Therapists for college students near University of Chicago

Belle Counseling and Wellness provides individual therapy for adults 18+. We offer a safe and confidential space to explore yourself, your values, process your past and heal. As a trauma informed practice, we realize the widespread impact of trauma and seek to help our clients and the community find their path to recovery and holistic wellness. We recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma in our clients, their families, our staff and our community. Our response to trauma seeks to fully integrate the trauma informed values into our policies, procedures and practices in order to actively resist re-traumatization. Our values include safety, trust, empowerment, collaboration, and acknowledging the historical barriers to wellness for women, communities of color, the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized groups. All services are currently being offered online for the health and safety of our staff and clients. We utilize a secure HIPAA compliant video platform – just click the link in your appointment confirmation text message or email to connect with us from any device.

Hi, I’m Loren, a psychiatric provider with over a decade of experience in mental health care. I take a compassionate, collaborative, and client-centered approach in supporting individuals across the lifespan. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship challenges, using evidence-based techniques such as cognitive-behavioral strategies, motivational interviewing, and supportive therapy, alongside thoughtful medication management when appropriate. I strive to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where you feel heard, respected, and empowered in your journey toward lasting mental wellness. My process is rooted in partnership: I take the time to understand your unique story and work with you to create a personalized plan that supports growth, resilience, and confidence. My clinical experience spans hospitals, community mental health, skilled nursing, and now private practice and telehealth. These diverse settings have shaped my holistic, practical, and deeply empathetic approach to care. I’m also a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and am currently pursuing certification in holistic integrative medicine to further support whole-person healing. Whether you’re facing new challenges or working through long-standing issues, I’m here to support you with empathy, clarity, and a deep commitment to your well-being.

Lizzie received her bachelor’s in nutrition and dietetics from The Ohio State University and went on to complete her dietetic internship at Loyola University Chicago. Prior to Allow Wellness, Lizzie has experience working in a residential, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient levels of care for eating disorder treatment. She also has experience in research, food insecurity and mental health acute care.

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 tailored to help you meet your mental health goals.

Hi, I’m Spencer (they/them)! I’m a queer, non-binary, neurodiverse therapist who believes that everybody deserves a space in therapy. Working in mental and behavioral health spaces I have found that it can be difficult to find professionals who are competent and specializes in working with the LGBTQ+ community, and I aim to help change that! So much about therapy revolves around identity. Having a therapist who is part of your communities can make all of the difference. I work from a systems, anti-opressive, and liberation focused lens, meaning that there are many factors both internal and external that affect our well-being, one of which is community! Community is important for everybody, but especially for LGBTQ+ identities. This was one of the main reasons I chose to name my practice Neighborhood Psychotherapy, along with being based in Chicago and coming to love and appreciate the city’s strong sense of community and neighborhood identities, and being inspired by the work of Fred Rogers and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. My therapeutic approach weaves together DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Thearpy), CBT (Cognative Behavioral Therapy), Mindfulness, and Trauma-Focused interventions to deliver the best care possible to my clients. I specialize in offering therapy for anxiety, depression, ADHD, ASD/Austim, Neurodiversity, and Borderline Personality Disorder. Having experienced the world as a queer and neurodiverse individual, I understand the profound impact of being truly seen. I see my work as collaborative, let’s work together to set goals and effect change in your life.

Third Eye Counseling is a psychotherapy practice in the Lakeview/Roscoe Village area of Chicago providing individual therapy, yoga-informed therapy, and couples counseling. Our services are wellness-based, authentic, focused on growth, and grounded in social justice. We aim to balance motivating and challenging each client towards change with providing space for acceptance and acknowledgement of strengths.

You’re driven, capable, and used to pushing through. On the outside, it looks like you’ve got it together—but inside, the pressure can feel relentless. Maybe your thoughts are often focused on food, weight, appearance, or productivity. You might feel anxious, guilty, or exhausted trying to meet impossible standards. Even your accomplishments don’t bring the relief you hoped for. You’re not alone—and you don’t have to keep doing this by yourself. Therapy can be a space to pause, reflect, and begin shifting the patterns that keep you stuck. Together, we’ll create a plan to help you reconnect with what matters to you—not just what you feel you should be doing. We’ll explore new ways of responding to self-criticism, perfectionism, and burnout. I offer a compassionate, inclusive space where you can show up as you are—no need to perform, prove, or push. My approach is warm, collaborative, and personalized to you. I focus on your strengths and always make space for humor. I offer virtual and in-person (Ravenswood and Wicker Park) sessions with flexible scheduling.

