Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

I've been a psychotherapist for over ten years skilled in treating mental health disorders or distress. I use cognitive behavioral therapy to support students with academic challenges, peer and relationship struggles, life transitions, trauma, and more. I provide individual psychotherapy services (virtually or in person) at Pure Health Center in Lincoln Park walking distance from your campus. Currently, I offer flexible evening and weekend appointments to accommodate students' busy schedules. You can search my name "Megan O'Brien- Chicago IL" on Psychology Today to learn more about my practice or find me on Pure Health Center's website. You may also send an email to schedule a FREE 15-minute consult to get started. I look forward to working with you. Warmly, Megan O'Brien

Our mission is to help individuals, couples, and families live authentic, connected, and happy lives.

I aim to create a space that accommodates all of you: your cultural identities, sexuality/gender, or neurodivergence. You may have had a therapist tell you that you’re “too self-aware” for therapy, or that “it seems like you have it all figured out”. And still, you’re dealing with buried trauma, emotions that feel too overwhelming to acknowledge, and wondering if there’s something wrong with you for “not getting it”. I want to meet you where you’re feeling stuck and try something new together. I’m here to build safety to make the hard things a little less hard so you can start moving towards the life that feels authentic to you. I want to help you build meaningful connections with others, find safety and belonging in communities that matter to you, and learn new ways of being even when it feels impossible because of the ways you’ve been hurt before. Does this sound like you? Let’s go on this human journey together!

Hi there! I am Eve Haydt, LCPC, and this is the business I formed to work with my clients. I have experience and training working with eating disorders and trauma symptoms, as well as frequent co-occurring concerns, such as mood and anxiety symptoms, relationship concerns, and substance use. I see clients both in person and virtually. Feel free to reach out for a free consult to see if we're a good fit!

I've worked with children, teenagers, and adults struggling with significant emotional and behavioral challenges for 16 years and have found that no matter the difficulty things can improve with hard work. Whether one's goal is emotion regulation, behavior change, or the exploration and cultivation of identity and meaning, the use of a therapeutic relationship based on honesty, authenticity, and mutual respect can have a profound impact on one's life course. While this work is challenging it can be life changing, allowing a person to develop their talents and gifts in ways that enrich their lives and the lives of others. My clinical specialty is work with young people who are struggling significantly with their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, including those who have not found therapeutic success elsewhere. I also tend to work well with kids and young adults who are undecided as to their interest in psychotherapy, and who have strong personalities. I have extensive experience with complex psychological difficulties and believe that successful therapy requires dedication and hard work on the part of both participants. I also believe it's important that this work includes a search for meaning and understanding on the one hand and the development of practical, useful life skills on the other.

Kevin holds a Master of Science in Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University – Fullerton as well as a Master of Music in Music Therapy from Illinois State University. His training includes extensive clinical experience in inpatient psychiatric care, medical and oncology settings, college counseling, and community-based mental health. Kevin is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Board-Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC), and his education integrates relational, trauma-informed, cognitive-behavioral, and multicultural frameworks to support individuals, couples, and families across diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Culture shapes what we believe, how we act, and how we relate to ourselves, others, and the world. Sometimes these influences clash with our authenticity, leaving us feeling disconnected, uncertain, or overwhelmed. But feeling stuck doesn’t mean staying stuck; you have the capacity to grow, change, and rediscover who you are. Together, we can explore the cultural messages you’ve absorbed and ask: Is this truly me, someone else’s expectation, or a mixture of both? In our work together, you can reclaim your story, challenge limiting expectations, and step into a more authentic and empowered self. As inner shifts take root, they ripple into your relationships, goals, and daily life. Our work together isn’t only about the past, it’s about creating a present and future that truly feels like yours. Whether you are seeking personal insight, wanting to change behaviors, wishing to heal from past traumas, pursuing a sense of connection, and/or looking to reclaim your authentic self, the most important and often most challenging step is starting the process. I would be honored to support you on your journey.

