Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

Hi! Whether you just need someone to talk to or are looking for some practical skill building and coping strategies, I am happy to help you! I work with clients struggling with depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, life transitions, and stress management, among other concerns. I work to provide a comfortable space that allows clients to feel validated and seen. My hope is that you walk away from our therapy sessions with more insight, self-awareness, and the self-confidence to show up in your life in a healthier, authentic, and empowered way. I support and affirm the LGBTQ+ community as an ally. I received my Bachelor's degree in Public Relations and Advertising and my Master's degree in Counseling, both from DePaul University. In my free time, I love spending time with my husband, kids, and dog. I enjoy playing sports and seeking out new experiences around the city.

Anxiety fights dirty. When anxiety gets out of control, it can feel like a bully, always pushing you around. I get it, I’ve been there. When you’re really in it, you feel stuck and worse still, it can feel like there’s no way out. Constantly living in survival mode doesn’t feel much like living at all. The good news is that you don’t have to face anxiety alone. Together we can push back against anxiety and get your life back. We can use tried and true methods to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and get you out of survival mode. Imagine being more present and connected to life, feeling more like yourself again. More at ease, as you look to the future with a renewed sense of confidence and hope. A way forward is actually, finally here. If you’re ready to change your relationship with anxiety and want to stop living in survival mode. Let’s talk. Give me a call and let’s get to work.

My name is Sophia Jelsma and I am a psychotherapist working for the group practice Mezame. At Mezame, we focus on a type of therapy called EMDR that addresses trauma, stress, and emotional dysregulation. To learn more about our group practice, visit our website list at the bottom of the page.

Our experienced therapists have various specializations in addition to being trauma informed and fully competent in treating anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. We offer a safe, non-judgmental therapeutic space for you to share your unique story.

I love working with clients to both identify their strengths and to help them understand what constrains them from reaching their goals. After exploring these areas, we collaborate to create a plan for change. I am an expert on tools and possibilities but you're the expert on you and what will resonate in your life. I'll be asking for your input every step of the way! I know campus culture. I've been a therapist in a busy University Counseling Center and loved my work students and faculty. I've also been a been a professor at the graduate level. I understand that with the all the stressors daily student life being successful means having a support network in place. I'd love to see if I'd be a good fit for your support network.

CityPsych Counseling provides a supportive, nonjudgmental space for college students to explore concerns such as stress, anxiety, relationships, identity, and life transitions. Our approach is collaborative and tailored to each student’s unique needs, with an emphasis on building coping skills and self-understanding.

I work with young people about to graduate or young career adults who instead of excitement and anticipation, feel frozen. You have done it all right, gotten the degree that is supposed to be "useful" and yet it feels empty. I work with perfectionistic, high achieving students and early career adults who thought their life would look one way at this stage but are finding it is not what you hoped or thought you would feel. Our work untangles perfectionism, comparison and the pressure to be exceptional at all times.

As a therapist, I strive to co-create a space of curiosity and self-compassion with my clients. I believe that healing and growth are best supported when individuals feel safe, seen, and empowered to explore their inner experiences. This collaborative environment allows for a deeper connection with oneself and the development of meaningful insight. My approach is grounded in two years of post-master’s training in Somatic Experiencing, a body-oriented modality that helps regulate the nervous system and process trauma. I also draw from polyvagal theory, psychodynamic principles, and attachment theory to inform my work.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I specialize in working with college students addressing anxiety, depression, relationship stress, and life transitions. I am deeply committed to viewing my clients through a holistic lens, recognizing that true healing comes from considering the many interconnected aspects of their lives—emotional, social, environmental, and beyond. I also focus on self-esteem, body image, incorporating CBT, the mind-body connection, and biofeedback. Additionally, I support clients healing from troublesome childhoods and past trauma to foster growth. I am passionate about empowering individuals by focusing on their strengths and resilience, helping them navigate challenges and move toward their goals with confidence.

I am currently accepting new clients both virtually and in-person. Are you experiencing stress, relationship issues, anxiety, insecurity or a life transition? Together, we can work to develop an understanding of life’s circumstances, make positive changes, and find emotional relief. I believe (and have seen!) that healing and joy can come from working through the challenges you are facing. By integrating authenticity, encouragement, and honesty into each session, I provide space for you to process and tools to better manage your thoughts, feelings and behaviors. I am especially passionate about incorporating a biblical perspective for those who request Christian counseling. Please let me know when you reach out if this is something you are looking for, as my clients have varying spiritual beliefs and I respect each individual’s values. I currently have weekday and evening availability. I am happy to provide a 20 minute free phone consultation to answer your questions as you consider if this may be a good fit for you!

