Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

Thanks for visiting Helpful! With a combination of education, specialized training, and genuine compassion the entire Helpful team is proud to provide therapeutic services to the Chicagoland area. Simply put, the vision of Helpful is to help as many people as possible find their way to being the best versions of themselves. We are all in this life together and our hope is the work done at CIC creates meaningful change in people's lives that then creates meaningful change in our world. Feel free to browse our website to learn more or reach out to us. We hope to be a resource for you!

Do you struggle with stress or negativity? Effectively managing stressors and self-compassion for a greater sense of fulfillment is a very important investment for a brighter future. I'm a board certified psychotherapist and practice an eclectic blend of psychotherapy with adult individuals and couples, respecting the uniqueness of each person and their ability to correct self-defeating patterns for a clearer path to personal growth, understanding, mindfulness, and happiness. My interactive, compassionate therapeutic approach facilitates a process of effective self discovery by examining matters close enough to be of help, yet far enough away to see the whole person. Assessing different points of view in the therapeutic process empowers you to make more self-affirming, grounded choices in your life.

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Puentes de Resiliencia! Puentes de Resiliencia was created with the premise of creating therapy services with a cultural perspective in mind. We all navigate healing differently, but one thing that stays consistent is the notion that we do not have to endure it alone. Healing with community in mind is a strength based concept that further encourages the notion that as a community, we can transform and create bridges for success, bridges for healing, and bridges for resilience. I am bilingual/ Latina licensed clinical social worker. Born and raised in Chicago, mental health was a new concept for me prior to my own experiences with mental health. Now having been in practice for 8 plus years, I am eager to get to know others, explore challenges, and identify positive coping techniques for healing. Looking forward to meeting you soon!

Are you tired of facing your problems alone, yet feeling unsure about discussing them with a stranger? Are you feeling trapped in your anxious and depressive thoughts, but feeling too embarrassed to talk, or express yourself in fear that you may be judged? You are not alone in this. I want to applaud your courage and bravery in taking that first step. I have helped those seeking help with a variety of issues, and work well with complex conditions. Some include depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, self-esteem, bullying, family conflict, defiant behaviors, anger management, and coping with stress. My work has also included providing parental support in working with their children / adolescents with regard to communication, discipline and affection. My main desire is for all clients to know they are not alone and help them on their journey. I will adapt to meet your needs. I recognize that no two people are alike. We are all unique in some ways. With this, I meet each client with an individualized (client-centered) approach. I emphasize mindfulness, strengths, coping skills and positivity. I utilize aspects of Dialectical Behavior Therapy, motivational interviewing, CBT, psychoanalysis, and some other methods. I believe that success in therapy relies on the foundation of mutual trust and therapeutic alliance. With this, clients can work to improve and achieve goals they set. I place the utmost value on respecting my clients, providing a safe and supportive space for growth, and emphasize the importance of placing the client's needs, values, and goals as the driving force for change. I am part of the Path referral network, which means that when you reach out, my team will get back to you quickly to schedule our first session. I am committed to making therapy affordable. Through Path, I am in-network for most commercial insurances, so you're only responsible for your co-pay!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

As a queer and socially informed therapist, my practice is shaped by lived experience, intuitive connection, and a commitment to integrative healing. At Lucid Flame Body & Mind, I offer somatic, sex, and spiritual therapy that honors the complexity of identity, the wisdom of the body, and the power of relational depth. Clients working with me can expect a space that is attuned, inclusive, and rooted in trauma-informed care—where nervous system safety, emotional nuance, and spiritual connection are prioritized. My areas of focus include sexual wellness, disordered eating, identity exploration, and trauma recovery, alongside holistic modalities such as energy work and intuitive practices such as tarot. These are important to me because they reflect the layered ways we heal—through evidence-based support, embodied presence, and culturally respectful integration of spirit and self. Whether you're seeking clarity, connection, or liberation, I welcome you into a practice that centers authenticity, compassion, and empowerment.

We are a mental health group private practice located in the Avondale neighborhood in Chicago. We specialize in a variety of mental health diagnoses and conditions and all have experience working with college students. Some of our specialties include trauma/childhood trauma/complex trauma, depression/anxiety, ADHD, self-esteem/shame, dissociation, personality disorders, stress - relational, academic, occupational, etc., life transitions/adjustments, etc. We are an LGBTQIA+ Affirmative practice and all our clinicians practice from a trauma-informed lens. Currently we offer both in person and remote sessions and we are open 7 days of the week. We look forward to working with you.

College is a lot. Therapy can help. Whether you’re navigating classes, relationships, identity, anxiety, or just trying to figure things out—you don’t have to do it alone. I’m Mary Patton, LCSW, a therapist who gets how overwhelming this phase of life can be. I work with college students who want a space to talk it out, find clarity, and feel more grounded. No pressure. No judgment. Just real support as you move through this messy, transformative chapter.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

All of our therapists at Chicago Counseling Center specialize in helping people learn how to manage symptoms related to Anxiety, OCD, Perfectionism, and general life stressors so that they can live meaningful, fulfilling, and enjoyable lives.

Ashley (Evans) McTaggart is a Registered Dietitian and a alumna of Northern Illinois University. With over six years of experience in the eating disorder field, Ashley is deeply passionate about supporting individuals in their recovery journey. She began her nutrition career at a residential eating disorder facility in downtown Chicago and later expanded her expertise through roles in Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) levels of care. Ashley’s nutrition philosophy emphasizes building a healthy and positive relationship with food, integrating mental, emotional, physical, and social health.

