Therapists for college students near 60614

Being a student or young professional can feel overwhelming. You may be balancing academic demands, career uncertainty, relationship challenges, ADHD, perfectionism, or questions about who you are and what you want for your future. Even when you're accomplishing a lot on the outside, it can feel exhausting to keep up with the pressure. I am a doctoral-level Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 10 years of experience helping graduate students, healthcare workers, young professionals, and other high-achieving adults navigate anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, ADHD, relationship concerns, and life transitions. My clients often come to therapy feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated by patterns they can't seem to change. I have particular expertise working with ADHD and concentration difficulties, as well as the challenges that come with high expectations and demanding environments. Whether you're struggling with procrastination, time management, decision fatigue, stress, or burnout, we'll work together to find strategies that fit how your brain works while building a deeper understanding of yourself. Relationships are another core area of my work. Whether you're navigating dating, communication challenges, family conflict, or friendship struggles, I can help you better understand the patterns shaping your relationships and develop healthier ways of connecting with others. My approach is collaborative, curious, and tailored to your goals. Drawing from CBT, ACT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, and Gottman Method principles, I combine practical tools with deeper self-exploration to help you create meaningful, lasting change. You don't have to figure everything out on your own. Therapy can help you feel more grounded, confident, and connected as you navigate this chapter of your life.

Ellie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who believes healing begins within safe, trusting relationships. She works to create a warm and nonjudgmental space where individuals feel seen, heard, and understood. Her work is informed by psychodynamic and attachment theories, and an understanding of nervous system regulation. She is attentive to how early relationships and life experiences shape emotional patterns, self-perception, and how we relate to others. Ellie also helps clients recognize how their nervous system responds to stress, supporting them in becoming more grounded, connected, and in control. Her approach invites greater self-awareness, emotional flexibility, and lasting change. Ellie is passionate about working with individuals who have dealt with various forms of overwhelming stress and trauma, focusing in particular on work with children and adolescents. She incorporates a range of modalities including play, talk, and art therapy, recognizing the unique ways children express themselves and explore their worlds. She meets each child where they are at and allows play and the relationship to serve as powerful tools for healing, growth, and connection. Ellie also strives to support parents and caregivers in understanding their child more deeply and fostering strong and healthy family relationships. Whether working with a child, teen, or adult, Ellie brings warmth, curiosity, and deep respect for each person’s story. ​

Therapy can be a very powerful way to show up for yourself- opening yourself up to new ways of approaching life’s challenges and building the skills to work with your emotions rather than against them. If we work together, I will help you explore what your emotions are trying to tell you. From there, we will focus on developing the skills to feel more of what you want to feel and less of what you don’t, to treat yourself with kindness and respect, and to show up authentically in your relationships. I make it a priority to create a space that feels safe and affirming, while also challenging you to push toward your goals. Clients often describe me as warm, gentle, and encouraging, while also valuing my humor, directness, and genuine connection. If this sounds like a good fit for you, I look forward to meeting you!

You're juggling a lot right now. Classes, relationships, figuring out what you actually want to do with your life, maybe dealing with family stuff that followed you to college. Some days you feel fine. Other days, getting out of bed feels like a win. Maybe you're dealing with anxiety that won't shut off, the racing thoughts at 2am, the knot in your stomach before class, the way you replay conversations wondering if you said the wrong thing. Or maybe it's more like a fog, low motivation, feeling disconnected, going through the motions without really being present. We work with college students and young adults who are navigating: - Anxiety that gets in the way of school, friendships, or just feeling okay - Depression, low mood, or losing interest in things you used to care about - Relationship issues with partners, friends, roommates, or family - Identity questions: who you are, who you're becoming, who you want to be - Stress from academic pressure, career uncertainty, or feeling behind - Trauma or difficult past experiences that keep showing up - Coming out, gender identity, or finding your place in the LGBTQ+ community - Feeling like you have to have it all figured out (you don't) We're not going to tell you what to do or give you a bunch of homework. Therapy here is a conversation. We create a space where you can say the things you don't say out loud and figure out what's actually going on. We'll meet you where you are. We offer in-person sessions in Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood and telehealth throughout Illinois. We accept BCBS PPO and Aetna PPO insurance and are happy to set up a free 15 minute phone consultation to see if we are the right fit for you.

