Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

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At our therapy practice, we specialize in supporting those who are navigating challenging life transitions, struggling with anxiety, or facing difficulties in dating and relationships. Many of the individuals we work with share a common experience: they are going through periods of change or uncertainty, whether it’s adjusting to a new environment, managing the pressures of school or work, or trying to understand their emotions in relationships. They often feel stuck, unsure of their next steps, and are seeking a supportive space to sort through their thoughts and feelings. We understand how overwhelming it can be to face these challenges alone, and our goal is to help clients find clarity, build confidence, and take meaningful steps forward. If feeling lost, anxious, or frustrated is part of your current experience, know that you’re not alone—and you don’t have to navigate it by yourself. Together, we can create a path that feels right for you.

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.

I’ve always been captivated by love, connection, and the strength people show through life’s toughest moments. Being transracially adopted is a meaningful part of my identity—it’s given me a deep appreciation for the complex, beautiful ways people form relationships and a strong commitment to honoring diversity, neurodiversity, and inclusion. As your therapist, I offer a calming, collaborative, and nonjudgmental presence. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, relationship challenges, identity exploration, or life transitions, I want therapy to be a space where you feel seen, safe, and supported to explore your story. I believe that everyone deserves to feel heard, valued, and connected—and that real growth happens when we slow down, reflect together, and make space for what truly matters to you. I work with individuals and couples of all backgrounds, and I’m especially passionate about helping people feel empowered in their relationships—with themselves and others. I’m currently earning my Master’s in Couple and Family Therapy at Adler University. As I grow in the field, I find myself drawn to Narrative, Emotionally Focused, and Collaborative therapies—approaches that center your lived experience and emphasize meaningful connection, healing, and change. I attend supervision with Mia Dal Santo, LMFT. You don’t have to have it all figured out before reaching out. Therapy is a place to begin, and I’m here to walk with you as you move toward clarity, connection, and a life that feels more authentically yours!

Hi! I am an EMDR-Certified and AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist with a specialization in working with college students (both "traditional" and "non-traditional"). I deeply enjoy getting to work with folks who are looking to address challenges they might be experiencing in their relationships: their relationships to partners, friends, family members, and importantly, to themselves. Many life experiences may lead us to feel in disconnection with ourselves: whether you have experienced relational or institutional trauma, are navigating multiple life transitions (e.g. beginning a new degree, receiving a new medical diagnosis), or are exploring social, sexual or gender identity, I am here to help you reconnect with yourself and take steps forward in your healing journey.

Hello! I'm Danielle and I work with many university students from the University of Chicago. I assist students to manage stress of the busy college/university lifestyle. Some clients have long standing struggles either diagnosed or not yet diagnosed and I help these clients to discover best ways to cope. Client Types: I work with clients who have or suspect ADHD, ASD, Anxiety, Depression, and adjustment concerns related to family, friends, and academic work. Demographics/Allied: Disability, Men, Women, LGBTQ+, culturally diverse Interest individuals: You may reach out and request a 15+ minute consultation to see if we'd be a good fit. How I work: First, I'm Person-Centered (considering the whole person) and considering your unique needs. Then, I use an action based approach to help client's achieve their goals. What would work best for you is discussed in the first session during assessment. Who works best with me: Those who like an interactive counselor who is empathetic and with validate your feelings while also challenging you to grow and increase positive changes. My goal is to assist you to gain a healthy tool box to manage life's stresses.

Do you feel disconnected from yourself, your relationships, or the life you want to create? Are you longing to feel more authentic, grounded, and at home within yourself? Through curiosity and exploration, I help you honor your experiences, soften protective patterns, and reconnect with your inner wisdom and strength. I support individuals navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, complex family dynamics, PCOS/PMOS, PMDD, and life transitions. I especially enjoy supporting those who have learned to prioritize others’ needs while losing touch with their own voice, desires, and inner knowing. My approach is holistic, intersectional, feminist, and trauma-informed; I integrate mindfulness, somatic, and body-based practices to support individuals navigating anxiety, stress, life transitions, and patterns that may no longer serve them. I welcome clients who are seeking a deeper connection with themselves, their bodies, and their relationships. Together, we can create a nurturing and collaborative space where you feel seen, supported, &understood. Through presence, self-exploration, and self-compassion, we can move toward greater clarity, connection, and alignment. There's also room for play, creativity, and humor along the way!

Gretchen Aich (she/her), PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified Psychiatric–Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who specializes in treating anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, ADHD, and substance use disorders. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Lewis University and is certified through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Gretchen has advanced training in crisis intervention and trauma-informed care and works with children, adolescents, and adults, including Spanish-speaking clients. Gretchen brings experience from diverse mental health settings, including emergency departments, inpatient psychiatric units, outpatient clinics, private practice, and telehealth. Her background includes supporting individuals in crisis, working in community and court-mandated programs, and collaborating closely with multidisciplinary teams. During her clinical training, she worked extensively with children and adolescents with complex needs, provided substance use and court-ordered therapy, and assisted with advanced treatments such as SPRAVATO and TMS. In her work with clients, Gretchen creates a safe, judgment-free space grounded in empathy, respect, and cultural humility. She believes each person is the expert in their own life and uses a collaborative, flexible approach to care. Through active listening and evidence-based techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy and solution-focused therapy, she partners with clients to set meaningful goals and support healing in a way that fits their lives.

