Therapists for college students near University of Chicago
Do you need a space to sort through the complexity of adulthood? Have you realized some mental health concerns as you navigate through college and beyond? Therapy Atlas, founded by social worker Sophia Jelsma, helps you unpack what's coming up and cope in healthy ways. She uses an evidence-based approach rooted in CBT, DBT, and EMDR.
College can look manageable from the outside while feeling overwhelming behind the scenes. I work best with students who may be struggling with anxiety, depression, difficulty focusing, burnout, or the pressure to keep up academically and socially. You may feel like you are working harder than everyone else to stay organized, wondering whether ADHD could explain lifelong challenges, or finding that strategies that once worked are no longer enough. I offer thoughtful, individualized care that looks beyond symptoms to understand your health, daily life, and goals.
Nicole Barone MA, LCPC is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with over eight years of experience in the mental health field. She earned her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marist College where she developed a strong foundation in evidence-based practices and person-centered care. She has worked with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and is passionate about helping clients navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, stress, and interpersonal difficulties. Her clinical work focuses on helping individuals gain insight and better understand themselves, build coping skills, and improve their overall quality of life. She believes therapy is most effective when clients feel safe, supported, and truly heard. Her goal is to create a warm, nonjudgmental environment where clients can be themselves and explore what’s most important to them. Her approach is collaborative, compassionate, and grounded in evidence-based practices. She incorporates Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and motivational interviewing, tailoring each session to the unique needs of the individual. She strives to bring curiosity, empathy, and authenticity into each session.
As a therapist and pleasure activist I strive to create a safe, accessible environment for you to connect with and express your most authentic self. During sessions, your trust and safety are priorities for me. I practice from a relational and client-centered framework, understanding that you are the expert in your own experience. With my warm and direct approach, I seek to ask the right questions to help you make new connections and provide a fresh perspective. I have experience supporting clients through gender-identity development, C-PTSD, Dissociative Identity Disorder, gender dysphoria, anxiety and depression. As a therapist, researcher, and pleasure activist I strive to create a safe, accessible environment for you to connect with and express your most authentic self. During sessions, your trust and safety are priorities for me. I practice from a relational and client-centered framework, understanding that you are the expert in your own experience. With my warm and direct approach, I seek to ask the right questions to help you make new connections and provide a fresh perspective. I have experience supporting clients through gender-identity development, C-PTSD, Dissociative Identity Disorder, gender dysphoria, anxiety and depression. With my lived experience as a transgender woman, I bring a compassionate and affirming approach to my therapeutic practice. I am passionate about working with transgender/gender diverse, Autistic, and Disabled clients, and pride myself as a kink/BDSM, polyamory/ENM, and sex-worker allied therapist.
My work as a therapist is deeply rooted in connection. Creating a safe space is essential in order to explore and uncover unconscious thoughts and feelings. Considering important aspects of connection such as attachment style, communication, and intimacy can enhance not only the relationship with one’s self, but also with others. I am passionate about working with individuals who have survived trauma, live with anxiety, depression, grief, codependence, as well as interpersonal and internal conflict. My individualized care caters to each client and meets them where they are, while considering each of their identities. Building strong connections with each client is essential as well as my belief that each person is the expert of their own experience. I have worked with many students and understand academic stress as well as the many adjustments that come along with being a student in higher education. I am here to provide support, understanding, and non-judgement.
In our therapy sessions, we’ll work collaboratively to increase your insight and better understand the deeper roots of the current problems that you are facing. Together, we will increase your ability to better tolerate difficult emotions, more effectively cope with the issues that you are facing, and create a problem-solving style that works for you. My empathic, direct, and empowering clinical style will help you discover the best version of you. Here are some of my specialties: *Generalist *Interpersonal, Relational Style *Adults *Individuals *LBGTQ+ Affirming *Depression *Mood Disorders *Anxiety *PTSD/C-PTSD *Trauma Informed *Substance Abuse *Self-esteem/Assertiveness/Boundaries *Grief/Loss *Relationship Issues *Understanding unhealthy family/childhood patterns & roles and changing how these are repeated in one’s adult relationships *Narcissistic abuse recovery
As an experienced clinician specializing in anxiety and depression, I work with individuals to reduce symptoms, increase resilience and interrupt unhelpful thought patterns. I believe a supportive therapeutic relationship is essential for meaningful change, and I work collaboratively with clients to create a space to explore the parts of you that feel overwhelmed, identify triggers and build skills to manage anxious and depressive thoughts and physical symptoms. My practice is IFS-informed and strengths-based, helping clients feel more grounded, in control and confident in their daily lives.
