Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

I like to think of therapy as a journey of inner exploration and I am along as a guide. I believe that therapy is most effective when it is a combination of intellectual understanding and emotional experience. In that regard, it feels like your feelings are our road signs that we are in the right track to self-growth. I try to not have a specific agenda going into sessions, but rather to go where it is you feel like you need to go at that time. I believe that it is my role to create a safe space for you to express and explore whatever it is that is inside you. Compassion is key, and cultivating self-compassion is one of the most important elements of therapy. I look forward to helping you explore and become more self-aware and self-compassionate!

Beth Thornton is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC). She earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing from the University of Louisville in Kentucky and completed her specialized psychiatric training at Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts. Beth’s approach to care is grounded in patient-centered practice, where your unique needs, experiences, and values guide the treatment process. She is committed to creating a compassionate and supportive environment, emphasizing respect, empathy, and empowering you to actively participate in your mental health journey. Beth integrates the latest research and evidence-based practices to tailor treatment plans that address your individual needs. Passionate about demystifying psychiatry, she welcomes all questions and strives to make the process clear and approachable. "Empowering you to take an active role in your care is my passion. Every session provides an opportunity to review and adjust your treatment plan to ensure your concerns and goals are met. Life brings changes, and you deserve a flexible treatment approach that supports you through every season. Please note, I generally do not prescribe controlled substances during an initial consultation." Sessions are designed to be low-stress, and questions are always encouraged. You are unique, and we will take the time to thoroughly discuss your needs before crafting a plan that supports you in achieving your goals.

Focus Group Wellness Partners was created with the mission to provide comprehensive mental health care for all. At Focus Group Wellness Partners, we believe all individuals deserve accessible, affordable, and informed mental health care regardless of age, race, socioeconomic status, ability, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. We are committed to promoting a culture of inclusivity and diversity while empowering our clients on their wellness journeys. We accept all insurances and can see clients virtually or in person.

My practice is one that helps people better understand and work through feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression–especially those arising from difficulties with their schoolwork, questions about their future, challenges in their relationships with family members, friends, and/or partners, and experiences they have been having with acute or chronic illnesses (including cancer). When working with clients, I use both psychodynamic and existential techniques to explore not only their current concerns and behaviors, but also the deeper emotional, intellectual, and relational patterns that influence them. Some goals are to help people discover the true source of their pain and make real, lasting changes in their lives. If you are ready to feel more grounded, connected, and in control of your life, I invite you to reach out to me for a free consultation. During our call, we can talk about the hopes you have for therapy and discuss how best to achieve them. A little more about me: Before beginning work at in this field, I undertook clinical training at a site that provides therapeutic services to individuals impacted by cancer. During my time there, I gained valuable experience providing both one-on-one and group therapy to adults who had been diagnosed with cancer and their spouses, partners, and caregivers. Prior to that, I practiced as an attorney at a large, international firm in downtown Chicago, focusing primarily on complex commercial, product liability, and patent cases.

I have extensive experience in the field working with college students. I specialize in working with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, trauma and PTSD. I have helped many college students navigate transitions into young adulthood, career exploration, and academic stressors.

Life can feel overwhelming even when everything appears fine on the surface. Many of the individuals I work with are successful, hardworking people who find themselves struggling with ADHD, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, stress, or emotional exhaustion. As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC), I provide a supportive and judgment-free environment where we can discuss your symptoms, concerns, and treatment goals openly. My focus is on helping you better understand your mental health and finding effective treatment options that support your daily functioning and overall well-being. I specialize in comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, medication management, prescription refills, and ongoing treatment planning for a wide range of mental health conditions. Through regular follow-up appointments, we monitor your progress, evaluate medication effectiveness, manage side effects, and make adjustments when needed to ensure you receive the most appropriate care. My goal is to help you achieve symptom stability, improve your quality of life, and support long-term mental wellness through evidence-based psychiatric treatment. Seeking help is an important step toward feeling better. Whether you are beginning treatment for the first time, looking for a medication provider, or seeking continued psychiatric care, I am here to help. Together, we can develop a treatment plan that fits your needs and supports your path toward improved mental health and emotional well-being.

