Therapists for college students near University of Chicago

AVID Intimacy is a practice that specializes in Relationship and Sex therapy. We work with individuals and people in relationships to navigate relationship issues, anxiety, depression, as well as issued related to sexuality including intimacy issues, exploration of sexual and romantic orientation and recovering from sexual abuse or assault.

We are a team of Chicago based psychotherapists dedicated to providing culturally sensitive, empathically driven personal therapy. We are strong allies and affirm all LGBTQIA identities. We are committed to anti-racist beliefs and practices. Your safety and trust are paramount to the values of Gemstone Wellness and we would love to welcome you into our warm and healing space.

I am committed to coaching you towards a more fulfilling life. Counseling can help you embrace happiness, manage stress, boost joy in relationships, increase motivation, and unleash creativity. I tailor my approach to your unique goals, using cognitive, behavioral, and other motivational strategies. We will focus on your strengths and amplify them. I will coach you to implement the tools from positive psychology to help you thrive. Through the use of imagination and the discovery of new skills, we will identify solutions and reclaim a sense of control. I will demonstrate my personal values of kindness, courtesy, and mutual respect throughout counseling. I provide individual counseling in a nurturing environment. My areas of expertise include Personal Challenges (anxiety, depression, eating disorders), Relationships (communication, conflict resolution, dating, social skills), and Life Skills (stress management, mindfulness, assertiveness, life transition, goal-setting, time management). I bring a sense of humor and a practical approach to counseling. Recommendations are geared towards acceptance of what you cannot control and commitment to action. They may include awareness of your strengths, attention to cognition, and creation of an outcome picture. Sessions are available in person, by phone, and by telehealth for your convenience.

Sometimes it feels like everyone else got a manual for life that you somehow missed. Maybe you're questioning a relationship, feeling disconnected from yourself, struggling with anxiety, exploring your sexuality or identity, or wondering why the version of you that's holding everything together also feels completely exhausted. You don't have to figure it all out on your own. Therapy is a space to get curious about your experiences without judgment, reconnect with your strengths, and create a life that feels more authentic and fulfilling. As an art therapist with specialized training in sex therapy, I bring creativity, curiosity, humor, and authenticity into every session. My approach is warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental. Together, we'll explore what's getting in your way, strengthen your coping skills, and help you move forward with greater confidence and self-compassion. I especially enjoy working with students and young adults navigating anxiety, life transitions, relationships, self-esteem, trauma, and identity exploration. I provide affirming care for clients exploring sexuality, kink, polyamory, and diverse relationship structures, and I'm passionate about supporting women and women-identified individuals through reproductive, prenatal, and postpartum mental health experiences. Art therapy is at the heart of my work, offering a creative way to express emotions and experiences that can be difficult to put into words. No artistic experience is needed. I also draw from person-centered therapy, CBT, mindfulness, and Imago Relationship Therapy to tailor our work to your unique needs and goals. Whether you're seeking support as an individual or with a partner, my hope is that you'll leave therapy feeling more connected to yourself, more confident in your relationships, and empowered to move through life with authenticity, creativity, and compassion.

Therapy can be an opportunity to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with the parts of yourself that may have been overlooked for a long time. I work with individuals, couples, and families navigating trauma, relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, autism, LGBTQIA+ and identity-related challenges, and more. I provide services in English and Mandarin.

You thought by now you'd feel more certain. Maybe you're doing all the things you're supposed to be doing, going to class, working toward a degree, and making plans for the future, but still find yourself feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or unsure of where you're headed. You might be questioning relationships, struggling with confidence, feeling disconnected from yourself, or wondering why this stage of life feels harder than everyone else makes it look. I work with college students, graduate students, and emerging adults who are navigating life's in-between seasons. Many of my clients are figuring out who they are outside of other people's expectations while managing academic stress, relationship challenges, family dynamics, anxiety, and major life transitions. My goal is to create a space where you can be honest about what's working, what's not, and what's been difficult to put into words. Together, we'll slow things down, make sense of the patterns and experiences shaping your life, and help you move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and self-compassion. You don't have to have everything figured out to start therapy. You just have to show up as you are.

I'm a bilingual therapist offering both in-person and virtual sessions. Whether you're navigating life transitions, pursuing personal growth, or simply in need of support, I commend you for taking this meaningful step. My goal is to create a space where you feel safe, understood, and genuinely supported. Together, we’ll explore your experiences, uncover your strengths, and develop practical tools to help you move forward with clarity and confidence. I bring a unique perspective to my practice, rooted in connection, trust, and shared understanding. My approach is shaped by my professional experience, education, and personal journey—including my roles as a wife, mother, large family dynamic, and as a Chicago native. I look forward to the opportunity to support you on your path to growth and healing.

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.

So you’re becoming more independent and feel like conversations with family and friends are strained. Maybe you want to set boundaries and air frustrations with those you’re close to, but struggle with how to do this as your relationships shift? Questioning beliefs and values you’ve long held onto isn’t easy, and can be even harder when voicing them to others. Whether watching parents divorce as an adult, coming out to family, or struggling with transitions in life, my goal is to increase your understanding of yourself both in the past and present so advocating for your needs feels less like a burden. As someone that is queer-identified, I have a passion for working with clients holding marginalized identities and supporting your journey, acknowledging the impacts society, family, and culture have in shaping the world around you. Our time together will focus on developing healthy boundaries and goals collaboratively to improve interpersonal relationships.

