Therapists for college students near University of Chicago

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I am a strengths-based, relational therapist who works primarily with trans, queer, and neurodivergent adults. Our sessions will focus on interpersonal growth, rather than finding a cure for symptoms. I want to understand your challenges and celebrate your successes. Together, we will explore the ways in which you are affected by societal systems and help you develop skills to advocate for your wants and needs. I strive to lead by example in showing that it is okay to make mistakes, to always be learning about oneself, and to continue growing and developing your identity as you move through different life experiences. When we are through with our work together, I hope you will have the tools you need to live a sustainable, satisfying, and ever-evolving life.

You may be reading this because you’ve experienced a very difficult loss or transition in your life. Maybe you have lost a loved one or a pregnancy. Perhaps you are struggling as you or a relative begin hospice care or approach the end stage of a disease. You might be grieving a beloved pet or the end of a meaningful relationship. Loss, although universal, can feel isolating and unbearable to endure. I can help you cope - you don't need to go through this alone. Through my work helping others navigate hard times, I’ve been described as a “bright light in a time of darkness.” I’m a warm and welcoming therapist with a deep understanding and capability for helping people who are struggling. Therapy with me is informed by five years spent as a hospice social worker and extensive grief and loss training. I am licensed in Illinois, New Jersey, California and Florida for online therapy. I provide therapy through a secure and convenient telehealth platform (online video conferencing). I hope you will contact me for a free 15-minute consultation on how we may work together to support you. Please note, the hours listed on this profile are in Central Time Zone.

For a long time, life may have felt overwhelming, even if everything on the surface looks "fine." You might tell yourself, “I’m fine, it could be worse,” yet underneath, there’s a constant sense of tension, exhaustion, and burnout. You may feel detached, you’ve become skilled at hiding your pain and no one seems to notice. This can leave you feeling lonely, even when surrounded by others, and stir up complex emotions like guilt, shame, and resentment. Deep down, you long to live more authentically, but looking inward feels uncertain and even frightening. What’s in that "Pandora’s box" of emotions? What if it’s too much? I believe in the power of relationship and self-exploration. With compassion, curiosity, and a bit of humor, we'll uncover the layers of your experience. Together, we'll create a safe space to explore your emotions, past experiences, and underlying patterns. We’ll build self-awareness, tools for emotional comfort, and guide you with your authentic values. It can feel like you're carrying everything on your own, but you're not meant to. I'm here to support you in a trusting, empathetic therapeutic relationship, one where we move at your pace. If you're ready to explore, heal, and reconnect with yourself, I’m here to walk alongside you when you’re ready.

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.

You don’t have to face this alone. Living with anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder can feel overwhelming—like you're carrying a weight no one else can see. When it feels like nothing is working, it’s easy to lose hope. But healing is possible, and you're not alone. I’m here to help you find your way forward. I specialize in working with individuals who are struggling with mood disorders, and I understand how complex and deeply personal these challenges can be. My approach is grounded in empathy, collaboration, and evidence-based care. Whether you’re navigating intense anxiety, persistent low moods, or the highs and lows of bipolar disorder, I’ll meet you where you are—with compassion, not judgment. Together, we’ll explore what works for you. Whether that means therapy, medication management, or a combination of both, my goal is to support you in regaining a sense of stability, clarity, and control over your life. You deserve to feel better. You deserve support that truly understands you. If you're ready to take the next step—or even if you're just curious about what support could look like—I invite you to schedule a time to talk. Let’s take that first step, together.

Hello, I have many years working with children, adolescents and adults in community mental health, inpatient, and private practice. Psychotherapy requires a desire to understand one's self and the issues that trouble you. In treatment, we will work together to understand how your history impacts these current concerns and find new ways to work through them so that you will feel greater internal strength and freedom.

Finding a therapist who feels like a good fit can matter as much as the therapy itself. I work with students who are thoughtful, capable, and often carrying more than they let on — anxiety, stress, self-doubt, trauma, or the pressure to keep it together while figuring out who they are and where they’re headed. I’m a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) with a background in both clinical mental health and higher education. Before returning to full-time clinical work, I spent many years working on college campuses as well as teaching in undergraduate and graduate courses. I understand the unique stressors students face — academic pressure, financial stressors, identity development, relationships, family expectations, and the emotional toll of trying to succeed in an uncertain world. My approach is warm, collaborative, and trauma-informed. I integrate evidence-based practices with a strong focus on nervous system regulation, emotional awareness, and practical skills you can use in everyday life. Therapy with me is a space to slow down, make sense of what you’re experiencing, and learn how to respond to stress and anxiety with more clarity and self-compassion. Many of the students I work with struggle with anxiety, people-pleasing, perfectionism, burnout, or feeling disconnected from themselves. Together, we work on building a sense of safety, learning how to set boundaries, and developing coping strategies that support both mental health and personal growth. I believe therapy should feel human, respectful, and supportive — a place where you don’t have to perform or have everything figured out. My goal is to help you feel more grounded, more present, and more able to navigate life with confidence and care.

