Therapists for college students near 60657

Feeling like a mess in a world that wants you to have it all figured out? Same. That’s why I work with young adults who are anxious, burnt out, and/or in the thick of transitions. Let’s be honest: Change is hard, even when it’s good or what you chose. Whether you're starting college, navigating early adulthood, managing relationships, or facing big questions about who you are and what you want. Here's the thing... You don't need to process it all alone. Therapy can be the space where you process and figure things out. And with me, therapy is without judgment, pressure, or weird florescent lighting. My clients are often reflective, engaging, and open. They’re trying their best (and tired of pretending that’s enough). Together, we create space for real conversations, reflection, accountability, which leads to insight and change. I’m a big believer that healing doesn’t have to be heavy, sometimes even light. You don’t need to have a specific “goal” to start therapy. You might just be tired of pretending you’re fine. You might want to stop spiraling at 2 AM, or to figure out why the smallest things feel so overwhelming. You are not broken. You’re doing your best. Let’s start there and get to work.

Many of the students I work best with seem like they have it together on the outside, but feel anxious, overwhelmed, and never quite good enough on the inside. You may be driven and high achieving, yet constantly worried about falling behind or letting other people down. I specialize in anxiety and trauma, especially when anxiety is tied to perfectionism, pressure to perform, and people pleasing. Together, we look at how your experiences and current pressures influence the way you think about yourself and connect with others. You will also learn practical skills that help you feel steadier, more self assured, and more at ease in your day to day life.

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.

Hi! I am an EMDR-Certified and AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist with a specialization in working with college students (both "traditional" and "non-traditional"). I deeply enjoy getting to work with folks who are looking to address challenges they might be experiencing in their relationships: their relationships to partners, friends, family members, and importantly, to themselves. Many life experiences may lead us to feel in disconnection with ourselves: whether you have experienced relational or institutional trauma, are navigating multiple life transitions (e.g. beginning a new degree, receiving a new medical diagnosis), or are exploring social, sexual or gender identity, I am here to help you reconnect with yourself and take steps forward in your healing journey.

Welcome. We are glad you are here. We can help. You may be seeking relief from painful thoughts, emotions, or memories. Perhaps you wish to heal from and better understand the here-and-now impact of past traumas, losses or painful life experiences. You may want help in changing some aspect of your life or relationships that you feel is keeping you stuck. In the midst of a life transition or identity shift, you may need support in navigating this change. Perhaps you aren’t sure exactly what’s wrong, but you know that things aren’t right, either. No matter what brings you therapy, our goal is to help you to experience relief from pain, build your strengths and capacities, and more deeply understand and accept all parts of yourself.

Melissa Mello is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in the evidence-based treatment of anxiety disorders, OCD, and eating disorders. Melissa received her BS in psychology from the University of Washington and her Masters in Marital and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego. Melissa completed her training at UC San Diego in an outpatient setting and went on to contribute to clinical research and provide services for eating disorders on multidisciplinary teams. She was also a program therapist for the UCSD Intensive Family Treatment (IFT) program- a week-long intensive program for teens with eating disorders and their families. She has been trained in and utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Family Based Treatment (FBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy( ACT). Her primary interests include working with children, teens, and young adults with anxiety disorders, OCD, and eating disorders. She is a member of the International OCD Foundation and a certified Family Based Treatment provider.

My practice focuses on individuals who feel they fall outside of traditional narratives of what our lives "should" look like. This may show up in your relationships, sexuality, gender, or general approach to life. Through our work together, I can help you identify what works for you and what is better left behind. I think of therapy as a journey we are taking together. I want to walk beside you (not in front, or behind) to help you identify the options that exist and what it would mean for you to take a particular path. While I may highlight options or explore possibilities, you choose the direction we go. This is because you are the expert on you! Ultimately, I believe by combining our areas of knowledge (your knowledge of yourself, my knowledge of psychology) we can help you to live a deeply meaningful and fulfilling life. My background is primarily working with the LGBTQ community and in college counseling centers. While I have worked with clients of all ages, I have especially focused on individuals moving through significant life changes, including identity exploration, starting or ending relationships, experiencing loss, or taking their life in a new direction. As a queer person, I feel deeply passionate about serving the LGBTQ community and all of its beautiful intersections. As a white person, I am actively engaged in my own anti-racism work and am committed to being a co-conspirator with Black and Brown communities. Outside of therapy work, I also enjoy training and supervision, and find particular joy in working with early career clinicians. Personally, I have an undying love for geek culture. I'm an avid reader and love getting immersed in faraway worlds, whether through books, TV, or movies. Some of my favorite fandoms include Doctor Who, Firefly, and Marvel. If you're looking for a therapist who will help you while also pulling metaphors from your favorite fandom, please give me a call!

