Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL

Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy Services in Chicago

I am a therapist, social worker, active listener, and committed community member. In therapy, I take a person-centered, holistic approach and am looking forward to supporting you in your goals - even if they're a bit uncertain at the beginning. I enjoy helping clients make change and solution plans in a non-judgmental space. Oftentimes, talk therapy is one piece of a bigger puzzle and helping clients identify and then connect with their unique healing team is something I love about this work. My approach to working with you is to be a supportive guide on your unique healing journey. I love working with clients who have very specific behaviors and problems they would like to address, as well as clients who are curious about themselves or their mental health, looking for support in exploring identities and relationships, or just want a space to process life's stressors. If you have a lot going on, are uncertain about what areas of your life are impacting your mental health, or are looking to change behavior patterns, utilize skills, or gain insight, I can be an empathetic and reflective part of that journey with you.

Introduction Dr. Victoriya Tsaran completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology at Loyola University, and completed both her Master’s and Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Schaumburg. Currently, Dr. Victoriya Tsaran is the owner and clinical director at Progressive Psychological Healthcare. Dr. Tsaran’s multicultural background allows her to utilize the awareness and understanding of diverse client needs, and utilizes multicultural sensitivity and appreciation in her therapuetic approach. Dr. Victoriya Tsaran provides therapy services in both English and Russian. Experience Dr. Victoriya Tsaran has worked in a wide range of professional settings, including behavioral health hospitals, community mental health centers, skilled nursing facilities and medical rehabilitation centers providing mental health services. In addition, Dr. Tsaran has worked in school settings as well as therapeutic schools and private group practices. Dr. Tsaran’s clinical experience includes working with hundreds of unique, complex and diverse clients. She believes that the client’s success is born out of a trusting and supportive relationship that the client and therapist build together. This is not an easy task since many components play a role in the type of relationship that is allowed to be developed in the therapeutic relationship. The relationships that Dr. Tsaran has developed with her clients and patients was based on her ability to empathize with their developmental needs and understand their unique environment, their perspective of the world around them, and the way they view themselves and others while maintaining healthy professional boundaries. Providing a safe and nurturing environment that encourages a trusting relationship is the goal Dr. Tsaran has for her clients, especially during the early stages of therapy. Therapy Approach Dr. Tsaran’s clinical work revolves around being supportive, flexible, and progressive. Dr. Tsaran approaches her patients and their problems from an individualized perspective and utilizes an individualized treatment plan that is tailored specifically to her patient’s individual and unique needs. Over the years, Dr. Tsaran has developed an eclectic perspective to therapy and utilizes a unique combination of psychotherapy, mind-body awareness, family systems therapy, emotion focused therapy and cognitive behavioral techniques. Her wide range of knowledge and competency in various psychological theories allows Dr. Tsaran to be flexible in her individualized treatment approach with every client. Dr. Tsaran’s areas of specialty include: working with children, young adults, adults, families and couples therapy. She is experienced in treating various clinical presentations including depression, anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, adjustment disorders, behavioral problems, relationship conflict and parenting stress. “I aim to revive my patients from the current positions in their lives and help bring in the much needed harmony and infused positivity that will allow my clients to progress in their minds, their mental health and their overall life.”

Rowan Tree Counseling is a group therapy practice rooted in autonomy, personal agency, and anti-oppression. We are passionate about helping individuals explore their values with curiosity and utilize their personal strengths to live their most meaningful lives. We believe strongly in the power of blazing your own trail, and we seek to help ensure that you don’t lose your way. Guided by your goals and your values, we’re here to journey beside you while you walk the course you’ve charted. All of our clinicians have committed to anti-oppressive practices and learning through continuing education. Rowan Tree offers sliding scale pricing for students.

Therapeutically, we approach each client differently, and pick our tools according to your needs and preferences. We are looking to help you find acceptance, success, meaning, and/or anything else on your terms, as you define it. We share a commitment to practicing in anti-oppressive, harm reductive, and relational ways, but each clinician has their own eclectic approach. Our clinicians have deep experience working with LGBTQ+ and especially trans/non-binary/gender expansive clients — from childhood through adulthood. As an organization founded by queer folks, we’re here to provide a space where you can feel safe and brave all at once. Our clinicians also focus on chronic illness or disability, and neurodivergence.

Our experienced therapists provide personalized guidance, creating a safe space for self-exploration and growth. From managing stress and anxiety to overcoming personal challenges, individual therapy empowers you to navigate life's complexities with resilience.

Have you ever felt like you don't quite fit into the boxes other people expect of you? Maybe you're exploring your identity, questioning family expectations, discovering you're neurodivergent, or trying to understand parts of yourself that haven't always felt accepted. Therapy can be a place to get curious about who you are, without feeling like you have to hide, explain, or change yourself to belong. I work with college students, graduate students, and young adults navigating ADHD, AuDHD, depression, relationship and family challenges, identity exploration, and life transitions. I'm especially passionate about supporting neurodivergent students, LGBTQIA+ students, and those exploring racial, cultural, disability, or biracial and mixed-race identities. My approach is collaborative, creative, and affirming. Together, we'll explore the experiences that have shaped you, build on your strengths, and develop practical ways to navigate relationships, emotions, and everyday challenges with greater confidence and self-compassion. I draw from Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Gestalt Therapy, and queer feminist perspectives while honoring your lived experiences, culture, and personal interests. Therapy doesn't have to look the same for everyone. Alongside conversation, we might incorporate art, music, movement, games, or other creative approaches that help you express yourself in ways that feel natural and meaningful. I also support clients navigating family-of-origin concerns, racial, historical, and intergenerational trauma, sexual exploration, and kink in an affirming, nonjudgmental space. My hope is that therapy helps you feel more connected to yourself, more confident in your identity, and more at home in who you are.

