Therapists for college students near University of Chicago

I provide a warm, affirming space for LGBTQIA+ students to show up fully and feel supported with compassion and acceptance. My approach is trauma-informed and client-centered, often integrating art, music, writing, mindfulness, and body-based practices. As a gender-nonconforming, queer therapist, I value authenticity and understand the complexities of identity and self-image. I support students navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and life transitions while fostering growth and connection. My pronouns are they/them.

I use CBT, ACT, DBT, and Relational Cultural Theory to support LGBTQIA+ students with anxiety, depression, grief, relationship challenges, life transitions, and identity concerns. My style is warm and collaborative, helping you build coping skills and discover new perspectives. I create a safe space for growth, healing, and rewriting your story with strength. I believe we're all narrators of our own lives, even when challenges make us feel stuck in difficult chapters. My pronouns are he/him.

I use approaches like CBT, ACT, DBT, and mindfulness to support students with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationships, athletes & veterans, and LGBTQIA+ concerns. Therapy with me is collaborative. You are the expert of your own experience, and together we build insight and coping skills. I have extensive experience with substance use, dual diagnosis, self-esteem, and body image struggles. My pronouns are he/him.

I center my work on supporting LGBTQIA+ students navigating identity concerns related to gender and race. Using DBT, ERP, and solution-focused approaches, I also help with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and life transitions. I understand how substance use, relationship challenges, and emotion-regulation struggles can intersect with marginalized identities and amplify feelings of not belonging. My goal is to offer a warm, affirming space where you can bring your full self, build insight, and move toward meaningful change. At Inclusive Insight Psychotherapy, we believe connection is where we heal. My pronouns are he/they.

I support LGBTQIA+ students experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, life transitions, and body-image or health concerns, using ACT, DBT, EMDR, and solution-focused therapy. I believe the therapeutic relationship is central, creating a safe, collaborative space to explore new ways of thinking and coping. With over 20 years of experience, I've worked with students facing grief, abuse, postpartum challenges, and complex mental health struggles. My goal is to help you build skills, clarify your goals, and feel empowered to grow. My pronouns are she/her.

I support LGBTQIA+ students navigating trauma, dissociation, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and identity exploration, using ACT, DBT, IFS, EMDR, and coping skills like TIPP. My approach is trauma-informed, collaborative, and grounded in cultural humility, always centering your values and goals. Together, we'll build tools for self-regulation, resilience, and stronger connections. Whether you're working through religious trauma, family struggles, or feeling stuck, I provide a safe space for growth, authenticity, and healing. My pronouns are she/her.

I help students manage anxiety, family or personal crisis, relationship struggles, and life transitions. My approach is warm and client-centered, drawing from ACT, CBT, EFT, and psychodynamic tools. I believe you already have the answers, and together we'll break challenges into manageable steps. My goal is to create a supportive space where you feel heard, confident, and empowered to grow. My pronouns are she/her.

I support students facing trauma, anxiety, depression, and big life transitions using EMDR, relational therapy, and parts work. My style is laid-back and eclectic. We follow what you need, using talk, EMDR, and deeper work when it feels right. I believe you are the expert of your own experience, and therapy should be a mirror where you can safely explore what's shaping your life. My goal is to help you heal, grow, and move forward with confidence and clarity. My pronouns are she/her.

I support LGBTQIA+ students exploring gender, identity, anxiety, grief, and life transitions using psychodynamic and narrative therapy. I believe your past experiences and stories shape how you feel today, and together we'll build clarity and resilience. You set the pace, and I'll meet you with support and curiosity. My goal is to create a safe, affirming space where you feel understood and empowered to grow. My pronouns are he/him.

I'm a queer, non-binary therapist using ACT, CBT, IFS, somatic work, and strength-based methods to support students in exploring identity, gender transitions, and navigating trauma. I believe your story, your history, culture, and lived experience matter deeply and shape how you heal. In our work together, you set the pace; I create space for authenticity, clarity, and relational connection so you can grow with intention. My goal is to help you feel seen, empowered, and more aligned with who you are. My pronouns are he/they.

I support queer, trans, LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, and polyamorous students exploring identity, sexuality, and relationships. My approach is person-centered, feminist, and affirming, weaving in somatic practices and IFS to help you connect with your whole self. Therapy with me is a collaborative, creative space where your story and identity are valued. Together, we'll build clarity, self-acceptance, and meaningful growth. My pronouns are she/they.

I support LGBTQIA+ students navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, bipolar disorder, and identity exploration, including gender and cultural identity. My approach is collaborative and adaptive, drawing from CBT, ACT, DBT, and attachment-based practices to find what works best for you. I'm LGBTQ+ affirming, culturally responsive, and committed to supporting neurodivergent and disabled students. Together, we'll build coping skills, confidence, and a stronger sense of self. My pronouns are she/her.

I support students navigating issues around sex, intimacy, gender identity, relational dynamics, shame, creativity blocks, or spiritual and religious trauma, using holistic, trauma-focused, interpersonal, and EMDR-informed approaches. I believe therapy should create a space where your truth matters, your experiences, your identity, and your spirituality all shape how you heal. Together, we'll work to build tools, growth, and connection so you can move past what's hurting you and towards what you value. My goal is to help you feel seen, empowered, and more in tune with who you are. My pronouns are he/him.

I support students exploring gender identity, LGBTQIA+ concerns, anxiety, depression, intimacy, and stress related to academic or work/life balance. My approach is client-centered, drawing on CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, and psychodynamic tools, with tools you can use here and now. I aim to create a space where who you are is honored, your experiences are heard, and your identity feels valid. My goal is to help you build confidence, strengthen your relationships, and feel more grounded in your life. My pronouns are he/him.

