Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

College life can be a time of major transitions, and balancing academics, relationships, and self-care isn’t always easy—especially if you're a first-generation and/or low-income (FGLI) student, far from home, or struggling with self-esteem and perfectionism. I’m here to support you as you navigate these challenges and grow more confident in managing them. I specialize in helping students who may feel the pressure to succeed in a new environment, who worry about "getting it right," or who are simply adjusting to life away from family and familiar support networks. Together, we’ll explore strategies that feel true to you, build on your strengths, and work toward a healthier balance. If you’re new to therapy, I provide a welcoming space where you can be yourself and learn how to prioritize your mental and emotional well-being. Let’s take this journey at your pace, and find ways to make college life a little less overwhelming and a lot more fulfilling.

College can feel like a lot... managing classes, relationships, identity, family expectations, and your future all at once. At Favorite Therapy, we work with students who feel overwhelmed, anxious, stuck, or unsure of themselves. You might be the “strong one” in your circle, but inside you're struggling to keep it together. We provide a welcoming, judgment free space where you don’t have to have it all figured out. Whether you’re navigating trauma, stress, burnout, or just trying to find your way. We’re here to help you feel seen, supported, and more like yourself again. We offer virtual sessions and we accept PPO insurance plans with BCBS, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Cigna, as well as self pay options with sliding scale availability. Therapy that meets you where you are so you can grow into who you're becoming.

I help adults, adolescents, and couples. I am deeply committed to my clients' well-being and dedicated to fostering a safe, respectful space where compassionate dialogue shapes our work together. Therapy, in my view, is a place where you can express yourself freely—giving voice to your innermost thoughts, emotions, and desires. It’s also an opportunity to uncover how long-standing patterns in your life influence your present experiences. By bringing these aspects of yourself into conversation, we can remove obstacles to your growth and help you find greater self-acceptance, personal empowerment, and creative resilience in navigating life’s challenges. If you would like to see if we’re a good fit or if you have any questions I might be able to answer, please reach out by phone, email, or through my website linked below.

Ignite Counseling is trauma-focused private practice located in the Lincoln Park and Lakeview neighborhoods of Chicago, with options for in-person or virtual appointments. We provide therapeutic services with a commitment to compassionate, relational, and authentic treatment in a culturally-sensitive and inclusive environment. Our therapists have a specialized focus in trauma along with the treatment of anxiety, depression, grief, relationship distress, family issues, identity struggles, racial/cultural issues, and challenges with life transitions, and we approach all clients through a trauma-informed lens. We are a close knit and highly intentional team of clinicians, and value safety and authenticity in all that we do.

Hello, I am a huge advocate for school and I am so glad you want to better your life! I offer a welcoming environment for students and encourage you to be open. This is a judgment-free zone. I specialize with clients whom are experiencing depression, anxiety, school stressors, life stressors, and in many other areas.

I help people process trauma, manage their emotions and anxiety, and maximize their performance with the combination of talk therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Brainspotting, and/or Internal Family Systems (IFS). A Free 15-minute consultation is offered to ensure a good fit.

We are dedicated to providing diverse, inclusive, and culturally accessible mental health services to all. Here are a few areas that we have experience in: Trauma therapy Victims of sexual assault LGBTQ+support Anxiety/Depression Victims of interpersonal/domestic violence. We have six therapists of color, with three of them being bilingual Spanish speakers. Please contact our office if you require additional information. We appreciate your trust and confidence. Our intake email is info@lurocha.org

I center my approach on an unwavering commitment to clients, emphasizing warmth, compassion, positivity, and empathy, which fosters quick and meaningful connections. My primary goal is to offer client a safe space to learn, grow and experience life in more positive and healthy ways, while cultivating the desired changes that bring them into therapy. I enjoy positively helping couples with their relationships. Being trusted with the opportunity to help them get along better, communicate better, and last long term is one of the experiences I find so rewarding in my work. With individuals I like to help them find the answers they are looking for, delving into the past to find the connection to today’s reactivity and behaviors. I work to create a secure space for clients to explore the dynamics of their relationships, and situations actively engaging with both individuals and couples to unravel how their past experiences influence their present and future.

At Neuroworks, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive. Rooted in innovation and a commitment to wellness, our practice is dedicated to enhancing cognitive functioning, mood, and overall brain performance. We provide high-quality, evidence-based therapeutic interventions designed to help individuals navigate life’s challenges with greater focus, resilience, and effectiveness. Whether you're a student striving for academic success, a professional seeking balance, or someone looking to optimize mental clarity, our mission is to support you in achieving your full potential. At Neuroworks, we don’t just treat symptoms—we empower lives.

Many of the clients I work best with are navigating periods of change, uncertainty, or emotional overwhelm. Whether you're managing depression, anxiety, or mood swings, exploring your identity, or feeling stuck despite trying therapy or other strategies, you're not alone — and you're not expected to have all the answers. My approach is warm, collaborative, and focused on what works best for you. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, I primarily support clients through medication management, but I also offer brief supportive therapy and education about mental health. I believe that medication is just one tool — and not always the first or only one — and I work closely with you to make thoughtful, informed decisions together. I often support clients in the LGBTQ+ community, those exploring non-traditional relationships, and individuals who appreciate a nonjudgmental, sex-positive space. If you're someone who values open communication, shared decision-making, and a personalized approach to care, we may be a good fit. Whether you're starting treatment for the first time or returning after a break, I'm here to listen, guide, and help you feel more in control of your mental health journey.

