Therapists for college students near University of Chicago

Beth Cappelli is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Illinois. She earned her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Concordia University Chicago, and her internship training was completed at Northwestern Medicine Central Dupage Hospital Behavioral Health. Beth's approach to therapy is collaborative and focused on your unique needs, goals, and life experiences. Your personal values will guide your work together and help create meaningful ways to manage whatever life challenges you are facing. Together you and Beth can gain insight to problems, discover ways to reduce stress and worry, and develop a greater sense of wellbeing. In her free time Beth enjoys attending live music events with friends, playing with her rescue beagle mix Bella, and working on home DIY projects.

Natasha Mahmood, LSW, provides a compassionate and supportive environment for clients across Illinois. Specializing in evidence-based therapeutic techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and play therapy for younger clients, Natasha tailors her approach to each individual's unique needs. She focuses on helping clients set realistic goals and develop coping skills to manage symptoms and improve their day-to-day lives. Natasha is especially skilled in working with children, adolescents, and young adults, providing individual, family, and group therapy to address a range of challenges including anxiety, depression, and trauma. Passionate about working with diverse populations, Natasha has a special focus on ADHD, childhood behavior issues, and PTSD/trauma. She understands the importance of cultural sensitivity and brings a unique, empathetic perspective to her practice, which is informed by her own experiences as a biracial individual. Natasha is also adept at supporting clients with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disabilities, and those within the LGBTQ+ community.

Shelly Gore, LCSW, is dedicated to guiding individuals through life's challenges with compassion and expertise. At LifeStance Health in Illinois, she offers specialized therapy to help clients achieve contentment and resilience. Shelly welcomes children, adolescents, and adults into her practice, ensuring a safe space for healing and growth. With over two decades of experience, Shelly specializes in PTSD/Trauma, ADHD, and Post-Partum Depression/Anxiety. She is passionate about supporting individuals through life transitions, trauma recovery, and managing anxiety and depression. Her therapeutic approach integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Couples/Marital Counseling, and Family Therapy, tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. Shelly embraces cultural humility, recognizing the importance of understanding diverse backgrounds and experiences. She believes in the power of self-compassion and empathy to foster personal growth and well-being. Whether navigating childhood behavior issues, relationship conflicts, or developmental disabilities, Shelly provides personalized care to support her clients' journey towards mental wellness.

Dr. Karyn Cihak is a Psychologist in Illinois who has been practicing since 1999. They completed their undergraduate degree in Psychology at Augustana College. Their first Master?s Degree focusing on behavioral and family systems as related to clinical psychology is from Eastern Illinois University. After working in the field in inpatient and outpatient behavioral health, Dr. Cihak went on the earn their second Master?s degree and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Illinois School of Professional Psychology. Their training focused on neuropsychology and health psychology. Training across a spectrum of orientations including client centered, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic, health psychology, and neuropsychology provides Dr. Cihak with an eclectic base to assist clients in reaching their goals. They sought out additional training to assist clients in navigating their fertility journey. Throughout their career Dr. Cihak has been involved with clients managing acute and chronic medical conditions including oncology, multiple sclerosis, head trauma, orthopedic injury, diabetes, and dementia. Outside of work, Dr. Cihak enjoys experimenting with gourmet cooking, travel, reading, and aquatic fitness.

Krista Thomas is a Licensed Professional Counselor based in Florida, dedicated to helping clients navigate their journey toward healing with compassion and expertise. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in working with adolescents and adults, offering support for a range of challenges including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and ADHD. Krista provides a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can explore their emotions, address concerns, and develop healthy coping mechanisms. Her approach is holistic, combining evidence-based therapeutic techniques with a deep understanding of the complexities of personal struggles. Krista is particularly passionate about assisting the LGBTQIA community and individuals struggling with work-life balance, self-esteem, and boundary-setting. She understands the stressors that can arise from juggling multiple roles and responsibilities, and she empowers clients to create a more balanced, fulfilling life. Whether addressing stress management, trauma, or ADHD, Krista aims to help clients build resilience and regain control over their lives. She is committed to walking alongside her clients, offering practical tools and unwavering support throughout their healing journey.

Noel Tapia is a Nurse Practitioner in Illinois. Noel helps his clients by focusing on a treatment plan that is tailored specifically for the individual. In his spare time, Noel enjoys running, fishing, and weightlifting.

