Therapists for college students near 60611

At Restartt, we work with individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, anger, emotional dysregulation, addiction, procrastination, relationship stress, and life transitions. Many clients feel stuck in cycles of overthinking, avoidance, people-pleasing, shame, or self-defeating behaviors. Our team uses evidence-based approaches, including REBT and CBT, to help clients understand how their beliefs influence emotional distress and behavior. We focus on building emotional discipline, self-awareness, healthier coping, and lasting behavioral change.

Dr. Carrera is a licensed clinical psychologist. She works with adults and adolescents to help them understand the impact of their thoughts, feelings, and actions on their wellbeing. She offers an active and empowering space to navigate issues such as anxiety, low mood, family of origin concerns, identity confusion, and cultural adjustment and transitions. She also provides therapy and coaching for work and school-related struggles, including low motivation, attention difficulties, and time management concerns. Clients working with her will strengthen their awareness of ways that their life experiences may affect their ability to cope with challenges effectively. Dr. Carrera provided psychotherapy to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students at Northwestern University’s Counseling and Psychological Services, where she completed her clinical training (Postdoctoral Fellowship). She completed her Doctoral Internship at the University of California, Berkeley. She graduated with her doctorate in Counseling Psychology (Ph.D.) from Iowa State University, a program accredited by the American Psychological Association. She is an active member of the National Latinx Psychological Association and the Society of Counseling Psychology. Born and raised in an Ecuadorian-American home, Dr. Carrera is bilingual and bicultural. Clients can speak English, Spanish, and Spanglish in their work with her. She lived and studied for several years in England and Italy; these life experiences, as well as her identity as a woman of color working in several professional settings, fuel her empathy for clients navigating various cultural messages and social pressures at home, work, and school. She is committed to fusing clinical work with social justice advocacy alongside clients who may feel silenced, marginalized, and disempowered.

***Book a Free Consultation Online at Our Website Below On the outside, people tend to see you as doing fine – or even put-together, independent and successful. Lately, life has you feeling anxious, overwhelmed and stuck grasping for any semblance of control. No one really prepares you for the stress and confusion of the transition to adulthood – it’s a lot of pressure. How do you convince your friends, family, teachers, or boss that you know what you're doing? More importantly, how do you convince yourself? The overwhelm of reality makes you want to nap, doom scroll or binge watch Netflix for a lifetime -- or anything else that will quiet your mind. We specialize in equipping you with the tools needed to feel confident, successful, and independent -- so you can live your life without unnecessary burdens and limitations. You DO belong here and it WILL get easier, but you’re meant to navigate these things with support. Let's collaborate to build you're confidence and emotional control. We’ll break it down so it feels more manageable and work to understand everything in the context of YOU. We'll identify the "whys", practical strategies to help you manage day-to-day, and move towards long-lasting peace, balance and meaning. We’ll clarify your values & identity, boost self-esteem, & achieve a healthy study, work, life, etc. balance. Through the process, you will develop a healthier relationship with yourself and others. The anxiety, overwhelm and defeat cycle is rough. Sometimes the internal dialogue makes it seem like things are beyond repair, but we're here to assure you there is absolutely hope and resolution available to you. We'll help you along that path.

I aim to create a space of warmth, respect and curiosity where, together, we can explore the nuance and depth of your story. While everyone's individual challenges differ, I believe that fundamentally, the process of feeling, experiencing and examining our struggles promotes growth—increased awareness, new ways of being, more empathy, different ways of relating to ourselves and others, and more meaning and connection. Please be in touch if you'd like to explore working together.

