Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

Sometimes life can be overwhelming- whether we are held back by our past, experiencing present obstacles, or anxious about things to come. I view therapy as a collaborative relationship between therapist and client, and value creating a safe and nonjudgmental environment. In my work with clients I am mindful of the ways in which social identities (gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc.) impact the way we navigate mental health journeys and the world in general. Whether working with older adolescents, adults or with couples, I am passionate about supporting others in overcoming life’s difficulties and reaching their goals. My goal as a therapist is to support clients in restoring a sense of hope and positive self-worth. Everyone has the capacity for personal growth within them. My job is to help clients identify and access resources they have in order to achieve this. I work with individuals seeking support with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, interpersonal issues, and mood regulation. I also provide relationship counseling. I am happy to set up a free 10-15 minute phone consultation to get to know each other better and determine if we're a good fit!

I help people process trauma, manage their emotions and anxiety, and maximize their performance with the combination of talk therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Brainspotting, and/or Internal Family Systems (IFS). A Free 15-minute consultation is offered to ensure a good fit.

Struggling is a natural part of being human—something everyone faces at different points in life. You might be navigating relationship challenges, managing stress, or dealing with the effects of past traumas. Perhaps you feel lost, want to understand yourself better, or are searching for a way to heal and move forward. You deserve to feel more grounded, build stronger connections, and regain clarity and control. When life feels overwhelming, having a space where you feel safe, supported, and understood can make all the difference. If this resonates, you’re not alone, and I’m here to help.

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.

I practice with a psychodynamic lens. I specialize in young adulthood and everything that the quarter life brings. Who am I, who do I want to be, who are my people etc.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

College can feel like a lot... managing classes, relationships, identity, family expectations, and your future all at once. At Favorite Therapy, we work with students who feel overwhelmed, anxious, stuck, or unsure of themselves. You might be the “strong one” in your circle, but inside you're struggling to keep it together. We provide a welcoming, judgment free space where you don’t have to have it all figured out. Whether you’re navigating trauma, stress, burnout, or just trying to find your way. We’re here to help you feel seen, supported, and more like yourself again. We offer virtual sessions and we accept PPO insurance plans with BCBS, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Cigna, as well as self pay options with sliding scale availability. Therapy that meets you where you are so you can grow into who you're becoming.

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.

I am so excited that you have decided to take this step in life to prioritize you and your wellbeing! My therapeutic interests as a woman therapist include the perinatal and postpartum phases of life, as well as working with women who are undergoing life-changes and experiencing high levels of stress and burnout. Using mindful intention, evidence-based approaches, and a little bit of humor, we will work together to identify your unique set of strengths, gain insight into what makes you tick, and develop tools and strategies to enhance and improve your daily life. Perinatal and Postpartum Pregnancy and the postpartum period are two of the most significant seasons of change for women, and they occur back-to-back! I’m here to help and support you to not only survive the challenges of pregnancy and new parenthood, but to thrive and find enjoyment in these unique life experiences. Life Change The only constant in life is change, and sometimes those changes can cause you to stumble and struggle to find your footing. Whether your life change comes in the form of personal goal setting, pregnancy and post-partum life and identity shifts, the end or beginning of a new relationship, processing grief, or anything in-between, I am here to help you navigate these changes and discover how to life a fulfilling life in your New Normal. Stress and Burnout We live in a world that values and prioritizes constant productivity that can lead you to feeling tired, worn down, and downright burned out. Together, we will identify and target areas in life that are contributing to burnout as well as strategies to refuel and re-energize your life to rebuild enjoyment and resilience while diminishing the impact of stress and the demands of life. Experience: - Anxiety-related issues - Stress and burnout - Sleep difficulties due to anxiety and stress - Improving self-esteem and self-confidence - Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - Mindfulness-Based Intervention

You may be feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected from yourself. Perhaps you've spent years pushing through, caring for others, or minimizing the impact of difficult experiences, yet something still feels heavy. Therapy offers a space to slow down, process what you've been carrying, and better understand how past experiences may be affecting your relationships, self-worth, and daily life. I believe healing begins with feeling seen, understood, and accepted. Together, we can explore patterns that no longer serve you and work toward meaningful, lasting change. I help adolescents and adults navigate trauma, anxiety, self-esteem challenges, relationship concerns, and life transitions. Using a trauma-informed, collaborative, and strengths-based approach, I provide a supportive space to explore your experiences, build resilience, deepen self-understanding, and move towards greater authenticity and fulfillment. Taking steps towards healing and growth is one of the bravest things we can do for ourselves. I'm here to walk along side you as you navigate this journey. If you are looking for a therapist who will honor your strengths, respect your story, and provide a safe space for healing, I'd love to connect.

