Therapists for college students near University of Chicago

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.

You’ve mastered survival so well that you forgot what it feels like to simply live. You know how to push through. You know how to keep moving when you’re exhausted. You know how to put your feelings aside and handle what needs to be handled. But surviving your days isn’t the same as feeling present in your life. Therapy can help you move beyond constantly managing the next problem and start understanding what you need to feel more grounded, connected, and confident. We’ll work through anxiety, depression, stress, and self-doubt while building tools you can carry into everyday life. Our therapists work with teens and adults who are ready to understand themselves better, make changes, and feel more in control of their lives. We provide convenient virtual therapy making it easier to get consistent support without adding another stressful task to your schedule. You deserve therapy that feels relevant to your actual life. You don’t need to become better at surviving. You deserve a space where you don’t have to pretend you’re okay. Contact us today to schedule your appointment and take the first step toward feeling more balanced, confident, and in control.

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.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Jordan Hammes is a dedicated mental health counselor with experience working in outpatient behavioral health, inpatient rehabilitation, and community practice settings. He specializes in identity development, relational concerns, career transitions, and substance use treatment. Jordan takes an integrative and client-centered approach, drawing from dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), Gestalt therapy, and existential-humanistic theory. He focuses on fostering self-awareness, personal responsibility, and meaningful change in a supportive and non-judgmental environment. Passionate about counselor education and professional development, Jordan has also served as a supervisor and adjunct instructor. He is committed to helping individuals navigate life’s challenges, build resilience, and achieve their personal goals.

Getting started in therapy can feel like a challenging first step to feeling better. At our practice, we strive to make this a smooth transition where you will feel heard and understood. Our primary goal is focused on developing and maintaining a safe, open, empathetic, and trusting dynamic with each client. Together we can move through difficult or challenging life experiences in a warm and accessible way. Our practice specializes in both art therapy and regular talk therapy approaches. It is my personal belief that art materials are a way to connect with other people, process difficult experiences, and work through emotions. I work from a collaborative, person-centered, relational, and strengths-based approach. This means I will use non-judgment to consider all aspects of your life and identity— while remaining open to things that cannot be changed. I utilize an intersectional feminist lens and I specialize in trauma, anxiety, boundaries, relationships, abuse, sexuality, gender exploration, life transitions,disability, memory loss, identity exploration, and resiliency work.

Hi there, my name is Juan Contreras, and I'm a therapist at Mindful Therapy Services in Chicago. We have no waitlist at this time and currently accepting new clients. Clients often come see us because they're looking for a down-to-earth therapist. We offer therapy services for most issues including anxiety, depression, relationships issues, college navigation/transition, first generation college students, immigrant background, LGBTQ+, ADHD, suicide ideation, emotion regulation and expression, and more. We do accept insurance (most PPO plans like BCBS, Aetna, USHIP, UnitedHealthCare, and Cigna) and can verify your benefits before getting started. For convenience, we offer online therapy allowing for more flexible scheduling for during the day, later in the afternoon, and evening. Why wait? Email us today: info@mindfultherapyservices.net

My name is Sydney, and I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Chicago, Illinois. I’ve spent the last four years as a mental health therapist in both private practice and community mental health settings working with remarkable individuals who face mental health challenges, uncertainty, and loss. Throughout my experience as both an individual and as a therapist, I know how especially challenging and isolating it can feel to navigate college and early adulthood while also learning how to manage symptoms of mental health challenges. But you don’t have to do it alone. I created my small private practice, Ambedo Psychotherapy, to offer partnership and therapeutic insight to help you to understand your current situation, pull from your unique strengths, and to grow into the next best version of yourself. In my experience, no mental health struggle looks exactly alike, so I incorporate an eclectic combination of evidence-based therapeutic interventions including CBT, IFS, DBT, and EMDR tailored to help you meet your mental health goals.

As a Black, pansexual woman supporting LGBTQIA+ students and communities, I bring lived experience and tools like mindfulness, yoga, and emotional regulation to our work together. I help students get to the root of their struggles, unlearn old patterns, and build new ways of coping and growing. Change takes time, and I offer patience and support along the way. I specialize in trauma, generational patterns, and family challenges, creating a safe, affirming space where your journey is honored. My pronouns are she/her.