Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

Starting therapy can feel vulnerable, especially when you’ve been carrying things on your own for a long time. Our work together will move at a pace that feels supportive, collaborative, and safe while honoring both your lived experience and your body’s natural wisdom for healing.

A fulfilling life is not about the absence of problems, but about how you choose to deal with them. We utilize a systemic, respectful, client-centered, and inclusive approach to therapy focused on social justice and shared humanity. Therapy is both an art and a science. Our therapists are trained in effective, evidence-based therapies carried out in a compassionate, personalized way. We always prioritize the relationship with our clients, in combination with skillful interventions that strive to meet your goals. Our practice is culturally competent, anti-racist, LGBTQ+, sex worker, kink, and poly affirming. We believe that human beings are wired for connection. We strive to help you heal yourself and your relationships through honest assessment, courageous communication, self-improvement, and authentic connection. We provide individual, couple, family, and group psychotherapy to the communities of Oak Park and the Chicagoland area. Our therapists are able to see clients virtually anywhere in the state of Illinois, as well as Wisconsin and Florida.

I believe the human experience is beautifully complex, with our emotions serving as both a compass and catalyst for growth and healing. When those feelings become overwhelming, it’s easy to feel isolated or stuck in cycles of anxiety, self-doubt, or hopelessness—but you don’t have to navigate this alone. My passion is creating a space of warmth, understanding, and compassionate curiosity where we can explore what’s happening beneath the surface, make room for your full emotional experience, and discover new ways of thinking, relating, and healing. Gender Identity & Sexuality: Exploring your gender identity or sexuality can be deeply personal and, at times, isolating. Whether you're early in your journey or further along, I provide affirming, compassionate support in a space where you can be fully and authentically yourself—without judgment. You deserve to be seen, understood, and empowered as you embrace who you are. Relationship Challenges: Relationships can be both life-giving and deeply challenging. If you’re feeling stuck in painful cycles, navigating conflict, or longing for deeper connection, I’ll work with you to untangle patterns and build stronger, healthier relationships—rooted in mutual respect, communication, and emotional safety. Family Dynamics: Family systems often shape how we see ourselves and relate to others. I help clients unpack generational patterns, unspoken expectations, and relational roles that may no longer serve them. Together, we’ll work to foster clarity, establish healthy boundaries, and nurture meaningful, sustainable relationships. Anxiety: Anxiety can feel all-consuming, quietly infiltrating every area of life. I offer both practical strategies and gentle exploration to help you better understand your anxiety, manage its impact, and regain a sense of calm, confidence, and agency—especially when life feels out of control. Do I work with struggles not on this list? Maybe what you’re going through doesn’t fall neatly into one of these categories, or perhaps you’re looking to approach it from a different angle. If my approach resonates with you, I’d love to talk more. Together, we can create a path forward that honors your story and supports your unique process of healing and growth.!

Let’s be real: adulting is hard. Figuring out how to build a life—navigating new jobs, getting enough sleep and exercise, living alone for the first time, dating (ugh), or trying to make real friendships—it can all feel like a lot. You don’t have to figure it all out by yourself. I’m here to support you in making sense of it, finding your voice, and creating a life that actually feels like yours. I’m passionate about supporting LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities. As a relational therapist, I believe changes happen in connection. I pull from a range of approaches depending on what you need—whether that’s insight, tools, or simply someone who gets it. I’m warm, collaborative, and affirming—but also very direct. If something needs to be named, I’ll say it—with compassion and honesty of course. Growth requires truth. Starting therapy can feel overwhelming, but reaching out shows real courage and a deep commitment to yourself. Whether you’re working through identity questions, navigating complicated relationships, or just trying to feel more like yourself again, I’m here to walk with you through it. Message me and we can have a chat about it!

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.