I work with college students, emerging adults, and professionals navigating anxiety, identity concerns, workplace stress, career exploration, and life transitions. I see therapy as an opportunity to pause, reflect, and reconnect with yourself during moments of uncertainty or change. My approach is grounded in authenticity, curiosity, and presence, and I value being sincere and direct while maintaining warmth and thoughtful reflection. I aim to create a supportive, respectful therapeutic space where clients feel understood and empowered. My work integrates psychotherapy with mindfulness-informed and holistic practices that support self-awareness, grounding, and connection. I’m drawn to approaches that invite clients to slow down, tune in, and build a more intentional relationship with themselves, while honoring the whole person beyond symptoms alone. I completed my doctoral internship at Duke University Counseling and Psychological Services, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Headspace Health. I hold a PhD in Psychology from Tennessee State University’s APA-accredited program and a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Boston College. I am also certified in Mental Health Coaching.

It's been some time since you felt like you. Have you noticed that you been withdrawn? Overwhelmed? Maybe you are noticing that your feelings of being down, sad, worried, or anxious just aren't going away. Maybe you're unsure about the future of a relationship, that your life is turned upside down, or just feel that you aren't living the life you were meant to lead. You've thought about reaching out for therapy, but you weren't sure. It's ok. We are here. Reach out today. We help you feel like you again. Through engaging in counseling we will assist you in accomplishing your goals. We believe that each of us encounters our own challenges in the course of creating a full life and that through partnering with a helping professional the path of improving your own wellness may be a bit brighter. We strongly believe in each individual’s capacity for growth and insight. Engaging in therapy with one of our therapists and starting (or continuing) your healing process, we believe you can develop and strengthen your own inner light and we hope to share in this process with you. As your collaborative partner, our clinicians will use their attuned listening skills, reflections, and specialized training to provide quality, individualized, and counseling and psychotherapy. Taking the first step towards change is never easy, but is often rewarding. When you are ready to take a step on a new path, let us be there to help you strengthen your own Bright Light. Our clinicians work with young adults, college students, and adults who are diverse in their identities, life experiences, and backgrounds. Areas of expertise include treating anxiety, depression, life transitions/adjustments, emotion regulation, traumas and stressful experiences, cultural and racial stress, and relationship issues. Additionally, each of our clinicians have their own areas of expertise. You can learn more about our clinicians on our website.

Dr. Hannah Waldman is a psychotherapist who works with emerging adults, young adults, and older adults facing a range of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, relationship challenges, and difficulties related to stress and life transitions. She takes an integrative and collaborative approach to therapy, blending symptom-focused techniques—such as CBT, DBT, and ACT—within a relational framework. Hannah is committed to staying current with the latest research, particularly in areas relevant to her clients’ needs. She has experience supporting individuals dealing with aging, grief, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), phobias, eating disorders, chronic pain, and navigating gender-affirming care. Throughout her career, Hannah has worked with clients from diverse backgrounds across the lifespan, including varied identities in terms of gender, sexual orientation, religion, race, culture, nationality, and socioeconomic status. Her additional clinical interests include mood disorders, personality disorders, and religious trauma. In her work, she strives to empower clients while fostering deeper insight into the self, personal history, and relationships.

Ali King, LCPC, earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. She went on to work as a behavioral therapist for children with Autism at the Minnesota Autism Center before moving to Chicago and earning her master’s degree in Community Counseling from DePaul University. After graduate school, Ali worked as a therapist at Insight Behavioral Health Center’s residential facility for people struggling with eating disorders, as well as mood disorders. She led groups and supported people with everyday living tasks, as well as general skills coaching and meal management. Ali recently stepped down as the Director of the Young Adult PHP and IOP programs at Compass Health Center where she worked for 8 years in many different roles helping to build the Young Adult program and support the growth of the organization. While at Compass, Ali provided supervision and mentorship to newer clinicians and helped establish the group curriculum they currently use, as well as instituting effective policies and protocols. While at Compass, she received the award for Continuous Improvement, which highlights her drive and dedication to learning and growth. For over a decade, she has been providing person-centered, solution-focused, skills-based care. Her direct though nurturing, fun, and empathetic approach, is well received and has shown tangible results for her clients. With consistent encouragement and support, clients feel safe to explore their values and to learn successful coping strategies to improve their lives. While Ali has a passion for working with young adults through the tough transitions they face, she also appreciates working with adolescents and adults. She is well-versed in helping people manage struggles with self-esteem, relationships, low motivation, and simply feeling “stuck”. Ali is adept at working with clients with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, adjustment disorders, personality disorders, psychosis and substance use struggles. She has extensive experience working with DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), and often incorporates these modalities into her eclectic therapeutic approach. Ali is currently accepting new clients virtually and at the downtown Chicago location.

