Therapists for college students near University of Chicago

Mental health struggles can be difficult. I'm here to help! I provide therapy for adolescents, teens and adults struggling with depression, anxiety, OCD, and low self-esteem. My clients need a supportive and understanding space to navigate these challenges and reclaim their lives. My clients often feel trapped by their thoughts and emotions, struggling to find peace and self-acceptance. They might minimize how they feel, saying "I'm fine," while feeling anything but fine. Many of my clients struggle with self-doubt and harsh self-criticism, leading to people-pleasing behaviors and a fear of asserting themselves. This keeps them stuck in a cycle of burn out. Before coming to me, they often feel isolated, drained, and disconnected. They seek relief and a sense of empowerment. I use a compassionate, holistic approach and offer evidence-based treatments like CBT, DBT, IFS, and trauma-informed care. I help clients feel seen and heard, while remaining goal oriented. These modalities help address and heal the parts of you affected by anxiety and trauma, fostering self-confidence and growth. If you’re ready to break free from anxiety, stop people-pleasing, and build a more confident self, I’d love to support you on your journey! Feel free to send me an email or give me a call and we'll get you scheduled.

At times it may feel as though our power in our lives has been taken from us. Stress, life transitions, family issues, relationships, and many other factors can play a large role in making us feel anxious, depressed, and not living to our fullest potential. If you relate to this, therapy can help you find your power again. I have experience working with adolescents and adults who have experienced a myriad of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma, bipolar disorder, and anger. My passion is helping girls and women reach their fullest potential and overcome challenges through empowerment.

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.

Dr. Sarah Sanders is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and life transition issues. Dr. Sanders individualizes her treatment approach to the specific needs of each client, often combining dynamic-relational, cognitive-dialectical-behavioral, and systemic-cultural approaches. Her priority is helping you work through your concerns and make changes in your life in a way that feels effective, collaborative, and nonjudgmental. Dr. Sanders completed her predoctoral internship at Northwestern University and her postdoctoral fellowship at Harper College, gaining significant experience working with life-transition issues, identity development, relationship concerns, eating disorders, and student mental health. Areas of interest also include family dynamics, anxiety, and mood disorders. Dr. Sanders' practice location is just east of Michigan Avenue on Wacker Drive. If you're ready to schedule, you are welcome to do so directly by visiting the Allow Wellness website: www.allow-wellness.com.

I can work with a variety of clients who are looking for an empathic connection which allows them to understand themselves better and solve problems. Students I have seen are dealing with academic pressures, relationship issues, depression, anxiety, transitions, self esteem etc. Each situation is unique.

I meet clients where they are at. My goal is that my clients feel heard, seen, and validated when coming to therapy. I am always actively learning and studying through Somatic work, continuing education classes, reading, and attending conferences. I am in the process of earning my Somatic Experiencing Practitioner credentials. I’ve started my second year of a three year training (Intermediate I) and I deeply enjoy integrating somatic therapy into my work with clients. Meeting people where they are is essential because we want to create safe spaces to discuss their concerns. Whether talk therapy or Somatic, lets give you the space. I’ve started my second year of a three year training (Intermediate I) and I deeply enjoy integrating somatic therapy into my work with clients. Meeting people where they are is essential because we want to create safe spaces to discuss their concerns. Whether talk therapy or Somatic, lets give you the space to explore. Somatic work can help release the stored energy that is stuck, recurrent, or rising to the surface. If interested in Somatic work, consent is key and asked constantly throughout sessions. If either talk therapy or Somatic interests you, please contact Astute.

Our focus is on helping our clients create a life of presence, passion and purpose. We are a practice of 42 diverse, authentic and skilled therapists. Having a large team of therapists allows us to cover many specialties and treat most mental health disorders. We serve over 1000 clients each week, many of whom are students struggling with adjusting to college life, "adulting", anxiety, stress, OCD, trauma, depression, eating disorders, body image and identity development. Our therapists are LGBTQ+ affirming and consistently work on anti-racism. As therapists we are both creative and collaborative in helping you become the best and most authentic version of yourself.