I specialize in working with adults aged 18 or older who are grappling with anxiety, trauma, disordered eating, and body image issues. They often feel overwhelmed and isolated, seeking a safe space to explore their feelings and challenges. Motivated and ready to make meaningful changes, their primary goal is recovery and healing—learning effective coping strategies, discovering self compassion, fostering a healthier relationship with themselves and their bodies, and creating space for what they truly desire in life. I support clients with empathy, humor, and authenticity, using a trauma-focused approach. A large part of my practice is teaching coping skills, addressing negative self-talk and sources of shame, while emphasizing self compassion. Specializing in anxiety, trauma, disordered eating/body image issues, I offer psychotherapy, Art Therapy, and EMDR, over telehealth only.

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.

can look like everyone else has it together while you’re just trying to keep your head above water. Between classes, relationships, family expectations, money stress, and figuring out who you even are right now—it can be a lot. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, anxious, or just not like yourself, you’re not alone. I work with college students who are navigating stress, burnout, anxiety, relationship challenges, and the weight of life transitions. Many of the students I support are high-achieving, first-generation, or carrying responsibilities that others don’t see. Some are trying to heal from past experiences while still showing up every day and getting things done. My approach is supportive, honest, and down-to-earth. Therapy with me isn’t about being “fixed” or told what to do—it’s about having a space where you can be real, ask hard questions, and build tools that actually work for your life. We’ll move at your pace, focus on what matters to you, and work toward feeling more grounded, confident, and in control. You don’t have to do college—or life—on your own. If you’re ready for support that feels human, not clinical, I’d love to work with you.

I believe that everyone deserves a safe, compassionate space to be heard, understood, and supported. My work is grounded in empathy, respect, and a deep commitment to helping individuals navigate life’s challenges with confidence and resilience. I am especially passionate about supporting teens, young adults, and individuals seeking trauma-informed care. My approach is evidence-based, yet flexible—focused on empowering you with practical tools while honoring your story and strengths.

Hi there! My name is Estefi and I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, life transitions, social anxiety, and school issues. I have more than 11 years of experience working as a therapist with clients of varied cultures, ages, and backgrounds. I specialize in working with college students or young adults facing a variety of personal, academic, professional, and psychological challenges. In my practice, I celebrate the uniqueness of every person and believe in the power of the trusting working relationship between client and therapist. I personalize my interventions based on the client’s needs, challenges, and goals. I use different therapeutic models while maintaining a strength-based perspective. Some of the therapeutic methods that I use are psychodynamic theory, systems theory, person-centered therapy, solution-focused therapy, CBT, and EMDR. I am bilingual in English and Spanish. I was born and raised in Argentina, but I've been living in the Chicagoland area for over 20 years.

Are you longing to feel more connected—to yourself, to the people you love, or to what really matters? It’s common to move through life feeling stuck or off-track, even when everything looks “fine” on the outside. You might be craving more clarity, authenticity, or ease in your relationships—or simply a space to reconnect with your values and sense of self. I’m Dan, a counselor with over fifteen years of experience working with students and adults navigating anxiety and self-doubt, searching for meaning and direction, and striving to feel more authentic and connected in their relationships. Whether you're facing academic burnout, parenting stress, or communication struggles with a partner or family member, therapy can offer a space to slow down, make sense of what’s happening, and move forward with greater clarity and confidence. My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in helping you reconnect with your strengths. In my work at Middlebury College and in private practice, I’ve supported people through moments of uncertainty, emotional stuckness, and growth—whether that means sorting through persistent thoughts, easing the physical toll of stress, or learning to speak more honestly and effectively with loved ones. You don’t need to have everything figured out to begin. We’ll work together with curiosity and compassion to help you feel more grounded, capable, and aligned with what matters most.

I believe that the therapeutic relationship is at the crux of change. Through this lens, I offer a safe and empathic space for clients to explore their inner world. Counseling is not just for those experiencing a life crisis or a current difficulty— it is an opportunity to learn new skills, gain new insights, and position oneself for increased health and wellness. Every client is unique and needs something different from the therapeutic process. Pulling from a variety of modalities, I tailor techniques in a creative way to fit those needs. Through working together, I believe that I can help you find your way to the path for growth. I have experience working with individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, relationship problems, work-life balance concerns, familial troubles, grief and loss, life transitions and trauma. I'm particularly passionate about working with college students and emerging adults. This time of life can be fraught with anxiety related to academic performance and career choices, making this life stage feel quite unpredictable and isolating, which is why I believe therapy is so important during this time. My goal is to help you gain useful tools to not only help you navigate this life stage, but also to carry with you in the future. I earned my M.A. in Counseling from Northwestern University and my B.A. in Psychology and Communications from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I have previously worked in various community mental health and private practice settings.

