Therapists for college students near University of Chicago

If it feels like everyone else got the handbook for adulthood except you, you're not alone. I work with young adults navigating anxiety, OCD, perfectionism, and relationship stress. You might struggle with intrusive thoughts, panic, people-pleasing, or the pressure to have everything figured out. Together, we'll move beyond insight by building practical tools, facing fears gradually, and creating healthier patterns so you can feel more confident, grounded, and free to fully engage in your life. Our work is collaborative, supportive, and focused on real change. Together, we'll understand the patterns keeping you stuck while building practical skills to regulate your nervous system, face fears, and respond differently to life's challenges. Therapy isn't just about talking—it's about helping you feel more confident, grounded, and free. Starting therapy can feel intimidating, especially if you're used to handling everything on your own. You don't have to keep carrying it all alone. If you're looking for a space that's both supportive and practical, where we can work toward meaningful change together, I'd love to connect and see if we're a good fit.

CORE - Center Of Relational Empowerment, PC helps individuals, couples and families strengthen their core selves, and in doing so, empowers them to strengthen their relationships with others. CORE provides psychological therapy, workshops, groups and psychoeducational seminars for people from all walks of life. At the heart of CORE is our belief that everyone has leadership and healing qualities - perspective, confidence, compassion, and acceptance - crucial to our highest, most harmonious functioning. Today you are one step closer to a new you where you feel empowered and on a positive path to growth and well-being. While we can't change difficult situations of the past, we can work together to better understand and resolve challenges in your life. Therapy and counseling can help uncover long-standing patterns and behaviors that can get in the way of feeling fulfilled in our relationships with ourselves and others. We believe that no family or cultural system operates the same way and that there is no "right" way to live life. Therefore, it is our goal to understand the problems you are facing through your own context in order to find the meanings and solutions that work best for you. If you're looking for extra support and guidance through a challenging situation or you're just ready to move in a new direction in your life, we look forward to working with you to achieve your goals.

Main character energy is something that you deserve to give off. Why? Because this is your life and everyone deserves to live the life that they want to live (yes, including you), and I deeply believe this. Since this is something I am passionate about, I will work with you to help make sure that you are able to live life fully and happily. I do this through active listening, patience, open mindedness, kindness, and support. I ensure that you will have a space that is welcoming to be who you are, as you are, safe and judgment free. I know that college is a whole new world, with new fun experiences and stress. I will partner with you to navigate the unique challenges of adjusting to school, friends, independence, and this stage of life. Whether you are experiencing; stress, anxiety, depression, or any unpleasant emotion. You are not alone, and together we will make sure that you are living a life aligned with your goals! Together, we will identify strategies to help you achieve those goals. As the expert of your own experiences, feel free to provide feedback and actively participate in the therapeutic process. It's a team effort, and my goal is to ensure that you get the most out of our sessions, so you can live a life aligned with your goals. Remember, you are not alone, and together we will navigate and overcome any challenges you may face. As an African American woman living in Chicago, I understand the pressure to ‘have it together’ or the need to be emotionally and mentally strong at all times. Life is extreme and when you add in the pressures to conform to the way of the world, life can be unbearable. Growing up on the west side of Chicago, I was able to see the inequities faced by brown and black people. I was able to see the negative impact of the injustices placed on the brown and black people. I was able to see the clear segregation of people, resources, and support and I am able to understand the pain the world has caused. My goal is to remind people of color that they are powerful, that their voices should be loud and clear, and that their presence is necessary. My passion is to be and create a safe space for those who struggle with just being. I enjoy working with the LGBTQIA+ community, the houseless community, and with Black Lives Matter to create a movement for equity, not just equality.

I work with clients struggling with trauma, grief, depression, anxiety, and identity. During our initial sessions we spend time trust building by getting to know one another, creating a safe environment, and establishing goals. I collaborate with clients through creative expression to develop a plan for addressing issues at hand, decrease stress, and increase mind-body connection.

Maribeth is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who works with adolescents and adults to help find flexibility and ease in their lives. She specializes in addressing trauma, eating disorders, mood disorders, and family of origin challenges. Additionally, Maribeth works with couples to enhance emotional connection and strengthen relationship satisfaction. As an immigrant herself, she is passionate about supporting fellow immigrants and members of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community. Maribeth is bilingual and provides counseling in both English and Tagalog. Maribeth is known for her gentle yet directive approach that creates a space for clients to foster curiosity about their fears, build insight and understanding with themselves, and feel empowered to make changes. She believes that when we approach all parts of ourselves with compassion and curiosity, we can live a more authentic, fulfilling, and joyful life. Using a variety of therapeutic modalities, including Internal Family Systems, Shame-Informed Therapy, and ACT, she helps clients process their emotions and develop skills for their personal growth journey. When she’s not sitting in the therapist chair, Maribeth enjoys traveling, collecting pens and stationery supplies, and spending time with her family and their dog.