Dr. Carrera is a licensed clinical psychologist. She works with adults and adolescents to help them understand the impact of their thoughts, feelings, and actions on their wellbeing. She offers an active and empowering space to navigate issues such as anxiety, low mood, family of origin concerns, identity confusion, and cultural adjustment and transitions. She also provides therapy and coaching for work and school-related struggles, including low motivation, attention difficulties, and time management concerns. Clients working with her will strengthen their awareness of ways that their life experiences may affect their ability to cope with challenges effectively. Dr. Carrera provided psychotherapy to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students at Northwestern University’s Counseling and Psychological Services, where she completed her clinical training (Postdoctoral Fellowship). She completed her Doctoral Internship at the University of California, Berkeley. She graduated with her doctorate in Counseling Psychology (Ph.D.) from Iowa State University, a program accredited by the American Psychological Association. She is an active member of the National Latinx Psychological Association and the Society of Counseling Psychology. Born and raised in an Ecuadorian-American home, Dr. Carrera is bilingual and bicultural. Clients can speak English, Spanish, and Spanglish in their work with her. She lived and studied for several years in England and Italy; these life experiences, as well as her identity as a woman of color working in several professional settings, fuel her empathy for clients navigating various cultural messages and social pressures at home, work, and school. She is committed to fusing clinical work with social justice advocacy alongside clients who may feel silenced, marginalized, and disempowered.

Evolve Wellness is a modern therapy practice designed for college students navigating life’s challenges. We offer a warm, inclusive space to explore stress, anxiety, trauma, identity, relationships, and the impact of today’s social and political climate. Affirming & inclusive: We provide compassionate support for LGBTQ+ and nonbinary students, honoring every part of who you are. Trauma-informed care: Our therapists help you process and heal from past experiences safely and at your own pace. Flexible & accessible: Choose in-person or virtual sessions, with evening and weekend options that fit your schedule. Holistic growth: We integrate evidence-based methods (CBT, ACT, Mindfulness) with a focus on self-understanding, values, and connection. At Evolve Wellness, you’re not alone. You belong. You matter. Let’s heal and grow together.

Whether you’re a first-time client, returning after a break, or looking for a new therapeutic approach, opening yourself up to someone new is a vulnerable and courageous step toward healing. In my work with clients, I strive to create an environment where we can both be ourselves. I want my clients to enjoy the overall experience of attending therapy, challenges and all, because I believe that growth comes easiest when you don’t dread the process. I utilize humor, warmth, and creative therapeutic techniques in sessions to make therapy feel as approachable as possible. Whether you’re seeking a therapeutic setting that feels casual, direct, or somewhere in between, I strive to understand your needs and shape our time together to help you meet your goals. Areas that I specialize in include navigating sexuality, intimacy, and relationships, PMDD and other mood and personality disorders (BPD, BD I & II, etc.), attachment and family of origin issues, and self-esteem and coping skills. If you are interested in learning to celebrate your uniqueness, understand yourself on a deeper level, better your relationships, and heal from the trauma that has put a negative lens on the way you view yourself or others, I’m here to cheer you on along the way. I am a certified yoga teacher and an artist, and I enjoy utilizing skills from both areas in therapy. I believe in artistic and somatic self-expression as a tool for gaining awareness, and that everyone has an avenue to do so powerfully. In session, you can expect me to guide you through meditation or breathwork when you’re feeling overwhelmed or activated, or to ask you to create something to express yourself when words are hard to find. In couple’s sessions, I utilize similar skills to help open up new lines of communication between partners. Verbal communication is important, but I also recognize that translating feelings into words doesn’t always come easily. Together, we can explore ways to speak to one another that best match our style of being, and learn to navigate and trust our emotions without fear of our words coming out “wrong”. Understanding where feelings come from can serve us in changing how we react to our partners and can allow us to shape our responses in a way that is both healthy and effective. Experience I have worked with adolescents and adults from a diverse range of gender identity, sexuality, and race. In my years of practice, I have helped clients with topics such as gender and sexuality exploration, depression and anxiety, ADHD and ASD, Borderline Personality Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and relational dynamics. I am also happy to work within a healthcare team, such as coordinating your care with your primary care physician and psychiatrist, because I believe mental health is holistic and intersects with physical well-being. I also have experience working as an art therapy assistant and am eager to incorporate creative techniques into sessions with clients.