I create a space where you are encouraged to express your most authentic self without the fear of judgment or the need to appear in a certain light, all while being witnessed, supported, and challenged. I tend to work best with individuals who possess some insight into their behavior and have a sense of curiosity about themselves and the world around them. At a certain point, reoccurring struggles lead us to look for a therapy to not just lessen the effects of mental health symptoms, but that engages us in a collaborative and authentic experience to produce long-term growth and self-understanding. Through a strong therapeutic relationship, I help individuals understand how past experiences shape current thoughts and behaviors, allowing them to take agency and confront/change what is problematic with greater clarity, intention, and effectivity. I have formal training in psychodynamic therapy and often see individuals multiple times per week. Searching for a therapist is difficult, and oftentimes it's hard to tell who might be a good fit from reading profiles alone. I am happy to speak with perspective patients/clients over the phone before scheduling anything concrete. This way, we can both get a better sense for whether or not we feel that we'd be a good fit to work together. I tend to be laid-back and relaxed, mixing in humor often. I draw primarily from my psychoanalytic training, which emphasizes the importance of the therapeutic relationship, as well as developmental and childhood experiences. Additionally, I have experience with cognitive-behavioral, dialectical-behavioral, and mindfulness therapies.
As a previous university counseling center therapist, I work well with students who feel stuck and unhappy, and who are looking to make some sort of change in their lives, whether it is related to mood, purpose, addictions/habits, and/or relationships. I also work well with student who are experiencing nervousness about their academic and/or personal lives, and who are feeling overwhelmed with stress. I help students figure out how to be successful as they transition into young adulthood.
Resurgo Psychotherapy provides individual therapy for adults navigating anxiety, relationship difficulties, life transitions, self-esteem concerns, substance use, and compulsive behaviors. I work especially well with clients who feel stuck in recurring patterns, struggle with overthinking or uncertainty, or want to better understand themselves and their relationships. My approach is integrative and psychodynamic, combining deeper exploration of underlying patterns with practical strategies for creating meaningful change. I offer both in-person therapy in Chicago and telehealth throughout Illinois and am in-network with BCBSIL, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare/Optum, and Cigna.
Grey Area Therapy is a small, private practice conveniently located in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood with easy access to public transportation and an emphasis on building meaningful, authentic connections with clients. As a therapist with Grey Area Therapy, I work with clients on needs related to anxiety, major life transitions, chronic illness, and depression. With individualized approaches to empathetic therapy, we will work to help slow things down, become more intentional, and build awareness of our life experiences. I offer both in-person and virtual appointments. I accept Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and Cigna insurance and offer free 15-minute phone consultations to help you find a therapist that works for you!
At CFC Therapy Group, we believe in possibilities—and we empower you to realize yours. Working with our team of experienced therapists, you’ll gain the strength to navigate life’s challenges, confront what’s holding you back, and achieve your fullest potential. We are Relationship Experts. Whether you’re looking to create a more positive dynamic with family and friends, a significant other, or simply with yourself, we’ll help you get there. At CFC Therapy Group, we’re committed to your possibility. Contact us today to book an appointment
Life can bring challenges that leave you feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of your next step. In these moments, having a space where you are truly heard, met with a nonjudgmental attitude, and accepted can make a difference. I believe that acceptance helps us process our experiences and find more meaning in life, and I view therapy as a highly relational process wherein the therapeutic alliance contributes to lasting change. I approach therapy with warmth, empathy, and a deep respect for your lived experiences. Grounded in a person-centered therapeutic perspective, I prioritize creating an environment where you feel safe to explore, analyze, and reflect on your experiences with compassion. Together, we can make sense of your thoughts, feelings, and challenges at your own pace in a way that honors your individuality and personal values. I also understand that everyone has unique experiences and ways of moving through the world, so I approach therapy with flexibility, understanding, and a determination to tailor treatment to your needs. I have four years of clinical experience working in a variety of mental health settings, which has afforded me the privilege of working with people from many walks of life. Specifically, I have experience in helping individuals and couples navigate difficulties such as life transitions, relationship issues, mood-related challenges, betrayal trauma, identity exploration, and adjustment challenges. Additionally, my clinical training has emphasized values of social justice, diversity, and equity, and I strive to provide identity-affirming, anti-racist, and LGBTQIA+ affirming care in all aspects of my work. If you are considering starting or continuing your therapeutic journey, I invite you to reach out and connect with me. I welcome the opportunity to chat to see if working together feels like a good fit for you.