Robyn has experience across therapeutic settings. Her experience includes inpatient treatment, partial hospitalization program treatment, community-based services and outpatient settings. Robyn specializes in treating individuals who suffer from suicidal ideations, self-esteem issues, relationship difficulties, depression, anxiety, personality disorders, trauma (with extensive training and experience with domestic violence & sexual assault), adjustment phases, and substance abuse/dependence. Robyn utilizes a range of therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Solution-Focused, and Person-Centered Therapy. Robyn believes in the importance of the therapeutic relationship and meeting individuals where they are at. She provides psychoeducation and offers encouragement to empower individuals to make changes to live a more fulfilling life. In her free time, Robyn enjoys spending time with family & friends. She also likes to read, travel, and attend baseball games and concerts. Robyn is also a lover of dogs and currently attends agility classes with her own dog.

Nina Pieroni, LCSW, is dedicated to helping individuals across Illinois navigate life?s challenges and work toward improved mental health. With extensive experience in various care settings, including emergency rooms, hospitals, residential treatment centers, and outpatient clinics, Nina provides compassionate, individualized therapy tailored to meet each client?s unique needs. She serves adults and seniors, helping them address a wide range of mental health concerns and guiding them toward personal growth and resilience. Nina specializes in supporting individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, and grief, utilizing evidence-based interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She is particularly passionate about assisting clients through significant life transitions, including midlife and later-life changes, reproductive challenges, and postpartum depression or anxiety.

Victoria Stoklosa-Caldwell is an LPC, who has been practicing since 2017. She graduated from Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL with a MA in Counseling Psychology. Victoria believes in a non-judgmental approach that creates a warm, empathic, genuine, and understanding environment for clients to build a trusting and respectful relationship. She utilizes various therapeutic techniques and approaches based on client needs. Victoria's main areas of focus include clinical mental health counseling for children, teens and adults, gerontological counseling and spiritual counseling. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and pets, reading and continuing her education, traveling, gardening, cooking, crafting, exploring religions and spiritual beliefs of other cultures.

Have you ever felt like you don't quite fit into the boxes other people expect of you? Maybe you're exploring your identity, questioning family expectations, discovering you're neurodivergent, or trying to understand parts of yourself that haven't always felt accepted. Therapy can be a place to get curious about who you are, without feeling like you have to hide, explain, or change yourself to belong. I work with college students, graduate students, and young adults navigating ADHD, AuDHD, depression, relationship and family challenges, identity exploration, and life transitions. I'm especially passionate about supporting neurodivergent students, LGBTQIA+ students, and those exploring racial, cultural, disability, or biracial and mixed-race identities. My approach is collaborative, creative, and affirming. Together, we'll explore the experiences that have shaped you, build on your strengths, and develop practical ways to navigate relationships, emotions, and everyday challenges with greater confidence and self-compassion. I draw from Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Gestalt Therapy, and queer feminist perspectives while honoring your lived experiences, culture, and personal interests. Therapy doesn't have to look the same for everyone. Alongside conversation, we might incorporate art, music, movement, games, or other creative approaches that help you express yourself in ways that feel natural and meaningful. I also support clients navigating family-of-origin concerns, racial, historical, and intergenerational trauma, sexual exploration, and kink in an affirming, nonjudgmental space. My hope is that therapy helps you feel more connected to yourself, more confident in your identity, and more at home in who you are.

It can be exhausting trying to hold everything together while you're also trying to figure out who you are. Maybe you're navigating anxiety, struggling with self-esteem, questioning a relationship, grieving a loss, or adjusting to a major life change. Whatever you're carrying, therapy can help you better understand yourself and move through this stage of life with greater confidence and clarity. I work with college students, graduate students, and young adults navigating anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, relationship challenges, identity development, grief, trauma, and life transitions. Together, we'll explore the experiences that have shaped you, strengthen your sense of self, and develop practical tools to help you manage life's challenges in ways that feel authentic and sustainable. My approach is warm, collaborative, and culturally responsive. I believe meaningful change happens when you feel supported enough to explore your emotions, relationships, and patterns without judgment. We'll work together to strengthen self-esteem, set healthier boundaries, improve relationships, and create a life that feels more aligned with your values. I integrate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and mindfulness to help you build resilience, develop self-compassion, and navigate difficult emotions with greater confidence. My hope is that therapy helps you feel more grounded in who you are, more confident in your relationships, and better equipped to handle life's inevitable changes with resilience and self-trust.