I help LGBTQIA+ students dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, identity development, and issues around culture/LGBTQIA+ belonging. My approach is strengths-based, insight-oriented, culturally sensitive, and trauma-focused. I want you to feel seen as your whole self. We'll work together to build tools that help you cope, gain clarity, and grow in confidence. My aim is to create a supportive, affirming space where your story matters, and you can explore toward healing on your terms. My pronouns are she/her.

Have you ever wondered why you keep falling into the same patterns, even when you know better? Maybe you replay conversations in your head, shut down during conflict, worry about how others see you, or feel overwhelmed by emotions that seem to come out of nowhere. Therapy can help you understand where these patterns come from and how to begin responding differently. I work with college students and young adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, emotional overwhelm, and life transitions. Together, we'll explore how your past experiences, attachment style, and nervous system may be shaping the way you think, feel, and connect with others. As those patterns become clearer, you'll begin building new ways of responding with greater confidence, self-compassion, and emotional balance. My approach is warm, relational, and collaborative. I believe you're the expert on your own life, and my role is to help you better understand yourself with curiosity, compassion, and practical support. Along the way, I'll offer tools you can use between sessions so the work we do together becomes part of your everyday life. I integrate CBT, DBT, ACT, Internal Family Systems (IFS), attachment-focused therapy, somatic therapy, and polyvagal-informed approaches to meet your unique needs. Our work may include gentle nervous system regulation practices, such as grounding, breathwork, and mindfulness, alongside traditional talk therapy to help you feel more connected to yourself and better equipped to navigate life's challenges. I also support clients healing from childhood, relationship, and sexual trauma, as well as those navigating self-harm or suicidal thoughts. My goal is to help you feel safer in your own mind and body, strengthen your relationships, and move through life with greater confidence, resilience, and self-compassion.

You may understand your patterns and still find yourself repeating them. Insight can be an important first step, but sometimes you also need support turning that understanding into real change. I work with adults and couples navigating anxiety, trauma, life transitions, relationship challenges, and identity exploration. I especially enjoy supporting clients exploring multicultural or interracial identities, strengthening communication, building self-compassion, and creating healthier ways of relating to themselves and others. My style is warm, direct, and action-oriented. Together, we’ll identify the patterns keeping you stuck, build practical tools, and help you make changes that feel aligned with your values. I offer therapy in English and Spanish and integrate DBT, somatic and body-based approaches, Dance/Movement Therapy, expressive arts, and Imago Relationship Therapy. Therapy with me is a culturally responsive space where every part of your identity is welcome, and where you can expect both support and honest encouragement.

Ellie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who believes healing begins within safe, trusting relationships. She works to create a warm and nonjudgmental space where individuals feel seen, heard, and understood. Her work is informed by psychodynamic and attachment theories, and an understanding of nervous system regulation. She is attentive to how early relationships and life experiences shape emotional patterns, self-perception, and how we relate to others. Ellie also helps clients recognize how their nervous system responds to stress, supporting them in becoming more grounded, connected, and in control. Her approach invites greater self-awareness, emotional flexibility, and lasting change. Ellie is passionate about working with individuals who have dealt with various forms of overwhelming stress and trauma, focusing in particular on work with children and adolescents. She incorporates a range of modalities including play, talk, and art therapy, recognizing the unique ways children express themselves and explore their worlds. She meets each child where they are at and allows play and the relationship to serve as powerful tools for healing, growth, and connection. Ellie also strives to support parents and caregivers in understanding their child more deeply and fostering strong and healthy family relationships. Whether working with a child, teen, or adult, Ellie brings warmth, curiosity, and deep respect for each person’s story. ​

JD Peters (he/him), is Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). He earned his master’s degree in Addiction Studies: Advanced Practice from the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School, and spent his career walking alongside individuals and families navigating the challenges of addiction to alcohol and other substances, as well as the broader journey of healing and recovery. He works with people facing a wide range of concerns—from anxiety and depression to grief and trauma—and offers both abstinence-based and harm-reduction approaches depending on what feels most supportive for each person. He believes healing is deeply personal, and that change is hard to do alone. His role is to create a space where you feel safe, seen, and empowered to explore what works best for you. JD has experience working with LGBTQIA+ individuals as they navigate identity, relationships, internalized stigma, and family or societal stressors. He strives to offer affirming care that honors each person’s truth and lived experience. He draws from evidence-based practices like DBT, CBT, ACT, and Motivational Interviewing, blending these approaches into conversations that support growth, healing, and hope. Whether you're just beginning your journey or looking to deepen your understanding of yourself, JD is here to support you with compassion and curiosity.

Colleen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with three years of experience providing therapy in private practice. She received her Master's in Social Work from Dominican University, with a focus on health and well-being. She supports children, adolescents, and young adults by providing a safe, open, and nonjudgmental space to explore challenges, embrace strengths, and feel empowered. Before private practice, Colleen worked in community settings as an advocate for those impacted by domestic violence. These experiences shaped her passion as a therapist and her commitment to social justice. She values understanding how exposure to trauma, oppression, marginalization, and grief/loss can influence one’s experience of the world and contribute to challenges like anxiety, depression, life transitions, and relational conflicts. Her approach is client-centered, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, neurodivergent-affirming, and play-based. By prioritizing these lenses, Colleen helps clients feel engaged, authentic, and supported in their therapeutic growth.