Do you feel trapped by your thoughts, overwhelmed by emotions, or burdened by past experiences? It's easy to feel stuck when life's challenges become too much to handle alone. These struggles can make it hard to live in the moment, pursue your goals, or even enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, or just feeling lost, it is possible to find a path forward. I'm here to help. As a trained therapist specializing in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), I offer a compassionate, evidence-based approach to help you break free from the patterns holding you back.

Many of the students I work with are thoughtful, self-aware, and often hard on themselves. On the outside, they might look like they have things together—but internally, they’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or unsure of who they are and where they’re going. You might be navigating big transitions—starting college, figuring out relationships, questioning your identity, or feeling pressure to meet expectations (your own or others’). You may notice patterns in relationships that leave you feeling stuck, disconnected, or not fully understood. In our work together, I focus on creating a space where you can slow down, feel genuinely understood, and make sense of what’s coming up for you. I take a relational approach, which means I pay attention to how you experience connection—with others and with me—so we can better understand patterns and create more fulfilling ways of relating. If you’re looking for a therapist who is warm, engaged, and collaborative—and who will help you explore both your emotions and your relationships—you might find this to be a good fit.

Life can sometimes move too fast, too slow, or just become a bit too much. You may feel overwhelmed, frustrated or discouraged as you try to keep up, while the world around you continues to change. Your thoughts run on overdrive, you feel stuck moving through the motions but no closer to where you’d like to go. In our darkest moments, we often need someone else to shine a light on our capabilities. I believe there’s strength in every person, even when it feels out of reach. Wherever you are on your path, I hope to honor your lived experience while also noticing the glimmers of change as they come. Together, we will identify the root of what’s holding you back, strengthen intrinsic motivation, and take steps toward meaningful, lasting change. Drawing from an integrative, holistic and affirming approach, I work with individuals and couples from all walks of life. With training in Somatic Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Gottman Method, Motivational Interviewing, LGBTQ+ and neurodiversity affirming practice, I weave experiential methods of therapy with evidence-based interventions. I love supporting people to gain self-insight, and build better communication skills that support fulfilling and intentional relationships. Sometimes the first step is the hardest. If you feel that my approach may be a good fit for you, I invite you to reach out. Whether with me or another counselor, it would be a privilege to witness you on your new path.

My work as a therapist is deeply rooted in connection. Creating a safe space is essential in order to explore and uncover unconscious thoughts and feelings. Considering important aspects of connection such as attachment style, communication, and intimacy can enhance not only the relationship with one’s self, but also with others. I am passionate about working with individuals who have survived trauma, live with anxiety, depression, grief, codependence, as well as interpersonal and internal conflict. My individualized care caters to each client and meets them where they are, while considering each of their identities. Building strong connections with each client is essential as well as my belief that each person is the expert of their own experience. I have worked with many students and understand academic stress as well as the many adjustments that come along with being a student in higher education. I am here to provide support, understanding, and non-judgement.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Evolve Wellness is a modern therapy practice designed for college students navigating life’s challenges. We offer a warm, inclusive space to explore stress, anxiety, trauma, identity, relationships, and the impact of today’s social and political climate. Affirming & inclusive: We provide compassionate support for LGBTQ+ and nonbinary students, honoring every part of who you are. Trauma-informed care: Our therapists help you process and heal from past experiences safely and at your own pace. Flexible & accessible: Choose in-person or virtual sessions, with evening and weekend options that fit your schedule. Holistic growth: We integrate evidence-based methods (CBT, ACT, Mindfulness) with a focus on self-understanding, values, and connection. At Evolve Wellness, you’re not alone. You belong. You matter. Let’s heal and grow together.