Hi there! I’m Dawn Meyer, and I’m here to help you navigate whatever life is throwing your way—whether it’s anxiety, depression, trauma, family conflict, or just the everyday stress of college life. I know reaching out for therapy can feel like a big step, but my approach is straightforward and compassionate. We’ll work together to help you manage big stressors or work on issues related to your mental health. Feel free to call, text or email me for more information. I am a fully virtual therapist. Life’s tough sometimes, but you don’t have to face it alone.

Hello! I believe in a holistic approach to treatment and meeting the client where they are to assist them in where they want to be. I offer a unique understanding and appreciation for those who are also in the helping profession. My empathetic and culturally sensitive method strengthens self-esteem and motivation; heals abuse; rebuilds careers; resolves conflicts; supports dreams; teaches effective communication/relationship skills; helps to lower reactivity; identifies triggers; lessens anxiety and depression; heightens creativity, and offers coping techniques towards creating a life well-lived. As a Licensed Master Clinical Social Worker, I have over 13 years of experience and specialize in work with those impacted by: complex trauma, depression, anxiety, life-transitions, education/work/life balance, family dynamics, co-parenting issues, racial identity, interracial/interpersonal relationship challenges. I am trained in EMDR. I am Trauma Focused CBT certified. Finding a therapist who is a good fit can seem like a difficult task. It's important to feel understood, heard, and accepted in a non judgmental space. *Treatment is provided exclusively 100% via HIPPA compliant tele-psychotherapy (video)* Don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email with questions and to schedule a free consultation. I will respond.

** Telehealth and In-Person appointments.** We all long for our experiences, feelings, and needs to be seen, recognized, and honored. I bring to our work deep respect for your concerns and suffering. I place the therapeutic relationship at the heart of our work together which I approach with curiosity and empathy. I am most interested in what your unique experience is, and I aim to listen deeply on our road toward understanding. A safe-enough space will help us to transform your patterns of experience that interfere with your ability to be compassionate with yourself, to build meaningful relationships, and to work and play creatively, in other words, to live a fulfilling life. I am humbled by the complexity of human existence and feel honored to work with individuals from different racial and cultural backgrounds, sexual and gender identities, as well as spiritual and religious affiliations. In addition to my private practice, I am an Instructor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School (part-time) and supervise psychology interns and psychiatrist fellows. I served as the co-chair of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Society for Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychology Graduate Student Committee helping young clinicians explore and develop their professional identities.

Starting therapy can feel like a big step, especially when you're already balancing classes, relationships, family expectations, work, and everything else that comes with college life. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stuck, or simply looking for extra support, I'm glad you're here. I'm Mary Mesiha, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with over 20 years of experience helping young adults navigate life's challenges. I specialize in working with college students facing anxiety, depression, stress, life transitions, relationship concerns, self-esteem, trauma, and the pressures that often come with this stage of life. I believe the relationship you have with your therapist is one of the most important factors in successful therapy. My goal is to provide a warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where you can feel heard, gain practical tools, and build confidence as you work toward the life you want. I offer a free 30-minute consultation so we can get to know each other, discuss what you're looking for, and determine whether we're a good fit. I would be honored to support you through this chapter of your life.

You’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, and you don’t know how to manage everything. You feel like no one understands and it seems as though life keeps getting harder. It seems like you’ve tried everything and nothing is working. Do you often ask yourself what can I do to feel better? Do you find yourself wanting to connect with someone? Everyone deals with a hardship at one point in their lives. During this time it can be difficult to feel heard, understood, supported. I understand that reaching out for the initial session can be difficult, but take the first step, it’s the hardest. I am here to support and guide you in creating positive change. Imagine understanding your triggers, so you have a better understanding of how to manage them. No matter what you’re dealing with or what age you are, I can help you with the difficulties you’re facing. I’ve spent years helping clients learn about themselves and make positive life changes. I offer a safe space for clients to feel comfortable and confident about managing life‘s challenges. I look forward to working together.

I work best with students who often feel like they're carrying more than they let on. Maybe you're the one everyone depends on, you're constantly overthinking, or you're trying to balance school, work, relationships, and everything else while feeling overwhelmed inside. You might be navigating anxiety, life transitions, relationship challenges, or the impact of past experiences. Whatever brings you here, you don't have to have it all figured out before starting therapy. I strive to create a space where you can show up exactly as you are, make sense of what's been weighing on you, and begin moving toward a life that feels more grounded, fulfilling, and authentically yours.

