Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL
Many of the clients I work best with are thoughtful, curious individuals who are seeking a deeper understanding of themselves. They may be struggling with relationships, feeling stuck in patterns they don’t quite understand, or carrying emotions that feel overwhelming or confusing. Often, they’ve tried to “figure things out” on their own but are ready for something more meaningful and supportive. What they tend to have in common is a desire to be truly seen and heard—not just to fix a problem, but to grow through it. My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in the belief that change happens in relationship—with a therapist who is present, attuned, and deeply respectful of your experience. I work well with people who are open to exploring the layers beneath their struggles, even if they don’t have all the words for it yet. If you're looking for a space where you can be yourself without judgment, and where your story will be met with care and curiosity, you might feel at home here.
Psychotherapy Associates of Chicago serves a diverse clientele of individuals, couples and families in a quiet, comfortable therapy space. Since opening in 2001, our dedicated and highly experienced group of therapists has become some of the most frequently referred in Chicago. Let us help you navigate the inevitable ups and downs in life.
I understand how challenging it can be to find a therapist that feels like a good fit. I earned my doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Roosevelt University and spent 8 years working and training in college counseling centers (e.g., School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Purdue, DePaul). The last 5 years I've been continuing to build upon my experience working with unique people. I am a neurodivergent and creative person as well. My areas of expertise are in working with young adults experiencing difficulties related to mood, anxiety, and trauma (recent or past). I enjoy working with adults with ADHD and other neurodivergencies to deepen their understanding of how their brain works and to develop practical strategies to reduce the burden of living in a neurotypical world. My therapy style is warm, casual, and humorous. My approach is client-centered; I work to tailor therapy to the unique needs of each individual while building a trusting relationship over time. I incorporate CBT, ACT, DBT, humanistic, and existential theories and interventions in my work. I am LGBTQIA+ competent, trans/gender affirming, sex and body positive. I welcome individuals with non-traditional/non-monogamous relationship styles or family systems, artists, musicians, performers, individuals who do not conform to the typical 9-5 lifestyle, and folks navigating difficult family dynamics or complicated romantic relationships. Finding a therapist can be daunting. If talking briefly would help you feel comfortable moving forward, please reach out! I’m happy to make accommodations/be flexible in scheduling. It's intimidating to take steps towards meaningful change, but you deserve to be content in life. I'd be honored to be a part of that process. Resilience lies within all of us.
Grey Area Therapy is a small, private practice conveniently located in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood with easy access to public transportation and an emphasis on building meaningful, authentic connections with clients. As a therapist with Grey Area Therapy, I work with clients on needs related to anxiety, depression, OCD, vocational stress, and life transitions. I have a special interest in working with individuals who identify in the LGBTQ+ community. I offer both in-person and virtual appointments. I accept Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and Cigna insurance and offer free 15-minute phone consultations to help you find a therapist that works for you!
We provide individual, couples, and family therapy and will co-create therapy goals with you. In addition to understanding your experiences from your cultural lens, we are also conscious of the impact of sociocultural dynamics, historical trauma as well as current and past political systems on your life. We recognize that it is not uncommon to be trapped in narratives and roles from your past. If this is the case, we will help you identify contributors to the “stuckness”, and guide you in recreating your narrative, keeping in mind your values and aspirations, to help you feel the authentic version of yourself. During the course of therapy, in addition to exploring and helping you recreate your story on your terms, we will also assist you in identifying a repertoire of skills and tools that make you feel more connected and make daily life more meaningful. We specialize in serving immigrants, South Asian, and Middle Eastern communities. Please see our specialization page for more information.
Do you struggle with racing thoughts, distressing feelings, anxiety, depression, or trauma? Are you and your partner(s) struggling with communication, intimacy, or distrust? Exploring how counseling can be beneficial is a brave first step that I am so glad you are taking! Regardless of what you want to work on in therapy, I treat my clients with compassion, respect, and empathy. I help you navigate this progression while creating a safe and supportive space to explore and create new ways to grow towards your goals. Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with children, adults, and couples across a variety of settings with various clinical needs. My goal is to provide services to diverse populations across socioeconomic backgrounds. My skills in counseling include LGBTQ+ and BIPOC affirmative care, trauma-informed practice, and human sexuality. I believe that forming a strong therapeutic alliance is principal to healing and growth. Should we work together, you can trust that I will prioritize building a therapeutic relationship based on empathy and positive regard in a judgment-free space. After sessions, I hope you feel equipped to tackle the challenges in your life by tapping into your potential.