Clients come to me for support with overcoming adversity in order to start living their best life. My style is affirming, empathetic, and encouraging, which fosters your ability to identify unhelpful patterns, process complex emotions, and strengthen the coping skills you need for personal growth. Life can be hard and we all could use extra support. In our first session, you can expect to go at your own pace. My priority will be your comfort and emotional safety. You can expect our sessions to provide a nonjudgemental space for you to feel safe to explore, grow, and heal. We'll take time to get to know each other and talk about expectations as well as explore your current concerns, challenges, and goals for therapy. Together, we'll sketch out a plan for how to move forward with creating meaningful change in your life.

I specialize in working with adults who struggle with concerns related to mood, anxiety, attachment and relationships, and identity. I enjoy working with clients through an interpersonal, relational lens. This means that I believe the therapeutic relationship can be healing in itself, and in order to aid the healing process I also use components of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and psychodynamic therapy. I take a collaborative, empowering approach to therapy. You are the expert on your life, and together we’ll explore your experiences to better understand what may be holding you back. My goal is to help you uncover the insight, clarity, and inner strengths you already have to create meaningful change.

College and young adulthood can be both exciting and overwhelming. Between academic pressure, changing relationships, and the constant push to “have it all figured out,” it’s easy to feel anxious, lost, or unsure of who you’re becoming. In therapy, I offer a space where you can slow down, make sense of what you’re feeling, and reconnect with yourself—so you can move through this chapter of life with more balance, clarity, and confidence. I specialize in working with students and emerging adults navigating anxiety, perfectionism, relationship stress, and life transitions. You might be adjusting to college life, struggling to manage expectations, or balancing independence with family or cultural pressures. Maybe you’re exploring your identity, healing from past experiences, or learning how to set boundaries in relationships. Whatever brings you here, you don’t have to face it alone. My approach is collaborative, trauma-informed, and grounded in authenticity. I believe therapy works best when it feels like a genuine conversation—open, supportive, and down-to-earth. I draw from evidence-based practices like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and attachment-based work to help you manage anxiety, build emotional resilience, and strengthen your connection to yourself and others. My goal is to help you feel grounded and confident as you navigate change and uncertainty. Together, we’ll explore what matters most to you, develop practical tools for managing stress, and create space for self-compassion and growth. Whether you’re adjusting to college life, preparing for graduation, or figuring out who you want to be, therapy can help you reconnect with your values and feel more like yourself again. I offer both telehealth and in-person sessions in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, and I’d be honored to support you as you move through this stage of your journey.

Welcome! I'm a passionate healthcare professional dedicated to providing compassionate and effective telehealth therapy. With a focus on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness, I offer supportive counseling services for adults and older adolescents. My experience in counseling and case management has equipped me with the skills to provide impactful mental health therapy, ensuring my clients receive the care and support they deserve. I see clients almost exclusively during morning hours, up until noon (CST) and can easily accommodate people with non-traditional schedules, since I have appointments as early (or late!) as 1am CST. Just like a good workout, a therapy session first thing in the morning can help you start your day off right. In addition to counseling, I've been instrumental in developing innovative strategies for Medicaid Special Needs programs, emphasizing quality assurance and improvement in Illinois. My cross-functional leadership has enabled me to work collaboratively with community partners, optimizing program outcomes and enhancing quality of care. I hold certifications as a Case Manager (CCM) and Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), which reflect my commitment to providing holistic care. I'm dedicated to meeting my clients where they are at, and helping them to achieve their mental health goals, without judgement. My goal is to help you navigate your health journey with expertise, empathy, and unwavering support. Let's work together towards your well-being.

