Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

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

Taking the step to begin therapy can feel overwhelming. Opening up to someone new isn't easy, and it takes courage to ask for support. My goal is to create a space where you can show up exactly as you are without judgment, pressure, or the expectation that you have everything figured out. While I bring my clinical knowledge and experience into the therapy room, I believe you are the expert on your own life. My role is to meet you where you are, helping you better understand your experiences, navigate life's challenges, and create meaningful change. Healing happens through a relationship that feels real, supportive, and authentically human. I enjoy working with adolescents and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, identity concerns, relationship challenges, and life transitions. My approach is collaborative, empathetic, and individualized because I believe every person's story and needs are unique. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, I integrate different therapeutic modalities and interventions to create a treatment experience that feels tailored to you. My hope is that our work together allows you to feel seen, supported, and safe enough to explore who you are while moving toward the life you want to create.

Do you often feel anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck in cycles of overthinking and self-doubt? You may be navigating academic or career pressure, family expectations, or the emotional complexity of living between cultures. Many of my clients struggle with anxiety, depression, burnout, perfectionism, and feeling “never good enough,” even when they appear capable on the outside. Therapy can be a space where you slow down, feel understood, and move forward with greater clarity, emotional balance, and self-trust. English | 中文 Do you often feel anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck in cycles of overthinking and self-doubt? You may be navigating academic or career pressure, family expectations, or the emotional complexity of living between cultures. Many of my clients struggle with anxiety, depression, burnout, perfectionism, and feeling “never good enough,” even when they appear capable on the outside. Therapy can be a space where you slow down, feel understood, and move forward with greater clarity, emotional balance, and self-trust. As a bilingual therapist fluent in Mandarin and English, I bring both professional training and lived experience into my work. Having studied abroad since high school, I understand the challenges of living between cultures and am deeply attuned to the invisible pressures related to identity, family expectations and adapting to new environment. My approach is client-centered and trauma-informed, grounded in empathy, authenticity, and empowerment. I believe that healing begins with understanding—and that every small step toward self-acceptance is a powerful act of growth. I look forward to walking with you on this journey of healing and rediscovery.

Centered Therapy Chicago (CTC) is a woman‑owned psychotherapy practice in Andersonville providing trauma‑informed therapy for individuals and families navigating anxiety, stress, burnout, relationship challenges, and trauma. We believe healing happens through safe, supportive connection—with ourselves and with others. Our therapists offer relationship‑focused, trauma‑informed counseling that integrates emotional awareness, nervous system regulation, and mind–body therapy. We support clients in feeling more grounded, empowered, and connected—to themselves, their relationships, and their communities. Guided by values of equity, inclusion, and social justice, we provide individual therapy, family therapy, clinical consultation, and professional training for clients and clinicians across Chicago and throughout Illinois. We offer both in‑person therapy in Chicago and secure online therapy statewide, expanding access to specialized, affirming, trauma‑informed care, particularly in communities where these services may be difficult to access. What tends to stand out about our practice is the depth of integration across clinicians—we’re not just using these approaches in name, but working in a way that meaningfully bridges relational, somatic, and trauma-informed care. We also place a strong emphasis on long-term change and depth-oriented relational work, which shapes the tone and pacing of our work.

I work with clients navigating eating disorders, anxiety, OCD, depression, trauma, grief, perfectionism, relationship concerns, and life transitions. My approach is warm, collaborative, and relational, integrating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and themes of Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS). I believe the therapeutic relationship is the foundation of healing. Together, we’ll explore the patterns that have shaped you while building practical skills for lasting change. I’ll support and gently challenge you, and when appropriate, bring humor into sessions so therapy feels genuine, human, and like a place where you can truly be yourself. My work is grounded in cultural humility which honors each person's unique story and identity.

