Therapists for college students near University of Chicago

Vicky is a licensed clinical social worker who earned her Masters degree in social work at Loyola University Chicago. Vicky has experience working with young adults, children, adolescents and their parents on a variety of different issues including social skills, self-compassion, emotional regulation, anxiety, life transitions and grief. Vicky has worked in a variety of settings including schools, summer camps and private practice. In her work, Vicky understands the importance of experiences and how they can greatly influence one's perspective in how they relate to themselves and others. She believes it is important to process significant events, in order to gain a better understanding of one’s needs and potential. Vicky uses a relational and strengths-based approach to allow for her clients to feel supported along every step of the therapeutic process. She also uses elements of cognitive behavioral therapy and play therapy to support clients in their therapeutic journey. Vicky aims to provide a warm, welcoming and safe space for her clients and feels honored to walk alongside each individual’s unique path.

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.

From the earliest moments of our lives, we are searching for and are in need of relationships and connection – it is in our early life where we begin to understand who we are, who others are, and what kind of world we live in. It is through this quest for connections outside of us that shades of Meaning, Purpose, and Creativity emerge within us. The quality of these aspects of life produces in us both wounds and liberties. Fortunately, therapy can be a place for us to gently and intentionally tease these qualities out toward a life and sense of self in line with your goals. In my practice, I work with adults of all ages. I have concentrated experience engaging with those who come from and/or are currently engaged in religious communities and the concerns that emerge from religious ideologies. I utilize a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and relational approach to our work together to cultivate curiosity, connection, and care. I believe that people are in a constant flux of Becoming – who we are, how we understand ourselves, others, and the world around us is changing all the time. Ultimately, I am not the arbiter of your life, you are. Intentional and sometimes difficult self-reflection can bring about amazing shifts in our approach to life.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and I also have my MBA. My goal is to create a safe, empathetic, and trusting space for clients to feel comfortable in their therapy journey. In working together, you can expect the beginning of the therapeutic process to include space for utilizing curiosity and empathy to strengthen the therapeutic relationship in order to begin creating meaningful change. The therapy journey is unique for each client and with that, my approach is not a one size fits all.

Shu Hudson is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. She received her Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from North Park University. Shu thrives in providing a compassionate, client-centered space where individuals feel seen, heard, and supported in their healing journey. Her approach integrates evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with a deep focus on uncovering and understanding core emotions—those powerful, often hidden feelings that drive our thoughts, behaviors, and relational patterns. Shu has specialized training in yoga and mindfulness, that enables her to bring a somatic awareness to therapy, helping clients reconnect with their bodies as a source of wisdom, grounding, and emotional regulation. Shu focuses on navigating anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, or life transitions, working collaboratively to explore underlying emotional truths, challenging unhelpful thought patterns, and fostering meaningful, sustainable change. Shu’s goal is to guide each client toward greater self-awareness, emotional resilience, and a more empowered relationship with themselves and others.

Colette, "Coco" is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over two years clinical experience providing therapy in private practice. She earned her Master's of Social Work from the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before working in private practice, Coco worked in the Madison, WI school district as an inclusion specialist and assistant director, working to integrate children with Individualized Education Plans into all aspects of the school experience. Her experience in the school system solidified her desire to become an effective and compassionate child and adolescent therapist. Coco is a therapist driven to work with children and adolescents so that they can thrive in their environment. She is passionate about neurodiversity-affirming practice and takes an individualized approach to each session with her clients. Coco recognizes the value of understanding each person's unique experience, and is passionate about creating a safe and trusting relationship with her clients. She understands that every child’s environment is complex and unique, which is reflected in her flexible approach to therapy. She is committed to taking a strengths-based approach to her therapy practice, and aims to empower each and every child and family that she works with. Coco focuses on navigating a variety of diagnoses such as OCD, Anxiety, ADHD, DMDD, Autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, and certain genetic disorders. She focuses on supporting her clients with the skills to live as comfortably in their lives as possible, such as emotional expression and regulation, executive function, self-esteem, and social skills.

I have a holistic approach to therapy that invites us to slow down, be curious and turn inward to notice what is happening both in our bodies and minds. We live in a culture that privileges the cognitive over the felt sense. By exploring our emotions rather than judging them or trying to get rid them, we can grow our ability to be with and tend to those feelings and see the wisdom within. "The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change." --Carl Rogers

Even though challenges are a natural part of life, they can still leave you feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or discouraged. Therapy can support you in managing overwhelming emotions, getting through difficult moments, deepening your self-understanding, and moving toward a more authentic version of yourself. Together, we can support you in navigating anxiety, trauma, chronic stress, ADHD, neurodivergence, identity-related and LGBTQ+ concerns, as well as relationship challenges, family dynamics, and major life transitions. With a person-centered approach, I support your self-exploration and recognize you as the expert in your own life. I use CBT and DBT techniques to help you build self-compassion and strengthen emotional regulation. I also help you explore holistic options such as mindfulness, meditation, and gentle movement like yoga to support overall well-being. I approach each session with curiosity, empathy, and respect for your unique experiences. My goal is to support you in developing insight, strengthening coping skills, and creating a compassionate balance in your life. I look forward to working together with you.

KP Counseling of Illinois, located in Rockford, Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, offers a variety of services to meet you and your family’s therapy and counseling needs. We have a team of experienced therapists to consult with individuals from 3 years old to the elderly. The type of counseling and therapy service recommended will vary for each client. Our services are developed uniquely to meet your specific needs from individual, couple and family to group counseling.

