Therapists for college students near University of Chicago

I am a board-certified general psychiatrist. I completed my undergraduate studies in Biology and Psychology at Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY, and earned my medical degree from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Following that, I completed my residency in general psychiatry at the same institution. I have experience working in various clinical settings, including psychiatric emergency rooms, first-episode psychosis programs, obsessive-compulsive disorder clinics, and specialized psychiatric units in hospitals. I have also worked with diverse patient populations, such as refugees, veterans, and individuals from underserved urban and rural areas. My approach is centered around the patient and takes a holistic view. My treatment includes medication management along with a combination of supportive, cognitive behavioral, and psychodynamic therapies.

If you’re tired of working so hard just to keep up, you’re not alone. Maybe you’re overwhelmed by everything on your plate, having difficulty following through, or relying on strategies that no longer feel helpful. You may look like you’re managing from the outside while internally feeling exhausted, scattered, frustrated, or stuck. I have 5+ years of experience helping teens and adults navigate ADHD, burnout, chronic stress, and addictive behaviors. My approach is warm, compassionate, and practical. I believe therapy is a mix of support and comfortability, but also honesty and productivity - with a little humor sprinkled in. Together, we will work to better understand the "root" of your struggles while building practical tools that fit your lifestyle. My goal is to help you move from simply surviving your day-to-day life to feeling more capable, intentional, and connected to what matters to you. You don’t need to have everything figured out before starting therapy - we can work towards where you want to be. The down-to-earth, honest relationship I create with clients is what defines my practice; a space where you can be authentic, explore without judgment, and be met with openness and curiosity. Together, let's create the life you want!

Whenever you may feel overwhelmed by life, making a decision to participate in emotional therapy sessions can be beneficial. Collaborating with a trained professional to manage the complexity of what you may be facing has been proven to be effective in learning life-long skills. These skills and experiences can help in building your own wisdom in life to better live in ways that fit what you value and what is important to you

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.

Hi, I’m Zoe—a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and DBT-certified therapist, offering virtual therapy across Florida, Illinois, and Texas. I work with college students, especially young women, who feel anxious, misunderstood, or stuck in cycles of self-doubt, perfectionism, or unhealthy patterns. Classes, relationships, family stress, and the constant pressure to “have it all figured out” can leave you feeling overwhelmed. In therapy, you don’t have to perform or pretend you’re fine—you get a space to be real, vent, and start untangling what’s been weighing you down. ✨ You might relate if… You’re overthinking every text, email, or decision. You feel “different” or “too much” compared to your friends. You’re caught in cycles with food, body image, or relationships. You’re exhausted from trying to keep it all together. In our first session, we’ll slow things down. I’ll get to know your story, the challenges you’re facing, and what you’d like to change. You don’t need to have a plan—I’ll ask questions to help us explore your coping patterns, relationships, and what’s been hardest lately. This is a supportive space where you can share at your own pace—no pressure to open up before you’re ready. By the end, we’ll have a clearer picture of your goals and how we can work toward them. My goal is to make sure you feel heard, understood, and supported from the very beginning.

Hi, I’m Payton Smith, and I believe therapy should be a space where you can show up fully as yourself, without judgment, pressure, or expectations. I strive to create an environment where you feel safe enough to explore your experiences, process what’s been weighing on you, and begin to make sense of your story. My role as a therapist is to walk alongside you, helping you reconnect with your strengths while building the tools needed to navigate life with more confidence. I use a flexible, collaborative approach that allows me to meet you where you are and adapt to what you need in each moment. I value going beyond surface-level conversations and creating space for meaningful, honest work.

YP Wellness PLLC provides a tailored and holistic approach to therapy to empower you to reach your goals. Yana Patrun, LCPC specializes in anxiety disorders, mood disorders, relationship issues, self worth, trauma, academic and occupational issues, life transitions and managing work/life balance. We are accepting new clients. Please feel free to reach out for a complimentary initial consultation.

I’m a psychotherapist who is passionate about helping millennial and Gen Z women overcome anxiety. My approach to therapy is to address not only the anxious thoughts you are having but also look at how we can adapt behaviors to help you heal. I introduce skills and then work with you on realistically using them in your daily life. We remain in the mindset of coaching your brain and helping your brain learn to react differently over time. We do this with self-compassion, self-respect, and a smidge of humor. Ok, maybe a lot of humor. In my sessions, you will always be the expert of your life and your needs. I’m down-to-earth, laid-back, and create an environment of zero judgment where you can allow yourself to be vulnerable, laugh, cry, and swear as much as you need to.