Life can be challenging. I believe psychotherapy with a therapist who is a good match can help one more successfully navigate those challenges. I work collaboratively with my clients. I aim to create a nonjudgmental and supportive environment to explore difficult issues together -- to better understand what one is currently facing, to help manage those difficulties, and to ultimately make life more rewarding and meaningful. I have over 30 years of clinical experience and have worked in a variety of settings including university counseling centers (Univ. of Illinois, Univ. of Michigan, Northwestern Univ., The School of the Art Institute of Chicago), and LGBTQ and feminist services (Howard Brown Health Center, Planned Parenthood, Chicago Women's Health Center). I maintain a general practice where I see a wide diversity of men and women for issues including anxiety, depression, relationship problems, and identity.

You can be externally successful in life but internally worried you are going to have a total meltdown. I want to help you get better at taking care of yourself so you can achieve whatever awesome things you are here to contribute to the world. My career spans decades but for some reason the majority of women working with me are in their 20s and 30s. I help clients get some new perspective and stop beating themselves up. You may need to make some very real changes. It can be hard work but you don’t need to do it alone. Maybe you need to get better at speaking up for yourself, making decisions, managing your time. Maybe your relationship with substances needs to change. I help clients process their stress and add coping skills to build a personal routine that improves daily life. Many women I work with have gone through traumatic experiences in the past. It is important to me that the woman I am working with directs when and if we discuss the actual traumatic events. What I have learned is that adding better coping is possible with or without dredging details. Healing is possible but it takes work and support. I am also dedicated to helping clients expand their supports even if it's just a little bit at a time. I know it's tough to ask for help. I'd rather DIY everything but I know how useful it is to have therapy while you're in school. It saved my sanity when I went to therapy the first time when I was in college. For those wanting online therapy I use Google Meet for telehealth. It is completely HIPAA compliant. I also meet with clients for Walk and Talk therapy sessions when it seems useful and appropriate. North side of Chicago along the lake.

If you've ever felt misunderstood, struggled with recognizing your worth, grappled with questions about your identity, or faced challenges in relationships, we're here to listen to you. If you find yourself weighed down by deep-seated emotional experiences, memories that are confusing, unclear, conflicted, or downright painful, we can help you. We understand the importance of processing and unpacking trauma. Sometimes you need to explore the deepest and darkest aspects of your experiences in order to find the inner strength that will push you forward. These moments can produce actual healing and growth which occurs most often in a safe therapeutic relationship with a therapist who listens carefully and responds with genuine acceptance and empathic understanding. Our approach centers on you, providing a nurturing environment where you can delve not only into topics like self-image, self-esteem, sexual and gender identity, and relationship difficulties, but also into those complex emotions and memories that might be lurking beneath the surface. Those who find our approach most beneficial often seek a space where they're free to be themselves without fear of judgment, a place to sift through their emotional landscapes with care and attention. If you're looking for a therapeutic experience where you feel heard, valued, and empowered to explore your emotions, memories, and challenges at your own pace, then our client-centered approach might just be the right fit for you. Our psychologists offer individual, family, relationship and sex therapy that is affirming and sensitive to all aspects of diversity. We also offer affordable neuropsychological assessment and evaluations for attention, memory, learning, and neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and Autism. If you are uninsured or paying out of pocket, please ask us about sliding scale fee options for students so we can accommodate your needs.

Dr. Sarah Sanders is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and life transition issues. Dr. Sanders individualizes her treatment approach to the specific needs of each client, often combining dynamic-relational, cognitive-dialectical-behavioral, and systemic-cultural approaches. Her priority is helping you work through your concerns and make changes in your life in a way that feels effective, collaborative, and nonjudgmental. Dr. Sanders completed her predoctoral internship at Northwestern University and her postdoctoral fellowship at Harper College, gaining significant experience working with life-transition issues, identity development, relationship concerns, eating disorders, and student mental health. Areas of interest also include family dynamics, anxiety, and mood disorders. Dr. Sanders' practice location is just east of Michigan Avenue on Wacker Drive. If you're ready to schedule, you are welcome to do so directly by visiting the Allow Wellness website: www.allow-wellness.com.