Life can get messy, and things don’t always go according to plan. Sometimes, even the strongest people need a little bit of help to work through some of life’s more challenging problems. We want to help you heal and move forward. We specialize in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, college students, identity issues, grief/loss, and more. At Mindful Healing Counseling, we are a small group practice committed to diversity, creating a safe space, and helping our clients to feel empowered. We are a diverse group of therapists, seeking to eliminate the stigma of mental health. As many of our therapists are minorities or people of color, we understand the unique challenges that come with seeking therapy if you belong to the BIPOC, Latino, or LGBTQIA+ communities. We want to help you to feel better. Calmer. Sleep better. Clear the fog in your brain. Feel less irritated. Stop overthinking. Confidently be you. Improve your relationships. Understand. Heal. Move forward. Enjoy life instead of just existing in it. Let us walk with you in your healing journey towards a better tomorrow!

I help thoughtful, high functioning adults navigate anxiety, burnout, depression, and major life transitions. I especially enjoy working with men, professionals, creatives, and new or expecting parents. My work integrates insight-oriented therapy with a practical, pragmatic approach, often utilizing mindfulness and meditation practices as a foundation for building effective skills and strategies. Additionally, I offer preparation, integration, and harm-reduction support when appropriate for clients who are exploring the benefits of plant medicines. Ultimately, my goal is to help you live a more meaningful life. I help those who desire improvement in their love life, family life, work life, or in their physical health and wellness. I emphasize the importance of developing new behaviors outside of the therapy, especially practicing mindfulness and meditation. I also specialize in psychedelic integration for those exploring alternative approaches. An initial consultation is of course no cost to you, so please feel free to call or email me with any questions. If you decide I'm not the right therapist for you, I'm happy to help you find one. I look forward to hearing from you.

Feeling like a mess in a world that wants you to have it all figured out? Same. That’s why I work with young adults who are anxious, burnt out, and/or in the thick of transitions. Let’s be honest: Change is hard, even when it’s good or what you chose. Whether you're starting college, navigating early adulthood, managing relationships, or facing big questions about who you are and what you want. Here's the thing... You don't need to process it all alone. Therapy can be the space where you process and figure things out. And with me, therapy is without judgment, pressure, or weird florescent lighting. My clients are often reflective, engaging, and open. They’re trying their best (and tired of pretending that’s enough). Together, we create space for real conversations, reflection, accountability, which leads to insight and change. I’m a big believer that healing doesn’t have to be heavy, sometimes even light. You don’t need to have a specific “goal” to start therapy. You might just be tired of pretending you’re fine. You might want to stop spiraling at 2 AM, or to figure out why the smallest things feel so overwhelming. You are not broken. You’re doing your best. Let’s start there and get to work.

My practice focuses on individuals who feel they fall outside of traditional narratives of what our lives "should" look like. This may show up in your relationships, sexuality, gender, or general approach to life. Through our work together, I can help you identify what works for you and what is better left behind. I think of therapy as a journey we are taking together. I want to walk beside you (not in front, or behind) to help you identify the options that exist and what it would mean for you to take a particular path. While I may highlight options or explore possibilities, you choose the direction we go. This is because you are the expert on you! Ultimately, I believe by combining our areas of knowledge (your knowledge of yourself, my knowledge of psychology) we can help you to live a deeply meaningful and fulfilling life. My background is primarily working with the LGBTQ community and in college counseling centers. While I have worked with clients of all ages, I have especially focused on individuals moving through significant life changes, including identity exploration, starting or ending relationships, experiencing loss, or taking their life in a new direction. As a queer person, I feel deeply passionate about serving the LGBTQ community and all of its beautiful intersections. As a white person, I am actively engaged in my own anti-racism work and am committed to being a co-conspirator with Black and Brown communities. Outside of therapy work, I also enjoy training and supervision, and find particular joy in working with early career clinicians. Personally, I have an undying love for geek culture. I'm an avid reader and love getting immersed in faraway worlds, whether through books, TV, or movies. Some of my favorite fandoms include Doctor Who, Firefly, and Marvel. If you're looking for a therapist who will help you while also pulling metaphors from your favorite fandom, please give me a call!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Actually ME is an intentional space crafted and created to serve YOU! We offer non-oppressive, trauma informed, client centered psychotherapy, as well as other professional services. In our creation we hold and practice values associated with not only creating but holding space! This explicitly means that our clients are heard and unconditionally accepted for all that they come with. It was done on purpose to create and hold spaces where therapists listen without judgement and guide a unique healing journey. We believe that the client is the expert and that they are capable of fulfilling the change that they want to see in themselves.

