Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

Shannon feels that the relationship that she has with a client is the most important aspect of counseling. With a safe and trusting environment, Shannon and her clients can collaboratively work through their specific needs together. She believes that clients should feel as though they have power in counseling, in their decision-making and in their lives. Shannon believes open and honest communication about ones' difficulties and the counseling process is key to success. Shannon hopes to create a brave space where clients can be vulnerable, try new things and speak openly in a position where they feel accepted rather than judged. Counseling can be uncomfortable, and it can also be fun and rewarding. Shannon finds it important to bring humor to counseling in addition to the hard work that occurs at each session. While Shannon uses different approaches and techniques with each client; a strengths-based approach is central to her work. Everyone seeking treatment does so with strengths that continue to bring success throughout the journey. The first of these strengths is making an appointment and seeking the change for which they are ready. These strengths are often the driving force behind successes in treatment, help to build courage and tap into other strengths and assets.

Liz Casaclang Melo is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Illinois. She graduated from Argosy University with an MA in Clinical Psychology. Liz is a very open and empathetic person who values having a therapeutic relationship with her patients. Liz has had the opportunity to work with patients from different backgrounds, ethnicity, and BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. Outside of work, Liz enjoys the outdoors, especially biking and swimming. She loves hanging out with her family and their 3 dogs, and barbeques. She admits she is a foodie.

Nicholas Krysztopik is a Licensed Professional Counselor, who has been practicing since 2018. He graduated from the Institute for Clinical Social Work with a Master's degree in Clinical Counseling and Psychotherapy. Nick believes in a Psychodynamic approach to therapy where he utilizes the relationships that are apart of the client's life, along with the relationship that develops between the client and the therapist to help the client gain an increase in self-awareness. Nick further believes that the exploration of the unconscious plays a significant role in self-discovery which can enrich one's life, and that a portion of one's struggles are rooted within the depths of the mind. Ultimately, needing to be brought forward to consciousness where they can be processed together with the help of a therapist in order to relieve unwanted tensions of the mind and burdens placed on self.

I am passionate about working with adolescents, adults and couples looking to cultivate change. I believe each person seeking therapy is unique, and my approach is tailored to meet your individual needs. I use an integrative approach, drawing upon a variety of techniques including psychodynamic, existential, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches. I have experience working with an array of mental health issues including gender dysphoria, LGBTQIA+ issues, trauma, anxiety, and depression. I have a great deal of experience working with first responders, grief, and high conflict couples. I pride myself in creating a safe space for anyone who has experienced complex trauma. My passion to serve my community drew me to social work where I earned an MSW from Loyola University Chicago. I started my counseling career later in life and I look forward to supporting you on your journey of growth and transformation.

Anne Radakovich is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Illinois who offers individual and couples counseling. She knows the client is the expert on themselves, so she follows as the client leads. Anne facilitates the environment that one needs to grow and build healthy relationships with themselves and others. Anne creates unique supports for each person she works with. She uses a combination of therapy approaches for the most success, including Motivational Interviewing, Person-Centered, Solution-Focused, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Lucien Loveless is a Licensed Social Worker in Illinois who has been practicing since 2002. They have a BA in Psychology from University of California at Santa Cruz and an MA in Clinical Social Work from Crown Family School of Social Work, Social Policy, and Practice at University of Chicago. At their core Lucien is a trauma-informed and client-centered therapist, focusing on what tools and methods are going to be most helpful to each person in their individual therapeutic journey. There is not a one size fits all answer to mental health challenges, and Lucien can help you find which skills, strategies, and coping mechanisms are going to help you reach your goals. Lucien is dedicated to serving the many communities that have helped them grow out of their personal and professional shell. As a therapist they have a particular passion for working with queer and trans folks, POC, Latinx individuals, and the kink and poly community. While life can often be serious and overwhelming, Lucien believes in the importance of slowing down to listen to our hearts, and our bodies in order to sit with gratitude and compassion for ourselves.

