Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

It's been some time since you felt like you. Have you noticed that you been withdrawn? Overwhelmed? Maybe you are noticing that your feelings of being down, sad, worried, or anxious just aren't going away. Maybe you're unsure about the future of a relationship, that your life is turned upside down, or just feel that you aren't living the life you were meant to lead. You've thought about reaching out for therapy, but you weren't sure. It's ok. We are here. Reach out today. We help you feel like you again. Through engaging in counseling we will assist you in accomplishing your goals. We believe that each of us encounters our own challenges in the course of creating a full life and that through partnering with a helping professional the path of improving your own wellness may be a bit brighter. We strongly believe in each individual’s capacity for growth and insight. Engaging in therapy with one of our therapists and starting (or continuing) your healing process, we believe you can develop and strengthen your own inner light and we hope to share in this process with you. As your collaborative partner, our clinicians will use their attuned listening skills, reflections, and specialized training to provide quality, individualized, and counseling and psychotherapy. Taking the first step towards change is never easy, but is often rewarding. When you are ready to take a step on a new path, let us be there to help you strengthen your own Bright Light. Our clinicians work with young adults, college students, and adults who are diverse in their identities, life experiences, and backgrounds. Areas of expertise include treating anxiety, depression, life transitions/adjustments, emotion regulation, traumas and stressful experiences, cultural and racial stress, and relationship issues. Additionally, each of our clinicians have their own areas of expertise. You can learn more about our clinicians on our website.

Do you need a space to sort through the complexity of adulthood? Have you realized some mental health concerns as you navigate through college and beyond? Therapy Atlas, founded by social worker Sophia Jelsma, helps you unpack what's coming up and cope in healthy ways. She uses an evidence-based approach rooted in CBT, DBT, and EMDR.

I am passionate about working with young adults who are trying to better understand themselves. My areas of expertise include Anxiety, Depression, Identity development with a special emphasis on Gender and Sexual Orientation, Hispanic clients, TGNC people, and people living with HIV. My therapeutic approach will vary depending on who I'm working with. I will walk you through the process of therapy, as often times it can be seen as intimidating and scary. I tend to work from a collaborative approach where your strengths are recognized, and we try to build upon that foundation. My goal is to understand the lens through which you see the world and share with you how it may or may not be helping you in this moment, while also providing techniques you may incorporate into your repertoire of skills. I bring forth my most authentic self by showing my geekiness and by adding some comedy when appropriate so that you may feel comfortable. My hope is that you feel confident in being unapologetically you in session, and that we may also talk about the things you are passionate about.

In our therapy sessions, we’ll work collaboratively to increase your insight and better understand the deeper roots of the current problems that you are facing. Together, we will increase your ability to better tolerate difficult emotions, more effectively cope with the issues that you are facing, and create a problem-solving style that works for you. My empathic, direct, and empowering clinical style will help you discover the best version of you. Here are some of my specialties: *Generalist *Interpersonal, Relational Style *Adults *Individuals *LBGTQ+ Affirming *Depression *Mood Disorders *Anxiety *PTSD/C-PTSD *Trauma Informed *Substance Abuse *Self-esteem/Assertiveness/Boundaries *Grief/Loss *Relationship Issues *Understanding unhealthy family/childhood patterns & roles and changing how these are repeated in one’s adult relationships *Narcissistic abuse recovery

Challenges often arise before, during, and after difficult experiences, whether it’s heading off to college, starting a new job, becoming a parent, going through a breakup or divorce, receiving a troubling diagnosis, or coping with the loss of a loved one. With each life change comes an array of emotions, including sadness, anger, and anxiety. Even seemingly positive transitions can leave you feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Therapists at Perspective can help you navigate these emotions and build skills so you can work towards your goals.

I have a low-pressure, warm approach focused on creating an environment of safety and encouragement. I enjoy helping individuals with a variety of concerns including life transitions, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, health issues, substance use concerns, and healing from trauma. My practice is LGBTQ affirming and I am experienced working with Trans and gender-nonconforming individuals. I work with adults of all ages, genders, and racial/ethnic backgrounds and have extensive experience with college students and emerging adults.