I have a profound belief in the strength and resilience of the human condition. Each person carries a vast amount of internal resources that may, at times, feel distant or even inaccessible. My role as a therapist is to help clients utilize their strengths in a way that leads to tangible, impactful progress. Together, we will collaborate on how our sessions can be personalized in a way that meets your specific goals. I lead with an insight-oriented approach because understanding our thought processes and emotional responses enable us to live with both agency and intention. To capture the complexity of the human experience, we can draw from various methods (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Somatic Therapy, and Internal Family Systems), each of which serves a unique purpose. At the center of my work is a warm, accepting, and intuitive presence. I encourage my clients to speak freely, as I greatly value their experience of themselves and the world around them.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, anxious, or just not like yourself lately, I can help you find your way forward. As a compassionate & experienced therapist, I am dedicated to helping individuals navigate these challenges in a safe space. Whether you're facing anxiety, depression, eating disturbances, work-stress, relationship struggles, trauma, or self-esteem issues, I work collaboratively with clients to create treatment plans that promote healing. I specialize in helping individuals with relationship challenges, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, trauma, identity exploration, LGBTQ+ issues, & grief. I provide a non-judgmental space for healing & growth.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Do you struggle with feeling guilty after eating certain foods? Have you tried diet after diet hoping that the next one will finally stick? Do you feel obsessed with food and what your body looks like? Is overeating and binge eating common for you and/or do you struggle with restriction? Do you base your worth on the number you see on the scale? Are you hoping to finally stop calorie counting and learn how to eat intuitively? If any of these questions sound familiar, you are in the right place! While working with me, you will learn how to: build meals and snacks that are both physically AND emotionally satisfying, build trust with your body again (or maybe for the first time), decrease binges and/or guilt experienced with certain foods, and gain freedom once and for all from obsessive feelings about food/body image!

The distressing problems that bring you to therapy will later be revealed as the unlikely pathways towards a well-lived life. Pervasive sadness, suicidal thoughts, the heaviness on your shoulders are your psyche’s misunderstood messengers to summon you on a healing journey. Your symptoms have meaning and we will work together to understand them. In therapy, we will first work together to establish a sense of stability: from the first session, we’ll build a trusting relationship that offers a much-needed space for your concerns. You may benefit at this initial stage by simply having a trustworthy ear to hear. As a psychotherapist, I hold the tension of psychotherapy as a mysticism and a science. But it is no snake oil: community, storytelling, and self-exploration are the elixirs which lead to healing. If you would like to learn more about my approach, see if we may be a good fit, or schedule a session, please contact me today by call, text message, or email.

Being a young adult can feel especially overwhelming. You’re expected to build a life, make big decisions, and manage responsibilities—often while still making sense of your past. The impact of trauma, stress, or difficult experiences earlier in life can add another layer of confusion, making it harder to trust yourself or feel grounded in who you are. I offer a supportive space where we can explore your experiences, process what you’ve been through, and find a way forward that feels true to you. In our work together, I offer expressive arts therapy as an additional tool to support healing and self-understanding. This can include drawing, writing, or other forms of creative expression, guided by your comfort. You don’t need to be artistic. Creative processes can help access feelings and experiences that are difficult to put into words. Whether you’re feeling lost, stuck, or simply curious about how therapy might help, I welcome the opportunity to connect. Therapy can offer a space to make sense of your past and strengthen your sense of self in the present. I offer a free 15-minute consultation so we can talk about your goals, answer questions, and discuss if working together is a good fit.

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!

I believe that each person comes from an individualized background, making every aspect of them unique. I seek to allow space for you to feel safe, heard, and accepted to support a path towards self-discovery and healing. My approach stems from a strengths-based treatment which focuses on discovering your internal strengths to find a new balance when facing challenges. While working collaboratively, we will determine a holistic treatment best suited for you that encompasses your identity, culture, and ever-changing needs. I specialize in working with individuals and groups; specifically, those who are young adults, teens, or children who experience challenges related to eating disorders, depression, anxiety, self-harm/suicidal ideation, self-esteem, life transitions, and substance misuse. Recognizing that treatment needed for each individual may vary, I have practice utilizing treatment modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Solution Focused Brief Therapy. Finding someone to connect with is the starting point of it all. Please reach out to me to begin your journey!

Being genuine and authentic is something that is extremely important when working with my clients. I am multicultural and have experience working with folks of all backgrounds. I am passionate about helping people heal and providing a safe space to do so.