Cara McGhee, LPC takes a holistic eclectic approach to therapy. With the holistic aspect, Cara addresses symptoms as one way an individual's cognizance can convey consideration to an individual's advance perception. In the eclectic aspect, Cara uses various theoretical approaches to meet client's needs. Cara also addresses the therapeutic relationship with the belief that a stable relationship incorporates trust, authenticity, autonomy and optimistic outcomes. Cara has experience with survivors and offenders of domestic violence, substance use, parenting, and ran a court ordered anger management program. Mood disorders, anxiety, and depression are some of the main areas Cara treats. Cara earner her M. A. in Forensic Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Ms. Shauntai P. Taylor is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Illinois with more than 14 years of experience in the field. She holds an MA in School Counseling Psychology and specializes in providing evidence-based therapeutic interventions to individuals with various mental health challenges. Ms. Taylor adopts a client-centered and collaborative approach to counseling, tailoring interventions to meet each individual's unique needs and goals. Her therapeutic style is characterized by empathy, active listening, and fostering a safe and non-judgmental space for clients to explore and address their concerns. Ms. Taylor is committed to staying current with the latest developments in the field of counseling through regular participation in workshops, seminars, and advanced training courses. Outside of work, Ms. Taylor enjoys traveling, music concerts, theater performances, church, and family time.

Jaclyn Weiss, LSW, is dedicated to creating a safe, non-judgmental therapeutic space for clients throughout Illinois. She brings warmth and compassion to her practice, fostering a comfortable environment where clients can work on their mental health challenges. Jaclyn specializes in helping adults and seniors manage conditions like anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). With extensive training in evidence-based practices, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), she offers a structured approach to equip clients with coping skills and emotional regulation techniques. Jaclyn is particularly passionate about supporting clients through life transitions, including midlife changes, later life adjustments, and health-related challenges. She works with individuals experiencing grief, helping them process loss and build resilience.

Brighid Morse, LSW, ASW, is a dedicated therapist at LifeStance Health who serves adults and seniors across Florida. With a unique and holistic approach to mental health care, Brighid brings an understanding of how systemic forces shape individual well-being. Their practice emphasizes collaboration, creating a space where clients feel safe, seen, and supported. Brighid believes in the power of community and approaches therapy as a joint effort, helping clients navigate challenges such as anxiety, depression, and trauma. For them, mental wellness is deeply interconnected with addressing societal issues, and they are committed to challenging oppression and promoting empowerment. Brighid's experience in crisis response, combined with their identity as a queer therapist, allows them to offer a therapeutic space that is affirming and sensitive to the needs of marginalized individuals. They are particularly passionate about supporting clients within the LGBTQ+ community, as well as first responders and veterans.

Annabel Punsalan is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in Illinois who has been practicing since 2018. Annabel is very compassionate, caring, understanding, non-judgmental, detail oriented, and a well-rounded provider. Her goal is to provide the highest quality of care for every patient encounter. Outside of work, Annabel enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, watching, traveling, and eating out. She is passionate about people who need attention and support in their mental health.

Katarina Berin, LPC, believes that change starts with reciprocity and respect in the therapy relationship. She encourages self-expression, affirmation, feedback, learning, and self-awareness to help clients set goals and make new behaviors possible. Katarina earned a graduate degree in community counseling from Loyola University Chicago. She works with clients age 7 to 76 and, while delighted by all life stages, has a special place in her heart for adolescents and young adults. Katarina helps individuals facing various challenges learn to live with energy, flexibility, and peace. In therapy, Katarina combines a warm and calm presence with evidence-based practices to help clients understand, tolerate, grow, and thrive. She uses techniques that are attentive to the body and emphasize the power of self-awareness in affecting change.

Anissa Murphy, LPC, is dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment for clients. With her empathetic approach, Anissa meets individuals where they are, helping them navigate their personal challenges and achieve their goals. Whether you're seeking support for anxiety, depression, or PTSD/trauma, Anissa offers compassionate and tailored care to address your unique needs. Anissa has extensive experience working with diverse age groups, starting with elementary aged children through the lifespan to older adults. Her approach is grounded in evidence-based practices, utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy to help clients manage and overcome their mental health concerns. With children, Anissa incorporates play and art therapy techniques to help them explore their feelings that they may not be able to express with words. She also includes parents and provides family therapy to address the full system. Anissa's clinical expertise extends working with children who have been adopted or involved in the foster care system.

