Therapists for college students near University of Chicago

Hello! my name Renee Smith, I am a dedicated and compassionate therapist specializing in working with children/adolescents, and young adults. With a deep understanding of the challenges that young people face, I provide a safe and supportive environment where you can explore emotions, build resilience, and develop healthy coping strategies. My approach is emphasizing empathy, patience, and trust as we work together to navigate life’s challenges. I have experience helping children, teens, and young adults, with a variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, behavioral difficulties, peer relationships, and family dynamics. I draw from evidence-based therapeutic techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I understand that this stage of life can be complex. My goal is to empower young people to thrive and build a strong foundation for the future. If you're looking for a caring and skilled therapist to support your endeavors, I’m here to help guide you through the journey to emotional well-being and success! Virtual Only....

Could you use a safe space to process a major life transition? Are you looking for guidance on improving your relationships? I see therapy as a valuable tool to reflect on life, unpack how you're feeling, and discover what changes you can make to be more satisfied. My therapeutic style tends to be a good fit for clients who identify as perfectionists, struggle with anxiety and uncertainty, or who are experiencing stress from significant phase of life changes like starting school, getting married, or having kids. As a violinist myself, I love working with creatives, musicians, and performing artists. I am a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and currently working towards my Perinatal Mental Health Certification. I strive to cultivate a supportive and compassionate relationship with my clients while also encouraging growth and accountability. I utilize evidence-based techniques, including ACT and CBT, to help clients improve their mental health. I also draw from my experience as a couples counselor to assist clients in developing more satisfying relationships. I received my EdS degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Loyola University Chicago and hold a degree in Violin Performance from Northwestern University. I started my private practice, Vivant Counseling & Psychotherapy, in 2022. Outside of the therapy room, I love taking walks with my pitbull Rosie, cooking pasta, and British crime dramas.

Center for Hope and Family Solutions' Eating Disorder team consists of Licensed Therapists and Registered Dietitians that are all specialized in treatment of the full spectrum of Eating Disorders. Our team takes a Health At Every Size approach to the treatment of Eating Disorders, and assists individuals in working towards gaining a healthy relationship with food, activity, and their bodies using anti-diet perspectives, body neutrality, and nutrition counseling. In addition to providing mental health counseling and nutrition counseling, we also provide support with addressing underlying issues and assist individuals in connecting with medical providers as needed.

If you are a person with a disability who experiences mental health symptoms stemming from social situations, trauma, obsessive thoughts, or difficulty letting go—you are not alone. It is an incredibly frustrating place to be when your mental health feels like it controls your life and limits your choices. If your deepest desire is to regain a sense of calm and control, you've found a supportive space.

Knowing what needs to get done doesn’t make it easier to start, follow through, or stay organized. ADHD, complex trauma, and addictive behaviors can show up as overwhelm, avoidance, impulsivity, low motivation, or coping patterns that have become difficult to change. I work with teens and adults, offering a space to feel understood, build self-trust, and create a life that feels more meaningful and manageable. My approach is warm, compassionate, and direct. Together, we will look beyond the surface to understand the patterns behind current challenges, while building practical, personalized tools for change. The goal is not to fit expectations, but to develop strategies that feel realistic, sustainable, and aligned with what matters. Therapy can be a place to slow down without needing all the answers first. I aim to create a warm, down-to-earth atmosphere where honesty is welcomed, challenges can be explored without judgment, and clients feel genuinely understood. Each step bringing greater clarity, confidence, and a stronger sense of purpose and direction.

Welcome! I am excited to meet with you. My name is Jen Stephens and I have been a counselor for over 20 years and hold licenses in Alabama, Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, and Texas. My experience includes working with substance abuse issues and various aspects of mental health. Additionally, I have worked with the military population and have supported the LGBTQ+ community. I am here to help you navigate what is important to you, and I look forward to embarking on this journey together!

Are you feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or like you're carrying invisible weight no one else can see? Whether you're juggling classes, navigating relationships, questioning your identity, or dealing with family or cultural pressure, you don’t have to go through it alone. I’m Tsuki, and I specialize in working with students who often feel like they don’t quite “fit the mold.” Many of the students I support are BIPOC, neurodivergent (ADHD, Autistic, AuDHD), and LGBTQIA+, and they're trying to make sense of who they are while moving through complex systems that weren’t built with them in mind. In therapy, your whole self is welcome — even the parts that feel messy or misunderstood. I offer online therapy in English, Mandarin, and Taiwanese and bring a compassionate, down-to-earth approach to our work together. Therapy with me is collaborative, flexible, and always grounded in respect for who you are and what you need. If you’re looking for support with anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, identity questions, or just feeling stuck — I’m here to help.

If you are experiencing challenges adjusting to life changes -- disability, relationships, stress, or burnout -- there is support. With a focus on reflection, acceptance and action using motivational interviewing, mindfulness, you will have a partner in setting goals and navigating them. The work will follow your values, interests, strengths, and current challenges to identify next steps that are appropriate and meaningful for your journey. It will always be collaborative and non-judgmental. With experience in working with adolescents and older, varying gender and sexual identities, as well as various ethnic and faith backgrounds, care, respect, and understanding will always be present in sessions. Areas of specialization include Anxiety, Depression, ADD/ADHD, PTSD.