Like many therapist profiles, this page could list my degrees and credentials, provide a vague description of what clients I work with, and be distant but warm; however, that is not how I work with clients or how I am in the world. I want this page to help you decide if we’ll work well together, not just list the things I’ve done. What you probably want to know is 1) do I know what I’m doing and 2) are we a good fit in working together. I have been working in the mental health field, specifically with eating disorders, since 2014 in a variety of capacities including inpatient, residential, and crisis stabilization programs. I am passionate about eating disorder recovery and collaborating with patients to find balance in their lives. I am body-positive and Health at Every Size (HAES) aligned. I have experience in working with families, couples, and individuals in addition to facilitating group therapy. My primary focus lies in helping to support clients and their loved ones in understanding and moving forward in the path to recovery through individual and family therapy. I have earned the distinction of being a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS) by the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, and have been an officeholder for the Heartland chapter of iaedp since 2019 and remained committed to pursuing ongoing education within the field. There are so many people who hesitate to come to therapy or to move forward in eating disorder recovery due to having been previously unsuccessful with a “one size fits all” approach. I work with you to figure it out. I’m not a smile-and-nod, sit in silence type of therapist. I'll call you out on your BS, but I can do that in a way where we can both laugh. I'm not afraid to talk about anything you need to talk about. Intrusive thoughts? Feeling like you’re the only person to feel this way? You’d be surprised to find that you’re not alone. Therapy will provide a safe space to be yourself and a supportive environment to help meet you where you’re at and work towards creating lasting change in your life.

Let’s be real: adulting is hard. Figuring out how to build a life—navigating new jobs, getting enough sleep and exercise, living alone for the first time, dating (ugh), or trying to make real friendships—it can all feel like a lot. You don’t have to figure it all out by yourself. I’m here to support you in making sense of it, finding your voice, and creating a life that actually feels like yours. I’m passionate about supporting LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities. As a relational therapist, I believe changes happen in connection. I pull from a range of approaches depending on what you need—whether that’s insight, tools, or simply someone who gets it. I’m warm, collaborative, and affirming—but also very direct. If something needs to be named, I’ll say it—with compassion and honesty of course. Growth requires truth. Starting therapy can feel overwhelming, but reaching out shows real courage and a deep commitment to yourself. Whether you’re working through identity questions, navigating complicated relationships, or just trying to feel more like yourself again, I’m here to walk with you through it. Message me and we can have a chat about it!

You can be externally successful in life but internally worried you are going to have a total meltdown. I want to help you get better at taking care of yourself so you can achieve whatever awesome things you are here to contribute to the world. My career spans decades but for some reason the majority of women working with me are in their 20s and 30s. I help clients get some new perspective and stop beating themselves up. You may need to make some very real changes. It can be hard work but you don’t need to do it alone. Maybe you need to get better at speaking up for yourself, making decisions, managing your time. Maybe your relationship with substances needs to change. I help clients process their stress and add coping skills to build a personal routine that improves daily life. Many women I work with have gone through traumatic experiences in the past. It is important to me that the woman I am working with directs when and if we discuss the actual traumatic events. What I have learned is that adding better coping is possible with or without dredging details. Healing is possible but it takes work and support. I am also dedicated to helping clients expand their supports even if it's just a little bit at a time. I know it's tough to ask for help. I'd rather DIY everything but I know how useful it is to have therapy while you're in school. It saved my sanity when I went to therapy the first time when I was in college. For those wanting online therapy I use Google Meet for telehealth. It is completely HIPAA compliant. I also meet with clients for Walk and Talk therapy sessions when it seems useful and appropriate. North side of Chicago along the lake.

I want to support you in finding mental and physical health through counseling and body-centered approaches to healing. Whatever challenges you may be facing at this time, I look forward to helping you meet your goals and find a satisfying life filled with ease, happiness, and connection!

Urban Wellness believes in making wellness a down-to-earth practice. We value making mental health accessible to all, and focusing on mental wellness as one section of health in the body. We are focused on being an Anti-Racist and Anti-Oppression practice and hold that in our beliefs and our treatments. We have almost 40 clinicians in 4 locations (and virtually) who work with anything from immigration to stress management to trauma. You will find us wearing slippers in the office, sharing snacks in the kitchen, and providing mental health care in a relaxed and comfortable setting. We will meet you where you're at and build a relationship that is person-centered and best fits your needs.

