Therapists for college students near University of Chicago

You might feel like you’re drowning, overwhelmed by troubling thoughts. Or you might be struggling with the sense that no one really “gets” you. You might want to connect, but you don’t know how. Maybe you feel like you don’t know who you are or what’s important to you. This could lead you to feeling frustrated, alone or possibly even hurt. You deserve a space to explore and express yourself, feeling fully seen and accepted for who you are and who you are becoming. I know what it’s like to feel hopeless and like life will never get better. I know it can feel like the whole world is stacked against you and no one wants to help. I am passionate about supporting individuals during stressful and transitional periods in their lives. As a lawyer with more than 10 years of government experience before becoming a therapist, I am familiar with the pressures of student and early professional life, and I am committed to supporting you in finding your own ways to cope.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

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 a Spanish Speaking Bilingual Couple and Family Therapist Intern passionate about assisting Families and Couples in building healthy connections to their community, families and partner(s). My goal is to facilitate effective communication, enhance understanding, and provide tools for resolving conflicts and improving overall relationship satisfaction.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Sage Therapy Chicago specializes in working with college-aged students who might be experiencing stress, worry, anxiety, depression, stressors surrounding life transitions, trauma & PTSD. We offer in-person and virtual sessions and together we can help you increase your self awareness, support you in finding the best answers to life- changing questions, and guide you to a more enjoyable life. If you're looking to see things in a different way, feel free to get in touch!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Alexandra obtained her Masters of Art Therapy and Counseling from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Throughout her career, Alexandra has worked with clients in all stages of life from childhood to older adulthood. She has worked in continuing care communities as well as residential and private practice settings. During her time working in residential level-of-care, she led groups based in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (CBT). She is particularly passionate about working with grief & loss, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Alexandra’s therapeutic style is integrative through the use of a person-centered lens that can incorporate DBT, CBT, and ACT modalities. She approaches sessions with clients through collaboration to develop interventions that meet the needs and interests of each individual while highlighting each client’s strengths. Alexandra uses ACT through an existential perspective, supporting client’s actions and decisions in connection with each individual’s values to create meaningful experiences throughout life. In the therapeutic relationship, she utilizes a relational approach while also finding moments to incorporate humor. One of her favorite parts of being a mental health professional is to witness growth in clients and celebrating their successes. Throughout her career Alexandra has specialized in working with clients experiencing anxiety and depression through the use of interventions such as Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), Behavioral Activations (BA), developing coping skills, and managing critical thoughts. She assists clients navigate perfectionism and build self-esteem while addressing concerns in relationships to build communication and boundary-setting. Alexandra’s path to becoming a therapist began with explorations in the benefits of artmaking in mental health through art therapy. She has developed extensive knowledge of art materials and methods such as painting, fiber arts, and ceramics. Alexandra can use art therapy with clients as a form of communication, self-expression, or assist in emotional regulation. She previously developed an art therapy curriculum when working in a residential setting to assist clients in continuing to build skills as well as creating further opportunities for creative expression.

Hi, I’m Stephanie, a bilingual, bicultural Latina therapist and second-generation Mexican American. I specialize in supporting LGBTQIA2S+, Latinx, and BIPOC communities, with a focus on reducing mental health stigma. Growing up, I witnessed barriers to therapy, which drives my mission to create a safe, inclusive space for healing. I offer compassionate therapy and mental health education to help you thrive on your wellness journey. I take a collaborative approach to therapy, empowering clients to actively shape their goals and treatment. I use a blend of DBT, CBT, Compassion-Focused Therapy, Mindfulness, and Psychoanalytic Therapy to meet each client’s unique needs. Trust and authenticity are at the core of our work, creating a safe and supportive space for healing.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Dr. Gonzales takes a personalized, collaborative approach that thoughtfully integrates medication management with evidence-based therapeutic techniques. He believes every patient deserves a safe space — one built on trust and open communication — because lasting change requires feeling safe and genuinely heard. He specializes in treating anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, PTSD, and ADHD across the lifespan — with a particular focus on the unique challenges facing early career professionals, young adults, college students, transitional aged youth, kids and teens. Whether you're seeking psychiatric care for the first time or you've tried other providers and are looking for a better fit, his goal is always the same: to help you grow, develop coping skills that actually work in real life, and build the kind of emotional foundation that holds. Dr. Gonzales believes that mental health care should be readily accessible — because the easier it is to engage in care, the more likely meaningful progress follows. His practice is primarily telehealth-based, removing barriers like commute time, scheduling conflicts, and the hesitation that can come with walking into an office. He currently sees patients virtually across Illinois, Florida, Wisconsin, and Texas. In-person appointments are also available in Chicago, IL for those who prefer them.

We live in a complex world, presenting unique struggles for individuals and couples moving through varying stages of life. In session, we will work to explore your challenges and process past influential experiences in a safe, supportive and open environment. Unlike big agencies or online therapy platforms, we have the time and emotional energy to treat each client as an individual. We don't believe in using a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we tailor your treatment plan to you using evidence-directed methods. Our clinicians are also committed to pursuing specialized training and continued education to stay up-to-date on the latest research and advances in the field.