Like many therapist profiles, this page could list my degrees and credentials, provide a vague description of what clients I work with, and be distant but warm; however, that is not how I work with clients or how I am in the world. I want this page to help you decide if we’ll work well together, not just list the things I’ve done. What you probably want to know is 1) do I know what I’m doing and 2) are we a good fit in working together. I have been working in the mental health field, specifically with eating disorders, since 2014 in a variety of capacities including inpatient, residential, and crisis stabilization programs. I am passionate about eating disorder recovery and collaborating with patients to find balance in their lives. I am body-positive and Health at Every Size (HAES) aligned. I have experience in working with families, couples, and individuals in addition to facilitating group therapy. My primary focus lies in helping to support clients and their loved ones in understanding and moving forward in the path to recovery through individual and family therapy. I have earned the distinction of being a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS) by the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, and have been an officeholder for the Heartland chapter of iaedp since 2019 and remained committed to pursuing ongoing education within the field. There are so many people who hesitate to come to therapy or to move forward in eating disorder recovery due to having been previously unsuccessful with a “one size fits all” approach. I work with you to figure it out. I’m not a smile-and-nod, sit in silence type of therapist. I'll call you out on your BS, but I can do that in a way where we can both laugh. I'm not afraid to talk about anything you need to talk about. Intrusive thoughts? Feeling like you’re the only person to feel this way? You’d be surprised to find that you’re not alone. Therapy will provide a safe space to be yourself and a supportive environment to help meet you where you’re at and work towards creating lasting change in your life.

Many of the students I work best with seem like they have it together on the outside, but feel anxious, overwhelmed, and never quite good enough on the inside. You may be driven and high achieving, yet constantly worried about falling behind or letting other people down. I specialize in anxiety and trauma, especially when anxiety is tied to perfectionism, pressure to perform, and people pleasing. Together, we look at how your experiences and current pressures influence the way you think about yourself and connect with others. You will also learn practical skills that help you feel steadier, more self assured, and more at ease in your day to day life.

Tired of feeling stuck? Anxious? Sad? Do intrusive thoughts get in the way of studying or feeling settled when spending time with friends or family? Are you ready to make a change but having a hard time starting the process? We get it. We know how hard it is. And we can help you. We are a clinically diverse group of clinicians available to meet with clients Monday-Saturday with evening availability (we are solely doing teletherapy at this time). We work with college age students and adults who may be struggling with a life adjustment or transition, unresolved past hurt or trauma, difficulty concentrating and nervousness, negative thoughts or hard to control worry and fears. In our therapy session, we don't just sit back and listen. We teach our clients how to have more control over difficult thoughts and intense emotions, feel more emotionally settled and balanced in daily activities and develop healthier coping skills to combat unhealthy behaviors. And to keep the therapy process moving forward, clients are given homework assignments in -between therapy sessions. We know that you have the ability to make the changes you are looking for. And we are confident we can help you make these changes.

Battling mental health struggles can be isolating and lonely. People can believe that no one knows what they are experiencing. You are not alone. Struggling with obsessive behaviors or destructive thought patterns? Perhaps severe anxiety and panic attacks feel debilitating. Does a past or recent traumatic event feel unbearable? Do you often feel worthless and "never good enough?" You are not alone and there is help! My intention in working with clients is to promote self-understanding and concrete skill-building, so that each individual owns their agency, and trusts their resilience. I bring a wide range of experience in mental health and wellness and have experience in multiple therapeutic approaches. This allows me to effectively use evidence-based approaches for a specific issue. I tailor a plan specially designed for you - your unique goals, characteristics, and drives. Therapy is a process, and I would love to be on that journey with you. I offer free 10 min phone consultations. This allows for us to get to know each other and offers an opportunity to ask questions. You can call or email to set up your free session. If you desire, we will set up our first session during the call and support you toward your health goals.

Tonya Vander, LCSW, understands what trauma and grief look like when life is severely altered, and she offers a strong, empathic ear and tools to guide clients through healing. She creates safe spaces for individuals to feel heard, encouraged, and accepted. She supports clients age six and up struggling with depression, family conflict, mood disorders, stress, and is especially skilled at treating: Trauma/PTSD: Tonya is highly skilled at treating trauma and supporting clients through the tremendous repair work needed to heal. She helps clients focus on hope and resiliency no matter what barriers they're facing. Tonya understands change takes time, but there's possibility to overcome anything and move forward.

Hello! my name Renee Smith, I am a dedicated and compassionate therapist specializing in working with children/adolescents, and young adults. With a deep understanding of the challenges that young people face, I provide a safe and supportive environment where you can explore emotions, build resilience, and develop healthy coping strategies. My approach is emphasizing empathy, patience, and trust as we work together to navigate life’s challenges. I have experience helping children, teens, and young adults, with a variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, behavioral difficulties, peer relationships, and family dynamics. I draw from evidence-based therapeutic techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I understand that this stage of life can be complex. My goal is to empower young people to thrive and build a strong foundation for the future. If you're looking for a caring and skilled therapist to support your endeavors, I’m here to help guide you through the journey to emotional well-being and success! Virtual Only....