Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

Challenges often arise before, during, and after difficult experiences, whether it’s heading off to college, starting a new job, becoming a parent, going through a breakup or divorce, receiving a troubling diagnosis, or coping with the loss of a loved one. With each life change comes an array of emotions, including sadness, anger, and anxiety. Even seemingly positive transitions can leave you feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Therapists at Perspective can help you navigate these emotions and build skills so you can work towards your goals.

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.!

Hi! I’m Will, a therapist under supervision with Chicagoland-based group practice, Best Therapies. You may be used to holding it all together, as the responsible one, the high-achiever, the bridge between different worlds. As a student, you might be navigating academic pressure, family expectations, and questions about identity or belonging, all while trying to keep up on the surface. Somewhere along the way, you lost the plot on what you actually want, not what your parents or those around you want. Therapy with me offers a space to slow down and reconnect with yourself. My approach is warm, collaborative, and insight-oriented, grounded in relational-cultural and psychodynamic therapy, with practical tools from ACT and DBT when helpful. Together, we’ll explore what’s underneath the stress or stuckness and work toward a way of living that feels more aligned and sustainable. I’m especially passionate about working with students of color, particularly Asian American and BIPOC students, who may be navigating identity, culture, and intergenerational dynamics. As the child of Taiwanese and Korean immigrants, I’m conversational in Mandarin and Korean, and we can incorporate them in ways that help you feel more at home. I’m a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and am currently finishing my graduate studies at the University of Chicago. If any of this resonates, feel free to reach out. I’d love to chat.

Our mission is to make mental health care accessible, collaborative, and culturally responsive. Through evidence-based care and a holistic perspective, we help clients create sustainable change and cultivate a life that aligns with their values. We strive to strengthen our community by supporting individuals and families in developing tools for healing, connection, and growth. We deliver high-quality, client-centered therapy that honors the uniqueness of every individual.

The past few years have been incredibly difficult for everyone, regardless of background or finances. In my practice I strive to create a warm and welcoming space where we can curiously and compassionately explore your concerns. I genuinely believe that you are the expert in your own life, and my goal is to assist you with discovering and deciding how to live your best life. Throughout the pandemic I was specializing in working with people struggling with depression, anxiety, substance use, isolation, interpersonal conflict, and grief. I have extensive history working with the college-aged population from my doctoral internship at Illinois State University and Spalding University’s counseling centers. I also have experience working in higher levels of care with non-college aged adults at outpatient, residential, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, and inpatient levels of care. While working together we’ll collaboratively explore areas where you may feel stuck and discuss the use of new, more adaptive coping skills to help you move in the direction of your goals. I have many years of experience teaching classes focusing on evidence-based treatments, such as: DBT, ACT, and CBT. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

You don’t have to face this alone. Living with anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder can feel overwhelming—like you're carrying a weight no one else can see. When it feels like nothing is working, it’s easy to lose hope. But healing is possible, and you're not alone. I’m here to help you find your way forward. I specialize in working with individuals who are struggling with mood disorders, and I understand how complex and deeply personal these challenges can be. My approach is grounded in empathy, collaboration, and evidence-based care. Whether you’re navigating intense anxiety, persistent low moods, or the highs and lows of bipolar disorder, I’ll meet you where you are—with compassion, not judgment. Together, we’ll explore what works for you. Whether that means therapy, medication management, or a combination of both, my goal is to support you in regaining a sense of stability, clarity, and control over your life. You deserve to feel better. You deserve support that truly understands you. If you're ready to take the next step—or even if you're just curious about what support could look like—I invite you to schedule a time to talk. Let’s take that first step, together.

If life feels like a dumpster fire there's a spot on my couch for you. I'm a social worker who specializes in providing therapy to college students dealing with anxiety, depression and ADHD. I also often work with clients struggling in their relationship with their parents, partner or friends. In your individual therapy sessions we will work to align your life with your values rather than your fears. I I provide a warm nonjudgmental approach to help you clarify what matters to you in life while also finding relief from distressing thoughts and emotions. Throughout our development we ask the question, "who am I" over and over. I create an accepting environment for you to freely explore this question. All identities are welcomed and I have experience working clients who are part of the LGBTQIA community, I look forward to connecting with you!

Hello! My name is Kalea Abernathy. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor. I received my Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Clinical and Counseling from Colorado State University and my Master of Arts in Counseling at Northwestern University. I specialize in working with children, adolescents, and their families. I believe that the key aspects of counseling are empathy, collaboration, and unconditional positive regard. With these foundational pieces, I work with my clients to create a trusting therapeutic relationship where individuals feel safe to process their past and present and feel empowered to achieve their goals.I have experience helping individuals address complex trauma, post traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, and ODD. I integrate multiple lenses such as dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, person-centered, and psychodynamic to better help and understand my clients. Before working at Hartman Counseling and Consulting, I worked with adults at The Family Institute at Northwestern University, helping individuals work through grief and loss and mood disorders, and at The Bridge Youth and Family Services where I worked with children, adolescents, and their families who were experiencing anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress, and behavioral difficulties

My areas of expertise include the treatment of anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, self-esteem deficits, academic underachievement, perfectionism, family of origin issues, LGBT concerns, and women's issues. I also specialize in working with college students and emerging adults.