Leslie Alton at Self-Empowerment Counseling provides Evidence Based Treatment via Telehealth for Anxiety, OCD, Eating Disorders, Depression, Trauma, and other mental health struggles. Licensed to practice in FL, IL, IN, and OK. Meeting You Wherever You Are, For Your Counseling Needs.
When looking for a therapist, it can often be a challenge to figure out who will be a good fit based on a bio and a picture. Sometimes there is something very specific that we know we need from therapy, sometimes we are just going in with a vague sense, and it can often feel vulnerable. There is a quote that I often return to in my work: “healing happens at the speed of trust”. When we start our work together, we will be figuring out how to build that trust and communication so that you can do the work and exploration that you need to do to get the most out of therapy. I specialize in supporting individuals navigating addiction and substance use. I also enjoy working with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, isolation, and effects of trauma. My work is grounded in a harm reduction philosophy that aims to meet people exactly where they are and recognizes that we are all experts in our own lives. I won’t have all of the answers, but hope to work alongside you. I approach therapy with deep curiosity and a relational lens, believing that meaningful change grows from genuine connection and collaboration. I like getting to know people and find one of the most profound things to come from therapy is a feeling of being understood.
College can be exciting, overwhelming, and everything in between—and you don’t have to navigate it alone. Chicago Talk Therapy is a downtown practice designed with college students in mind, offering individual therapy for concerns like anxiety, burnout, relationships, identity, and the pressure to “have it all figured out.” Our therapists are warm, down-to-earth, and genuinely engaged, creating a space where you can be real about what’s going on—without judgment or expectations. We approach our work with cultural humility, honoring the many layers of who you are—your background, identities, and lived experiences—and how they shape what you’re going through. We also know that when you’re ready for support, you don’t want to wait weeks to get it. That’s why we offer immediate availability, flexible scheduling around your classes, and accept many major insurance plans. Whether you’re dealing with something specific or just feeling off, we’re here to help you make sense of things, feel more grounded, and get back to being yourself—on your terms.
As a pansexual, genderqueer, and religious minority therapist, I have a passion for supporting clients who have similarly felt “othered” for their own intersecting identities. I identify as an integrationist in my therapy style, where I tailor my approach to your concerns in a way that fits your individual needs. Prior to my doctorate, I worked as a risk-reduction counselor for a nonprofit STI testing center, where I discovered my passion for caring for those historically underserved in the LGBTQ+ community. Accordingly, I view my six years of training in counseling psychology as a means to uplift those who are historically underserved. Although I have worked in many settings such as community counseling and outpatient hospitals, I found a love for serving young adults in university counseling in both health sciences and general areas of study. I feel honored to help people at a crossroads of their own identity exploration. If you also find yourself wanting to explore yourself and your values, I would love the opportunity to connect with you.
We are a group of mental health professionals skilled in the practice of individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapy. We specialize in reproductive mental health, mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, sexual challenges, and relationships. We are on a mission to build a world where every individual’s worth and dignity is affirmed and celebrated.
As we navigate a life with many ups and downs, there can be a lack of natural guidance to accompany those changes. Sometimes issues we may have thought were long resolved are still impacting the way we navigate relationships, challenges, transitional periods, and our self-image. As your therapist, I aim to help you grow through these experiences and feel empowered. I have extensive experience working with children and families and am especially passionate about helping those navigating anxiety, trauma, attachment concerns, and relationship challenges. Through my work, I have seen how deeply our experiences, relationships, and environments shape our emotional well-being. Because of this, I often view therapy through a systems lens, recognizing the important role that family and support networks can play in our well-being and growth.
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.