Therapists for college students near University of Chicago

Are you a person of faith who also identifies as gay (LGBTQ+) or same-sex attracted? Are you looking for a trauma therapist who's passionate about working with teens and young adults who have experienced trauma? My life's work is focused on teens and young adults who are exploring their faith and sexual identity and who are recovering from past trauma. Common symptoms are anxiety, depression, and PTSD. My goal is always to walk with my clients to find freedom, fulfillment, and an integrated identity. I love getting to know my clients - being entrusted with your story is an honor to me. Treatment Areas and Competencies: Teen therapy, Trauma Processing, Faith and Spirituality, Sexuality and Gender, Relationship Challenges, Emotion Regulation, Sexual Trauma, and Exposure to Violence. Reaching out to a therapist is a big step and I am on your team.

Are you facing anxiety, depression, navigating significant life changes, or grappling with LGBTQ-related challenges? If so, I'm here to help. I'm an empathetic student therapist with a year of experience, working under the supervision of a licensed clinician. My ideal client is someone looking to address these issues and seeking a safe, supportive space for personal growth. My approach to therapy is integrative, drawing from person-centered, psychodynamic, CBT, DBT, and feminist theories. I tailor my methods to your unique needs, ensuring that each session is a personalized journey towards healing and self-discovery. You're not alone in your journey. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, depression, facing life's transitions, or navigating the complexities of LGBTQ-related issues, I'm here to walk alongside you. If you're ready to embark on this path of self-discovery and growth, I invite you to reach out to me and I'm here to answer any questions you might have.

New Light is a Lincoln Park based therapy practice, providing in-person and telehealth sessions for children, families, and adults. Founded to extend our expertise beyond the school setting, our clinicians have experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families with a range of presenting challenges. With a wide variety of clinical approaches including psychodynamic talk therapy, play therapy, EMDR and cognitive behavioral therapy, our foremost goal is to provide each client with individualized, compassionate, and culturally sensitive therapy. At New Light, we support and include people of any ability level, gender, age, race, religion, or sexual orientation

Hi there! I am Eve Haydt, LCPC, and this is the business I formed to work with my clients. I have experience and training working with eating disorders and trauma symptoms, as well as frequent co-occurring concerns, such as mood and anxiety symptoms, relationship concerns, and substance use. I see clients both in person and virtually. Feel free to reach out for a free consult to see if we're a good fit!

When we are caught in mental distress, we need a trusted partner to help us face our challenges and act from a place of honesty and courage. This creative partnership provides a secure and supportive connection in which to experience solace, find joy, and transform difficulty into resilience. Art therapy is an established mental health profession that helps clients to access a visual entry point for deepened self-awareness. Through guided engagement with the innate creative process, a new way opens to safely explore and better regulate thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This creative lens is integrated with holistic evidence-based counseling models for effective, personalized care. From a renewed place of expanded perspective and self-acceptance, clients are able to live more emotionally balanced, fulfilling lives in accordance with their personal values and developmental goals.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

At times it may feel as though our power in our lives has been taken from us. Stress, life transitions, family issues, relationships, and many other factors can play a large role in making us feel anxious, depressed, and not living to our fullest potential. If you relate to this, therapy can help you find your power again. I have experience working with adolescents and adults who have experienced a myriad of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma, bipolar disorder, and anger. My passion is helping girls and women reach their fullest potential and overcome challenges through empowerment.

I am a queer, neurodivergent, South Asian adoptee and first-gen immigrant who is dedicated to social justice and equitable care. I take a collaborative, compassionate approach, creating a safe and open space to explore your identities, experiences, and goals. I know finding the right therapist can feel overwhelming—particularly when navigating complex and marginalized identities. My priority is building an authentic, warm relationship where you feel truly seen and heard. Together, we’ll customize our work to support your growth and healing at a pace that feels right for you. I’m passionate about working with marginalized communities, including LGBTQIA+ folks, immigrants, adoptees, neurodiverse people, and people of color. I have a particular interest in autistic adults and ADHD, and also have experience working with mood disorders, anxiety, complex PTSD, and substance use concerns. I use trauma-informed applications of Client-Centered Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Video Game Therapy (ask me about it!). I believe that you’re the person who knows yourself best. It’s my hope that in our work together, we can find ways for you to implement compassion, kindness, and empathy in your life. A little about me: I am a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) with a master’s in social work from the University of Chicago. Outside of therapy, I enjoy playing video games, learning about herbalism, and engaging in artistic expression. If you’re interested in working together, I’d love to hear from you!