We are here to support you. Life Aligned Counseling offers individual, couples, and family counseling services. Our team of therapists has experience in a wide variety of issues including depression, anxiety, trauma recovery, grief, relationship issues, self-esteem and self-concept, emerging adult issues, family conflict, stress management, spirituality, significant life transitions, men's issues, etc. We are committed to providing empathetic, affirming, and culturally sound care that creates a safe space for healing and transformation. Visit our WEBSITE at lifealignedcounseling.com to get scheduled.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, I use a culturally-responsive approach to therapy. We will work together to understand personal and societal factors that contribute to your everyday well-being. Through self-exploration of personal narratives (Constructivism), analysis of interpersonal experiences (Dialectical), and understanding of the intersections between our past and present (Psychodynamic), we become more in charge of our future and aware of how we occupy and share spaces with others. My goal is to guide you towards healthier mental habits that can alleviate your suffering and enable a life-long journey of fulfillment. I obtained my doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the APA-Accredited program at the University of Puerto Rico and completed my masters degree in Psychological Research at the University of Guadalajara. I specialized in psychodynamic psychotherapy, studying Lacanian Psychoanalysis in Quebec at the GIFRIC Institute. I believe that therapy is a co-creation of a shared vulnerable space, therefore my role as a therapist requires intellectual humility, transparency, and empathy. I have helped clients understand how to communicate and regulate their emotions through interpersonal skills, acknowledgement of unhealthy attachment patterns, and self-regulating practices. I have worked with a wide range of clients including adolescents, young adults, women, couples, families, and people who are incarcerated. As a former Montessori educator, I am aware of the importance of recognizing the needs of each developmental stage, and I strive to meet everyone where they are. I look forward to embarking on this journey with you! Types of Therapy Attachment-based Culturally Sensitive Gottman Method Multicultural Psychoanalytic Psychodynamic Relational

If you find yourself not feeling good enough, struggling to cope with worries, traumas, and pain from the past, or wanting to learn more about yourself and why you think and behave in the ways that you do, my therapeutic approach may be right for you. Depending on your goals/needs, we will work together to increase your insight, explore alternative coping strategies, and help you feel empowered to make different decisions in life to get your closer to who and where you want to be. My intention in our work together is to see you, understand you, and challenge you to grow. When necessary/needed, we will use humor along the way! I specialize in working with adults struggling with feelings of Unworthiness/Low Self-Esteem, Trauma/PTSD, Family/Relationship Conflict, Anxiety, and Depression. I am passionate about working with the LGBTQIA+ community, BIPOC, Mental Health Professionals, Artists, Immigrants, First-Generation Americans, Bi-cultural Individuals, and the Kink community. I would be honored to be a part of your journey. Through our work together, you can learn to practice more self-compassion, feel more grounded, and better manage all the thoughts and feelings you're experiencing. If you connected to what I've shared and feel like we would be a good fit, feel free to message me to arrange a free phone consult.

At Skylight Ascend Wellness, we blend medical expertise with heart. Our practice provides compassionate, evidence-based psychiatric care for adolescents and adults through a holistic approach that integrates medication management, therapy, and wellness support. We specialize in treating anxiety, depression, ADHD, and mood disorders while helping each person rediscover balance and confidence. Our care is collaborative, inclusive, and designed for real life—whether you’re a student navigating stress or an adult seeking clarity and calm. ✨ Let’s light the path to your emotional wellness—mind, body, and brain. 📍 Serving Illinois, Minnesota, Colorado, and Florida | Virtual options available

Hello! My name is Dr. Ashly Lawrence. I have been working with college students and young adults for almost twenty years. College is a time of self-exploration, transition, and identity development. It can also bring great stress, existential questions, and family of origin issues. I am here to support it all. I practice from a relational feminist lens and am best suited to support clients struggling with stress, anxiety, identity development, trauma, family of origin issues, relationship stressors, and life transitions. I am LGBTQ+ affirming and often work with folx with one or more marginalized identities.

Transform Your Life: Embrace Joy, Growth, and Connection - Are you ready for a positive change in your life? Whether you're grappling with anxiety, depression, or the weight of past traumas, taking the courageous step of seeking therapy can be the catalyst for transforming your life. Don't let yourself feel stuck, overwhelmed, or uncertain about the path ahead any longer. Let's embark on a journey together towards reclaiming your energy and rediscovering the joy, growth, and connection you deserve. I gravitate towards therapies that seek to create awareness around thoughts, behaviors and values, including ACT and EMDR, with a psychodynamic lens to explore past experiences and the ways in which they shape you. In exploring yourself and your formative experiences, you can gain clarity about your present self, fostering a radical new space for growth. Taking the first step to connect can be daunting, but I'm here to support you every step of the way. If you have any questions, concerns, or are ready to begin, don't hesitate to reach out. I offer a complimentary consultation session where we can explore your needs and goals. Your journey towards a brighter future starts now. Good luck!