Uptown Psych of Illinois was established in 2011 with a commitment to bring the best possible, evidence-based mental health services to the Chicago metropolitan area. The practice’s leading team of licensed psychiatrists and psychologists represent extensive and diverse expertise to facilitate superior and highly personalized treatment plans for a full scope of mental health issues for children, adolescents, and adults. Just about any mental health condition can be addressed at Uptown Psych, including attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, addiction, and all anxiety spectrum disorders. At Uptown Psych, our specialists understand that episodes of these and other mental health issues require prompt attention. With that in mind, the entire team is dedicated to making treatment accessible as soon as possible. Often appointments can be scheduled for the same week. The entire Uptown Psych team looks forward to providing you with the care you need and deserve at our Chicago office.

Maybe your mind never really turns off. You’re replaying conversations, comparing yourself to other people, researching the “right” way to do things, or wondering why everyday life seems to take so much energy. I work with college and graduate students, LGBTQ+ individuals, and neurodivergent clients navigating perfectionism, burnout, people-pleasing, anxiety, body image concerns, identity exploration, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. I also support clients who feel overwhelmed by masking, overstimulation, executive functioning challenges, or the complicated role technology plays in their lives. Therapy with me is a place where you don’t have to perform, explain away your needs, or have everything figured out. Together, we’ll better understand the patterns keeping you stuck and help you build a life that feels more connected, authentic, and sustainable.

From the outside, it might seem like you’re handling everything well. You’re keeping up with classes, deadlines, work, relationships, or family responsibilities, but underneath it all, you may feel anxious, emotionally exhausted, scattered, or disconnected from yourself. Maybe ADHD makes it difficult to focus, stay organized, or keep up with everything expected of you. You may experience social anxiety, second-guess yourself after conversations, or feel pressure to hide how overwhelmed you really are. Perhaps you are grieving a loss, adjusting to a major life transition, navigating chronic illness or pain, or carrying the emotional weight of caring for someone else. You may also be healing from trauma, including sexual abuse or assault, and noticing how those experiences continue to affect your relationships, body, or sense of safety. I work with college students, graduate students, and young adults navigating anxiety, ADHD, executive functioning challenges, trauma, grief, chronic illness or pain, caregiver fatigue, body image concerns, and relationship difficulties. Many of the people I work with are thoughtful, caring individuals who have become used to being dependable and taking care of others, even when it means putting their own needs last. In therapy, we’ll slow down and make space for what you have been carrying. Together, we can explore the experiences and attachment patterns that have shaped how you see yourself, respond to stress, and connect with other people. We may also work on practical strategies for focus, organization, academic stress, emotional regulation, communication, and setting healthier boundaries. My approach integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and mindfulness. This means we will not only focus on reducing distress, but also on helping you understand yourself with greater compassion, clarify your values, and make choices that feel more aligned with who you are and the life you want to create. Whether you’re adjusting to college, navigating the demands of graduate school, exploring your identity, recovering from painful experiences, or simply trying to feel like yourself again, we’ll move at a pace that feels supportive and realistic. My hope is that therapy becomes a place where you can reconnect with your strengths, trust yourself more fully, and build a life that feels grounded, authentic, and meaningful.

We acknowledge that you have taken a significant step in seeking out therapy. Collaborative Insight takes a humanistic and nonjudgmental approach in working with all of our clients, and we truly believe that therapy is a collaborative process. We are honored to be here to support you in any way that we are able to. We offer therapy services both in person and via Telehealth. We are able to provide services in English and Spanish. At Collaborative Insight, we offer outpatient services to individuals (children, adolescents, and adults) and couples. Our experienced clinicians offer an eclectic, collaborative approach utilizing a variety of evidence based approaches, including but not limited to: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Trauma-Informed Modalities including EMDR, Insight Oriented Psychotherapy, and the Gottman Method for working with couples.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Xylem is a psychotherapy practice offering in-person and teletherapy. Each of our qualified therapists brings lived experience and a non-judgmental approach to truly seeing you for who you are and who you want to become. We are located in Lakeview, walking distance from the Brown and Red lines and with both Ashland and Belmont buss stops at our front door.

I want to work together toward growth that feels rooted, intentional, and aligned with the life you are trying to build. My work is shaped by the belief that healing often begins quietly, in the moments when we feel safe enough to pause, listen inward, and reconnect with the parts of ourselves we have learned to silence. I strive to create a space that feels steady, grounded, and deeply human. My approach is warm and relational, guided by curiosity and respect for your lived experience. I integrate evidence based practices with an appreciation for the ways people grow in their own time, often in ways that are subtle but profoundly meaningful. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I support adults moving through anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, stress, life transitions, and emotional challenges. My training as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor informs how I understand coping patterns, and helps me support clients who want to explore their relationships with substances.

Chloe is a Licensed Professional Counselor who earned her Master’s in Counseling from Northwestern University. She has experience supporting adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, depression, grief and loss, identity development, trauma, and relationship challenges. Chloe uses a strengths-based, client-centered approach and believes therapy works best when it’s collaborative and tailored to each individual. She values client input and works closely with each person to find what feels most helpful. Clients can expect Chloe to draw from modalities such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Internal Family Systems, mindfulness practices, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and existential perspectives. As a clinician, Chloe strives to balance warmth, empathy, and humor in order to create a comforting space for self-exploration. Her background in theatre and the arts informs her belief in the power of storytelling, and she aims to empower clients to take ownership of their own narratives. She considers it a deep honor to walk alongside clients on their therapeutic journeys