I am a queer, neurodivergent, South Asian adoptee and first-gen immigrant who is dedicated to social justice and equitable care. I take a collaborative, compassionate approach, creating a safe and open space to explore your identities, experiences, and goals. I know finding the right therapist can feel overwhelming—particularly when navigating complex and marginalized identities. My priority is building an authentic, warm relationship where you feel truly seen and heard. Together, we’ll customize our work to support your growth and healing at a pace that feels right for you. I’m passionate about working with marginalized communities, including LGBTQIA+ folks, immigrants, adoptees, neurodiverse people, and people of color. I have a particular interest in autistic adults and ADHD, and also have experience working with mood disorders, anxiety, complex PTSD, and substance use concerns. I use trauma-informed applications of Client-Centered Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Video Game Therapy (ask me about it!). I believe that you’re the person who knows yourself best. It’s my hope that in our work together, we can find ways for you to implement compassion, kindness, and empathy in your life. A little about me: I am a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) with a master’s in social work from the University of Chicago. Outside of therapy, I enjoy playing video games, learning about herbalism, and engaging in artistic expression. If you’re interested in working together, I’d love to hear from you!

Do you struggle with racing thoughts, distressing feelings, anxiety, depression, or trauma? Are you and your partner(s) struggling with communication, intimacy, or distrust? Exploring how counseling can be beneficial is a brave first step that I am so glad you are taking! Regardless of what you want to work on in therapy, I treat my clients with compassion, respect, and empathy. I help you navigate this progression while creating a safe and supportive space to explore and create new ways to grow towards your goals. Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with children, adults, and couples across a variety of settings with various clinical needs. My goal is to provide services to diverse populations across socioeconomic backgrounds. My skills in counseling include LGBTQ+ and BIPOC affirmative care, trauma-informed practice, and human sexuality. I believe that forming a strong therapeutic alliance is principal to healing and growth. Should we work together, you can trust that I will prioritize building a therapeutic relationship based on empathy and positive regard in a judgment-free space. After sessions, I hope you feel equipped to tackle the challenges in your life by tapping into your potential.

Our team of licensed clinicians, social workers and supervised counseling students offers individual, couples and group therapies. To request counseling services, please call a member of our Social Services team at 773-525-1777 ext. 244 or email mentalhealth@nourishinghopechi.org. We will make every effort to get you scheduled for an appointment as soon as possible. Certain times of year are busier than others and a short wait may be necessary. The only residency requirement for our mental health program is that you live in the city of Chicago. As a free, private resource, your goals and hopes determine our course of action.

I am Anita Rao, MD, an ABPN board-certified psychiatrist trained in adult psychiatry at Northwestern University, where I had the honor of being a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society, recognized for teaching medical students. I earned my MD from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and obtained my undergraduate degree in International Health from Georgetown University. I adopt an approach that goes beyond treating disorders to focus on mental wellness and whole-person health. I utilize holistic treatment modalities, including evidence-based medication management, and collaborate with other members of our treatment team to ensure comprehensive mental health care. My specialization lies in anxiety and depressive disorders, bipolar disorder, and PTSD, with a particular focus on populations that are new to psychiatric care. I take pride in delivering accurate diagnoses, including second opinion evaluations, and am committed to educating and empowering my patients to understand their illnesses and themselves.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I understand how overwhelming change can feel. As a relationship therapist, I believe you are not broken or damaged. I am here to help you make sense of who you are based off your life experiences and relationships. When you come to session, we’ll work together to help you see and celebrate your value as an individual, partner, and friend creating lasting, positive change for yourself and relationships. With years of experience in therapeutic classrooms, daycare centers, housing shelters for at-risk youth and families, and as a prevention specialist in middle and high school settings, I bring a compassionate, trauma-informed approach to my practice. I specialize in working with young adults and women, focusing on self-esteem, identity, societal expectations, and gender roles in relationships. I also address family of origin issues, including attachment wounds and intergenerational trauma, while integrating anxiety management, mindfulness, and emotion-focused therapy. I earned my B.A. in Family and Human Services, along with Spanish, from the University of Oregon and my M.A. in Couple and Family Therapy at Adler University. I also hold a certification in Trauma-Informed Care from St. Vincent DePaul and am a proud member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). My supervisor is Brittney Brooks, AMFT.