Clients come to me for support with overcoming adversity in order to start living their best life. My style is affirming, empathetic, and encouraging, which fosters your ability to identify unhelpful patterns, process complex emotions, and strengthen the coping skills you need for personal growth. Life can be hard and we all could use extra support. In our first session, you can expect to go at your own pace. My priority will be your comfort and emotional safety. You can expect our sessions to provide a nonjudgemental space for you to feel safe to explore, grow, and heal. We'll take time to get to know each other and talk about expectations as well as explore your current concerns, challenges, and goals for therapy. Together, we'll sketch out a plan for how to move forward with creating meaningful change in your life.

Life post-high school can feel both exciting and uncertain. With that comes potential for opportunity and new experiences, coupled with pressure to achieve a level of independence you may not feel ready for or feel confident navigating. It might seem like everyone around you has a plan or perhaps you're struggling to build connection and find your place. Or perhaps you have past experiences that have followed you and are impeding your journey. Whatever is it, I'm here to help you gain clarity, and know that you're not alone. AREAS OF SPECIALTY SPECIFIC TO STUDENTS: Trauma, Anxiety/Depression, ADHD & Executive Functioning strategies, Relationships/Social Pressure, and Self-Identity & the Transition to Adulthood.

Welcome to Reparo Health. I provide compassionate, evidence-based therapy for individuals seeking support in understanding themselves, managing emotional challenges, and building healthier patterns in daily life. I support clients experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, grief, trauma, relationship concerns, identity-related challenges, and major life transitions. My approach is integrative and collaborative, drawing from CBT, ACT, mindfulness-based strategies, and trauma-informed care to help clients gain insight and develop practical coping tools. My work is culturally responsive, LGBTQ+ affirming, and grounded in warmth, empathy, and curiosity. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, navigating a significant change, or exploring personal growth, my goal is to offer a supportive space where you feel understood, empowered, and equipped to move toward meaningful and lasting change.

Clients can expect a supportive and nonjudgmental environment where they feel heard, respected, and encouraged to grow. In our sessions, we will work together to build insight, develop healthy coping strategies, and set realistic goals that align with your personal values and needs. My approach focuses on creating a space that fosters trust and emotional safety, where clients can explore challenges, build on their strengths, and take meaningful steps toward healing and positive change.

Hello! For over 30 years, I have worked with clients as a clinical psychologist providing a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental space for adolescents, adults, and couples of all genders and sexualities. My counseling focuses on embracing tools for self-empowerment, self-worth, self-compassion, self-care, and assertiveness through reclaiming parts of oneself to feel whole. Reaching out for therapy can be intimidating and my goal is to make this experience as comfortable, safe and welcoming as possible! I have worked extensively--30 years with college students specifically--struggling with depression, anxiety, bipolar, suicidality, body image issues, abuse, trauma, self-mutilation, addiction, ADHD, grief/loss, gender/sexual identity, parenting, intimacy issues, spirituality, and cultural/religious identity. I also have supervised/consulted with doctoral students and fellow psychologists to help them find their own unique way of practicing. Additional certifications: EMDR for trauma MBSR/Yoga/Reiki for meditation/movement/breath work Insurance: BCBS PPO/out of network receipts are provided

We provide trauma-informed, culturally-sensitive mental health counseling for multicultural, Asian, BIPOC, immigrants, LGBTQIA+, and other marginalized Communities. Our clinicians speak multiple languages and have experience working with students from diverse backgrounds.

