Working with us will challenge you, but it will also feel like coming home. We're fired up about your freedom and fight for it alongside you. Always intersectional, pleasure-positive, and identity-celebrating, we have a low tolerance for boxes, assumptions, and systems that stifle your creative healing. We are your unashamed and unapologetic accomplices in doing life-changing, culture-shifting work. We're obsessed with staying up-to-date on affirming, anti-oppressive language and concepts, and think learning directly from queer and BIPOC community leaders is just as important as gathering data from research. We believe in the transformative power of accurate information about sex, gender, and relationships.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.