For a long time, life may have felt overwhelming, even if everything on the surface looks "fine." You might tell yourself, “I’m fine, it could be worse,” yet underneath, there’s a constant sense of tension, exhaustion, and burnout. You may feel detached, you’ve become skilled at hiding your pain and no one seems to notice. This can leave you feeling lonely, even when surrounded by others, and stir up complex emotions like guilt, shame, and resentment. Deep down, you long to live more authentically, but looking inward feels uncertain and even frightening. What’s in that "Pandora’s box" of emotions? What if it’s too much? I believe in the power of relationship and self-exploration. With compassion, curiosity, and a bit of humor, we'll uncover the layers of your experience. Together, we'll create a safe space to explore your emotions, past experiences, and underlying patterns. We’ll build self-awareness, tools for emotional comfort, and guide you with your authentic values. It can feel like you're carrying everything on your own, but you're not meant to. I'm here to support you in a trusting, empathetic therapeutic relationship, one where we move at your pace. If you're ready to explore, heal, and reconnect with yourself, I’m here to walk alongside you when you’re ready.

Tonya Vander, LCSW, understands what trauma and grief look like when life is severely altered, and she offers a strong, empathic ear and tools to guide clients through healing. She creates safe spaces for individuals to feel heard, encouraged, and accepted. She supports clients age six and up struggling with depression, family conflict, mood disorders, stress, and is especially skilled at treating: Trauma/PTSD: Tonya is highly skilled at treating trauma and supporting clients through the tremendous repair work needed to heal. She helps clients focus on hope and resiliency no matter what barriers they're facing. Tonya understands change takes time, but there's possibility to overcome anything and move forward.

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 boutique Lincoln Park counseling practice works with each individual to help them build on their strengths and to attain the personal growth they are seeking. This is accomplished by adhering to our practice’s central values: compassion, empathy, and courage. We work with teens, emerging adults, adults, couples, and families from diverse backgrounds who experience a wide range of anxiety and depressive disorders. Our areas of expertise include treating anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. Our therapists have specialized training to treat relationship issues, life transitions, post-traumatic stress disorder, difficulties in emotion regulation, and men’s issues.

At Snow Lake Counseling PLLC, our mission is to help you live a more fulfilling and satisfying life. We empower individuals to make healthy, informed decisions through direct, solution-focused care. With flexible scheduling and virtual accessibility, we ensure that prioritizing your well-being fits seamlessly into your life. Rooted in allyship, our practice is a safe and inclusive space for individuals of all abilities, backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, and relationship structures. At Snow Lake, you are supported to heal, explore, and grow—free from judgment. Mental health support available for: Anxiety | ADHD | Addiction | ASD | Bipolar Disorder | Coping Skills | Communication Skills | Depression | Desire Discrepancy | Divorce | Ethical Non-monogamy | Grief | Intellectual Disabilities | Intimacy Issues | Kink | Life Transitions | LGBTQIA+ | Men’s Issues | OCD | Relationship Issues | Religious Trauma | Stress | Sexual Dysfunction | Substance abuse | Women's Issues We offer convenient online booking though our secure booking portal: https://snowlake.clientsecure.me/

Hi, I’m Spencer (they/them)! I’m a queer, non-binary, neurodiverse therapist who believes that everybody deserves a space in therapy. Working in mental and behavioral health spaces I have found that it can be difficult to find professionals who are competent and specializes in working with the LGBTQ+ community, and I aim to help change that! So much about therapy revolves around identity. Having a therapist who is part of your communities can make all of the difference. I work from a systems, anti-opressive, and liberation focused lens, meaning that there are many factors both internal and external that affect our well-being, one of which is community! Community is important for everybody, but especially for LGBTQ+ identities. This was one of the main reasons I chose to name my practice Neighborhood Psychotherapy, along with being based in Chicago and coming to love and appreciate the city’s strong sense of community and neighborhood identities, and being inspired by the work of Fred Rogers and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. My therapeutic approach weaves together DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Thearpy), CBT (Cognative Behavioral Therapy), Mindfulness, and Trauma-Focused interventions to deliver the best care possible to my clients. I specialize in offering therapy for anxiety, depression, ADHD, ASD/Austim, Neurodiversity, and Borderline Personality Disorder. Having experienced the world as a queer and neurodiverse individual, I understand the profound impact of being truly seen. I see my work as collaborative, let’s work together to set goals and effect change in your life.

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.

Many of the clients I work best with are navigating periods of change, uncertainty, or emotional overwhelm. Whether you're managing depression, anxiety, or mood swings, exploring your identity, or feeling stuck despite trying therapy or other strategies, you're not alone — and you're not expected to have all the answers. My approach is warm, collaborative, and focused on what works best for you. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, I primarily support clients through medication management, but I also offer brief supportive therapy and education about mental health. I believe that medication is just one tool — and not always the first or only one — and I work closely with you to make thoughtful, informed decisions together. I often support clients in the LGBTQ+ community, those exploring non-traditional relationships, and individuals who appreciate a nonjudgmental, sex-positive space. If you're someone who values open communication, shared decision-making, and a personalized approach to care, we may be a good fit. Whether you're starting treatment for the first time or returning after a break, I'm here to listen, guide, and help you feel more in control of your mental health journey.