Our mission at Center Focused Therapy is to provide the highest level of ethical, competent and intentional treatment to our clients. We appreciate how difficult it can be to start therapy and do not take this decision lightly. Whether you have a clear idea of what you hope to address in therapy or are unsure of where to begin, our therapists are determined to meet you where you are in your own journey of healing and growth. Interested in learning more? Email or call us and we will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

I am a clinical psychologist specializing in working with young adults and students. I spent 10 years on staff at various university counseling centers around the country and now work in private practice doing individual psychotherapy in Illinois and New York. My approach combines my education, training, and own life experience to work with individuals collaboratively, with a focus on how to meaningfully and healthfully navigate life events. While trained as a generalist to provide treatment for a variety of mental health concerns my clinical specialties include working with depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship/family distress, life transitions, grief/loss, and stress management.

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.

In our therapy sessions, we’ll work collaboratively to increase your insight and better understand the deeper roots of the current problems that you are facing. Together, we will increase your ability to better tolerate difficult emotions, more effectively cope with the issues that you are facing, and create a problem-solving style that works for you. My empathic, direct, and empowering clinical style will help you discover the best version of you. Here are some of my specialties: *Generalist *Interpersonal, Relational Style *Adults *Individuals *LBGTQ+ Affirming *Depression *Mood Disorders *Anxiety *PTSD/C-PTSD *Trauma Informed *Substance Abuse *Self-esteem/Assertiveness/Boundaries *Grief/Loss *Relationship Issues *Understanding unhealthy family/childhood patterns & roles and changing how these are repeated in one’s adult relationships *Narcissistic abuse recovery

So you’re becoming more independent and feel like conversations with family and friends are strained. Maybe you want to set boundaries and air frustrations with those you’re close to, but struggle with how to do this as your relationships shift? Questioning beliefs and values you’ve long held onto isn’t easy, and can be even harder when voicing them to others. Whether watching parents divorce as an adult, coming out to family, or struggling with transitions in life, my goal is to increase your understanding of yourself both in the past and present so advocating for your needs feels less like a burden. As someone that is queer-identified, I have a passion for working with clients holding marginalized identities and supporting your journey, acknowledging the impacts society, family, and culture have in shaping the world around you. Our time together will focus on developing healthy boundaries and goals collaboratively to improve interpersonal relationships.

With over two decades of experience in behavioral health in a variety of professional positions, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker dedicated to supporting individuals through life’s challenges. My practice is rooted in compassion, respect, and a deep understanding that each individual’s story is unique. I strive to create a safe, supportive space where clients feel heard, valued, and empowered to make meaningful changes. I believe healing happens through connection, trust, and feeling emotionally safe. Together, we will move at a pace that feels comfortable for you, honoring your story and your strengths. I specialize in helping individuals manage anxiety, depression, ADHD, and the effects of trauma. Using a trauma-informed and client-centered approach, I support clients in gaining insight into their emotional and behavioral patterns while developing practical skills to improve focus, regulate emotions, and navigate life’s challenges. I know asking for help can be difficult, If you’re ready to take the next step, I invite you to reach out. I would be honored to support you on your journey toward healing and growth. I am passionate about helping you build resilience, increase self-confidence, and achieve greater balance and stability in your life.

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.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by constant striving, anxiety, or the pressures of perfectionism? Do you feel like you’re stuck in the backseat of your own life? I’m here to help you break free from these patterns and reclaim the driver’s seat of your life. In therapy, I provide a supportive and nonjudgmental space, blending empathy with constructive challenges to help you address what's keeping you stuck and empower you to move toward your goals. My goal is to empower you to achieve your personal goals and develop greater self-compassion, which I believe serves as a foundation for growth and resilience. I use an integrative therapeutic approach tailored to your unique needs, helping you gain a deeper understanding of your experiences. By examining how past experiences and relationships shape your current challenges and perspectives, we’ll work towards meaningful, value-driven change. I am passionate about supporting young adults navigating challenges such as anxiety, perfectionism, depression, relational issues, life transitions, eating disorders, and body image concerns. I believe in your capacity for change and would be honored to join you on your journey toward healing and personal growth.