Balancing the demands of being a student while maintaining your mental health can be overwhelming. I hope that therapy can be a space to intentionally care for yourself, gain a better understanding of your identity and experiences, and process the stressors that you encounter. I use a person-centered and trauma-informed approach to therapy while integrating practices of Internal Family Systems (IFS), Attachment, and Strengths-Based theories. I have experience serving individuals in high crisis situations such as suicidal ideation and domestic violence, as well as people experiencing PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Through this work, I have developed a passion for working with the LGBTQ+ community, adults in transitional periods of life, and with topics such as trauma, sex and relationship issues, and anxiety. Reaching out to begin therapy services can be intimidating, but I hope to help you lighten the load you're carrying. If any of this resonates with you, please reach out!

My passion for psychiatry began during my undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan, where I graduated with a degree in neuroscience and a GPA of 3.9. Due to my academic excellence, I was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, America’s oldest honor society, which includes 17 former U.S. Presidents and 40 Supreme Court Justices among its members. Before pursuing a career in medicine, I taught Algebra to middle school students in New York City as a public school educator. I was initially hired to help students pass their state exams, and to my surprise, they succeeded. This experience reinforced my belief in the importance of education. At Rush University, I hold three administrative roles: Executive Chief Resident, Education Chief, and Internal Moonlighting Coordinator. As Executive Chief Resident, I organize two literature review series: Rush’s Journal Club and a program called “Controversies in Psychopharmacology,” which explores new and controversial topics in psychiatry. Together with faculty, I also coordinate the PRITE exam review series. As an enthusiastic test-taker, I achieved scores above the 90th percentile in neuroscience on the 2020 and 2021 exams. Additionally, I oversee the Balint group, a support group aimed at addressing physician burnout and promoting wellness among residents. In my role as Education Chief, I manage Rush’s Teaching Clinic, designed to support medical students. I regularly lecture to both medical students and residents. I have collaborated with my co-residents to create a personalized tutoring series for at-risk medical students focused on helping them pass their NBME shelf exams; I’m proud to report that 100% of my mentees have successfully passed. Furthermore, I co-lead a neuroscience curriculum aligned with materials from the National Neuroscience Curriculum Initiative (NNCI) and deliver lectures to my co-residents. As the Internal Moonlighting Coordinator at Rush, I ensure continuous and effective psychiatric care in the emergency department. I have logged over 1,000 hours in the emergency room, gaining experience in stabilizing high-acuity situations such as psychosis, mania, and agitation. This role has also provided me with valuable experience in accounting and bookkeeping, allowing me to work closely with the payroll department. I am actively involved in the Illinois Psychiatric Society, the Illinois branch of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). I serve on several committees, including the anti-racism committee and the government affairs committee. My interests lie in interventional psychiatry, and I currently work at Rush’s TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) and ketamine clinic. In October, I collaborated with IV Chicago Solutions and shadowed Dr. Eugene Lipov, a pioneer of the stellate ganglion block procedure for treating PTSD. You can easily schedule your session through our online booking link. Click "Website" to find a convenient time for you.

Equip is the leading evidence-based virtual eating disorder treatment program on a mission to ensure that everyone with an eating disorder has access to treatment that works. Built by clinical experts in the eating disorder field and those who have experienced eating disorders firsthand, Equip fills the gaps in today’s insufficient eating disorder landscape. We provide fully virtual, evidence-based treatment through a multidisciplinary care team (which includes a medical provider, therapist, dietitian, and trained mentors), allowing each patient to achieve full recovery without disrupting their life. We treat patients of all ages and diagnoses in all 50 states, and we accept most insurance plans.

From the outside, you are a high-achieving person, the one who everyone in the family relies on to be "fine." But on the inside, you feel like you are drowning in household chores, high expectations, and taking care of everyone else in your life. You just can't do it all. Many of my clients grew up with a dysfunctional, chaotic family and learned from a young age that the people in their lives couldn’t handle them having a bad day. In therapy, we won’t just talk about your stress and overwhelm; we will challenge the old patterns that cause it. I want you to connect with your feelings and take up more space! I offer a safe, welcoming space to explore your unmet needs, confidently set boundaries, say "no," communicate how you really feel, and live more authentically. My goal is to help you feel grounded, seen, and connected in your relationships and within yourself. You have spent your life making sure everyone else is taken care of; now it's your turn.

My practice is heavily rooted in mindfulness-based interventions, proven effective for depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use, focus and attention, emotion management and cultivating self compassion. In our work together, you’ll develop practical coping strategies, learn to interrupt unhelpful thought patterns, build the psychological resilience to live more freely and create a relationship to your emotions that allows you to remain grounded in the face of stress and overwhelm.