Do you often feel anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck in cycles of overthinking and self-doubt? You may be navigating academic or career pressure, family expectations, or the emotional complexity of living between cultures. Many of my clients struggle with anxiety, depression, burnout, perfectionism, and feeling “never good enough,” even when they appear capable on the outside. Therapy can be a space where you slow down, feel understood, and move forward with greater clarity, emotional balance, and self-trust. As a bilingual therapist fluent in Mandarin and English, I bring both professional training and lived experience into my work. Having studied abroad since high school, I understand the challenges of living between cultures and am deeply attuned to the invisible pressures related to identity, family expectations and adapting to new environment. My approach is client-centered and trauma-informed, grounded in empathy, authenticity, and empowerment. I believe that healing begins with understanding—and that every small step toward self-acceptance is a powerful act of growth. I look forward to walking with you on this journey of healing and rediscovery.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Hi, I'm Sierra! I'm a licensed therapist in Chicago offering fully virtual sessions. I have expertise in helping people heal from trauma, anxiety, and depression. As a once first-generation college student, I understand the difficulties of navigating this particularly trying time in life. Working with a new therapist can sometimes feel daunting, so I get to know each person on a human level with a bit of (appropriate) humor. I'm queer, gender-affirming, and like to incorporate skills in sessions to help you develop better coping strategies. I accept all major insurance plans and can work with anyone in Illinois. If you'd like to see if we'd be a good fit, feel free to email me and we can set up a time to chat! Interested in a therapist with a different specialty? I work with Cityscape Counseling, a group practice in Chicago with over 55 licensed therapists offering treatment both in-person and online for eating disorders, substance use, OCD, and more. Connect with us at cityscapecounseling.com!

MARRA is a trauma based practice located near West Loop Chicago. We work with adult clients that are ready to dive into self-exploration and acknowledgement of how present and past experiences impact their current life experience. When working with clients, we take into consideration how race, class, gender, sexuality, and other social systems intersect to shape people’s experiences. As a result, we practice psychotherapy, consultation, and training that affirms the value of difference. We strive to work from an anti-oppressive + anti-racist lens. LGBTQ+ - Sex positive- BIPOC inclusive

Located in the Bucktown/Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago, Bailey and Associates Counseling and Psychotherapy offers individual psychotherapy and counseling services and art therapy. You currently have the choice to meet online or in office. I specialize in working with adults seeking change. My approach to counseling is client-centered and trauma-informed, encouraging the expression of personal narrative to build self-understanding and community. I support clients in the use of art-making as a grounding tool to process experiences and relieve symptoms of anxiety, depression, grief, and trauma. My intention is to establish a collaborative space alongside clients that fosters bravery; where we can collect helpful coping tools as we work toward clients' goals together. To me, "healing" lies in seeking peace and a sense of wholeness, and not in achieving "perfection." My specialties include supporting individuals with a history of PTSD, depression, anxiety, grief, and/or living with chronic illness. I enjoy supporting my clients through spiritual exploration and developing a healthy relationship to art. My approach is sex-positive and LGBTQIA2S+ affirming. I love working with artists, Veterans, and existential explorers. I understand how intimidating it can be to start therapy for the first time or to find a new therapist after wrapping up with someone else. I take pride in my ability to put others at ease as we build our relationship with patience and compassion. Please don't hesitate to reach out to schedule a consultation and find out if we are a good therapeutic match.

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.

You might feel like you’re drowning, overwhelmed by troubling thoughts. Or you might be struggling with the sense that no one really “gets” you. You might want to connect, but you don’t know how. Maybe you feel like you don’t know who you are or what’s important to you. This could lead you to feeling frustrated, alone or possibly even hurt. You deserve a space to explore and express yourself, feeling fully seen and accepted for who you are and who you are becoming. I know what it’s like to feel hopeless and like life will never get better. I know it can feel like the whole world is stacked against you and no one wants to help. I am passionate about supporting individuals during stressful and transitional periods in their lives. As a lawyer with more than 10 years of government experience before becoming a therapist, I am familiar with the pressures of student and early professional life, and I am committed to supporting you in finding your own ways to cope.

Kevin holds a Master of Science in Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University – Fullerton as well as a Master of Music in Music Therapy from Illinois State University. His training includes extensive clinical experience in inpatient psychiatric care, medical and oncology settings, college counseling, and community-based mental health. Kevin is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Board-Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC), and his education integrates relational, trauma-informed, cognitive-behavioral, and multicultural frameworks to support individuals, couples, and families across diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Culture shapes what we believe, how we act, and how we relate to ourselves, others, and the world. Sometimes these influences clash with our authenticity, leaving us feeling disconnected, uncertain, or overwhelmed. But feeling stuck doesn’t mean staying stuck; you have the capacity to grow, change, and rediscover who you are. Together, we can explore the cultural messages you’ve absorbed and ask: Is this truly me, someone else’s expectation, or a mixture of both? In our work together, you can reclaim your story, challenge limiting expectations, and step into a more authentic and empowered self. As inner shifts take root, they ripple into your relationships, goals, and daily life. Our work together isn’t only about the past, it’s about creating a present and future that truly feels like yours. Whether you are seeking personal insight, wanting to change behaviors, wishing to heal from past traumas, pursuing a sense of connection, and/or looking to reclaim your authentic self, the most important and often most challenging step is starting the process. I would be honored to support you on your journey.

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, major life transitions, chronic illness, and depression. With individualized approaches to empathetic therapy, we will work to help slow things down, become more intentional, and build awareness of our life experiences. 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!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I can work with a variety of clients who are looking for an empathic connection which allows them to understand themselves better and solve problems. Students I have seen are dealing with academic pressures, relationship issues, depression, anxiety, transitions, self esteem etc. Each situation is unique.