Our Treatment Center therapists specialize in psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy, the first and most established form of talk therapy. These are unique forms of psychotherapy that foster personal development and liberation from dissatisfying or painful patterns of living. Together, you and your therapist will work to understand the meaning of your emotional experiences, thoughts, dreams, memories, fantasies, and sensations with the objective of cultivating a more robust sense of self. By applying complementary therapy approaches and techniques, we will unearth long-standing behavioral patterns or negative perceptions that may be holding you back from experiencing a more fulfilling and meaningful life. Whether you’re looking for extra support and guidance through a challenging situation or you’re ready to move in a new direction in your life, our therapists look forward to working with you to transform suffering into growth.

Growing up, I did not know much about mental health and therapy until I was in my own crisis. I was greatly impacted by mental health stigma that has had such a big impact of my Latinx community, and my own experience. I understand stigma is something that many different communities may face, and I hope to help break down that stigma so people can openly receive the help they need. After reaching out for help myself, I was able to start living up to a better version of myself. Now I hope to provide similar hope to others. I believe therapy is not just a tool to be used when you are at your lowest, but a resource in instances of uncertainty, challenge and life transitions. You have unique experiences and have been impacted by the systems that surround you whether they are cultural, familial, religious or something else. My goal is to work hand-in-hand with you to create an empathic space where you can share your feelings and work through learned patterns to discover what serves you best today. Together, we can start the healing process, using with self-awareness, exploring the past, gaining empowerment, and creating meaningful changes within your life and relationships. I have been a clinician with Active Therapies for the past year. Active Therapies offers in person therapy in North Park, Ravenswood and Telehealth.

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to knowing yourself. If you allow it, I’d be honored to join you on this journey. I utilize various holistic approaches such as somatic based techniques, guided meditation, and neurobiological education to help you gain insight into yourself. This integration of health and wellness paired with an individualized and authentic framework, will allow us to explore some of the many elements that may hold you back from living a life that you are truly deserving and worthy of.

Our lives' narratives sometimes may not be pleasant nor self-fulling. Nonetheless, the therapeutic space can serve as a starting point to reflect and create new beginnings. It can also be a space where we revisit past narratives that may have marked you significantly or try to embrace our fears for the future. In our work together, I aim to connect with you in a way that not only allows for safety, trust and vulnerability but instills a sense of empowerment that affirms your ability to endure uncertainty. I view therapy as a space where both you and I can help each other to co-narrate your life experiences. My philosophy of life is- we all experience the world differently and are the experts on our may need support with processing and reflecting. For these reasons, I work from an integrative relational, humanistic, trans-affirmative, multicultural and liberating perspective. As a queer therapist of color, I value liberation, social justice and intersectionality. In creating a therapeutic space rooted in multiculturalism, I aim to instill a sense of safety for all clients, especially those with marginalized identities such as LGBTQ+, trans and non-binary, Kinks+, immigrants, and POC'S. I make a point to show up authentically in session as a compassionate, empathic, energetic, reflective, nerdy/geeky, and a bilingual person.

I work with clients who are feeling stuck, lost, and struggling to move forward with their life. Seeking help might be intimidating, but therapy can be a space to receive support with navigating the constant struggles of life, and it can be an empowering journey of finding meaning and thinking more thoughtfully about your relationship with yourself and others. This is why I value creating a strong and authentic therapeutic relationship to support your growth and empower you to create the change you desire. I utilize various techniques that are tailored to your specific needs, and I strive to create a warm environment where we can explore different topics and work towards your goals together. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, stress, relationship issues, life transitions, and trauma. I assist my clients with managing professional and academic concerns, creating healthier habits, finding balance, and feeling more fulfilled with their lives. I also offer couples therapy for those seeking to improve intimacy, communication, trust, and emotional closeness with their partners. Additionally, I’m passionate about working with international students and immigrants, a path close to my heart as a former international student from Italy. This firsthand experience of navigating the immigration system and adjusting to a different culture has shaped my approach to therapeutic work, ensuring sensitivity to my clients’ unique experiences, beliefs, and marginalized identities. I earned my Master’s degree in Counseling from Loyola University Chicago, and my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Dayton. I have previously worked in hospitals and community mental health settings, and I especially enjoy working with college and graduate students, international students, early and mid-career professionals, and couples. I also offer therapy in Italian.

I’m a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with experience in both inpatient and outpatient care, supporting patients with acute psychiatric needs, substance use disorders, and complex comorbidities. I thrive in team-based environments and focus on whole-person, evidence-based care that empowers patients and improves outcomes. I’m seeking inpatient or outpatient opportunities in the Chicago area where I can bring my skills, clinical insight, and passion for mental health to a dedicated care team.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Therapeutically, we approach each client differently, and pick our tools according to your needs and preferences. We are looking to help you find acceptance, success, meaning, and/or anything else on your terms, as you define it. We share a commitment to practicing in anti-oppressive, harm reductive, and relational ways, but each clinician has their own eclectic approach. Our clinicians have deep experience working with LGBTQ+ and especially trans/non-binary/gender expansive clients — from childhood through adulthood. As an organization founded by queer folks, we’re here to provide a space where you can feel safe and brave all at once. Our clinicians also focus on chronic illness or disability, and neurodivergence.