Life can be brutal, can’t it?! Can you remember that time in life when you were happy, like top of the world scream it from the rooftops happy? In that moment, everything was right in your world and then well, life happened. Now you look back and have so many questions…What happened? Let me tell you, you are not alone! We’ve all been there in some season of life. But who says this can’t make us better! Every person comes to therapy with their own individual needs. Therefore, we adapt our interventions based on a comprehensive assessment of who you are and what you need. We are all trained in a number of different interventions and like to use a combination of our training and expertise to utilize an eclectic approach to best meet the needs of each individual person. We know that every individual is uniquely different and therefore each person should have a unique therapy journey based on their own needs.

At the North Suburban Center for Anxiety, we specialize in using cognitive behavior therapy to treat anxiety, OCD, and related disorders. We recognize that anxiety can be overwhelming, scary, and isolating. However, it is also treatable! As cognitive behavior therapists, we provide research-supported and results-oriented treatment. We believe that how individuals think and behave directly affect how they feel. Therefore, we use a compassionate, collaborative, and direct approach to empower clients with the necessary skills to modify their irrational thoughts, confront their maladaptive fears, and decrease their overall anxiety. By the end of treatment, our goal is that clients have learned the essential tools to master their anxiety or OCD and are living a more fulfilling life.

Hello. I'm Dr. LaShara Shaw. I believe that we have basic needs. We have needs for personal power, freedom, fun, survival, and secure connections (a choice-theory perspective). Sometimes these needs are not met or we have difficulty attending to them. I think it is crucial to reflect upon what matters in your life and what you consider your responsibility to achieve a flourishing life. Sometimes thoughts, insecurities, and behaviors can be taught, and they do not serve us in the best capacity. In those instances, I believe that humans are capable of learning new things. There is power and brevity in recognizing choices, and there is autonomy to choose how to engage with those circumstances through the collaborative process. Feel free to see my Psychology Today profile, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/lashara-shaw-naperville-il/845893.

Hello! I am a proud Hispanic Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 10 years of experience in the social service field and 3 years practicing therapy. I’m also certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and I’m passionate about providing support that is compassionate, practical, and culturally grounded. Mental health is essential for everyone, and I believe it holds a special importance within the Hispanic community where stigma can sometimes make seeking help difficult. My goal is to create a safe, welcoming space where healing and growth are possible for all.

I offer individual, couples, and family therapy, with a deep focus on the LGBTQ+ community and those navigating the complexities of identity and life transitions. Whether you are adjusting to independence, managing the academic and social pressures of campus life, or beginning to explore family planning and your future, I am here to help. I also specialize in neurodiversity, helping students—including those who are late-diagnosed—understand their unique brain wiring and develop strategies that actually work for them. My goal is to help you build a life that feels authentic to who you are, while giving you the tools to navigate the challenges that come with this pivotal stage of life.

At the Perricone Center for Counseling and Healing Arts, we focus on healing in the context of relationships. Through our collaborative process, we support clients in their emotional healing journey. We see therapy as a chance for you to connect with yourself, developing a deeper sense of understanding through the relational work with your therapist. It is a chance to explore your inner world and how it plays out in the outer world, learn skills to manage stressors and challenges, and improve overall balance. We are holistic and believe strongly in the mind body connection. We have in person appointments in Bolingbrook and offer telehealth. Our appointments can be during the week, as well as evenings and weekends.

My approach to therapy Together, we’ll untangle the stress, overthinking, and self-doubt that keep you feeling stuck. I help you build practical tools to manage anxiety, set boundaries, improve communication, and make decisions with more confidence. Our work is collaborative, honest, and focused on real-life changes you can apply outside of sessions.