Hi- My name is Jennifer Wolf, and I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Illinois with 7 years of professional work experience. I obtained my Master's Degree in School and Community Counseling from National-Louis University. I have experience in helping clients of all ages with stress and anxiety, motivation, self-esteem, confidence, career difficulties, and executive functioning. We all need a bit of support in our lives at one time or another. Reaching out for this support and finding a therapist is a courageous first step toward reaching your personal, professional or family goals. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage, and I am proud of you for getting started!

Equip is the leading evidence-based virtual eating disorder treatment program on a mission to ensure that everyone with an eating disorder has access to treatment that works. Built by clinical experts in the eating disorder field and those who have experienced eating disorders firsthand, Equip fills the gaps in today’s insufficient eating disorder landscape. We provide fully virtual, evidence-based treatment through a multidisciplinary care team (which includes a medical provider, therapist, dietitian, and trained mentors), allowing each patient to achieve full recovery without disrupting their life. We treat patients of all ages and diagnoses in all 50 states, and we accept most insurance plans.

Your first session is simply the beginning. There’s no pressure to have everything figured out. We’ll start by getting to know each other and talking about what is bringing you to therapy. I’ll ask questions to better understand your experiences, your strengths, and what feels most important to focus on right now. Therapy is a collaborative process, and this first meeting is about taking those initial steps together. We’ll begin identifying your goals and what meaningful change would look like for you. Just as importantly, this is your opportunity to see how it feels to work with me. A strong therapeutic fit matters, and I want you to feel comfortable, supported, and confident moving forward!

I practice from an insight oriented, relational, and multicultural approach tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual I work with. My priority as a therapist is to create a warm, collaborative, non-judgmental space where you can work through your concerns and make the changes in your life you desire. People seek therapy for a number of reasons, perhaps to alleviate symptoms or distress, improve self-esteem, or address relationship issues. In my experience, symptoms often “mark the spot” of a deeper themes you may be grappling with and I aim to assist you uncover what the root of your concerns may be. Often therapy helps increase self-awareness, develop deeper understanding of how past experiences may be influencing the present, and provides an opportunity to learn tools to address problematic behavior(s). Having spent the majority of my training and professional life working in university counseling centers, I am passionate about working with college and graduate students. I completed my pre-doctoral internship at Pace University in New York City and my postdoctoral fellowship at University of Chicago Student Counseling Service where I gained experience working with life-transitions, relationship issues, eating disorders, and sexual trauma. Other areas of interest include identity development and intersectionality, family dynamics, anxiety, and stress management.

Are you ready for a change? I enjoy helping people feel understood, confront their joys and pains, and be motivated to change. Throughout my clinical practice I have been privileged to walk alongside both individuals and families as they courageously seek to encounter their vulnerabilities. There comes a time when help is needed from a certified therapist to cope with many of life’s challenges. I'm Sachiko Kawata-Burke, I'm a licensed clinical social worker serving clients in-person in Illinois and Telehealth. I have immediate availability to support you on your journey toward healing and self discovery. Contact me for your complimentary consultation today!

We are licensed psychologists who've been working with students for 20+ years. We understand and care about college student concerns -- from adjusting to campus life, navigating friend-groups, reflecting on family, and making your way academically. We can help. In addition, we're "PsyPact certified" in 42 states and counting, which means when you head home for breaks or intern out of state, there's a really good chance we can provide continued support so you can maintain the gains you've made.

Experiencing anxiety can feel overwhelming and you may find yourself avoiding people, places and things in an attempt to manage your symptoms. You may find that your world is getting smaller and smaller and may feel like you are in a constant cycle of anxiety and a mix of other painful emotions. I would like to help you change your relationship with anxiety. Through collaboration, you can learn skills to help you face and manage your anxiety symptoms, so that you can live the life that you want to live.

My mission is to provide quality individual and group therapy that is accessible and meaningful. Over the years, I have worked with a wide variety of folks and have found that meeting people “where they are at “ and actively listening to their goals is the basic foundation that can be overlooked at times. Clients in my practice are motivated for therapy and committed to the time we set aside for their growth. I am also committed to that time in order to assist clients with meeting their goals and experiencing further well-being. Depending on their own personal preference for more or less structure, I can generally adapt my practice skills to meet that personal preference.