Our experienced therapists have various specializations in addition to being trauma informed and fully competent in treating anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. We offer a safe, non-judgmental therapeutic space for you to share your unique story.

There is no denying that we live in a world steeped in struggles with food and body image. Whether these issues are severely impacting your life or simply hard for you to manage right now, I’m here to help. I have been a registered dietitian specializing in the treatment of eating disorders and disordered eating for almost 10 years. I’d love to work with you on your journey to heal your relationship with food, no matter your diagnosis or lack thereof. I have experience treating a wide variety of eating disorders, including EDNOS, AN, BN, BED, ARFID etc. I work with all ages, all sizes, all ability levels, all genders, all races, all religious backgrounds, and all cultures because eating disorders do not discriminate and neither does treatment for them. We can do this together. I didn’t always know this was my passion. Having studied Psychology as an undergraduate at Central Michigan University and obtaining my first Bachelor’s degree in 2004, I was unsure what my calling was. I took some time to gain some real-world experience and it wasn’t until several years later that I realized my passion for food and nutrition. In 2010, I went back to school to study nutrition and dietetics at Michigan State University. It was there that I learned about Health at Every Size for the first time, and I knew exactly how I was going to perfectly blend my newfound passion for nutrition, my psychology background, and my years of experience working service jobs – I decided then that I would be part of a revolution to break the self-hatred cycle that diet culture feeds us all and that we unwittingly pass on to each other by helping people learn food freedom, and I have never looked back. After obtaining a Bachelors in Nutrition, I went on to participate in an eating disorder-specialized dietetic internship and graduate program at Northern Illinois University, where I received my Masters in Nutrition. I have since worked in all levels of eating disorder treatment and have become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist/ Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Supervisor through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals and I am a Supervisor for other professionals treating eating disorders. This is what I do and I’d love to do it with you.

I work with adolescents and adults. I specialize in working with ADHD, with a focus on executive functioning skills such as organization, time management, motivation, emotional regulation, and follow-through. I also specialize in treating social anxiety, using exposure-based approaches to help clients gradually face feared situations, reduce avoidance, and build confidence in social and performance settings. We will work at your pace, creating structured and manageable exposures while also addressing the thoughts and physical sensations that keep anxiety going. My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and grounded in evidence based practices including CBT, ACT and ERP.

Thousand Branches Wellness – Chicago Loop offers compassionate, structured mental health care for teens and adults in the heart of downtown Chicago. We provide inclusive, evidence‑informed treatment for individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, stress, and major life transitions. Our mission is to create a safe, supportive environment where clients can heal, grow, and build lasting resilience. Our highly trained clinicians deliver care through adult and adolescent Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), and weekly specialty groups. Using evidence‑based approaches such as CBT, ACT, mindfulness, somatic therapy, and schema‑informed process work, we support both high‑functioning individuals who feel “stuck” and those needing more structure than traditional outpatient therapy. Thousand Branches Wellness is known for a responsive intake process, collaborative communication with referring providers, and culturally aware care. We focus on building stability, insight, and sustainable coping skills—helping clients move forward with confidence and connection.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Whether you're navigating a major life transition, battling anxiety or depression, facing burnout, or feeling stuck in patterns that no longer serve you—I offer a space where you can feel safe, supported, and truly seen. Therapy doesn’t have to feel clinical or cold. My goal is to create an open and honest connection where you feel comfortable being vulnerable and showing up exactly as you are. Clients often describe me as kind, collaborative, and real—with a sense of humor that brings ease to even the hardest conversations. I bring my full, authentic self to every session because I believe meaningful change happens when you feel truly connected and understood. I draw from a variety of evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Solution-Focused Therapy. I also integrate strategies from my background in sport psychology to support focus, confidence, and performance under pressure. Together, we’ll clarify your goals, explore what’s holding you back, and move toward lasting growth.