I have been in practice as a therapist for over 10 years and have worked in a variety of treatment settings over the course my my career. As a queer therapist, I enjoy working with LGBTQIA+ individuals and the issues we face, and welcome clients of all races, sizes, genders, cultures, abilities and orientations. I specialize in working with clients with depression and anxiety, binge eating and body image distress, Borderline Personality Disorder, and other struggles in regulating emotions and managing relationships.

College and graduate school can bring exciting opportunities, but they can also leave you feeling overwhelmed, emotionally drained, or unsure of how to handle everything that's coming your way. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, relationship conflict, academic stress, identity questions, or feeling stuck in patterns you can't seem to change, therapy can help you better understand yourself and build the skills to move forward with confidence. I work with college students, graduate students, and young adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, emotional regulation, relationship challenges, identity development, and neurodivergence. I have extensive experience supporting first-generation, international, LGBTQIA+, disabled, and neurodivergent students, and I'm committed to creating a culturally responsive space where every part of your identity is welcomed and respected. My approach is relational, collaborative, and trauma-informed. Together, we'll explore the experiences and patterns that have shaped the way you relate to yourself and others while building practical tools to help you manage difficult emotions, strengthen relationships, and feel more grounded in everyday life. I integrate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), interpersonal therapy, somatic approaches, mindfulness, and Time-Limited Dynamic Psychotherapy (TLDP) to support meaningful, lasting change. Along the way, you'll gain practical strategies you can use outside of therapy while developing greater self-awareness, resilience, and trust in yourself. My hope is that therapy helps you feel more confident navigating relationships, managing emotions, and creating a life that reflects who you are and where you want to go.

Beginning therapy can often seem daunting. It can be the first time you are admitting something isn’t working, or you aren’t feeling okay. I want to provide the space and time for you to sit with that possibility, work together to understand those thoughts and feelings, and use your experiences to guide you toward new, affirming spaces and connections. Together, we can support you in navigating depression, anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, ADHD, neurodivergence, identity and LGBTQ+ related concerns, as well as relationship challenges, family dynamics, and major life transitions. Whether you’re beginning therapy or returning to it, I look forward to connecting and working together.

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.

I am a Counselor with a passion for supporting emerging adults as they wade through the complexities of today's world. I believe in a Person-centered , Humanistic approach to therapy. Building therapeutic relationships based around trust and mutual respect, fostering an environment of non-judgement, positive regard, and authenticity. I assist my clients on their journey towards their desired goals, working together we will discover ways to spur personal growth and foster a greater sense of fulfillment in one's life, utilizing, expanding, and developing skills and abilities, including ones you might not even know you already have. I have experience working with a broad range of clients. I particularly enjoy working with emerging adults struggling with life transitions, self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. I also have a strong interest in working with clients involve in the creative arts. As well as those living with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions. Utilizing my own experience gaining a BFA in Filn and Television from DePaul University, and being informed by my journey with Legal Blindness. I strive to listen and understand without judgment, and to honor each client's individual perspective on life and the world around them. I am excited to collaborate with my future clients, providing compassion and support as you tackle life's many hurdles. I have immediate availability for new client's, including weekdays and weeknights.

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.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Introduction Dr. Victoriya Tsaran completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology at Loyola University, and completed both her Master’s and Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Schaumburg. Currently, Dr. Victoriya Tsaran is the owner and clinical director at Progressive Psychological Healthcare. Dr. Tsaran’s multicultural background allows her to utilize the awareness and understanding of diverse client needs, and utilizes multicultural sensitivity and appreciation in her therapuetic approach. Dr. Victoriya Tsaran provides therapy services in both English and Russian. Experience Dr. Victoriya Tsaran has worked in a wide range of professional settings, including behavioral health hospitals, community mental health centers, skilled nursing facilities and medical rehabilitation centers providing mental health services. In addition, Dr. Tsaran has worked in school settings as well as therapeutic schools and private group practices. Dr. Tsaran’s clinical experience includes working with hundreds of unique, complex and diverse clients. She believes that the client’s success is born out of a trusting and supportive relationship that the client and therapist build together. This is not an easy task since many components play a role in the type of relationship that is allowed to be developed in the therapeutic relationship. The relationships that Dr. Tsaran has developed with her clients and patients was based on her ability to empathize with their developmental needs and understand their unique environment, their perspective of the world around them, and the way they view themselves and others while maintaining healthy professional boundaries. Providing a safe and nurturing environment that encourages a trusting relationship is the goal Dr. Tsaran has for her clients, especially during the early stages of therapy. Therapy Approach Dr. Tsaran’s clinical work revolves around being supportive, flexible, and progressive. Dr. Tsaran approaches her patients and their problems from an individualized perspective and utilizes an individualized treatment plan that is tailored specifically to her patient’s individual and unique needs. Over the years, Dr. Tsaran has developed an eclectic perspective to therapy and utilizes a unique combination of psychotherapy, mind-body awareness, family systems therapy, emotion focused therapy and cognitive behavioral techniques. Her wide range of knowledge and competency in various psychological theories allows Dr. Tsaran to be flexible in her individualized treatment approach with every client. Dr. Tsaran’s areas of specialty include: working with children, young adults, adults, families and couples therapy. She is experienced in treating various clinical presentations including depression, anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, adjustment disorders, behavioral problems, relationship conflict and parenting stress. “I aim to revive my patients from the current positions in their lives and help bring in the much needed harmony and infused positivity that will allow my clients to progress in their minds, their mental health and their overall life.”