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.

Peace, love and a few good laughs…in one way or another, most of us hope to maximize the presence and growth of these delicious things in our lives. After working in a university counseling center for ten years, I have a strong sense of many of the most common concerns students may face. That being said, we are all individuals with our own strengths and struggles. Every one of us experiences unique challenges that arise within the context of living our human lives. I am a queer-identified, neurodivergent, trans-affirmative, body positive, sex positive, emotion focused, experiential therapist, working with traditional college age students and adults of all ages. I am a generalist practitioner and have experience working with a wide range of concerns. Areas of specific clinical interest include working with those addressing issues related to gender diversity and sexual orientation. My clinical expertise includes providing treatment for depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder (Asperger's/Pathological Demand Avoidance) body image concerns, eating disorders and disordered eating. I find that my approach to therapy resonates well with college students in general and specifically with therapists in training, artists and creatives (of all sorts). Please contact me directly to schedule a brief (15 minute) consultation to discuss how we might work together to increase the peace and love you find in life and to share a few good laughs along the way.

Room to Breathe is a group practice of therapists and yoga instructors who understand that your mental and physical health are interconnected. Our therapists offer talk therapy for those interested in exploring and accessing their wellbeing and their personhood, difficulties and strengths through counseling sessions. Our yoga instructors are psychologically-informed and offer trauma sensitive classes for people who are connecting with their bodies and wellbeing through the practices of yoga and meditation. We’re here to support and address your goals holistically; that may be with therapy, yoga, or both. It’s up to you. We’re glad you’re here.

College life can be a time of major transitions, and balancing academics, relationships, and self-care isn’t always easy—especially if you're a first-generation and/or low-income (FGLI) student, far from home, or struggling with self-esteem and perfectionism. I’m here to support you as you navigate these challenges and grow more confident in managing them. I specialize in helping students who may feel the pressure to succeed in a new environment, who worry about "getting it right," or who are simply adjusting to life away from family and familiar support networks. Together, we’ll explore strategies that feel true to you, build on your strengths, and work toward a healthier balance. If you’re new to therapy, I provide a welcoming space where you can be yourself and learn how to prioritize your mental and emotional well-being. Let’s take this journey at your pace, and find ways to make college life a little less overwhelming and a lot more fulfilling.

You’ve spent your life proving you are enough. You excel professionally, yet behind the success, you are exhausted by people-pleasing, romantic struggles, and the quiet ache of unworthiness. If you grew up with family dysfunction, you likely learned to manage everyone else’s emotions at the cost of your own. You may over-function to feel seen, sometimes relying on alcohol or other substances to numb the pressure. I help driven adults heal their family-of-origin wounds, pivot from unwanted patterns, and build a deep, unshakeable sense of self-worth. Up Late Therapy offers premium therapy tailored for high achievers living in Illinois or Massachusetts, available exclusively during evening and late-night hours.

You are holding a lot right now... Balancing coursework, expectations, relationships, and the quiet pressure to figure out who you are (and who you are becoming) can feel overwhelming. From the outside, it might look like you are managing, but internally, there may be anxiety, self-doubt, burnout, or a sense of disconnection that is harder to name. I work with college and graduate students who are navigating exactly these kinds of experiences. Many of the people I support are thoughtful, driven, and deeply self-aware, yet find themselves feeling stuck, exhausted, or unsure of how to move forward in a way that actually feels aligned. Therapy becomes a space to slow down. A place where you do not have to perform, keep up, or have everything figured out. Together, we begin to make sense of what is underneath the stress, whether that is long-standing patterns, identity exploration, relationship dynamics, or the impact of academic and societal pressures. My approach is relational, collaborative, and grounded in a sociological lens, meaning we do not just look inward, but also consider the larger systems and expectations shaping your experience. I integrate attachment-based, psychodynamic, and trauma-informed care, while also offering practical tools when helpful. I am especially attuned to: • Academic pressure and burnout • Anxiety and emotional overwhelm • Identity exploration (including cultural, relational, and personal identity) • Life transitions and uncertainty about the future • The pressure to “hold it all together” while feeling unseen or unsupported Our work unfolds in a space that is steady, thoughtful, and deeply human. We move at a pace that honors your capacity, gently creating room for clarity, compassion, self-trust, and more sustainable ways of showing up in your life. You do not have to navigate this chapter alone. I offer tele-health sessions for students located in Illinois, Iowa, and Nevada, and would be honored to support you in this season of your life!