You've been trying to keep everything together, but lately it feels like the pressure is catching up with you. Maybe you're feeling anxious, emotionally overwhelmed, burned out, or constantly questioning yourself. You may be juggling school, relationships, family expectations, or major life changes while wondering why it all feels so much harder than everyone else makes it look. I work with college students, graduate students, and young adults navigating anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, trauma, relationship challenges, emotional regulation, and life transitions. Together, we'll better understand what's contributing to your distress while building practical skills that help you feel more confident, grounded, and connected to yourself. My approach is warm, collaborative, and trauma-informed. I integrate CBT, DBT, Emotion-Focused Therapy, somatic practices, and Motivational Interviewing to help you strengthen emotional regulation, navigate difficult relationships, and respond to life's challenges with greater self-compassion. I also enjoy supporting neurodivergent students, including those on the autism spectrum, in ways that honor their unique strengths and experiences. As a second-generation Indian American woman, I'm especially passionate about supporting South Asian students and women of color navigating cultural expectations, family dynamics, and identity. You won't have to explain the pressure to succeed, code-switching, or balancing different cultural values. Those experiences are welcomed and understood here. My hope is that therapy helps you feel more grounded in who you are, more confident in your relationships, and better equipped to navigate this stage of life with resilience and self-trust.

I see therapy less as a pursuit of perfection and more as a space for curiosity and self-understanding, where we begin to loosen the psychological barriers that keep us stuck and open up possibilities for a more meaningful, connected, and balanced life. I work with adolescents and adults navigating life transitions, relationship challenges, autism and ADHD, LGBTQIA+ and identity-related challenges, and the everyday weight of stress. I support clients with concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and struggles with self-esteem. I look forward to working alongside you as you build on your strengths, navigate challenges, and create meaningful, lasting change.

If you're feeling stuck in cycles you can't quite explain and want to understand yourself more deeply, I can help. With more than 20 years of experience as a licensed clinical psychologist, I specialize in the assessment and treatment of anxiety, depression, and ADHD in adults. I provide personality and ADHD assessments, not simply to assign a diagnosis, but as a meaningful therapeutic experience in itself. Together, we'll collaborate to clarify and answer your questions, so you leave with a deeper understanding of yourself and a clear roadmap for moving forward. My psychotherapy approach is psychodynamic, mindfulness-based and trauma-informed. Together, we will think about how past experiences continue to shape your present, identify long-standing patterns, and challenge self-limiting beliefs. I try to impart a way of listening that tunes in not only to what is being said, but also to what is not being said. I enjoy working with people from immigrant backgrounds. Identity is complex, especially when forged in the crucible of the immigrant experience. I understand the weight of cultural expectations and systemic stressors and offer a culturally attuned and respectful space where these experiences can be explored with self-compassion, rather than judgment.

My goal is to assist you in feeling more effective in how you face them. As a therapist, I prioritize warmth and validation to help you understand yourself, find ways to cope, and meet your goals. I work primarily with emerging and established adults who are managing anxiety, life transitions, relationship issues, and chronic pain. I also help parents feel more confident in handling behavioral challenges and emotional regulation concerns in children. I believe it is important to examine how early childhood experiences shape our mindset and behaviors. I will support you in feeling more in control, accessing your strengths, gaining insight, and breaking unhelpful patterns. With curiosity and compassion, I will encourage you to embrace discomfort, identify your values, and address anxious thoughts. I use various strategies to explore symptoms, relationships, and behaviors to develop a treatment approach that is unique to you. We will work to better understand how you have adapted to and made sense of the world around you. Let's collaborate to help you feel empowered, discover (or rediscover) your worth, and move confidently through life's journey.

Past experiences continue to impact us throughout life in ways that we do not always fully understand. Family relationships, environmental stressors, social norms and cultural expectations can also place enormous weight on our shoulders to carry around. As my clients work through grief, sadness, and anger, I am deeply committed to their process. I welcome clients from various backgrounds, and, in addition, I have an ongoing commitment to working with first and second generation immigrants and their families. By allowing space for unprocessed feelings and experiences, my goal is to help my clients find a path to alleviating the intensity of those feelings, leading to improved relationships – with themselves and with the people in their lives. Please reach out over email or phone to schedule an initial consultation call and an in person or virtual meeting.