Hello! My name is Kalea Abernathy. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor. I received my Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Clinical and Counseling from Colorado State University and my Master of Arts in Counseling at Northwestern University. I specialize in working with children, adolescents, and their families. I believe that the key aspects of counseling are empathy, collaboration, and unconditional positive regard. With these foundational pieces, I work with my clients to create a trusting therapeutic relationship where individuals feel safe to process their past and present and feel empowered to achieve their goals.I have experience helping individuals address complex trauma, post traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, and ODD. I integrate multiple lenses such as dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, person-centered, and psychodynamic to better help and understand my clients. Before working at Hartman Counseling and Consulting, I worked with adults at The Family Institute at Northwestern University, helping individuals work through grief and loss and mood disorders, and at The Bridge Youth and Family Services where I worked with children, adolescents, and their families who were experiencing anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress, and behavioral difficulties

College and grad school can bring a lot of pressure—and for many students, that can show up in their relationship with food and their body. Between academic stress, social comparison, changing routines, and campus culture, it's common for body image concerns and eating disorder symptoms to become more intense. As an eating disorder registered dietitian, I provide compassionate, trauma-informed nutrition counseling from a Health at Every Size® (HAES®) and All Foods Fit approach. Whether you're struggling with an eating disorder, chronic dieting, body image, or simply want to feel more at peace with food, I'm here to help you build a healthier, more flexible relationship with eating and with yourself. I also lead Yoga for Embodiment and offer virtual sessions for Illinois and Oregon residents.

Madison’s top priority is creating a safe, supportive space where clients navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relational concerns, or life transitions can feel heard and understood. She brings warmth, curiosity, and steadiness to each session, offering compassion alongside practical tools for growth. Her integrative approach helps clients better understand their emotions and patterns through parts-work (IFS) and somatic-based interventions to create meaningful change. Madison's counseling philosophy is integrative and collaborative. She emphasizes empathy and authenticity in building rapport. Maddie integrates Cognitive behavioral therapy and Interpersonal Family Systems within her work with clients. Madison meets clients where they are, honoring their pace and readiness for change. Counseling is a journey we take together, at the speed that feels right for you. With warmth and understanding, she will help create a space where you feel safe to heal, grow, and rediscover your strengths.

Students who come to work with me often share some things in common: -They're high-achievers. Driven, capable, and holding it together on the outside, but quietly exhausted, burned out, or feeling like something's missing on the inside. -They might be navigating anxiety or OCD, going through a major life transition, or questioning their purpose and what comes next. They may be working through shifts in their relationships, with a partner, with their parents, or with themselves. -Many have never asked for help before. They're used to being the one who has it together, and reaching out takes real courage for them. If any of that sounds familiar, reach out for a free 20-minute consultation and let's get started together :)

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!

Our mission at Center Focused Therapy is to provide the highest level of ethical, competent and intentional treatment to our clients. We appreciate how difficult it can be to start therapy and do not take this decision lightly. Whether you have a clear idea of what you hope to address in therapy or are unsure of where to begin, our therapists are determined to meet you where you are in your own journey of healing and growth. Interested in learning more? Email or call us and we will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

When we need support, it can be intimidating to know where to start. You may be feeling trapped by the past and overwhelmed by the future, struggling with self-doubt, or experiencing loneliness. To overcome feeling lost and stuck, therapy can help you figure out your options, learn more about yourself, and find new ways to cope. By beginning the search for therapy, you have already shown courage and self-awareness to recognize you are ready for change. As a queer woman, my approach to therapy is trauma-informed, sex-positive, and anti-oppressive. I have over a decade of experience working with people living with anxiety, depression, and burnout. In serving survivors of abuse and violence, I supported them in their recovery and healing from trauma. I have partnered with clients on their journey to build meaningful relationships and to explore their gender and sexuality.