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 help adults, adolescents, and couples. I am deeply committed to my clients' well-being and dedicated to fostering a safe, respectful space where compassionate dialogue shapes our work together. Therapy, in my view, is a place where you can express yourself freely—giving voice to your innermost thoughts, emotions, and desires. It’s also an opportunity to uncover how long-standing patterns in your life influence your present experiences. By bringing these aspects of yourself into conversation, we can remove obstacles to your growth and help you find greater self-acceptance, personal empowerment, and creative resilience in navigating life’s challenges. If you would like to see if we’re a good fit or if you have any questions I might be able to answer, please reach out by phone, email, or through my website linked below.

Areas of Expertise (include but not limited to) Anxiety, Depression, and Psychological Trauma Stress Management Life Transitions (academic, occupational, relational, familial) Relationship Challenges Identity and Expression

Meredith Starr is a Registered Dietitian and Director of Nutrition Services at Allow Wellness in Chicago. She is an alumna of the University of Illinois at Chicago Coordinated Nutrition Program and began her nutrition career at UI Health general inpatient services while working part-time at a residential treatment facility for eating disorders. Meredith is deeply passionate about the treatment of eating disorders and has been practicing in this field for the past nine years. Meredith's personal nutrition philosophy centers on building a healthy relationship with food and is inclusive of mental, emotional, physical and social health. Meredith aligns herself with size-inclusive and non-diet nutrition approaches. She is passionate about empowering others in their relationship with food and their bodies. Allow Wellness is currently offering outpatient group nutrition sessions and profession presentations. Meredith welcomes all stages of readiness with regard to your relationship with food and your body shape and weight. If ready to schedule, please contact her today.

CORE - Center Of Relational Empowerment, PC helps individuals, couples and families strengthen their core selves, and in doing so, empowers them to strengthen their relationships with others. CORE provides psychological therapy, workshops, groups and psychoeducational seminars for people from all walks of life. At the heart of CORE is our belief that everyone has leadership and healing qualities - perspective, confidence, compassion, and acceptance - crucial to our highest, most harmonious functioning. Today you are one step closer to a new you where you feel empowered and on a positive path to growth and well-being. While we can't change difficult situations of the past, we can work together to better understand and resolve challenges in your life. Therapy and counseling can help uncover long-standing patterns and behaviors that can get in the way of feeling fulfilled in our relationships with ourselves and others. We believe that no family or cultural system operates the same way and that there is no "right" way to live life. Therefore, it is our goal to understand the problems you are facing through your own context in order to find the meanings and solutions that work best for you. If you're looking for extra support and guidance through a challenging situation or you're just ready to move in a new direction in your life, we look forward to working with you to achieve your goals.