Hello! My name is Elizabeth and I am a bilingual/bicultural therapist. I provide sessions both in English and Spanish based on the needs of my clients. I provide a safe space for clients to share their unique stories and perspectives, allowing us the opportunity to learn more about their experiences and their behaviors. I am passionate about empowering my clients by helping them discover the tools they need to cope with difficult times and challenging feelings.

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.

Mariya is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and co-founder of Willow Recovery Group. She is passionate about creating safe, affirming spaces for people to process trauma, explore their relationship with food and body, and navigate life’s challenges with compassion. Mariya specializes in trauma, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, multicultural experiences, and life transitions, blending evidence-based approaches with a deeply relational style. Her clients describe her as warm, grounding, and supportive — someone who walks alongside them through both the hard and hopeful parts of recovery. Outside of her clinical work, Mariya enjoys spending time in nature, reading, and being with loved ones (including her pets, who often serve as her best “co-therapists”).

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Throughout our lives, we go through events that change us, often permanently. I consider therapy to be a sacred and compassionate space of exploration. It can be exhausting having to explain your story over and over again. Oftentimes we might feel unheard in our daily lives or get fixated on who we “should be” instead of exploring who we already are. Your story has meaning and it deserves to be heard. You are the expert on your own life experiences and identities. You deserve to feel empowered, validated, and safe. When meeting with a potential client I consider you in the context of your relationships, experiences, and culture. When working together we can move through difficult therapeutic concepts in an accessible and warm way. With your permission, I hope to guide you through challenging life transitions and support you in creating a life that you feel is worth living. I work from a collaborative, person-centered, relational, and strengths-based approach. This means I will use non-judgment to consider all aspects of your life and identity— while remaining open to things that cannot be changed. I utilize an intersectional feminist lens and I specialize in trauma, anxiety, boundaries, relationships, abuse, sexuality, gender exploration, life transitions, disability, memory loss, identity exploration, and resiliency work. MORE INFO ABOUT THE PRACTICE: We accept BCBS, Cigna, Aetna, and United PPO Plans, as well as, Sliding Scale rates. Currently, I have a variety of morning, early afternoon, and evening spots open! Please feel free to reach out.

At Sacred Stories Counseling our focus is on supporting BIPOC, queer individuals and those who hold both identities! Your story matters and we want to support you as you navigate the current reality we're living in globally and nationally, while also holding space for your personal difficulties too! We've got your back if you're working through anxiety, perfectionism / strong black woman struggles. If you're neurodivergent - we got you! The trauma you carry, you don't have to carry it alone - we'll be with you in it and use EMDR and IFS to help you move through it. It won't disappear forever but it will no longer be all consuming, hold you back, or keep you stuck! We're in your corner! Schedule a free 15 min call with us to ask any questions and see if we're a good fit!

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 absolutely love working with young folks who feel stuck, anxious, or alone in dealing with the stressors that life brings. I am a relational therapist that holds space for young adults to build connection, develop mindfulness, and explore what values will be motivating for their life choices. This work is rooted in prioritizing self-acceptance: one of the best gifts we can give ourselves in individual talk therapy. In a group therapy setting, I aim to create freedom for individuals to get better at feeling emotions and communicating them to others, as a way to navigate symptoms of anxiety, depression, or trauma. Let’s talk more about how I can help you explore self-doubt, dysregulated emotions, academic anxiety, peer conflict, grief, apathy, anger, addiction, shame, or sadness. The experience of emerging adults today is not hopeless; there is ample opportunity to build resources for connection. This connection creates confidence in your ability to cope, grow, and heal on the journey towards a meaningful life!

I am a Counselor with a passion for supporting emerging adults as they wade through the complexities of today's world. I believe in a Person-centered, Humanistic approach to therapy, building therapeutic relationships based around trust and mutual respect, fostering an environment of non-judgement, positive regard, and authenticity. I assist my clients on their journey towards their goals. Working together, we will discover ways to spur your personal growth and foster a greater sense of fulfillment in your life, utilizing, expanding, and developing skills and abilities, including ones you might not even know you already have. I have experience working with a broad range of clients. Including emerging adults struggling with life transitions, self-esteem, anxiety, and assisting clients of all genders with relationship concerns. I particularly enjoy working with clients involved in the creative arts as well as those living with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions. Drawing on my own experience living with a disability, I strive to listen and understand without judgment, and to honor your individual perspective on life and your world. I am excited to collaborate with my clients, providing compassion and support as we work together to address life's hurdles.

Grey Area Therapy is a small, private practice conveniently located in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood with easy access to public transportation and an emphasis on building meaningful, authentic connections with clients. As a therapist with Grey Area Therapy, I work with clients on needs related to anxiety, major life transitions, chronic illness, and depression. With individualized approaches to empathetic therapy, we will work to help slow things down, become more intentional, and build awareness of our life experiences. I offer both in-person and virtual appointments. I accept Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and Cigna insurance and offer free 15-minute phone consultations to help you find a therapist that works for you!