Life can change quickly. Maybe you're starting college, preparing to graduate, beginning a new relationship, grieving a loss, feeling burned out, or wondering how to adjust to everything life is asking of you. Even positive changes can feel overwhelming. Therapy can help you find your footing, manage stress, and move through change with greater confidence and resilience. I work with college students, graduate students, young adults, and women navigating anxiety, stress, burnout, grief, and major life transitions. Together, we'll identify what's contributing to your overwhelm, build practical coping strategies, and help you reconnect with the parts of your life that bring you energy, purpose, and joy. My approach is collaborative, encouraging, and grounded in evidence-based care. I integrate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness to help you better understand your thoughts, strengthen emotional resilience, and create meaningful changes that align with your values. I also believe therapy should feel genuine, so you'll find that I bring warmth, curiosity, and a little humor into our work together. I have a special passion for supporting women through pregnancy, postpartum, and the many emotional and identity shifts that accompany new parenthood. Whether you're adjusting to a new chapter, recovering from burnout, or simply trying to feel like yourself again, we'll work together to create a path forward that feels realistic, sustainable, and uniquely yours. My hope is that you leave therapy feeling more grounded, more confident in yourself, and better equipped to navigate whatever comes next.

Therapy doesn't have to feel intimidating. Whether you're questioning your identity, navigating relationship challenges, struggling with self-esteem, or trying to make sense of overwhelming emotions, therapy can be a place where you feel comfortable showing up exactly as you are—without feeling judged or pressured to have everything figured out. I work with college students, graduate students, and young adults navigating gender identity, sexuality, relationship and communication challenges, trauma, personality disorders, body image concerns, life transitions, and questions about purpose and self-worth. Together, we'll explore the patterns that are keeping you stuck while building practical skills to help you navigate emotions, relationships, and everyday stress with greater confidence. My style is warm, collaborative, and down-to-earth. I believe therapy should feel approachable, and I use humor, creativity, and curiosity to make even difficult conversations feel manageable. Along the way, we'll focus on strengthening self-compassion, developing mindful coping skills, and creating a healthier relationship with yourself and the people around you. As a certified yoga teacher and artist, I also incorporate somatic techniques, meditation, mindfulness, and creative expression when they feel supportive. Whether words come easily or not, we'll find approaches that help you process emotions in ways that feel authentic to you. My hope is that therapy helps you feel more connected to yourself, more confident in your relationships, and empowered to move through life with greater self-acceptance and purpose.

You've been trying to keep everything together, but lately it feels like the pressure is catching up with you. Maybe you're feeling anxious, emotionally overwhelmed, burned out, or constantly questioning yourself. You may be juggling school, relationships, family expectations, or major life changes while wondering why it all feels so much harder than everyone else makes it look. I work with college students, graduate students, and young adults navigating anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, trauma, relationship challenges, emotional regulation, and life transitions. Together, we'll better understand what's contributing to your distress while building practical skills that help you feel more confident, grounded, and connected to yourself. My approach is warm, collaborative, and trauma-informed. I integrate CBT, DBT, Emotion-Focused Therapy, somatic practices, and Motivational Interviewing to help you strengthen emotional regulation, navigate difficult relationships, and respond to life's challenges with greater self-compassion. I also enjoy supporting neurodivergent students, including those on the autism spectrum, in ways that honor their unique strengths and experiences. As a second-generation Indian American woman, I'm especially passionate about supporting South Asian students and women of color navigating cultural expectations, family dynamics, and identity. You won't have to explain the pressure to succeed, code-switching, or balancing different cultural values. Those experiences are welcomed and understood here. My hope is that therapy helps you feel more grounded in who you are, more confident in your relationships, and better equipped to navigate this stage of life with resilience and self-trust.

Anxiety doesn't always look like panic. Sometimes it looks like overthinking every decision, constantly questioning yourself, feeling like you have to get everything "right," or struggling to quiet your mind long enough to enjoy the present. If fear, perfectionism, or self-doubt have been keeping you stuck, therapy can help you build confidence and move forward with greater clarity. I work with college students, graduate students, and young adults navigating anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), low self-esteem, identity development, family-of-origin challenges, and major life transitions. Together, we'll identify the patterns that keep you feeling stuck, better understand the fears driving them, and develop practical strategies to help you live with greater confidence and flexibility. My approach is warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental. I believe you are the expert on your own life, and my role is to help you better understand yourself while building on your strengths. Rather than letting anxiety make your decisions, we'll work toward creating a life that feels more aligned with your values, goals, and the person you want to become. I also work with couples navigating communication challenges, intimacy concerns, relationship transitions, and sexual wellness. Whether you're seeking support as an individual or in a relationship, my goal is to create a space where you feel heard, understood, and empowered to make meaningful, lasting changes. My hope is that therapy helps you trust yourself more fully, strengthen your relationships, and move through life with greater confidence, self-compassion, and purpose.

