Therapists for college students near 60611

We look at individuals as part of a bigger family system, offering support to folks experiencing low motivation and school refusal, social anxiety, performance anxiety, self-esteem, relationships, depression, and cultural identity.

At Emerge, a group of multi-national mental health professionals, we embrace and respect diversity and consider the intersectionality of identity in treatment. We provide holistic psychological and counseling services and empower you, through knowledge-based treatment, to understand, improve, and maintain your behavioral and mental health. Our practice provides mental health and therapy services to children, adolescents, adults, and couples. We are located in Chicago’s Loop, Lakeview, Uptown, and Ravenswood neighborhoods, and provide in-person and telehealth services.

Hello there! I'm Neha and accepting new clients. I emphasize collaboration as a key part of my approach and want to make sure the therapy space feels safe, genuine, and collaborative when working with folks. I take an eclectic approach to therapy with a base in psychodynamic, relational and humanistic theories. I round out my approach with interventions from several different modalities including CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, and solution focused. While I pull from several different modalities, my practice is rooted in multicultural humility and intersectionality, tailoring my approach to meet folks’ unique needs and preferences. I highly value multicultural humility and intersectionality. As the daughter of immigrants and holder of several different identities, intersectionality is something I see a lot in both my personal and professional lives. I also know what it feels like to feel isolated or alone in holding different intersectional identities and is partly what motivated me to become a therapist. Feel free to reach out if you think we might be a good fit!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

As an inclusive therapist and adopted individual, I create a therapeutic space that feels safe, supportive, and honors the intersectionality of your identity. My experience centers around working with children, adolescents, and adults, and I specialize in the treatment of anxiety, depression, grief, identity exploration, trauma, in addition to obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Wherever you are in your journey, my goal is to meet you with openness and a genuine desire to understand your experience. Through a person-centered approach, I draw from evidence-based practices like cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure and response prevention, dialectical behavior therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy. Mindful that therapy is as individual as you are, I take time to get to know what matters to you and tailor our work to fit your values and goals. I am committed to therapeutic work where all aspects of you are acknowledged, respected, and valued. At the core of my practice is upholding cultural humility, and I would be honored to walk alongside you and provide a space where you can learn, regulate, and reflect.

Psychotherapy Associates of Chicago serves a diverse clientele of individuals, couples and families in a quiet, comfortable therapy space. Since opening in 2001, our dedicated and highly experienced group of therapists has become some of the most frequently referred in Chicago. Let us help you navigate the inevitable ups and downs in life.

I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Registered Art Therapist working at the group practice, Emily Hanneman LCSW PLLC. Our office is located in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago and is accessible by Metra and public transit. As a therapist, I believe that everyone deserves access to quality, affirming mental health care. This is especially important during major life transitions, like starting college! I identify as a queer, neurodivergent therapist, and I'm experienced in helping students manage depression, anxiety, and alcohol or substance misuse. My therapy style is warm, collaborative, and relatable. I enjoy utilizing humor as a way to connect and build comfortability within our sessions. It's my goal to ensure that every client feels seen, heard, and valued during our work together. If this approach sounds like it could be a good fit, feel free to reach out for a free consultation.

Are you struggling with the transition to college while navigating new responsibilities? You’re bright, creative, and motivated and yet finishing anything feels impossible. You call yourself “lazy” when tasks pile up and feel ashamed that simple things seem hard. You want clarity about your brain, tools that actually work, and a therapist who gets it. I am passionate about working with college students untangle executive-function struggles, perfectionism, trauma, and low self-esteem. I’m especially passionate about supporting BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ folks. Together we’ll kick shame out of the driver’s seat and build self‑compassion, understanding, and systems that fit you. Sessions are flexible and center your needs: if we need to laugh, move, play, or cry—we will. We explore the “what” with curiosity, not the “why can’t you just…”. I use strengths-based reframes, coping tools, and psychoeducation so you understand how your brain works and can actually use the skills between sessions. Fit matters. If you’re craving relief from shame, clearer systems that fit your life, and a space where all parts of you are welcome, let’s talk. I offer virtual and in-person sessions, a free 15‑minute consult, and accept insurance/sliding scale options when available.