Adam Maughan (he/him): Hi there! I am a queer, neurodivergent, trauma-informed psychologist who is passionate about supporting young and emerging adults, LGBTQ+ individuals, trauma survivors, and people navigating complex questions related to identity, relationships, and belonging. I also enjoy working with anxiety, depression, stress, life-transitions, OCD, emotional overwhelm, men’s issues and more. I have worked in university and community college counseling centers, as well as an inpatient facility for alcohol and substance use disorders. My approach to therapy is collaborative, relational, and grounded in curiosity, authenticity, and growth. I draw from Narrative Therapy, Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, and multicultural and feminist frameworks. What does that mean for you in the therapy room? It means we will spend time exploring your story, the experiences that shaped you, the messages you received about yourself, and the ways you learned to survive, connect, protect yourself, or make meaning in the world. I see you as the writer and main character of your life, honoring the important social identities, relationships, strengths, and experiences you bring with you. I believe that even our most distressing thoughts, emotions, and behaviors often began as attempts to create safety, protection, or connection. Maybe you learned that in order to be loved, you needed to hide important parts of yourself. Perhaps you felt like you had to overperform, overwork, or overextend yourself, just to feel seen and heard by others. Or maybe surviving the day-to-day has meant numbing yourself from something painful underneath. Often, these stories helped us survive difficult moments or relationships. But eventually, they may begin to leave us feeling disconnected from ourselves, overwhelmed, or stuck in patterns that no longer serve us. You may feel afraid to turn the next page. Maybe parts of your story feel unfinished, hijacked, or filled with chapters you wish you could rewrite altogether. If any of this feels familiar, you do not have to navigate it alone. As a therapist, my role is not to write your story for you, but to walk alongside you as we explore it together, even the scary parts. Together, we can honor the meaning these stories hold, re-write stories that are no longer serving you, and empower you towards authorship of a life that feels more aligned with your values, identity, and hopes for the future.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who is passionate about creating a safe, supportive environment for clients of all ages. I am deeply interested in the whole person and honor the connection between mind, body, emotions, and relationships throughout the therapeutic process. My approach is to work collaboratively with clients as they move toward greater self-understanding, healing, and growth. Being a therapist is more than a career for me—it is a passion. As a second-life career path, it allows me to support people in a new, meaningful way. I integrate mind-body practices that help clients understand how stress, trauma, and life experiences affect both emotional and physical well-being, creating opportunities for deeper healing and lasting change. As a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) and Reiki practitioner, I often incorporate body-based approaches to help clients explore how stress and trauma may be held in the body, offer healing or introduce new experiences, and provide support. Touch-based practices are available when appropriate, but only if clients feel comfortable and choose this healing approach. Your sense of safety and choice always comes first. I also draw from attachment-focused work, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and CBT techniques to help clients better understand themselves, strengthen relationships, and develop new ways of responding to life's challenges. I have extensive experience supporting both children and families with life challenges, relationship needs, transitions, and trauma exposure. This can include individual child therapy with parent inclusion, family therapy, or co- parenting sessions. I draw from my toolbox of techniques previously listed and add additional ones that are age-appropriate. This might include Play Therapy and Attachment, Regulation, and Completion techniques. My education and work experience have also led me to work closely with adults of all ages. This includes individuals, first responders, and helping professionals. I understand the unique challenges of these roles and have partnered with many clients in these fields to foster greater balance, resilience, and well-being. Whether you are just beginning to recognize the impact of stress and trauma, or have been aware for some time, I would be honored to go on this journey with you.