You spend so much time showing up for everyone else that it's easy to forget to care for yourself. Whether you're balancing school, work, family, motherhood, or a major life transition, you may be feeling anxious, emotionally drained, or unsure of who you are outside of the roles you fill. Therapy can be a place to reconnect with yourself and begin creating the life you want. I work with college students, graduate students, and women navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, life transitions, and relationship stress. I have a special passion for supporting women through pregnancy, postpartum, and the emotional changes that come with motherhood, while also helping women build confidence, healthy boundaries, and a stronger sense of self. My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and empowering. Together, we'll identify what's getting in your way, develop practical tools to navigate life's challenges, and celebrate the progress you make along the way. I believe healing happens when you feel supported, understood, and encouraged to recognize your own strengths. I'm especially passionate about helping women heal from trauma, including generational trauma, strengthen self-worth, and reconnect with their purpose. My hope is that therapy becomes a place where you feel more confident in your voice, more connected to yourself, and better equipped to move through life's transitions with resilience and intention.

Hello and welcome- I’m so glad you’re here! Starting therapy is a courageous and meaningful step, and I want to recognize the strength it takes to prioritize your mental health. Whether this is your first time seeking support or you’ve been in therapy before, I’m truly honored to walk alongside you on this journey. As a licensed social worker, my goal is to meet you where you are and create a space that feels safe, affirming, and grounded in trust. I strive to build a therapeutic relationship that is rooted in compassion, empathy, and authenticity- one where you feel heard, empowered, and supported. Our work together will focus on your unique strengths and goals, with room for self-reflection, growth, and sometimes even a little humor along the way. As a biracial woman, I am especially passionate about working with diverse individuals. I bring a deep respect for identity, culture, and community into the therapeutic space. I have experience supporting children and teens through anxiety, depression, self-esteem challenges, identity exploration, relationship concerns, and academic/life transitions. I bring a culturally responsive lens to therapy and aim to create an inclusive, judgment-free space where diversity is celebrated and your lived experiences are honored. Before transitioning into private practice, I worked as a school social worker and a clinician of a non-profit organization. Within those roles, I supported students and families in areas such as executive functioning, social-emotional development, IEP/504 processes, and behavior intervention plans within the public school system. These experiences have deepened my understanding of the systemic barriers that impact mental health and have strengthened my commitment to culturally responsive, equitable care. Modalities: ● Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) ● Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) ● Strength-Based Therapy ● Mindfulness-Based Therapy ● Solution-Focused Therapy ● Trauma Informed Therapy ● Motivational Interviewing ● Play Therapy Specialty Areas: ● Anxiety ● Depression ● Childhood Traumas ● Life Transitions ● Grief/Loss ● Conduct and Behavioral Concerns ● ADHD ● Emotional Regulation ● Relationship Skills If you're looking for a therapist who will support you with compassion, consistency, and care- I'm here, and I look forward to working with you! Jiana is in-network with Aetna and BCBS PPO. Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Our therapy services for individuals aged 18-25 are designed to address the unique challenges faced during this transformative phase of life. Whether you're navigating the transition to adulthood, managing academic stress, dealing with relationship changes, or exploring personal identity, our compassionate therapists are here to support you. With flexible scheduling options and a commitment to understanding your experiences, we aim to empower you to find clarity, build self-confidence, and develop effective strategies for life’s ups and downs. Take the next step in your mental health journey, connect with us today!

You're used to pushing through. Maybe you're balancing classes, practices, rehearsals, work, or leadership roles while trying to meet everyone's expectations, including your own. From the outside, it may look like you're doing fine, but inside you feel anxious, burned out, disconnected from yourself, or like you're constantly running on empty. You don't have to carry all of that alone. I work with college students, graduate students, athletes, and performers navigating anxiety, trauma, burnout, life transitions, and the pressure to always keep going. Together, we'll create space to slow down, better understand what you're experiencing, and build practical tools that help you feel more grounded, resilient, and connected to yourself. My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and rooted in curiosity. I integrate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), somatic therapy, and feminist psychology to support both your emotional and physical well-being. We'll explore how stress and trauma affect your mind and body while developing skills you can use long after therapy ends. As a former ballerina, I understand the unique pressures that athletes and performers often face, including perfectionism, injuries, burnout, and identity shifts when life doesn't go according to plan. I also have specialized training in women's mental health, pregnancy and reproductive experiences, perinatal and postpartum mental health, and chronic pain and mind-body healing. My hope is that therapy becomes a place where you feel genuinely heard, reconnect with your strengths, and move through life with greater confidence, balance, and self-compassion.

I specialize in supporting LGBTQIA+ students and those navigating grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, or substance use, always providing a safe and affirming space. I take a collaborative and relational approach that helps students explore patterns, rewrite old narratives, and uncover strengths they may not recognize in themselves. My pronouns are he/him.