Therapists for college students near University of Chicago

Robin looks forward to collaborating with clients to increase their understanding of themselves and the challenges they may be facing. Robin uses a variety of approaches, customized to the needs of her clients. Robin operates on the premise that people thrive when treated with dignity and respect. By providing an environment of acceptance and non-judgment, Robin supports clients as they identify and utilize their strengths, values, and abilities to overcome obstacles and live healthier and more fulfilling lives. Robin especially enjoys helping clients challenge old beliefs and behaviors and incorporate new ways of thinking to foster long-term improvements in their overall quality of life. Robin is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with a Master's degree from Adler University in Counseling and Organizational Psychology. Robin has worked in a number of community mental health settings with variety of populations. Robin particularly enjoys working with adults, whether it be managing day-to-day issues or navigating difficult life transitions.

Laura Ramirez Del Rio is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Illinois who has been practicing since 2017. She holds a Master?s degree in Counseling from Northern Illinois University, and the credentials of Licensed Professional Counselor and Professional Educator License with a commitment to ongoing professional development. Her academic background, combined with practical experience, equips her to address a wide range of mental health concerns. Laura believes in a client-centered approach, tailoring therapeutic interventions to meet the unique needs and goals of each individual. Drawing from evidence-based practices, she integrates modalities such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Mindfulness, and Multicultural therapy to promote insight, resilience, and lasting change. Collaboration is at the heart of Laura?s therapeutic style, as she works alongside clients to empower them on their journey towards well-being. She is passionate about fostering a non-judgmental and empathetic therapeutic alliance. Her goal is to create an environment where clients feel heard, understood, and supported as they navigate life?s complexities. Laura is committed to promoting mental health awareness and reducing the stigma associated with seeking help.

Hattie Stein is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois. She obtained her Master's degree in Social Work from Jane Addams College of Social Work, and also holds a Bachelor's of Arts from DePaul University. Hattie offers a warm, compassionate, and tailored approach to working with clients and utilizes a combination of dialogue, psychoeducation, and evidence-based practices. Through gentle challenging, Hattie helps clients see beyond rigid thoughts, patterns, and beliefs and support them through actionable steps towards a more fulfilling life. Hattie's training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy allows her to meet clients where they are at and provide them with tools to become the architect of their own life. Outside of work, Hattie enjoys spending time with friends and family, podcasts, and trying out new recipes in the kitchen.

Christopher Allen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois who has been practicing since 2020. Christopher completed his undergraduate degree in Psychology at Purdue University and his Master's degree from the Indiana University School of Social Work at IUPUI. He has experience working with a variety of populations including individuals spanning from teens to geriatric patients, substance use disorders, college students, couples, and older adults. Christopher has worked in a variety of environments including private practice, inpatient, outpatient clinic, schools, and community-based treatments. He is LGBTQIA+ affirming and has experience in treating Depression, Anxiety, Grief, Adjustment Issues, Relationship Issues, Family Issues, Substance Use, PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, Personality Disorders, and Schizophrenia. Christopher utilizes a Person-Centered approach that blends modalities like internal family systems, cognitive behavioral, dialectal behavior, and acceptance and commitment techniques. In his free time, Christopher is an avid reader, father, dog dad, and enjoys movies as well as live theater and music.

Martina Lowery is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois. She has an MSW from Dominican University and a BS from Lincoln University. Martina has several years of experience helping adults manage anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorders in order to live productive fulfilling lives. She is both solution and client centered and uses a holistic approach to help clients gain confidence and reach goals. Martina offers a safe and judgement free space where she empowers and encourages clients to be their authentic selves. Martina is considerate of culture and how it impacts individuals? experiences. Outside of work, Martina enjoys traveling, cooking, spending time with her family, and dancing to her favorite tunes.

Emily Wheeler is a compassionate and dedicated Licensed Social Worker (LSW) at LifeStance Health, serving clients across Illinois. Emily specializes in helping individuals navigate life's challenges with a person-centered approach, ensuring that therapy is tailored to each client's unique needs and goals. With a focus on evidence-based practices, Emily creates a supportive and nonjudgmental space where individuals can explore their thoughts and emotions while building strategies to improve their well-being. Emily works with adolescents, adults, and seniors, addressing a range of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, and ADHD. Emily has extensive experience supporting clients from diverse backgrounds, including those within the LGBTQ+ community and individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Emily's expertise in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) enables them to help clients develop practical tools for managing challenges and fostering resilience. Emily is particularly passionate about working with individuals exploring their gender identity and supporting clients in navigating this deeply personal journey.

Kaitlyn Vranek is a Licensed Social Worker in Illinois who has been practicing since 2018. Kaitlyn is a therapist providing a variety of types of therapies to clients. She is able to help them in their lives with any issues they need met. Outside of work, Kaitlyn is very outdoorsy and likes to spend her extra time outside. She is a very active person. She enjoys her work as a social worker and meeting new clients.

Elaine Sowlat, LPC, is committed to helping adults and adolescents in Illinois navigate challenges such as PTSD, complex trauma, and co-occurring issues like anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Her therapeutic approach integrates empathy with evidence-based techniques, ensuring each client feels supported in their journey toward healing and personal growth. Whether you?re dealing with the lingering effects of trauma or seeking ways to manage emotional distress, Elaine offers a compassionate and understanding space for transformation. Elaine has a deep passion for working with individuals who have experienced traumatic stress and complex trauma. Her academic background in counseling psychology, coupled with her clinical experience and personal healing journey, equips her to provide a nuanced and individualized approach to trauma recovery. She helps clients regain control over their lives by addressing the interplay of trauma and mental health issues, fostering resilience, and promoting long-term emotional well-being. In addition to her focus on trauma, Elaine specializes in supporting clients struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and depression.