I approach therapy as a collaborative endeavor. I strive to create a warm and accepting space where clients can safely explore the roadblocks they are encountering. My belief is that we are all capable of being resilient; we all have strengths we can rely on to support us through confusing and challenging times. Through therapy, my clients feel empowered to discover new ways to understand themselves and relate to others. My expertise includes relationships, family issues, academic stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression. Born and raised in Taiwan, and having later moved to the U.S. as an international student, I am deeply attuned to the excitement, opportunities for growth, and challenges of studying abroad and navigating new cultures. In addition to offering bilingual (English/Mandarin) psychotherapy, I actively investigate how language and culture shape our identities and the way we interact with the world around us. Throughout my professional career, I have been an advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. At the University of Indianapolis, I was an ambassador for international students at the Center for Global Engagement. I led initiatives to foster cultural humility among staff at Purdue University, as well as workshops on culturally-informed approaches to self-care at the Asian and Asian American Resource and Cultural Center. I am committed to working with people struggling with discrimination, microaggressions, language barriers, and identity explorations. I completed my Doctoral Internship at Purdue University, Counseling and Psychological Services. As part of my clinical training, I worked at university counseling centers in the Midwest (DePauw University, Indiana State University) and hospitals in Taiwan. I obtained a doctoral degree in Psychology (Psy.D.) from the University of Indianapolis, a program accredited by the American Psychological Association.

I welcome all clients in a warm and engaging manner. I respect each as a person with their own unique needs,priorities and perspectives. It is always a professional pleasure of mine to provide insight that assists another's personal growth and self understanding.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Do you have unwanted thoughts or habits preventing you from growing and being your authentic self? Are you struggling with some relationships in your life whether they are family, friends, co-workers, or a romantic partner? My goal is to collaborate with you where you are at to begin to process these experiences and develop skills and insights for you to grow. I believe every person deserves to be validated and have a safe space to feel and be heard. My passion and expertise lies in individual counseling for family dynamics and relationships which usually leads to support with self-esteem, identity, boundaries, and/or guilt. Together, we will take the time to process areas you are wanting to improve. I promise to create a comfortable, non-judgmental space where you can bring your honest thoughts and feelings. We will work on increasing insight and changing negative thinking patterns while becoming more aware of yourself and your relationships. After years providing counseling in the education field, I bring a range of experience working with diverse clients and issues. My clients tell me I’m warm, supportive, down-to-earth, insightful, approachable, and genuine. My goal is to provide you with a space to process, feel, and grow. Let’s connect for a phone consultation to see if we’re a great fit.

You’re thoughtful and self-aware. You can name your patterns and handle daily demands and yet you still feel burnt out, empty, or stuck. Maybe you’ve tried therapy before and learned helpful strategies and yet something deeper still feels unsettled. For many, college brings more than academic pressure. It can intensify questions about identity, belonging, relationships, family expectations, and who you’re becoming. Sometimes what looks like anxiety or procrastination is tied to something more relational — how safe you feel being fully yourself, how you learned to manage closeness, or how you’ve had to adapt in order to be accepted. My work is depth-oriented and relational. That means we pay attention to what unfolds between us, not just the symptoms you want to reduce. I won’t rush to give you techniques or quick fixes. Instead, we slow down enough to understand what’s been shaping your experience and create space for something different to emerge.

I have experience working with students who are diagnosed with ADHD, on the Autism Spectrum, identify with LGBTQ+ and who have anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. I like to create a safe and comfortable environment for my clients. I am accepting both virtual and in person clients at this time.

Do you find yourself caught in a cycle of self-criticism, leading to persistent feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness? Do your emotions sometimes overwhelm you, resulting in reactions that feel disproportionate to the situation? Navigating relationships can become even more challenging when affected by family dynamics. Maybe you have been having concerns with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief/ loss, life transitions, career/school stress, self-harm, and relationship challenges. Perhaps you’ve become discouraged by your attempts to help yourself. That’s what I’m here for. Imagine acquiring skills to navigate your inner critic and reduce feelings of hopelessness when triggered. Imagine understanding the reasons behind your actions which can provide motivation to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors. Let's build the courage to confront and overcome fears and self-perceptions that may be holding you back. I prioritize cultural sensitivity, emphasizing resilience, perseverance, and compassion. My trauma-informed approach fosters a nurturing space for exploring emotions, confronting challenges, and pursuing aspirations. Additionally, I speak conversational Cantonese, basic Korean, and basic Japanese. Schedule a free consultation today.

Having worked in college counseling centers for over 15 years in Chicago and New York, and serving as the Associate Director for DePaul University Counseling Center for 8 years, I am deeply committed to and well acquainted with college student mental health. Whether this is your first time seeking therapy or you have a history of treatment and are looking towards a next chapter of work, I am delighted to begin a conversation to see how I might be of help.

I am currently accepting new clients both virtually and in-person. Are you experiencing stress, relationship issues, anxiety, insecurity or a life transition? Together, we can work to develop an understanding of life’s circumstances, make positive changes, and find emotional relief. I believe (and have seen!) that healing and joy can come from working through the challenges you are facing. By integrating authenticity, encouragement, and honesty into each session, I provide space for you to process and tools to better manage your thoughts, feelings and behaviors. I am especially passionate about incorporating a biblical perspective for those who request Christian counseling. Please let me know when you reach out if this is something you are looking for, as my clients have varying spiritual beliefs and I respect each individual’s values. I currently have weekday and evening availability. I am happy to provide a 20 minute free phone consultation to answer your questions as you consider if this may be a good fit for you!

Dr. Sarah Sanders is a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of the boutique mental health practice, Allow Wellness. She is a specialist in treating depression, various anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and identity development concerns. She has been working with the mental health needs of graduate and undergraduate students of the Chicagoland area since 2006. Please visit the Allow Wellness website to learn more: www.allow-wellness.com.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.