Young adulthood can be both exciting and overwhelming—full of choices, change, and uncertainty. Whether you're graduating from school or navigating college, starting your career, facing relationship challenges, or feeling stuck, anxious, or down, therapy can be a grounding space to sort through it all. I understand the complex stressors that come with early adult life, and I am deeply passionate about supporting adults navigating a range of emotional and psychological challenges, such as anxiety, depression, life transitions, academic concerns, relationship troubles, and grief. My therapeutic style is compassionate and empathetic—I work to create a safe, supportive environment where you feel seen and heard. I also believe in the importance of being direct and gently challenging when needed, to help you grow and move toward meaningful change. I tailor my work to meet your unique goals and with respect to your lived experience.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Relationships can be messy, identity can feel complicated, and figuring out who you are while balancing school, family, friendships, and your future isn't always easy. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, questioning your identity, navigating conflict with loved ones, or trying to feel more confident in yourself, therapy can help you better understand what you're experiencing and create healthier ways of moving forward. I work with college students, graduate students, and young adults navigating anxiety, depression, relationship and family challenges, life transitions, body image concerns, self-esteem, and identity exploration. Together, we'll explore the patterns shaping your relationships, strengthen your communication and boundaries, and help you build greater confidence in yourself and your decisions. I strive to create an affirming, inclusive space where LGBTQIA+, queer, transgender, and gender-expansive students feel safe, respected, and fully seen. I also recognize that culture, privilege, family expectations, and social systems shape how we experience ourselves and our relationships, and I welcome those conversations throughout our work together. My approach is warm, collaborative, and relationship-focused. Drawing from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Gottman-informed strategies, and Imago Relationship Therapy, I'll help you develop practical tools for navigating conflict, strengthening relationships, and creating deeper connections with yourself and others. I also specialize in supporting women through major life transitions, including perimenopause and menopause, while continuing to support students and young adults as they navigate the many changes that come with this stage of life. My hope is that you'll leave therapy feeling more grounded in who you are, more confident in your relationships, and empowered to create a life that feels authentic to you.

As a therapist and pleasure activist I strive to create a safe, accessible environment for you to connect with and express your most authentic self. During sessions, your trust and safety are priorities for me. I practice from a relational and client-centered framework, understanding that you are the expert in your own experience. With my warm and direct approach, I seek to ask the right questions to help you make new connections and provide a fresh perspective. I have experience supporting clients through gender-identity development, C-PTSD, Dissociative Identity Disorder, gender dysphoria, anxiety and depression. As a therapist, researcher, and pleasure activist I strive to create a safe, accessible environment for you to connect with and express your most authentic self. During sessions, your trust and safety are priorities for me. I practice from a relational and client-centered framework, understanding that you are the expert in your own experience. With my warm and direct approach, I seek to ask the right questions to help you make new connections and provide a fresh perspective. I have experience supporting clients through gender-identity development, C-PTSD, Dissociative Identity Disorder, gender dysphoria, anxiety and depression. With my lived experience as a transgender woman, I bring a compassionate and affirming approach to my therapeutic practice. I am passionate about working with transgender/gender diverse, Autistic, and Disabled clients, and pride myself as a kink/BDSM, polyamory/ENM, and sex-worker allied therapist.

We all experience moments where life feels overwhelming, sometimes accompanied by worry about what comes next or how to change patterns we find ourselves repeating again. While some relationships may be sources of stress and pain, relationships where you are able to be your true self can allow for healing and transformation. It is my belief that the more we experience our authentic self, the easier it becomes to remain in connection to others and the world around us. Therapy is a space where you can begin to explore yourself, while doing so within a relationship that is validating, supportive, and centers your goals and needs. I believe that healing in the context of an attuned relationship is important, and work to create a therapy space that is safe and welcomes authenticity. Psychotherapy works best when it’s collaborative and strength-based, incorporating your personal culture and working towards goals that move beyond symptom reduction, resulting in more lasting changes in all areas of life. My approach to therapy is relationally based, incorporating attachment theory, CBT, and systems perspectives. As a licensed clinical psychologist, I have experience working with a range of presenting concerns, with a special focus working with depression, anxiety, grief and loss, and trauma-related disorders. I have experience providing individual, couple, and family therapy to children, adolescents, and adults. I also provide psychological assessment services and can provide support related to receiving academic accommodations. Please feel free to contact me for a brief consultation or to schedule your first appointment.

Welcome. I am a UCLA-trained psychiatrist and psychotherapist who treats a variety of mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, psychosis, substance use disorders, and more. I believe that high-level clinical care can and should be provided with curiosity, compassion, and precision. I view my role as extending far beyond prescribing medications; I also emphasize treatments such as psychotherapy and lifestyle interventions aimed at building your agency and well-being.