We work with adults of all ages as well as teenagers. We see many clients who are working through anxiety, depression, stress, life transitions, "failure to launch," and the effects of trauma. Our clinicians have expertise in neuro-diversity including ADHD/ADD and ASD. We have therapists with clinical interests in so-called “men’s issues” as well as therapists who identify as LGBTQIA+ and who speak Mandarin. We facilitate a process by which clients are able to build their resiliency skills, empowering them, long-term, to survive the inevitable challenges of life.

Wellington Counseling Group is the trusted resource for adults, children, families, and couples looking for professional emotional and psychological support. Our diverse team specializes in anxiety, depression, life transitions, behavioral issues, trauma recovery, family dynamics, couples, and so much more. Each of our therapists offers a unique perspective that helps their patients find relief from symptoms, transcend the boundaries of mental health conditions, and craft a life they are proud to lead.

I specialize in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and behavioral problems in adolescents and adults (ages 12 and up). In my work, therapy often focuses on dealing with stress related to academic demands, difficulties in peer and romantic relationships, family conflict, low self-esteem, as well as struggles with self-identity. I also work with young adults who feel overwhelmed during the transition to college or entering the work force for the first time. I draw on elements from empirically supported treatments such as CBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. I strive to offer an emphatic, non-judgmental approach to treatment. As a Latina, it is particularly important to me to serve my community and I welcome Spanish speaking clients.

For a long time, life may have felt overwhelming, even if everything on the surface looks "fine." You might tell yourself, “I’m fine, it could be worse,” yet underneath, there’s a constant sense of tension, exhaustion, and burnout. You may feel detached, you’ve become skilled at hiding your pain and no one seems to notice. This can leave you feeling lonely, even when surrounded by others, and stir up complex emotions like guilt, shame, and resentment. Deep down, you long to live more authentically, but looking inward feels uncertain and even frightening. What’s in that "Pandora’s box" of emotions? What if it’s too much? I believe in the power of relationship and self-exploration. With compassion, curiosity, and a bit of humor, we'll uncover the layers of your experience. Together, we'll create a safe space to explore your emotions, past experiences, and underlying patterns. We’ll build self-awareness, tools for emotional comfort, and guide you with your authentic values. It can feel like you're carrying everything on your own, but you're not meant to. I'm here to support you in a trusting, empathetic therapeutic relationship, one where we move at your pace. If you're ready to explore, heal, and reconnect with yourself, I’m here to walk alongside you when you’re ready.

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.

I offer a warm, flexible, and low-pressure space where clients can show up exactly as they are. I honor sensory needs and nervous system responses, incorporating mindfulness practices to bring gentle awareness to our experiences. I often use somatic strategies to support connection and foster a sense of safety that is essential for growth. My background includes training in a wide range of approaches from traditional talk therapy to play-based modalities. I’m especially passionate about working with clients who may feel misunderstood or overwhelmed by conventional models of therapy. Clients can expect to feel supported and encouraged without pressure or judgment. I aim to co-create a space that feels steady and grounded. Whether we’re working through emotional regulation, identity, relationships, or everyday overwhelm, therapy can be a space for you. It can feel overwhelming to know where to start, but reaching out is the first step.

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

Our general approach to therapy is to view each individual with no judgments or preconceptions; whatever you want to focus on will be our focus as well. At the end of the day, we want you to leave our sessions having either added more tools to your tool belt or having strengthened the tools that you are already using. We primarily approach therapy with a “Person-Centered” orientation; we understand that you are the expert on yourself, and we are only there to provide context, to facilitate your growth, and to help you overcome or manage any obstacles you may be facing. Our specific interventions depend on what we may be working on at the time, and may draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness based therapies, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Reality Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Some of our specialty areas with our clients are cultivating healthy and strong relationships (romantic, family, friends), couples, grief, trauma, anxiety, low self-esteem, career counseling, and others.

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.

I help people understand how their past and their relationships shape who they are today. We look beyond surface symptoms to explore the emotional patterns that might leave you feeling stuck or exhausted by the pressure to be perfect. My approach is warm and focused on the whole picture of your life. I work best with those navigating difficult family dynamics, relationship cycles, or the stress of big life transitions who are ready to build a more authentic and grounded future.

Our experienced therapists provide personalized guidance, creating a safe space for self-exploration and growth. From managing stress and anxiety to overcoming personal challenges, individual therapy empowers you to navigate life's complexities with resilience.