Vicky is a licensed clinical social worker who earned her Masters degree in social work at Loyola University Chicago. Vicky has experience working with young adults, children, adolescents and their parents on a variety of different issues including social skills, self-compassion, emotional regulation, anxiety, life transitions and grief. Vicky has worked in a variety of settings including schools, summer camps and private practice. In her work, Vicky understands the importance of experiences and how they can greatly influence one's perspective in how they relate to themselves and others. She believes it is important to process significant events, in order to gain a better understanding of one’s needs and potential. Vicky uses a relational and strengths-based approach to allow for her clients to feel supported along every step of the therapeutic process. She also uses elements of cognitive behavioral therapy and play therapy to support clients in their therapeutic journey. Vicky aims to provide a warm, welcoming and safe space for her clients and feels honored to walk alongside each individual’s unique path.

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.

Hi and welcome! I'm a clinical psychologist in a small private practice with 2 other clinicians. I've worked extensively with college students and enjoy helping clients sort through life challenges and transitions. I know college can be a time filled with changes related to identity and relationships and I hope to be a sounding board to those experiences while providing support and guidance. Please do not hesitate to reach out to ask questions or schedule an appointment.

Hello! Thank you for taking time to read my profile. I have extensive experience working with children, teens, and young adults. My expertise lies in assisting individuals going through various life changes such as managing life stressors, anxiety, and depression. In addition, I have experience working with ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, OCD, self-esteem issues, stress, trauma, difficulties related to school, familial challenges, and grief/loss. As a previous school social worker, I am well-versed in the IEP/504 process for parents needing support. I aim to provide a safe, warm, and trusting environment that best supports you. I have had the honor in providing services to children, teens, and adults. I have worked in different settings such as schools, 12-step IOP for addiction, and within the private practice setting. I apply an integrative approach to psychotherapy, drawing upon different modalities such as CBT, Person Centered Therapy, Social thinking, and Trauma Therapy. Creating a warm and inviting environment for all my clients is of utmost importance to me. Recognizing that each client is unique, I tailor my therapeutic approaches to meet their individual needs. Within my practice, I provide a non-judgmental and empathetic environment, encouraging clients to share their struggles, challenges, and goals openly.

Fred Waltzer, LCSW provides psychotherapy to clients with mood and emotional difficulties. His approach is focused on improving behavioral and emotional abilities to cope with daily life. His focus is helping clients reach personal goals related to social and emotional well-being. The techniques utilized are practical and focused on real world results. If you are coping with depression or anxiety, approaches will include identifying thoughts, behaviors and feelings which increase both well-being and relationships. Mr. Waltzer has worked in healthcare and educational settings. Most often interventions are short term result in productive changes in how his clients interact with their environment. . . .

JD Peters (he/him), is Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). He earned his master’s degree in Addiction Studies: Advanced Practice from the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School, and spent his career walking alongside individuals and families navigating the challenges of addiction to alcohol and other substances, as well as the broader journey of healing and recovery. He works with people facing a wide range of concerns—from anxiety and depression to grief and trauma—and offers both abstinence-based and harm-reduction approaches depending on what feels most supportive for each person. He believes healing is deeply personal, and that change is hard to do alone. His role is to create a space where you feel safe, seen, and empowered to explore what works best for you. JD has experience working with LGBTQIA+ individuals as they navigate identity, relationships, internalized stigma, and family or societal stressors. He strives to offer affirming care that honors each person’s truth and lived experience. He draws from evidence-based practices like DBT, CBT, ACT, and Motivational Interviewing, blending these approaches into conversations that support growth, healing, and hope. Whether you're just beginning your journey or looking to deepen your understanding of yourself, JD is here to support you with compassion and curiosity.

Our group therapy practice has trained our clinicians to be trauma and systems informed, neurodivergent and LGBTQ affirmative, and knowledgeable in incorporating and integrating the body and mind in therapy. We consider the individual, societal, and environmental factors and contexts for each client. We also explore the identities you hold and the intersectionality of how your identities inform who you are. We also recognize how macro societal level systems, those that influence experiences of power, privilege, and oppression, deeply impact the experiences of every individual. We use our expertise and understanding about neurodiversity and learning styles in conjunction with Mary Jo Barrett’s Collaborative Change Model to structure and pace healthy trauma informed therapy. We also acknowledge and take into account that when we experience something painful, we experience it on multiple levels. Our approach allows us to integrate the body into therapy and explore what the body needs to feel safe or calm again.