Light On Anxiety offers evidence-based, efficient, effective and action-oriented treatment for anxiety, OCD and related disorders. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, psychiatric medication management and neuropsychological testing are our core services offered to children, adolescents and adults, both in-person and via telehealth. We utilize empirically-supported practices and always incorporate the latest advancements in the treatment of anxiety and related disorders. Light On Anxiety treats the whole person, with deep respect for the human spirit and the challenges we all face on our journey through life. We strive to make treatment as short-term as possible, and to inject compassion, joy and your values into the anxiety treatment process.

Being human means facing change, uncertainty, and moments that stretch or unsettle us. It’s natural to feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure at times. I see therapy as a space where we can work together to explore what’s going on, reflect on the past, and find new ways forward. My goal is to create a supportive, collaborative relationship where you feel heard and empowered to make changes that lead to a more fulfilling life. I have experience working with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences across diverse clinical settings. These experiences have helped me understand and support people navigating trauma, identity exploration, relationship concerns, grief and loss, and major life transitions. These challenges can affect not only how we relate to ourselves, but also how we connect with others. I work with both individuals and couples to address the impact of these challenges within both personal and relational contexts. Taking the first step toward therapy can feel intimidating, and finding the right support is an important part of the process. If something here resonates with you, I'd be glad to connect and explore how we might move forward together.

College and graduate school can bring exciting opportunities, but they can also leave you feeling overwhelmed, emotionally drained, or unsure of how to handle everything that's coming your way. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, relationship conflict, academic stress, identity questions, or feeling stuck in patterns you can't seem to change, therapy can help you better understand yourself and build the skills to move forward with confidence. I work with college students, graduate students, and young adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, emotional regulation, relationship challenges, identity development, and neurodivergence. I have extensive experience supporting first-generation, international, LGBTQIA+, disabled, and neurodivergent students, and I'm committed to creating a culturally responsive space where every part of your identity is welcomed and respected. My approach is relational, collaborative, and trauma-informed. Together, we'll explore the experiences and patterns that have shaped the way you relate to yourself and others while building practical tools to help you manage difficult emotions, strengthen relationships, and feel more grounded in everyday life. I integrate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), interpersonal therapy, somatic approaches, mindfulness, and Time-Limited Dynamic Psychotherapy (TLDP) to support meaningful, lasting change. Along the way, you'll gain practical strategies you can use outside of therapy while developing greater self-awareness, resilience, and trust in yourself. My hope is that therapy helps you feel more confident navigating relationships, managing emotions, and creating a life that reflects who you are and where you want to go.

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.

I use my full experience from living in China, France, Japan, and the U.S., and from working in management consulting, nonprofits, and the arts in my work as a therapist. I am adept at working with people from varied backgrounds. I am astute, compassionate, and deeply committed to my clients' well-being. I engage my clients not only on the inner- and inter-personal levels, but also in the contexts of their intersecting roles and identities. I am attuned to the mutual influence that individuals and groups have on one another and the interconnectedness in life's pain and healing. By working with a caring and attuned professional, my clients can feel safe and free to explore and work through their experiences of depression, anxiety, trauma, addictions, loneliness, shame, and anger, all the while developing their courage, resilience, understanding, and self-acceptance. I am fluent in Chinese (Mandarin) and can supplement my work with advanced French and intermediate Spanish. I also provide consultation and training to early- and mid- career clinicians in the U.S. and China.

When you're surrounded by expectations, it can be hard to know what's actually yours. Maybe you're trying to meet your family's expectations, questioning your identity, navigating anxiety, or wondering why everyday tasks feel so much harder than they seem for everyone else. Therapy can help you quiet the outside noise and reconnect with the person you want to become. I work with college students, graduate students, and young adults navigating anxiety, identity development, neurodivergence, executive functioning challenges, family relationships, and major life transitions. Together, we'll explore what's getting in your way while building practical tools that help you manage overwhelm, navigate change, and feel more confident in your daily life. I'm especially passionate about supporting LGBTQIA+ students, individuals exploring queer identity, and those processing religious trauma or family expectations. You don't have to choose between honoring your authentic self and honoring your experiences. Therapy offers space to explore both with curiosity, compassion, and without judgment. My approach is relational, somatic, and trauma-informed. I integrate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Brainspotting, and evidence-based behavioral strategies to help you reconnect with your values, strengthen self-trust, and create lasting change. My hope is that therapy helps you hear your own voice more clearly, trust yourself more fully, and build a life that feels authentic, meaningful, and aligned with who you are.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

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.