I’m a Clinical Psychologist who works with a large number of students and early career professionals navigating a wide range of emotional and relational challenges. I offer both in-person and telehealth sessions for individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship and family concerns, and identity-related questions. I believe that therapy is a collaborative and creative process that unfolds through developing a strong alliance with a therapist. I strive to provide a warm, supportive, and nonjudgemental space for people to name, feel, and share their unique experiences. Although it can be difficult to put your emotional life into words, the decision to do so has the power to open up new ways of knowing and understanding yourself. It can also reveal patterns in your life that you might wish to explore in order to create space for more meaningful and satisfying possibilities. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation, please feel free to reach out.

My experience includes emotional & mood concerns, identity exploration, perfectionism, relationship difficulties, academic & vocational distress, and grief. Sharing your true self in therapy is a vulnerable act, and I respect your courage. I am mindful of your needs and meet you where you are. I would be honored to help you with the next step of your journey.

With a background in the entertainment industry, I especially enjoy working with student creatives—actors, musicians, dancers, writers, designers, and more—who are navigating rejection, comparison, self-doubt, and uncertainty. We can work together to build resilience, strengthen your sense of self, and help you stay grounded in an industry that often feels anything but. My approach is warm, collaborative, and direct. I believe you already have the answers within you—therapy is a space where we slow down, ask the right questions, and help you move forward in a way that feels aligned. If this resonates, I'd be glad to connect. I look forward to taking this journey together.

Throughout all stages of life, there are many obstacles we face. If you are facing any challenges, I am here to help you navigate through them and come out on the other side more resilient and better equipped for the next. The populations I have worked with throughout my time practicing include teens and young adults struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, identity, and addictions. Having a background in cognitive behavioral therapy, I will provide you with tools to identify and chip away at destructive habits and thoughts. As you chip away, you will begin developing new, supportive habits and thoughts, allowing you to experience lasting, positive effects. Throughout our time together, we will work towards developing a strong, therapeutic alliance to create a supportive environment to invite your vulnerabilities and encourage growth.

Many of the students I work with feel like they’re carrying more than what shows on the outside. Between school, family expectations, friendships, and figuring out who they are, it can feel like there’s never enough space to just breathe. Some describe feeling anxious, weighed down, or stuck between different parts of their life; like they’re trying to hold it all together but don’t always know how. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. I work especially well with students who: ◦ Feel pressure to succeed academically while juggling family or cultural expectations ◦ Notice anxiety or low moods making it harder to focus or enjoy daily life ◦ Struggle with relationships, whether that’s family, friends, or dating ◦ Are first-generation, or navigating life between more than one culture ◦ Want a space that feels supportive, flexible, and understanding Therapy with me is about having someone on your side who understands those layers. We’ll take it step by step, focusing on what matters most to you so you can feel steadier, less weighed down, and more like yourself again.

Hello! My name is Elizabeth and I am a bilingual/bicultural therapist. I provide sessions both in English and Spanish based on the needs of my clients. I provide a safe space for clients to share their unique stories and perspectives, allowing us the opportunity to learn more about their experiences and their behaviors. I am passionate about empowering my clients by helping them discover the tools they need to cope with difficult times and challenging feelings.

Areas of Expertise (include but not limited to) Anxiety, Depression, and Psychological Trauma Stress Management Life Transitions (academic, occupational, relational, familial) Relationship Challenges Identity and Expression

I am a licensed clinical social worker offering telehealth psychotherapy to adults (18+) across Illinois and Maine. I work with students and young adults navigating anxiety, stress, trauma, identity exploration, and major life transitions—particularly those who may appear high-functioning on the outside while feeling overwhelmed internally. My approach is collaborative, relational, and trauma-informed, integrating ACT, CBT, psychodynamic, and mindfulness-based interventions. I aim to create a supportive, nonjudgmental space where clients feel truly seen and can build insight, resilience, and practical coping skills. Telehealth allows for flexible, accessible care that fits into busy academic schedules and supports students who are living off campus, balancing work and school, or transitioning between home and school environments. I am happy to serve as an off-campus referral resource and collaborate with campus partners as appropriate to support continuity of care.

Are you carrying pain that feels too heavy to name, let alone heal? Do the things you’ve lived through feel like a weight you can’t put down, or old wounds that echo into the present? Do you struggle to trust your emotions, or feel like they run the show? Or maybe you feel disconnected from others? Yet, even in the midst of all that, there’s a part of you longing for something different? Hello and welcome! I work with folks navigating complex trauma, deep emotional pain, and unjust systems. Through the use of collaborative, non-judgmental, and anti-oppressive frameworks, we center your resistance, healing, and self-determination. I integrate a variety of therapeutic interventions including Internal Family Systems (IFS)/ parts work, DBT, grounding techniques, and mindfulness to help you accomplish your goals and move through shame, guilt, depression, loneliness, anxiety, overwhelm, anger, trauma/c-PTSD, suicidal ideation, self-hatred, interpersonal distress, and emotion regulation. Here, healing is not a linear path or a checklist to complete. It is a remembering, a reclamation, radical act, it is relational. As an autistic, queer, trans non-binary therapist, I believe that you are inherently worthy as you are, and still, you deserve to carry heavy burdens more lightly. If you're ready to begin, I’d be honored to walk alongside you.

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.