We offer a strength-based, holistic, and highly collaborative approach to therapy. Specializing in relationships, trauma, racial identity and mood disorders, our clinicians provide culturally-sensitive trauma-informed care.

You are the expert of your own life, and sometimes we need some support along the way. My main areas of focus include work with neurodivergent disabled queer and gender expansive clients at various intersections of identity, complex trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (e.g. medical and religious trauma, trauma navigating systemic oppression). I also work with folks often othered in the mental health and medical fields, sociocultural identity development, and plurality across the lifespan. I seek to co-create a meaningful, collaborative culturally responsive relationship centering a trauma-focused and healing-centered lens. I incorporate an integrative, relational, strengths-based approach incorporating Dialectical Behavior Therapy, somatic therapies, humor (and puns), narrative therapies, and challenge by consent. I seek to provide an affirming and empowering space, especially for folks at various intersections of identity, who have experienced oppression, trauma, and severe mental health diagnoses across the lifespan. It is important to build a mutually collaborative relationship that provides space for self-reflection and growth. I look forward to connecting!

Maybe you’ve been telling yourself you should be able to handle this by now. But lately, everything feels heavier. Your energy is low, motivation is hard to find, and even small tasks can feel overwhelming. You may notice yourself pulling away from people, losing interest in things you used to enjoy, or feeling stuck in patterns that are hard to break. At times, you might find yourself reaching for something—whether it’s substances, distractions, or numbing behaviors—to get through the moment, even when it doesn’t bring lasting relief. For some, this shows up as persistent sadness, emptiness, or feeling disconnected from yourself and others. For others, it may look like anxiety, burnout, or being caught in cycles of overthinking and self-criticism. These experiences can also show up in relationships pulling away, avoiding hard conversations, or finding yourself in the same painful dynamics again and again. You may notice that your inner voice is harsh or unforgiving, making it even harder to find a way forward. Together, we will gently identify and address these patterns while building more compassion, stability, and connection—both within yourself and in your relationships I work with teens and adults navigating depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, identity questions, traumatic experiences, and life transitions. I provide LGBTQAI+-affirming therapy grounded in cultural humility, creating a safe and validating space to explore identity, relationships, and lived experiences. I also support individuals who are exploring their relationship with substances, whether that means reducing use, understanding patterns, or working toward recovery. I have completed training toward my Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) credential and am CADC-eligible, which allows me to integrate evidence-based approaches for substance use into our work. My practice is trauma-informed and guided by phase-oriented treatment approaches. In our early work, we focus on safety, stabilization, and building self-regulation skills to help you feel more grounded—even when things feel heavy or overwhelming. As you begin to feel more supported and resourced, we may shift toward processing more difficult experiences and understanding the roots of depressive patterns or substance use. Therapy is always paced according to your readiness. I prioritize transparency throughout therapy, ensuring you understand each step of the process and why certain approaches are used. My goal is to create a space that feels collaborative, supportive, and grounded—so you can move from feeling stuck and depleted toward feeling more engaged, connected, and able to experience meaning in your life again.

Colleen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with three years of experience providing therapy in private practice. She received her Master's in Social Work from Dominican University, with a focus on health and well-being. She supports children, adolescents, and young adults by providing a safe, open, and nonjudgmental space to explore challenges, embrace strengths, and feel empowered. Before private practice, Colleen worked in community settings as an advocate for those impacted by domestic violence. These experiences shaped her passion as a therapist and her commitment to social justice. She values understanding how exposure to trauma, oppression, marginalization, and grief/loss can influence one’s experience of the world and contribute to challenges like anxiety, depression, life transitions, and relational conflicts. Her approach is client-centered, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, neurodivergent-affirming, and play-based. By prioritizing these lenses, Colleen helps clients feel engaged, authentic, and supported in their therapeutic growth.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.