Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

I help LGBTQIA+ students manage anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship stress, and identity concerns using CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and solution-focused therapy. My style is collaborative and supportive, offering practical tools to cope and build confidence. I also work with students exploring non-monogamy, navigating grief, or adjusting to life transitions. My goal is to create a safe, affirming space where you feel understood and empowered to grow. My pronouns are she/her.

My approach to therapy is client-centered, trauma-informed, and as real as it gets. I’m passionate about helping clients understand their brain and emotions using real-life language. I believe that with the right support and encouragement, everyone has the potential to lead a fulfilling and satisfying life. Even if it feels impossible right now, you’ll be met with understanding, empathy, and encouragement, and together we’ll take small steps to build your confidence and self-trust, and the belief that change is possible. I enjoy working with children, teens and women experiencing generalized anxiety, separation anxiety and difficulty regulating their emotions. Through my own personal experiences with anxiety, I’ve learned how powerful it can be to better understand our brains, our emotions, and the purpose anxiety can serve in our lives. I truly believe that psychoeducation—understanding the “why” behind behaviors and thought patterns—can unlock powerful healing and transformation. I’m also dedicated to coaching parents through behavioral and emotional challenges their children are experiencing. My goal is to help parents strengthen their approach and connection with their children in a way that creates sustainable change, with the understanding that growth does not happen in a vacuum—it requires support, consistency, and clear boundaries. You are the expert in your own life, and I feel honored to walk alongside you, supporting changes that help you feel more aligned, fulfilled, and connected to the life you want to live.

My goal as a therapist is to create a safe, collaborative space where clients of all ages, from children to adults, can process experiences, build resilience, and feel truly seen and heard. I walk alongside my clients with empathy, offering a holistic and supportive environment for healing, self-discovery, and meaningful change. I take a direct, relational approach, grounded in compassion, and provide inclusive, affirming, and trauma-informed care. As a first-generation Latina American and bilingual, bicultural clinician, I draw on my lived experience to understand how culture, language, and systemic barriers influence mental health. My practice is integrative and individualized, honoring each client as a whole person - mind, body, relationships, and environment. I often draw from CBT, ACT, attachment theory, and creative modalities such as art and play therapy. I have experience supporting individuals with Autism, ADHD, neurodivergent differences, trauma, domestic violence, anxiety, perinatal mental health struggles, and legal system involvement. I especially enjoy working with young children and incorporating play therapy into sessions. Diamari provides therapy in English and Spanish. A little about me: I love random dance parties with my husband and two children, horror movies (only during the daytime!), and long walks with my dogs, Sirius and Andromeda—always with an audiobook playing.

I have a deep desire to connect with my clients and walk alongside them through life’s ups and downs. My approach is warm, compassionate, and collaborative. Whether you come to therapy with a clear goal or simply a sense of pain you can’t yet name, I’ll work with you to find a path toward healing and growth. I use an integrative approach, drawing from strengths-based, person-centered, and cognitive behavioral therapies, while tailoring treatment to each client’s unique needs and goals. Together, we’ll build on your strengths, develop coping skills, and create meaningful change that supports the life you want. I welcome diversity in all its forms and have experience working with people from many different backgrounds, cultures, and life stages. As a woman of color, I am especially passionate about supporting minorities and creating a safe, judgment-free space where clients can be their most authentic selves. I hold a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University. I also offer therapy in Urdu and Punjabi, providing culturally responsive care for clients who feel most comfortable in those languages. A little about me: Outside of therapy, I love spending quality time with family and friends, exploring new cafes and restaurants, experimenting with recipes in the kitchen, or curling up with a good book.

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.

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.

We are a group practice with many practitioners who have extensive experience working with college students. Services are available in person and virtually. Services are available in English and Spanish.

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.

Students who come to work with me often share some things in common: -They're high-achievers. Driven, capable, and holding it together on the outside, but quietly exhausted, burned out, or feeling like something's missing on the inside. -They might be navigating anxiety or OCD, going through a major life transition, or questioning their purpose and what comes next. They may be working through shifts in their relationships, with a partner, with their parents, or with themselves. -Many have never asked for help before. They're used to being the one who has it together, and reaching out takes real courage for them. If any of that sounds familiar, reach out for a free 20-minute consultation and let's get started together :)

I have a low-pressure, warm approach focused on creating an environment of safety and encouragement. I enjoy helping individuals with a variety of concerns including life transitions, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, health issues, substance use concerns, and healing from trauma. My practice is LGBTQ affirming and I am experienced working with Trans and gender-nonconforming individuals. I work with adults of all ages, genders, and racial/ethnic backgrounds and have extensive experience with college students and emerging adults.

Everyone tells you that college is the best time in your life and to enjoy it because it flies by. But what people don’t tell you is all the challenges that it can bring. Maybe it’s the first time you are away from your family and friends from home. It can also bring many challenges with pressure to drink or use drugs, navigating friendships and dating in a more complicated way, and figuring out what you want to do with the rest of your life. You might be in a position where in order to afford school you need to work on top of doing well in all your classes. I know personally how challenging, yet exciting, this time can be, and I am here to tell you that you don’t need to figure it all out on your own or even right now. Are you ready to enjoy your college experience, be fully present in the great moments without feeling stresses weighing you down everyday? It’s time to feel a sense of relief, confidence in who you are, and in your decisions. Together, we can make your life feel lighter and free up space for everything else you have going on! My Approach: I am a strong believer in the power of relationships. Having someone to talk to can increase our sense of happiness and positivity, and most importantly let us know that we are not alone. Life has many ups and downs, but it's what you do with them that matters. I am here to help you transform the tough moments into growth. Therapy with me looks like an open dialogue, where we both respect each other's point of view and collaborate to find solutions that help you overcome what’s been holding you back. We can talk about anything, no matter how hard it is to share. Whether it’s the good things or the bad, I am ready to hold space for even the strongest emotions that come up, because I know we can work through it together. I believe in a holistic approach to therapy that not only looks at your thoughts and feelings, but also how your environment, your cultural experiences, close relationships, and health, affect your mental wellbeing. We’ll use a variety of therapeutic techniques to best fit what you need, because therapy is not a one size fits all approach. We’ll make sure that those techniques are really working for you. It might be practicing mindfulness or trying out different coping skills to help things feel less overwhelming. Our approach will continue to grow as our therapeutic relationship develops. I know that therapy is not always easy, but I am here to support you each step of the way and I will always accept you for how you are in that moment, even the hard ones. A Little About Me: I went into undergrad undecided and had a hard time knowing what I wanted to do. I knew that I wanted to do something to help people and I wanted a career that I would enjoy. I always felt behind in some way because I didn’t know what I wanted to do right away. I have learned that a lot of people have a unique path to get to where they are. I worked as a school social worker for 8 years before private practice and that is when I really knew I loved counseling and wanted to continue on this path. I have lived in the Chicago area for most of my life and love the city! You can find me by the lake or exploring all the city has to offer. My hobbies are all over the place and include a mixture of baking, triathlons, knitting, going on long walks and finding the best matcha. I also love traveling (but hate flying) and have an ever growing list of places I want to visit.