Coral Heart Counseling provides therapy to those who want to live their best life, but find it hard to do so because of the various life stressors that have gotten in the way. These individuals usually feel like aspects of their life are too much and that their mind, body, and spirit are out of sync; they’re overwhelmed. Our clientele are young adults who are tired of struggling with life events such as relationships, transitions, racial and cultural identity, adulting, imposter syndrome, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, academics and success, perfectionism, and past traumatic moments. We want to help our clients move beyond what’s holding them back. We assist in our clients’ growth by utilizing various modalities that are meant to bring out a person’s strengths, show them their power, and allow them to see how much they matter in this world. We also provide guidance on difficult issues that individuals may be faced with so that they can decide what is best for them. We believe in providing a safe space and necessary skills for our clients to achieve their goals. Our aim is that our clients encounter enhanced emotional intelligence, relational/relationship advancement, and peace. We hope that you will take a step towards freedom of the mind, feeling at ease, and self-love by reaching out to us.

I have a profound belief in the strength and resilience of the human condition. Each person carries a vast amount of internal resources that may, at times, feel distant or even inaccessible. My role as a therapist is to help clients utilize their strengths in a way that leads to tangible, impactful progress. Together, we will collaborate on how our sessions can be personalized in a way that meets your specific goals. I lead with an insight-oriented approach because understanding our thought processes and emotional responses enable us to live with both agency and intention. To capture the complexity of the human experience, we can draw from various methods (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Somatic Therapy, and Internal Family Systems), each of which serves a unique purpose. At the center of my work is a warm, accepting, and intuitive presence. I encourage my clients to speak freely, as I greatly value their experience of themselves and the world around them.

Providing culturally sensitive and inclusive therapy services to adults, including college students. "To care for another individual means to know and to experience the other as fully as possible." - Irvin D. Yalom, M.D. As a South Asian therapist, I understand the deep value of family and the intricate meanings tied to being an immigrant and a woman of color. I believe that every person's lived experiences uniquely shape their life and perceptions, which is why finding congruence and meaning in one’s life is important. This helps align one's actions with their true values, reducing internal conflict and enhancing overall well-being. As a therapist, I understand that building trust and rapport are critical for effective progress and meaningful change. To do so, I provide my clients with a safe and supportive environment for them to explore their inner thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, to foster personal growth and healing. In my practice, I utilize an integrative approach that blends systems, humanistic, and multicultural frameworks. My goal is to empower you to achieve your personal and psychological goals while providing a safe, non-judgmental, and culturally sensitive space where you can explore your inner self. I am committed to creating an environment where you can feel at ease, be your authentic self, and build a trusting relationship with me. Together, we'll work collaboratively to build insight, draw on your strengths, process difficult emotions and experiences, and form a meaningful narrative for your life. With a kind, empathetic, and compassionate approach, I strive to create a therapeutic environment where you feel supported and empowered to achieve your goals. I look forward to accompanying you on your path to well-being and self-discovery.

**I currently offer Telehealth sessions Monday-Friday and in-person sessions on Thursdays** Hi! I work with **female-identified clients** who are seeking therapy for anxiety, school stress and burnout, self-esteem, life transitions, relationship difficulties, and more. I believe that, when entering a space of vulnerability, it is important to feel safe and secure. As a therapist, my job is to provide you with a non-judgmental therapeutic environment to support you in your healing and growth. I am here to offer a collaborative approach to empower and foster change in your journey. I see therapy as another support or tool in our tool box. The friends, family, peers, co-workers that we have in our life can provide great support but sometimes it is helpful to have one more person that we can lean on during our difficult times.

Our lives' narratives sometimes may not be pleasant nor self-fulling. Nonetheless, the therapeutic space can serve as a starting point to reflect and create new beginnings. It can also be a space where we revisit past narratives that may have marked you significantly or try to embrace our fears for the future. In our work together, I aim to connect with you in a way that not only allows for safety, trust and vulnerability but instills a sense of empowerment that affirms your ability to endure uncertainty. I view therapy as a space where both you and I can help each other to co-narrate your life experiences. My philosophy of life is- we all experience the world differently and are the experts on our may need support with processing and reflecting. For these reasons, I work from an integrative relational, humanistic, trans-affirmative, multicultural and liberating perspective. As a queer therapist of color, I value liberation, social justice and intersectionality. In creating a therapeutic space rooted in multiculturalism, I aim to instill a sense of safety for all clients, especially those with marginalized identities such as LGBTQ+, trans and non-binary, Kinks+, immigrants, and POC'S. I make a point to show up authentically in session as a compassionate, empathic, energetic, reflective, nerdy/geeky, and a bilingual person.

As a therapist, I value assisting clients on their journey to cultivating deeper insight into their lives in order to foster empowerment, personal growth and internal healing. I specialize in treating adolescents, adults and couples working through generalized anxiety, OCD, trust issues, life adjustments, addiction, social anxiety, guilt, shame, breakups, self criticism, infidelity, lack of fulfillment, relationship issues, college issues, boundaries, women's sex issues, kinks, ethical, non-monogamy, low self esteem, family issues, attachment issues, codependency, and trauma.

Our practice is guided by the most current research available. The treatments we utilize have been shown to be most effective in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life among patients with anxiety, mood and related disorders. We focus on what works. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an umbrella term for methods that share a focus on thoughts and behaviors that maintain symptoms, willingness to try new behaviors, and patterns of relating to our experiences. Between-session practice of these strategies serves to consolidate gains achieved in treatment sessions.