I’m Christine Askeland, a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over 15 years of experience in healthcare. I provide compassionate psychiatric care and have a special focus on women’s mental health, pregnancy and postpartum support, and addiction treatment. I strive to create a space where you feel comfortable, respected, and truly heard. I’m known for my warm, nonjudgmental approach and for meeting people where they are. I believe mental health care should feel collaborative and personalized, not rushed or one-size-fits-all. Together, we’ll focus on your goals, preferences, and what matters most to you, so your care feels meaningful and supportive. My approach combines psychotherapy with thoughtful, evidence-based medication management while also looking at the bigger picture of wellness. I value the role of sleep, nutrition, physical activity, and daily routines in emotional health, and I work with you to create a balanced, realistic treatment plan that supports long-term healing and stability.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) I have experience working with adults and immigrant populations who are navigating challenges such as depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, grief, and chronic illness. As an immigrant, I can empathize with the unique obstacles faced by those adapting to a new environment and a different way of life. I take a client-centered, culturally responsive approach that recognizes each individual's distinct needs and experiences. I have experience working with individuals navigating both past traumas and the challenges of adjusting to a life that may differ from their previous expectations. I have also worked in hospital settings, supporting patients and their families from the moment of diagnosis through the emotional process of coping with illness and loss. In our first session, we’ll explore what brought you to therapy, what’s currently happening in your life, and what changes you’re hoping for. Utilizing a psychodynamic framework, we will uncover unhelpful patterns and defense mechanisms, helping you develop healthier coping strategies while processing uncomfortable emotions. Shall we dive in?

I'm a licensed therapist who works with children (4+), adolescents, adults, and couples. I provide support for anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship concerns, and neurodivergence (ADHD, autism, etc.) in a strengths-based and neurodiversity-affirming way. I specialize in working with teens, college students, and emerging adults, as well as neurodiverse individuals of all ages. I see you as the author of your own life and myself as an editor. I’ll help you revise and reshape your thought patterns, self-talk, and communication strategies to move your story forward in a way that aligns with your goals and values. My approach is affirming, playful, and practical, creating a space for you (or you and your partner) to gain insight and build resilience. I draw from a variety of therapeutic modalities to meet your unique needs, including Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), the Gottman Method, play therapy, narrative therapy, and brain-based approaches. I earned my BA from Washington University in St. Louis and my MSW from Loyola University Chicago. Before becoming a therapist, I worked in K–12 education as a tutor and executive functioning coach. I'm committed to lifelong learning and am always expanding my therapeutic toolkit through continuing education.

If you've been living in the ADHD or Anxious side of Tik-Tok, seeing yourself in every video, you might be asking yourself how you're going to get through the semester. You've got a lot on your plate, you want it ALL! You're smart, funny, driven. And sometimes that gets messy. Are you falling behind, missing home, staying up too late? Maybe your roommate or your SO just doesn't understand what it's like to be you right now. You and your peers have been through a lot: life-altering pandemic, active-shooter drills, social unrest, ugly politics, and more. It's a lot. I provide a supportive space where you can build skills and self-compassion. I offer fully online therapy across Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia — perfect for college students studying remotely or balancing life’s demands. Call, text, or email me today. Or visit my website to schedule a quick chat to see if we're a good match - it's free and a great way to see how I can help you live your best life.

VitaMental Nutrition helps people control of their health with practical, science-backed nutrition counseling that fits your busy life. Whether you're trying to boost energy, manage weight, or eat better on a budget, we make nutrition simple, supportive, and affordable (we’re in-network with many major insurance plans!). Anthony Tassoni, RDN, CSOWM, LDN, founder of VitaMental Nutrition, is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified specialist in obesity and weight management. He has been practicing for over 13 years, helping folks from all over the nation to reach their health and nutrition goals.

Are you feeling overwhelmed and exhausted? Are you snapping at others and struggling to find space to breathe? It’s normal to feel like you’re drowning when you have so many moving pieces in life. Life is constantly throwing stressors at us and maybe you find yourself seeking a new approach. Many of my clients are people struggling with stress and anxiety resulting from never-ending changes. I have extensive experience working with young adults and people who are seeking therapy for the first time. As a therapist, I am straight forward in my approach; I will stay with you on your journey toward the answers by creating a safe, non-judgmental space. I’ve been described by former clients as “genuine, decisive, and easy to connect with.” I will help you find peace amongst the chaos, prioritize your wellness, and grow closer to your full potential. Reaching out for help is the first, and often the most difficult part of your path toward healing. Only you can do inner work, but there’s absolutely no reason you should do it alone. Together, we will figure out your next steps. Contact me for a consultation. I'm ready when you are!