Stephen Sullivan is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Illinois who has been practicing since 2018. He has a bachelor's degree in theology and a master's degree in clinical Mental Health Counseling from Concordia University. Stephen sees huge value in building a trusting relationship with his clients and providing them with an objective and non-judgmental point of view during sessions. As a therapist, Stephen prioritizes creating an open space for clients to safely share their story. He finds that this gives people permission to develop a loving and secure relationship with themselves. Stephen specializes in working with adolescents, adults, and couples who are dealing with challenges in their lives. He has a wealth of experience working with people who are going through anxiety, addiction, depression, trauma, mood/behavioral challenges, and couples/relationship issues. He utilizes a variety of therapeutic approaches, personalized to each client?s needs. Some strategies he uses are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and trauma-informed therapy. Stephen can also provide spiritual counseling, specifically Christian-based counseling.

Philip Montgomery, LPC, PhD, has a track record of delivering high-quality services to individuals with a variety of emotional difficulties. He believes each client's voice needs to be heard and their stories validated to allow them to feel safe so the work can begin. Philip earned an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Roosevelt University and a PhD from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. He is highly experienced in the treatment of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, personality disorders, LGBT challenges, relationship difficulties, and a variety of social challenges facing African American males in the community. Throughout his career, Philip held a variety of clinical and managerial positions with both community-based organizations and private entities. He also holds an academic position with Roosevelt University in the department of Clinical Mental Health Counseling lecturing for their graduate Masters program.

Nina Dismukes has experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families struggling with attention issues, learning disabilities, substance use, self-esteem, expressing emotions, trauma, coping skills, and more. Nina believes that effective therapy is a soulful-healing process that takes time, patience, loyalty, self-love, and the openness to communicate. Nina feels that it is important to help empower patients by allowing them to express themselves in a way that makes them feel comfortable and safe. She works collaboratively with clients, encourages them to be themselves, and motivates them to help ensure their personal goals are met and that treatment has been successful. Nina Dismukes has received her Master's Degree from Marquette University in Clinical Mental Health with a specialization working with children and adolescents. During her time at Marquette, she was the Diversity Leader for her class and felt strongly about diversity and inclusion in the world of mental health involving people of color and the stigma behind those factors. Although Nina has used different approaches, she does not believe in one therapy working for one individual or a specific diagnosis.

Drew Mallery, LSW, specializes in helping clients in Illinois navigate complex mental health challenges through a trauma-informed approach. He works closely with individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, and ADHD. With a deep understanding of attachment and relationship issues, Drew focuses on helping clients explore how their experiences may impact their emotional well-being and connections with others. He is particularly passionate about supporting adolescents and young adults who identify as LGBTQ+ as they process trauma related to their identity, often examining how it affects their attachment style and capacity for intimate relationships with family, friends, and partners. Drew's clinical approach extends to treating individuals struggling with alcohol and drug use, as well as clients facing challenges such as psychosis, grief, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. His goal is to guide clients toward healing, resilience, and improved emotional health through thoughtful, compassionate support.

Samantha Hill is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Illinois. Samantha offers authentic, empathetic, non-judgmental care that makes clients feel comfortable sharing their stories with her. She specializes in supporting individuals with past traumatic experiences including but not limited to sexual assault, violence, and emotional abuse/neglect. Outside of work, Samantha loves to sew garments, hang out with her cats, spend time with her niece and nephew, and travel to foreign countries.

Karla Rivera is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Illinois. She has an M. A. in Clinical Psychology from Roosevelt University. Karla is committed to helping individuals navigate life?s challenges and achieve their fullest potential. She has a warm and empathetic approach and creates a safe and non-judgmental space where clients can explore their self holistically. Karla helps clients develop effective coping strategies, build resilience, and enhance their overall well-being. She tailors therapy to the individual as no two people are the same. Karla works in collaboration with the client as she believes the client is the expert of themselves as she is here to foster growth and support them toward healing and self-discovery. Outside of work, Karla enjoys reading, car detailing, tattooing, and baking. She loves spending time in nature and trying new restaurants in Chicago.

Lisa is a Licensed Professional Counselor, who has been practicing since February 2018. She graduated from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology with a Masters in Art Clinical Psychology in Specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis. Lisa believes in integrating Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Applied Behavior Analysis to provide counseling treatment services. Lisa believes whatever client brings into session should be the focus and hope to empower as well as support client in working through life's journey. Her main areas of focus include (but not limited to) working with individuals living with emotional regulation issues, dealing with life transitions, substance use issues, and those seeking safe space to share life experiences. In her spare time, Lisa enjoys walking, reading books, and spending time with personal animal.