Do you find yourself caught in a cycle of self-criticism, leading to persistent feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness? Do your emotions sometimes overwhelm you, resulting in reactions that feel disproportionate to the situation? Navigating relationships can become even more challenging when affected by family dynamics. Maybe you have been having concerns with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief/ loss, life transitions, career/school stress, self-harm, and relationship challenges. Perhaps you’ve become discouraged by your attempts to help yourself. That’s what I’m here for. Imagine acquiring skills to navigate your inner critic and reduce feelings of hopelessness when triggered. Imagine understanding the reasons behind your actions which can provide motivation to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors. Let's build the courage to confront and overcome fears and self-perceptions that may be holding you back. I prioritize cultural sensitivity, emphasizing resilience, perseverance, and compassion. My trauma-informed approach fosters a nurturing space for exploring emotions, confronting challenges, and pursuing aspirations. Additionally, I speak conversational Cantonese, basic Korean, and basic Japanese. Schedule a free consultation today.

Throughout all stages of life, there are many obstacles we face. If you are facing any challenges, I am here to help you navigate through them and come out on the other side more resilient and better equipped for the next. The populations I have worked with throughout my time practicing include teens and young adults struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, identity, and addictions. Having a background in cognitive behavioral therapy, I will provide you with tools to identify and chip away at destructive habits and thoughts. As you chip away, you will begin developing new, supportive habits and thoughts, allowing you to experience lasting, positive effects. Throughout our time together, we will work towards developing a strong, therapeutic alliance to create a supportive environment to invite your vulnerabilities and encourage growth.

I help adults, adolescents, and couples. I am deeply committed to my clients' well-being and dedicated to fostering a safe, respectful space where compassionate dialogue shapes our work together. Therapy, in my view, is a place where you can express yourself freely—giving voice to your innermost thoughts, emotions, and desires. It’s also an opportunity to uncover how long-standing patterns in your life influence your present experiences. By bringing these aspects of yourself into conversation, we can remove obstacles to your growth and help you find greater self-acceptance, personal empowerment, and creative resilience in navigating life’s challenges. If you would like to see if we’re a good fit or if you have any questions I might be able to answer, please reach out by phone, email, or through my website linked below.

A fulfilling life is not about the absence of problems, but about how you choose to deal with them. We utilize a systemic, respectful, client-centered, and inclusive approach to therapy focused on social justice and shared humanity. Therapy is both an art and a science. Our therapists are trained in effective, evidence-based therapies carried out in a compassionate, personalized way. We always prioritize the relationship with our clients, in combination with skillful interventions that strive to meet your goals. Our practice is culturally competent, anti-racist, LGBTQ+, sex worker, kink, and poly affirming. We believe that human beings are wired for connection. We strive to help you heal yourself and your relationships through honest assessment, courageous communication, self-improvement, and authentic connection. We provide individual, couple, family, and group psychotherapy to the communities of Oak Park and the Chicagoland area. Our therapists are able to see clients virtually anywhere in the state of Illinois, as well as Wisconsin and Florida.

Rowan Tree Counseling is a group therapy practice rooted in autonomy, personal agency, and anti-oppression. We are passionate about helping individuals explore their values with curiosity and utilize their personal strengths to live their most meaningful lives. We believe strongly in the power of blazing your own trail, and we seek to help ensure that you don’t lose your way. Guided by your goals and your values, we’re here to journey beside you while you walk the course you’ve charted. All of our clinicians have committed to anti-oppressive practices and learning through continuing education. Rowan Tree offers sliding scale pricing for students.

Life can be challenging. I believe psychotherapy with a therapist who is a good match can help one more successfully navigate those challenges. I work collaboratively with my clients. I aim to create a nonjudgmental and supportive environment to explore difficult issues together -- to better understand what one is currently facing, to help manage those difficulties, and to ultimately make life more rewarding and meaningful. I have over 30 years of clinical experience and have worked in a variety of settings including university counseling centers (Univ. of Illinois, Univ. of Michigan, Northwestern Univ., The School of the Art Institute of Chicago), and LGBTQ and feminist services (Howard Brown Health Center, Planned Parenthood, Chicago Women's Health Center). I maintain a general practice where I see a wide diversity of men and women for issues including anxiety, depression, relationship problems, and identity.

College is often described as “the best years of your life,” but in reality, it can be stressful, uncertain, and even isolating. You’re juggling academic pressures, social dynamics, independence, and the constant question of what’s next? If you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or just not like yourself, therapy can help. Therapy that fits into college life: - convenient meeting options - flexible scheduling - no long term commitment - privacy outside the campus bubble - therapy wherever you are - therapy that grows with you ready to ace your mental health? get started today!