I absolutely love working with young folks who feel stuck, anxious, or alone in dealing with the stressors that life brings. I am a relational therapist that holds space for young adults to build connection, develop mindfulness, and explore what values will be motivating for their life choices. This work is rooted in prioritizing self-acceptance: one of the best gifts we can give ourselves in individual talk therapy. In a group therapy setting, I aim to create freedom for individuals to get better at feeling emotions and communicating them to others, as a way to navigate symptoms of anxiety, depression, or trauma. Let’s talk more about how I can help you explore self-doubt, dysregulated emotions, academic anxiety, peer conflict, grief, apathy, anger, addiction, shame, or sadness. The experience of emerging adults today is not hopeless; there is ample opportunity to build resources for connection. This connection creates confidence in your ability to cope, grow, and heal on the journey towards a meaningful life!

Increment Therapy provides mental health services for individuals facing obstacles that have been difficult to process and get through on their own. With the world full of challenges that are difficult to navigate, Increment Therapy is the compass that helps guide you to find the courage and strength to help you process and continue moving forward into a life you want to lead. Throughout the process of therapy, we provide a safe and non-judgmental space to share your story. In your sessions, our therapist’s will help guide you through taking back your narrative and finding your core self. With an incremental approach, we meet you where you are and cultivate a real and strong relationship so that we take on this journey together. You are in the drivers seat and we will help you along the way. Through every hardship, challenge, or obstacle we will support you and provide a space where you can feel understood with unconditional acceptance, affirmation, and positive reflection.

Freelife is an LGBTQ+ affirming practice with strong experience serving University Counseling Students with their unique set of needs. We offer therapy online and in-person in the Andersonville area. Whether you are seeking help with relationships, anxiety/depression, autism-ADHD-neurodivergence- trauma, PTSD, adjusting to a new environment, sexual/gender identity, or any life transition, Freelife is here to help.

PsycHealth Services team of mental health therapists would work with you side by side to get you on track. Founded in 2016 with the intention of providing an authentic, trustworthy and professional therapy for people ready to grow and heal in a safe space.

CityPsych Counseling provides a supportive, nonjudgmental space for college students to explore concerns such as stress, anxiety, relationships, identity, and life transitions. Our approach is collaborative and tailored to each student’s unique needs, with an emphasis on building coping skills and self-understanding.

Lakeview Center for Psychotherapy is a collaborative group of independent therapists in private practice. We share a philosophy and therapy approach. Our Philosophy We are inclusive, innovative, thoughtful, and compassionate psychotherapists. We believe everyone is capable of changing their relationships to self and others. We believe in addressing both difficult symptoms and the issues that lie underneath them. Each client has unique unconscious emotional patterns that we can discover and shift through flexible, attuned therapy. Our Work We work with clients of all backgrounds, identities, and levels of functioning. Our flexible approach combines the strengths of different types of therapy. We can match you with a therapist who has the right approach for you. Our Group Our collaborative group structure allows each therapist to grow and flourish, while also promoting long-standing commitment to our shared mission. We both support and challenge each other to expand our perspectives and deepen our work. Our Services We provide psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mind-Body focused therapies, and EMDR for adults, couples, children and adolescents, families, and groups. Our Space Our 15 Lakeview offices are in a bright, welcoming building devoted entirely to psychotherapy. Our location is convenient to bus and El lines. Street parking is available. We want to hear from you!

Therapy works best when we start with a strong working relationship and center our approach on what works best for you. I will always start by getting to know you and collaborating on goals. Together, we find the tools and frameworks that respond to your strengths and preferences. You are the expert on your own experience. I practice a Neurodiversity Affirming (NDA) approach that affirms the full and natural range of neurological diversity and human development, supports self-advocacy, and rejects a conceptualization of “normal” that pathologizes difference and marginalizes communities. Nothing for you, without you. I take a person-centered, integrative, and relational approach with individuals from all backgrounds, utilizing trauma-informed and NDA lenses. As a therapist and Social Worker, I strongly believe in identifying the social, political, and environmental factors that impact your well-being and the harm within the dominant culture. Whether it’s a particular life transition or the compounded impact over time, I will unpack the complexity, grief, and potential with you. It’s your story. I’m here to help you decide what happens next.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.