I am a warm and compassionate therapist who approaches therapy through a multicultural and relational lens. I believe meaningful therapeutic work begins with building a genuine connection, and I strive to create a space where clients feel welcomed, understood, and supported as they navigate life’s challenges. I value getting to know each client as a whole person, engaging in open and thoughtful conversations about their lived experiences and the parts of their identity that feel most meaningful to them. Grounded in curiosity, authenticity, and respect, I believe each client is the expert of their own story, and I work collaboratively to tailor therapy to their unique needs, values, and goals. As a South Asian woman who is a child of immigrants, I am dedicated to advocating for marginalized and underserved populations while providing culturally sensitive services. I frequently work with clients seeking support in processing trauma, exploring identity, navigating relational and interpersonal challenges, and cultivating greater self-compassion. Through a strengths-based and trauma-informed lens, I help clients recognize and build upon their existing resilience, uncover inner resources, and develop tools to navigate difficulties with greater clarity and confidence. My hope is to support clients in reconnecting with their authentic selves and creating lives that feel more grounded, intentional, and fulfilling. My therapeutic approach is rooted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and integrates mindfulness practices, values exploration, and acceptance-based strategies. I am passionate about helping clients develop deeper self-understanding, strengthen their connection to themselves, and create meaningful change that feels aligned with who they are and what matters most to them. My previous clinical experience includes university counseling centers, private practice, and community mental health settings, where I have provided neuropsychological assessment and psychotherapy services to individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. I have experience working with children, adolescents, and adults, utilizing a range of evidence-based therapeutic modalities tailored to clients’ unique needs.

As a first-generation college student and child of immigrants, I became a psychologist because I’m passionate about accessible and culturally sensitive mental health care. I believe that therapy can empower individuals to embrace both their most vulnerable and fullest selves, and that we can navigate that (exciting, confusing, messy, gentle) process together. I view each client within the constellation of their upbringing, identities, hopes, and values, and I strive to bring my full self to the therapy space. I believe trust in a clinician is earned; therefore, I meet each client with genuineness, curiosity, humor, and radical acceptance. Therapist fit matters and is important – I want you to feel like you can make an informed decision about our potential in working together – and I’m happy to learn alongside you. I think of my therapy “style” like a tree. At my core (in the roots and tree trunk), I use a feminist and humanistic lens – I view each individual within the context of their whole selves, with their different social identities and life experiences. I believe that many of the “problems” individuals seek therapy for are often responses to living within oppressive systems and our efforts to survive them. The branches of my therapy-tree are the various therapeutic tools and approaches that I draw from, based on your unique goals, strengths, and how you feel safest. I have experience working with adults across a range of clinical settings, including community mental health, hospital outpatient, college counseling, and short-stay inpatient medical units. My work has focused extensively on addressing diverse forms of trauma, including developmental and relational trauma, racial and discrimination-based trauma, military sexual trauma and complex trauma. At the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, I trained in the Behavioral Sleep Medicine clinic and supported patients experiencing insomnia. I also supported caregivers of patients living with dementia and facilitated family sessions to help implement effective behavioral management strategies for challenging dementia-related symptoms.

Alexandra (she/hers) specializes in the treatment of adults, marital and pre-marital couples, college aged individuals who are experiencing anxiety, depression, experiences of trauma, problematic drug and alcohol use, and relational difficulties. Additional specialties include: complicated family systems, emerging adulthood, significant life transitions, disordered eating patterns, and building self confidence. Alex’s approach to therapy is collaborative and she incorporates ACT/ DBT, mindfulness, Imago relational work, motivational interviewing, solution-focused, and narrative therapies into her practice.

I am a relational, trauma‑informed therapist who honors the healing process with warmth, creativity, and deep compassion. I walk alongside individuals as they navigate their unique paths toward healing, believing that the challenges we face can create distance from our truest selves. Therapy offers a space to realign with our deepest values and most authentic identities, fostering greater connection and meaning. For those who are interested, I also incorporate therapeutic writing, mindfulness, and somatic practices as supportive tools for embodied integration and empowered living. I work with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, loss, life transitions, shame, abandonment, and relational distress, helping them reconnect with awareness, intuition, and insight. My focus is on both the internal work and living infrastructure that can help individuals strengthen trust in themselves and navigate toward lives of authenticity and meaning. Additionally, I specialize in supporting women as they heal childhood wounds, move through the losses and disruptions of major life transitions, and recover from relational dynamics of all kinds. I have worked with adults across the lifespan, offering a space to honor and explore life experience to uncover the wisdom and resilience that lie within. Together, we co-create a space to slow down, listen inward, and rediscover strength, clarity, and insight. My work with individuals focuses on nurturing self-compassion, healing, and growth so they can move forward feeling more grounded, whole, and authentic.