College can feel overwhelming — between classes, internships, friendships, and trying to figure out who you are and where you’re headed. Many students I work with describe feeling anxious, burnt out, or stuck in old patterns that don’t change no matter how hard they try. Others notice that underneath the stress is a sense of loneliness or pressure to have it all together. I work best with students who are curious about going deeper — not just learning coping strategies, but really understanding themselves and healing the patterns that get in the way of feeling connected and confident. If you’ve tried surface-level tools and still feel like something’s missing, this may be a good fit. Together, we’ll create a space that feels supportive, creative, and real — so you can grow in ways that last well beyond college.
Hi! I'm Eleanor. I love working with both queer and neurodivergent individuals, especially individuals who are just beginning to explore or understand their identities or may have doubts about if their experiences are “enough.” Many of my clients experience anxiety and struggle to trust themselves or express their needs and are ready to start exploring what is most important to them and how to build a value-aligned life. Additionally, I have a specialty in treating OCD and use a mix of exposure therapy as well as non-exposure based therapies. I am warm, collaborative, and transparent with my clients. In sessions, you can expect me to ask questions, provide education and resources, and add a little humor into the mix. My main goal when working with clients is to help them understand themselves and their patterns better and practice responding flexibly and compassionate to the difficulties that inevitably rise in life. This is often a mix of exploring past experiences and relationships to understand how this shows up in the present as well as learning new coping skills. It can be hard and scary to start therapy! If you're feeling ready, feel free to reach out to me to learn more about my style and see if we might be a good fit.
Do you struggle with stress or negativity? Effectively managing stressors and self-compassion for a greater sense of fulfillment is a very important investment for a brighter future. I'm a board certified psychotherapist and practice an eclectic blend of psychotherapy with adult individuals and couples, respecting the uniqueness of each person and their ability to correct self-defeating patterns for a clearer path to personal growth, understanding, mindfulness, and happiness. My interactive, compassionate therapeutic approach facilitates a process of effective self discovery by examining matters close enough to be of help, yet far enough away to see the whole person. Assessing different points of view in the therapeutic process empowers you to make more self-affirming, grounded choices in your life.
Caterina Frollano, LPC, specializes in the treatment of adults and adolescents with mood and anxiety disorders, eating disorders, trauma, women's health, multicultural identity development, and transitional stress. She uses an integrative approach to treatment and is skilled in various methods of intervention including DBT, CBT, dynamic, and multiculturally informed care. Additionally, she has advanced training in prenatal and postpartum care as well as parenting coaching. Caterina has provided psychotherapy at various settings and levels of care. The diversity of her experience enhances her ability to accurately diagnose and develop effective treatment plans for the needs of each client. She understands the importance of the therapeutic relationship and thus approaches therapy with your feelings and experience as a priority. If you're ready to schedule with Caterina, you are welcome to do so directly through the client portal by visiting the Allow Wellness website: www.allow-wellness.com.
Life can be incredibly complex and overwhelming, full of twists and turns we often do not expect. As both a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a human being, I have witnessed how receiving professional therapeutic support can guide individuals towards finding a sense of safety and comfort within themselves in a world of ever-shifting dynamics that can distract from or exacerbate the challenges we experience. My clients may be struggling with eating disorders, depression/anxiety, body image concerns, and substance misuse, in addition to difficulty managing stress, life transitions, or intimate/peer/familial relationship conflicts/wounding. I am LGBTQ+ allied, anti-racist, and anti-diet/Health at Every Size aligned and informed. Utilizing attachment theory, values exploration, and mind-body awareness, I work with my clients to re-instill and preserve individual autonomy while healing the relationship between oneself and others. I support my clients in learning new ways to tolerate uncomfortable emotions instead of avoiding or numbing them, and create space to process the inevitable grief that comes with making any changes in life. As a therapist, I embody humor, authenticity, empathy, and patience to create a safe space for my clients to begin exploring both internal/external experiences that contribute to feelings of distress, loneliness, and uncertainty. Values I hold above all else in the therapy space include humanism, autonomy, relational accountability between client and therapist, and the power of ‘any positive change’.
We are a group practice of 11 therapists located in Lincoln Square in Chicago. We conduct in person as well as online therapy. We specialize in anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and grief and loss.
I am passionate about working with young adults and first generation immigrants that are struggling with anxiety, burnout and stress. I understand the unique challenges college students face because I myself have been a student on/off for over 10 years. I come from a first generation household and have worked with immigrants my entire professional life. I know how hard it can be to grow up in a culture that has different values than those at home and how this can lead to questioning your own identity and where you feel you belong. I welcome the opportunity to help you gain a deeper understanding of yourself to live in alignment with your natural strengths and ambitions.