Regret, self-criticism, guilt and shame are far too often root causes of the depression and anxiety plaguing our minds. Sometimes we don’t even realize these feelings until we examine our thoughts more carefully. My goal in talk therapy is to help you recognize how thoughts and emotions impact your behaviors so we can break unhealthy patterns and find strategies that work best for you. I work to create a casual, stress-free environment where you can truly be yourself, feel understood, and validated. Using empathy and a conversational style, I bring knowledge, experience, and most importantly, a fresh perspective into the (virtual) therapy room. We will work together to build upon your strengths, and I will strive to help you find insight and practical solutions to implement into your daily life to find a path forward and heal. I offer telehealth video therapy for clients in Iowa, Illinois and Florida. I work with adults and couples aged 18+ with issues including anxiety, depression, women’s issues, empowerment, work stress, improving communication, interpersonal and relationship issues, life transitions, aging, living chronic illness, spiritual growth, and trauma.

Hello and welcome! My name is Carlton Hemphill, a 34-year-old Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the state of Illinois who is also board certified (NCC). I received my Master’s degree from Roosevelt University in Clinical Psychology-Counseling Practice, with a concentration on child and family dynamics. I have been working in the field since 2015 and practicing as an independent clinician in my own private practice since June 2023. My therapeutic approach is grounded in behavioral and cognitive theories, focusing on how your recent experiences, environment, and thought patterns shape your current emotions and behaviors. Together, we’ll explore how these elements influence your present life, helping you make meaningful changes and move forward with confidence. I also integrate existential perspectives to help you explore your purpose, values, and fulfillment. I provide a warm, supportive environment where we focus on what’s happening in your life right now. Through direct, thought-provoking questions and unbiased feedback, I’ll help you gain clarity and make informed decisions. This process is centered on your insights, growth, and goals, and I’ll respect your pace and direction as we work together.

Create Balance Counseling is a boutique therapy practice dedicated to creating change by bringing awareness, creativity, movement, and well-being into balance. We provide talk therapy, art therapy, and yoga therapy for all ages, available through telehealth and in-person at our Hinsdale, IL location. At Create Balance Counseling, we are committed to our clients' overall well-being. Using a dynamic approach, we work to create a safe space for connection and healing using a combination of art, movement, and talk therapy. Our team adapts treatment plans to meet clients where they’re at in their journey, factoring in individual needs. Whether you've had experience with therapy or you're completely new to it, we collaborate to establish a comfortable space that promotes personal growth and lasting change. Our practice welcomes everyone, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, veterans, people of all abilities, ages, and backgrounds.

I graduated from Illinois State University in Normal, IL with my Bachelors of Social Work. I continued my education and graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign, IL with my Masters of Social Work, specializing in mental health. While earning my graduate degree I worked on an inpatient psychiatric floor at Methodist Hospital. Mainly I worked with adults experiencing severe mental illness, however, I was also able to work with adolescents and the geriatric population from time to time. Simultaneously, I worked for a local high school as a long-term substitute teacher which provided me the opportunity of working closely with teens and their guardians. Additionally, I completed my internship in the Behavioral Health Emergency Department at Methodist Hospital where I completed assessments and linked people with resources in the community. Upon graduating, I moved to Virginia with my husband who was serving in the United States Navy, where I worked primarily with women on the postpartum units at Norfolk General Hospital. During my time at Norfolk General, I was able to assist women immediately following birth who were experiencing or at higher risk for postpartum depression and anxiety. I was also able to provide support to families who were experiencing an extended stay in the NICU. Since returning to Illinois, I have been back on one of the inpatient psychiatric units at Methodist Hospital working as a clinician. I have been primarily working with adults experiencing severe mental illness and their families by providing individual, family, and group therapy. In addition to therapy, I have been providing case management which has allowed me to familiarize myself with many of the local resources in the area. My husband and I are in the most amazing and exhausting time of our lives raising two toddler boys. We love spending time experiencing life through the eyes of our little boys. Family is everything to us. In my free time (what is that? ha-ha), I love watching Friends or One Tree Hill on repeat, going shopping with my mom, and playing video games. I believe in a holistic and person-centered approach. It's important to me for you to be the leader of your therapy. We will work as a team to set goals and work on what you feel is most important. I want to create a nonjudgmental and unbiased space for you to talk about the hard things. Your life is worth my time.

I work well with clients who want to learn skills to cope with what they're going through as well as get to the root of the issues. As a therapist I am warm, flexible, and seek to create a brave space in which clients can bring their full selves to the room. While my focus has been trauma and trauma treatments, most of my clients are coming in for help with understanding the role their families have in their lives and changing relationships. Many of my clients are navigating how to be in relationship with parents who have different values and experiences, or maybe don't understand how their actions and choices have impacted my clients. Some topics I work with clients on include: anxiety, stress, perfectionism, over achieving, negative childhood or family experiences, and issues around identity. Some of my clients want to learn concrete skills for managing where they are at in their lives, while others want to get into the depths around who they are and why they do what they do. For both I show up consistently as a sounding board who provides gentle and often direct feedback.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.