Brendan Crotty, LSW, is dedicated to helping clients navigate life?s challenges with a collaborative and personalized approach. Brendan starts by meeting clients on their level and working collaboratively to help them identify how they want to improve their lives. He assists clients with creating clear goals and helping them measure their progress over time. He uses a variety of techniques, including CBT and DBT, to help clients develop concrete skills to use in their daily lives. Brendan sees clients across the age span and tailors his appraoch to the unique needs of each client. He uses elements of play to connect with kids and teens, to make therapy feel enjoyable and worthwhile. Brendan has focused on work with individuals experiencing grief. His approach emphasizes active collaboration with clients, empowering them to become experts in their own experiences. His compassionate perspective and evidence-based strategies help foster growth, resilience, and healing. In addition to his clinical focus, Brendan values building strong therapeutic relationships and creating an emotionally safe environment for LGBTQ+ clients, men, and women.

Gosha Thornton is a Licensed Social Worker in Illinois who has been practicing since 2010. She studied at University of Chicago, The Crown Family School of Social Work, Roosevelt University, and the School of Psychiatric Nursing in Poland. Gosha offers a lifelong focus on providing wisdom and empathy that is centered on the well-being of the clients. Although she has academic training, Gosha keeps her practice grounded in the realities of everyday life. Outside of work, Gosha enjoys music, art, theater, decorating, cooking, and exercising.

With three decades of experience, Garth helps individuals navigate a wide range of mental health challenges, from everyday stress to complex trauma. His therapeutic approach is thoughtful yet relaxed, fostering an open and meaningful dialogue that empowers clients to explore their thoughts and emotions in a safe and nonjudgmental environment. By creating a space where individuals can openly address their concerns, Dr. Amundson guides clients toward deeper self-awareness, helping them break free from self-defeating behaviors and move toward a more fulfilling life. Dr. Amundson specializes in treating PTSD and trauma-related disorders, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). He works closely with clients to address the impact of past experiences on their present well-being, providing evidence-based interventions to foster resilience and recovery. He is also passionate about helping individuals manage anxiety and midlife transitions, offering tailored strategies to promote emotional stability and personal growth. He also offers gender-affirmative medical readiness evaluations and parenting skills interventions, ensuring that his clients receive the guidance they need at different life stages.

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.

If you are ready to discover a better version of yourself, let's talk. I believe therapy works best with collaboration, working together to find the most effective methods of meeting your self- established and recommended goals. My areas of expertise are within the LGBTQ community, including but not limited to gender identity, mood disorders, trauma and PTSD. I work with adults and adolescents confronting anxiety, depression, mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, grief/loss, self- harm, and chronic stress. My clinical style is warm and built on mutual trust, helping you locate and build upon the strengths you already have in order to create change. My educational background includes a Bachelors' degree in Psychology and leadership, and Masters' in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from DePaul University. I am an experienced licensed professional counselor and utilize cognitive behavioral therapy. I also have expertise using exposure and wilderness therapy. I worked as a youth program manager specializing in experiential therapy with under-served youth, combining adventure-based therapies to inspire confidence, independence, and teamwork.

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.

Melanie Blanton, LCSW, provides a compassionate and empowering therapeutic space for individuals in Illinois who may feel overwhelmed by life?s challenges. She works with adolescents, teens, and adults navigating a variety of concerns such as depression, anxiety, and trauma. Melanie strives to help her clients reclaim their power and focus on what they can control, supporting them in living a life aligned with their values and goals. Melanie is particularly passionate about supporting girls and women to reach their fullest potential. She specializes in addressing self-esteem, body neutrality, and women?s issues, providing the tools and encouragement necessary for clients to build confidence and foster self-acceptance. Her approach combines empathy and clinical expertise to help clients overcome obstacles and develop a greater sense of empowerment in their personal and professional lives. Using evidence-based interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Melanie tailors her sessions to meet the unique needs of each individual. Melanie also offers individual and group therapy, creating opportunities for deeper connection and healing.

Stephanie Alvarez, LCSW, knows going to therapy is a vulnerable experience, so she creates a safe and inviting environment to allow her clients to express themselves in an honest way. In sessions, she takes a holistic approach to tailor therapeutic tools that best support each client's needs. She also considers a client's social and cultural background to enhance her understanding of each client. Each person has a different path to healing, and she enjoys discovering that path together. Stephanie uses a combination of modalities such as CBT, mindfulness, trauma-informed interventions, and psychodynamic influences.

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.

Anna Lucas is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in Illinois. Anna is dedicated to providing comprehensive psychiatric evaluations while developing personalized, evidence-based treatment plans that align with client goals. She specializes in treating mood disorders, anxiety, psychosis, neurodevelopmental disorders, and substance misuse. Outside of work, Anna enjoys gardening, hiking trails with her dog, crafting, and reading.

I personally know how much stress can come from seeking counseling, so I will ensure to create a safe and holding environment that will allow for you to feel as stress-free as possible. I utilize psychodynamic skills, narrative, CBT, solution-focused, multicultural, and client-centered techniques to help you overcome challenges you come to therapy with and to ensure you feel as comfortable as possible sharing these challenges. I have experience working with PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, OCD, and the LGBTQ+ Community. I am currently accepting requests for therapy in-person and via secure video sessions on VSee, doxy. me, and Google Meet during this difficult time of isolation caused by COVID-19. I was born and raised in the Chicago-land area and received my Bachelor's in Psychology at Loyola University Chicago, and my Master's in Counseling at Northwestern University.