At our best we are well connected, there is congruence. I believe that we experience the deepest sorrows and difficulties when there is disconnection, incongruence. By identifying salient disconnections and working towards reconnection you can get on the path to healing. As a therapist, it is my aim to respectfully and gently sweep that path and guide the way towards meaningful reconnection, healing, and hope. I look forward to collaborating with you in that effort. Here's to meaningful connections!
Mr. Husbands received training in CBT working with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD as well as other issues such as role adjustment and career changes. Mr. Husbands specializes in the use of CBT and enjoys working with clients to help find how their thoughts, feelings and behaviors are connected. He especially values working with depression, anxiety disorders and trauma in adult populations. Mr. Husbands is a firm believer in the expertise that clients bring into therapy about from their own lives and he enjoys collaborating with clients to find new ways of thinking and behaving in order to achieve their goals as well as create meaningful and lasting change. He is committed to valuing and honoring the diverse experiences and identities of all clients and aims to create a safe and welcoming environment for all in his practice.
I am Anita Rao, MD, an ABPN board-certified psychiatrist trained in adult psychiatry at Northwestern University, where I had the honor of being a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society, recognized for teaching medical students. I earned my MD from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and obtained my undergraduate degree in International Health from Georgetown University. I adopt an approach that goes beyond treating disorders to focus on mental wellness and whole-person health. I utilize holistic treatment modalities, including evidence-based medication management, and collaborate with other members of our treatment team to ensure comprehensive mental health care. My specialization lies in anxiety and depressive disorders, bipolar disorder, and PTSD, with a particular focus on populations that are new to psychiatric care. I take pride in delivering accurate diagnoses, including second opinion evaluations, and am committed to educating and empowering my patients to understand their illnesses and themselves.
Mindful Care is a one-stop-shop mental health practice specializing in urgent/same day psychiatry, individual and group therapy sessions, substance abuse recovery counseling, and medication management services that promote mental strengthening. Our typical client is struggling with anxiety, depression, mood disorders, life adjustment concerns, and are seeking interventions that support long-lasting lifetime changes. We are in-network with major insurance providers and offer affordable self-pay options.
Ali King, LCPC, earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. She went on to work as a behavioral therapist for children with Autism at the Minnesota Autism Center before moving to Chicago and earning her master’s degree in Community Counseling from DePaul University. After graduate school, Ali worked as a therapist at Insight Behavioral Health Center’s residential facility for people struggling with eating disorders, as well as mood disorders. She led groups and supported people with everyday living tasks, as well as general skills coaching and meal management. Ali recently stepped down as the Director of the Young Adult PHP and IOP programs at Compass Health Center where she worked for 8 years in many different roles helping to build the Young Adult program and support the growth of the organization. While at Compass, Ali provided supervision and mentorship to newer clinicians and helped establish the group curriculum they currently use, as well as instituting effective policies and protocols. While at Compass, she received the award for Continuous Improvement, which highlights her drive and dedication to learning and growth. For over a decade, she has been providing person-centered, solution-focused, skills-based care. Her direct though nurturing, fun, and empathetic approach, is well received and has shown tangible results for her clients. With consistent encouragement and support, clients feel safe to explore their values and to learn successful coping strategies to improve their lives. While Ali has a passion for working with young adults through the tough transitions they face, she also appreciates working with adolescents and adults. She is well-versed in helping people manage struggles with self-esteem, relationships, low motivation, and simply feeling “stuck”. Ali is adept at working with clients with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, adjustment disorders, personality disorders, psychosis and substance use struggles. She has extensive experience working with DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), and often incorporates these modalities into her eclectic therapeutic approach. Ali is currently accepting new clients virtually and at the downtown Chicago location.
Mental health struggles can be difficult. I'm here to help! I provide therapy for adolescents, teens and adults struggling with depression, anxiety, OCD, and low self-esteem. My clients need a supportive and understanding space to navigate these challenges and reclaim their lives. My clients often feel trapped by their thoughts and emotions, struggling to find peace and self-acceptance. They might minimize how they feel, saying "I'm fine," while feeling anything but fine. Many of my clients struggle with self-doubt and harsh self-criticism, leading to people-pleasing behaviors and a fear of asserting themselves. This keeps them stuck in a cycle of burn out. Before coming to me, they often feel isolated, drained, and disconnected. They seek relief and a sense of empowerment. I use a compassionate, holistic approach and offer evidence-based treatments like CBT, DBT, IFS, and trauma-informed care. I help clients feel seen and heard, while remaining goal oriented. These modalities help address and heal the parts of you affected by anxiety and trauma, fostering self-confidence and growth. If you’re ready to break free from anxiety, stop people-pleasing, and build a more confident self, I’d love to support you on your journey! Feel free to send me an email or give me a call and we'll get you scheduled.