I welcome the individual that is curious to understand the myriad of feelings, patterns and issues in one's life. I create space to be known and understand the self. Young adulthood is a time of discovery, to figure out how you want to be. Old defenses and coping skills may not be working as well. My professional interests are broad when it comes to the human condition including grief and loss, relationships and transitions. I work through a relational psychodynamic strength-based attachment lens. You and I work within the relational interaction between us as we discover your self-structure. This allows a person to expand and evolve. The hardest step is reaching out. If the way I work is of interest, please give me a call to see if treatment would be a good fit. All questions are good questions. Invest in yourself, you are worth it. I practice in Missouri, Maine, Illinois and New Mexico. My undergraduate educational experience is from Dartmouth College along with my MSW from Washington University. I have certificates of study from the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute, in the Advanced Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Program and from The National Institute for the Psychotherapies, NYC, in Integrative Trauma Studies. I am currently in year 2 of Somatic Expererience Method Training. I have worked inpatient, residential and outpatient with a team oriented approach in nationally known facilities, McLean Hospital, St. Louis Children's Hospital, and Care and Counseling St. Louis prior to opening my own practice in 2015. Be well, Cindy

I specialize in helping teens, adults, and parents by creating a space that feels safe, judgment-free, and genuinely compassionate. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or uncertain about your next steps, you’re not alone and you don’t have to navigate it by yourself. In our work together, we’ll explore what’s weighing you down, uncover what truly matters to you, and develop practical strategies to ease your stress. Along the way, you’ll build confidence, self-compassion, and a stronger connection to yourself and your values.

Feeling more overwhelmed than usual? Noticing the weight of past experiences getting in your way? Looking to move toward healing? Wanting to lean into a healthier version of yourself? These types of thoughts are common. We all struggle, at times, with how we react to different situations. Our life experiences and environments have an affect on our thoughts, feelings and emotions. I believe that you are capable of breaking patterns that no longer serve you and finding your way towards a more intentional and fulfilling life. I offer support in your growth towards more ease and grounding no matter the circumstance. I will offer you a secure space that is welcoming and open to all as well as filled with compassion, acceptance, and curiosity. I believe that you will find me easily approachable and responsive to your unique needs and experiences. I hold a relational focus because the connection that you and I create is essential for the work it takes to get you closer to what you are looking for in your life. I am authentic and honest in my approach because we are humans coming together in a common experience that requires trust and vulnerability to be able to work on hard things together.

Navigating OCD, anxiety, relationships, and life transitions can be emotionally and physically draining. There is little more frustrating than thinking and behaving in the same ways despite knowing they contribute to these issues and other debilitating symptoms. Therapy is a place to safely explore the thoughts, behaviors, and relationships that are interfering with living a more fulfilling and rewarding life. I am a trained OCD specialist and an active member of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). I have extensive experience working with college undergrad and graduate students from my time as a counselor at the University of Colorado, Boulder and at Bryant University. Working directly on a college campus has provided me with a unique understanding of the intersection between academics and mental health, as well as how to navigate many campus systems best. Currently, in my private practice, I work with college students from the many different colleges in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Colorado. The majority of clients that I work with are navigating Anxiety or OCD and Related Disorders. My clinical approach to therapy is grounded in ERP, ACT, and CBT. I believe therapy is built around compassion, respect, and trust. I look forward to connecting with you and exploring how we can collaboratively achieve your treatment goals. Send me an email, give me a call, or visit my website (www.smithlicsw.com) to set up an appointment. If you are struggling and are tired of trying to handle things alone, please do not hesitate to get in touch. * I provide telehealth services to clients in Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Illinois, Vermont, and Colorado.*

Through compassion and support, I strive to empower my clients to cultivate resilience, self-awareness, and autonomy. My objective is to equip individuals with the tools needed to navigate their personal journeys with confidence. Recognizing that each person comes from a unique background with varied needs, I prioritize a collaborative therapeutic process tailored to your specific circumstances. I am committed to creating a safe, judgment-free environment where questions and feedback are always welcome. While therapists are often seen as “experts,” I firmly believe that you are the expert of your own life. With over a decade of experience in the mental health field, I specialize in working with children aged 11+, teens, college students, emerging adults, and adults from diverse backgrounds. I take an eclectic approach, integrating modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Art Therapy, Bibliotherapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Practices to help you achieve your goals. Commonly, I support individuals experiencing anxiety, ADHD, low self-esteem, perfectionism, life transitions, and challenges related to college or emerging adulthood. I also work with clients to manage stress, build coping skills, address women’s issues, and explore the impact of being a child or an adult child of an alcoholic or dysfunctional family (ACOA) and (COA). Alongside my clients, I help identify areas requiring focus, set meaningful goals, and develop skills to foster a sustainable holistic approach to long-term emotional well-being. I am dedicated to helping individuals confront life’s challenges with courage and will always meet them where they are on their personal wellness journey.