I believe that healing happens through authentic human connection. As a relational, trauma-informed psychologist, I bring warmth, curiosity, and true collaboration to therapy. Together we’ll create a safe space where you can explore your experiences openly and connect with yourself more deeply. I offer compassion and support while also challenging the patterns that may be keeping you stuck, helping you build greater self-understanding and feel empowered to create lasting change. I enjoy working with adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, ADHD/AuADHD, eating disorders, identity exploration, relationship concerns, substance use, and trauma, including intergenerational, developmental, and complex trauma. My approach is deeply informed by the understanding that our identities, cultures, families, communities, and social experiences shape how we move through the world. I am committed to creating an affirming, culturally responsive space where all parts of your identity are welcomed and respected. Together, we can explore the messages you've learned about yourself, hold onto what aligns with your values, and let go of what no longer serves you. I draw from insight-oriented and evidence-based approaches, including psychodynamic therapy, DBT, CBT, and ACT. I also incorporate mindfulness, meditation, spirituality, and a focus on the mind-body connection. Together, we'll explore the connection between your thoughts, emotions, relationships, and lived experiences, helping you develop new ways of relating to yourself and others. My clinical experience includes work in community mental health, private practice, inpatient hospitals, intensive outpatient programs, and juvenile justice settings. Most recently, during my internship, I worked exclusively with tweens and teens navigating severe mental illness, substance use, trauma, and complex family dynamics. Combined with my interest in juvenile forensics, this work highlighted how uniquely receptive adolescents are to positive influence and growth, reinforcing my passion for guiding youth through these pivotal years. I've had the privilege of working with people from a wide range of racial, cultural, socioeconomic, gender, sexual orientation, and ability backgrounds. These experiences have continually reinforced the importance of meeting each person with humility, flexibility, and deep respect for their unique story.

I am a queer feminist therapist who is passionate about centering her client’s personal power and autonomy. Ruby aims to build therapeutic relationships that are genuine, supportive, nourishing, collaborative, and creative. Ruby’s professional work has been centered around gender, sexuality, race, and systemic inequity. She draws from relational, humanistic, narrative, and trauma-informed approaches in her clinical work. Ruby is outgoing, enthusiastic, humorous, and dedicated to creating a dynamic that is non-judgmental and empowering for clients.

Bella is a relational therapist who brings curiosity, compassion, and humor to co-create a space where clients feel seen, supported, and free to be themselves. Believing that healing happens through authentic connection, she collaborates with clients to explore their experiences, celebrate growth, and navigate life’s challenges. Bella’s integrative approach weaves together mindfulness, somatic awareness, and creative, interactive methods. She frequently works with clients exploring identity, processing trauma, and navigating mood-related challenges, while remaining attuned to what each person brings to therapy. Deeply committed to fostering inclusive and affirming spaces, Bella invites open dialogue around culture, power, and privilege—both within and beyond the therapeutic relationship. Her work centers clients’ perspectives and supports a deeper connection to a grounded, authentic sense of self.

I am a queer-affirming, trauma-informed therapist who practices from a feminist multicultural lens. I care deeply about creating a safe, comfortable space for my clients, and I believe we heal through connection with others. My approach is gentle but honest, always going at the client’s pace. I bring my whole self, lived experience, and humor to the therapeutic relationship. I believe mindfulness, self-compassion, and connection to our bodies are an important part of the healing process. I strive to create a collaborative, strengths-based environment, where the client is the expert of their own experience. I love helping clients connect to their inner wisdom or strengthen their inner voice. I believe that people are inherently good, and that we are all capable of change. It’s an honor to walk alongside clients, witness their pain, and help them shape more fulfilling lives. I earned my Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Utah. As a therapist in training, I completed practicums at a Rape Recovery Center, working with sexual assault survivors, and the University of Utah School of Medicine, working with medical students. After graduating, I spent three years working in university counseling centers, primarily working with college students. I believe in an individualized approach to therapy, shaped to each client’s unique needs. I draw from Feminist and Humanist approaches, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. For trauma processing, I utilize Cognitive Processing Therapy, combined with somatic and feminist practices. I operate from an anti-oppressive, anti-racist approach, considering systems of oppression and the impact of both my client’s, and my own, intersecting identities. I enjoy bringing in creative activities, such as art projects or letter-writing, as well as somatic practices (breathwork, grounding exercises, sensory practices).