Our world can be a tough place that leaves many of us feeling overwhelmed and misunderstood. If you’re tired of the systems working against you and are ready to receive unwavering support in breaking down the walls keeping you from your best relationships and self, I would love to assist you. You can expect our sessions to provide a sanctuary that is polyamory, sex worker, kink, and LGBTQIA+ affirming, QTBIPOC-centered, antiracist, trauma-informed, COVID-safe, and nonjudgmental so that you feel safe to show up as your authentic self. I work with individuals, couples, and families to utilize a person-centered, strengths-based, and evidence-based approach. In my work, I implement systemic modalities such as Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). I value building trust in our therapeutic relationship so that we can collaborate and customize a plan to explore what’s been holding you back, tap into your desires and strengths, and empower you to make the changes needed to claim the life you truly want. Via the structured and validating environment that we will foster together, we will be able to tackle concerns including intergenerational trauma, emotional and physical intimacy issues, sexual dysfunction, life transitions, sexual abuse, childhood abuse, domestic violence, religious abuse, and unlearning sexual shame. I aim to help uncover the resilient parts of you that have gotten muddled throughout daily life under current societal systems by working through a decolonial lens that uplifts marginalized groups. I studied Biology, Philosophy, and Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and have work experience with foster care youth, emergency medicine, interpersonal violence peer support, shelter animals, queer sexual health and pleasure advocacy, conflict mediation, and environmental canvassing. My diverse school and work background have deepened my understanding of systemic oppression and have prepared me to advocate for underserved populations. I am pursuing my master’s degree at National University in Marriage and Family Therapy with an emphasis on sex therapy, and I have the privilege of being supervised by Brittney Brooks, LMFT. I know it can be challenging to be open with people outside your support system, and I also know that none of us deserves to navigate hardship alone. If you are prepared to embark on this courageous journey together, I invite you to reach out!

Chicago Counseling Collective is an inclusive, downtown Chicago-based group practice offering collaborative, culturally informed care for individuals, couples, and groups. We provide both in-person and virtual sessions.

Hello, I'm Mili Kuriakose, and I work at The Family Institute. As a therapist, I believe in meeting you exactly where you are on your journey. My approach is centered on collaboration — together, we’ll build a therapeutic path that highlights your strengths and addresses your unique needs. By understanding your personal history and the ways it intersects with society, I strive to embrace the complexities of your experiences. My goal is to create a safe and supportive environment where you can feel comfortable exploring your thoughts, feelings, and goals.

Whether you’re seeking clarity around a current challenge or hoping to create deeper, lasting change, therapy offers an opportunity to understand and rework patterns that affect your relationships or hold you back. With advanced training in psychodynamic psychotherapy, I view the therapeutic relationship as central to growth and healing. I bring empathy, openness, humor, and genuine curiosity to our work. Most importantly, I believe therapy should feel collaborative—a partnership where we deepen understanding, create new possibilities, and support meaningful change.

We are a group of mental health professionals skilled in the practice of individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapy. We specialize in reproductive mental health, mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, sexual challenges, and relationships. We are on a mission to build a world where every individual’s worth and dignity is affirmed and celebrated.

I believe therapy can be a place where you can leave the expectations and demands of the world at the door to focus on redefining what life, joy, and connection mean to you. I practice knowing that you are the expert in your lived experiences; my role is not to prescribe but to walk alongside you on your journey. I apply a trauma-informed, feminist, and disability justice lens to my work and utilize modalities such as narrative therapy, Self psychology, and Liberation psychology. This means I focus on your innate strengths as well as how experiences in the therapy room extend to your relationships outside of it. As a queer and neurodivergent therapist, I believe in the value of a therapeutic space where we both can show up as our true selves. I am passionate about working with LGBTQIA+ as well as neurodivergent clients. During my previous work in hospital and community mental health settings I supported clients with relationship issues, and identity exploration, and gender dysphoria, as well as substance use concerns, trauma, OCD, grief, and depression. I value my previous training providing queer competent counseling that additionally affirms the experiences of kink practitioners, sex workers, and those in polyamorous/ENM relationships. Currently I am receiving doctoral training at Center Focused Therapy as I finish earning my PsyD in Clinical Psychology. I offer a free 15-minute video consultation and my sliding scale rate starts at $25.

We are dedicated to offering Mental Health Services which are easily adaptable and low-stress and that combine strategies for assisting with the many difficult aspects and challenges that have become normal in our daily lives. Clients are encouraged and taught to actively learn about themselves and are challenged to explore new ways of being and thinking, all in a safe and comforting environment.