I honor the strength and courage it takes to begin therapy. Engaging in therapy can support emotional expression, deepen self-reflection, and open the door to self-compassion and empowerment. My approach is collaborative—we’ll work together to explore your experiences, gain understanding, and create meaningful change. I strive to offer a supportive and affirming space where authenticity can be safely expressed and embraced. I have experience working with a wide range of concerns and tailor my approach to each individual. I recognize how self-expression and self-advocacy can sometimes be overshadowed by the ways people learn to protect themselves from pain. I also understand that the past can shape the present in subtle ways, and that societal expectations can lead us to disconnect from our true selves. My experiences working with college students started during my doctoral training and have continued throughout my ten+ years in private practice. I provided psychotherapy to students at the UIC counseling center, where I completed both my training as an extern and my training as a Postdoctoral Fellow; at DePaul University Counseling Services where I completed my training as an extern; and at NIU Counseling and Consultation Services where I completed my training as an intern.

I’m here to support college students and young adults as they figure out who they are and where they’re going. My approach is all about creating a space where you feel genuinely safe, heard, and never judged. With a background in schools and working with families, I’ve spent years helping teens and young adults navigate the tough stuff—like transitioning into adulthood, managing ADHD and executive functioning challenges, or understanding learning differences. I love helping people build confidence, work through relationship challenges, and grow into themselves with curiosity and self-compassion. I’m LGBTQIA+ affirming, sex-positive, and support body liberation. If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just unsure, therapy can be a great place to start finding your way.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

The students I work best with often feel a disconnect somewhere in their lives, even if they cannot quite name it. For some, that shows up as a body that will not settle, thoughts that will not quiet, or a mind that stays one step ahead of the moment they are actually in; for others, it looks like falling behind on the very things that used to feel manageable, and not understanding why motivation and follow-through feel so out of reach. Some are holding everything together so well that no one around them realizes how much effort it takes, while others are visibly struggling and carrying shame about it. What they tend to share is not a grade point average or a diagnosis; it is the sense that something feels harder than it should, paired with the belief that they should simply be able to push through it on their own. Many are navigating anxiety, OCD, or ADHD that has gone unrecognized for years, often because it does not look the way they expected it to. My work is to help them reconnect body, mind, and daily life, so college can feel less like something to survive and more like a place they can actually be present in.

Dr. Amanda Lorenz PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, addictions, and relationship problems. Adopting a holistic approach toward wellness, I integrate a developmental perspective with practical techniques to collaboratively address the symptoms and goals of my clients. I have advanced training in several evidence based practices to help my clients cope and overcome current and past difficulties and concerns.

The first step is the hardest and it takes great courage to ask for help. I strive to help people navigate how to cope with life's challenges and transitions. My goal is to provide you with support by providing a judgement free space to process your feelings and help you gain positive coping skills. Together, we will work through life's hardships and discover ways to improve your quality of life.

Throughout our lives, we go through events that change us, often permanently. I consider therapy to be a sacred and compassionate space of exploration. It can be exhausting having to explain your story over and over again. Oftentimes we might feel unheard in our daily lives or get fixated on who we “should be” instead of exploring who we already are. Your story has meaning and it deserves to be heard. You are the expert on your own life experiences and identities. You deserve to feel empowered, validated, and safe. When meeting with a potential client I consider you in the context of your relationships, experiences, and culture. When working together we can move through difficult therapeutic concepts in an accessible and warm way. With your permission, I hope to guide you through challenging life transitions and support you in creating a life that you feel is worth living. I work from a collaborative, person-centered, relational, and strengths-based approach. This means I will use non-judgment to consider all aspects of your life and identity— while remaining open to things that cannot be changed. I utilize an intersectional feminist lens and I specialize in trauma, anxiety, boundaries, relationships, abuse, sexuality, gender exploration, life transitions, disability, memory loss, identity exploration, and resiliency work. MORE INFO ABOUT THE PRACTICE: We accept BCBS, Cigna, Aetna, and United PPO Plans, as well as, Sliding Scale rates. Currently, I have a variety of morning, early afternoon, and evening spots open! Please feel free to reach out.