Alissa (she/hers) specializes in the treatment of a mood, identity, and relationship struggles with adolescents and adults in their 20s and 30s. Alissa works with her clients to help them resolve difficulties with connection, build insight, and establish healthier relationship patterns. She helps her clients find meaning in their struggles, understand their symptoms, and find ways to get development back on track. She believes that the process of growth and healing is deeply connected to the relationship between the therapist and the individual seeking therapy. Alissa is trained in EMDR and has completed the Fundamentals of Psychoanalytic Thought program of study at the Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute.

I provide individual therapy for college students and previously worked at a college counseling center. I work with individuals around a variety of topics, which include body image, eating disorders, grief and loss, identity exploration and development, athletic performance, sex and sexuality, chronic pain, anxiety, depression and trauma. I am both a talk therapist and art therapist, so students have the option when working with me to incorporate art making if they'd like too (but there's no pressure). I also was a collegiate athlete myself and tend to work well with student athletes. Please reach out if you feel like we could be a good fit- I'd be happy to help!

From the outside, it may look like you're managing everything. You're balancing classes, work, internships, relationships, and family expectations, but underneath it all you're anxious, overwhelmed, or constantly questioning whether you're doing enough. If you're tired of carrying that pressure on your own, therapy can help you make sense of what's beneath it. I work with college students, graduate students, and young adults navigating anxiety, burnout, academic stress, ADHD, depression, life transitions, and relationship challenges. Together, we'll explore what's keeping you stuck and build practical skills to help you manage stress, set healthier boundaries, and feel more grounded in your daily life. As a bilingual therapist, I'm especially passionate about supporting Latina and Spanish-speaking women. Whether you're balancing different cultures, navigating family expectations, or figuring out who you want to be, you deserve a space where your experiences are understood without having to explain every part of your identity. My approach is strengths-based, culturally responsive, and practical. I integrate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Positive Psychology, and Emotional Intelligence to help you build resilience, strengthen self-awareness, and make choices that align with your values. My hope is that you'll leave therapy feeling more confident, connected to yourself, and equipped to navigate college and life with greater clarity and purpose.

Sometimes it feels like your past is still influencing your present. Maybe anxiety is making everyday life feel overwhelming, you're recovering from a difficult experience, navigating a major life transition, or struggling to manage emotions that seem to take over. Therapy can help you better understand what you're carrying and begin creating the life you want moving forward. I work with college students, graduate students, and young adults navigating anxiety, trauma, life transitions, family-of-origin challenges, emotional regulation, and substance use concerns. Together, we'll explore the experiences that have shaped you while building practical tools to help you feel more grounded, resilient, and confident in your everyday life. My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and trauma-informed. I integrate Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and an intersectional feminist lens to support healing in a way that honors your unique experiences and strengths. I believe therapy should be a place where you feel safe enough to explore difficult emotions, celebrate your growth, and reconnect with hope. Whether you're processing trauma, strengthening emotional regulation, or working toward recovery from substance use, we'll move at a pace that feels supportive while building lasting skills you can carry beyond therapy. My hope is that you leave therapy feeling more connected to yourself, more confident in your ability to navigate challenges, and empowered to create a life that feels meaningful and fulfilling.

Throughout my practice, I have worked primarily with individuals who have anxiety, depression, mood disorders, mood dysregulation, treatment-resistant depression, panic attacks, PTSD, OCD, and ADHD. I have also treated individuals who have psychosis as a component of their mental health issues. I have seen children up to older adults and feel comfortable treating all age groups.