Therapists for college students near Chicago, IL
Being genuine and authentic is something that is extremely important when working with my clients. I am multicultural and have experience working with folks of all backgrounds. I am passionate about helping people heal and providing a safe space to do so.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Who I am as a psychologist is deeply tied to who I am as a person. I am a cis Black man. I am heterosexual. I am from rural Arkansas. I was raised in low-income family. I’m first generation. My background taught me the value of community and resourcefulness. These are the things that shape how I see the world and how I serve in this role. I help my clients create sustainable change by working with them to combine knowledge and skills into purposeful action. A cornerstone of my approach involves "me-search". I believe self-knowledge is essential to insight (our ability to identify, understand, and take steps toward our goals). My goal is offering a brave and empowering space to facilitate that transformation. I look forward to helping you explore how your concerns relate to you, your body, social world, and worldview. My ideal clients are folks who are curious, open to ask themselves really hard questions, and have a willingness to approach change in an honest way. I ideally like to work with clients navigating a life transition (academic, work, identity or relationship based), anxiety, and/or healing from traumatic experience. Overall, I enjoy work that’s depth-based and clients who are interested in therapy that focuses the source and solutions. I draw on my clinical-research expertise exploring meaning in life and liberation to approach healing as an integrative process. I believe there is great value in establishing a brave and affirming therapeutic relationship and space to identify, make sense of, and take action to work toward my client’s goals. Overall, I consider myself a “fellow traveler” and practice from a strength-based approach where I invite collaboration, courage, and trust in the process from those with whom I work.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
English & Conversational Korean/영어 & 일상 회화 한국어 *More availability coming Sep 2025/2025년 9월부터 상담 가능 시간이 더 많아집니다 English & Conversational Korean/영어 & 일상 회화 한국어 “What does it feel like to take up space?” Space can mean the way you walk into a room, how loud your voice is, or how tall you are. But what about emotional space? In relationships, at work, and in yourself? Maybe you’re the one others rely on, the ‘strong one’. Maybe you tend to hold things to yourself because it feels too vulnerable to share and it might burden someone else. Or you’re navigating systems that have made it hard to feel like you belong in a room. I believe healing happens in spaces where you feel safe enough to feel joy and connection. My role is to offer steady attention and help you reconnect with parts of yourself that you might have had to ignore. I’ve seen how cultural misunderstanding in mental health care can lead to misdiagnosis, minimized experiences, or emotional labor to explain yourself. I aim to reduce that burden, so you don’t have to translate your experience just to be understood. Sessions might include moments of light humor and comfort alongside serious work. “공간을 차지한다”는 건 어떤 기분일까요? 공간은 내가 방에 들어올 때의 모습, 목소리 크기, 키 같은 걸 말할 수 있습니다. 그런데 마음의 공간은 어떨까요? 관계 속에서, 직장에서, 그리고 나 자신 안에서요. 혹시 다른 사람들이 의지하는 ‘강한 사람’인가요? 힘든 마음을 혼자 참고, 다른 사람에게 짐이 될까 봐 말하지 못한 적이 있나요? 아니면 내가 있는 자리가 편하게 느껴지지 않는 환경 속에 있나요? 저는 안전하다고 느낄 수 있는 공간에서 치유가 시작된다고 믿습니다. 저는 문화 차이 때문에 잘못 이해받거나, 경험이 작게 여겨지거나, 나를 설명하느라 힘들어하는 경우를 많이 봤습니다. 그래서 있는 그대로 이해받을 수 있도록 그 부담을 줄이고 싶습니다. 상담 안에서는 진지한 이야기뿐 아니라 가벼운 웃음과 편안함도 함께 할 수 있습니다. What is Art Therapy?/미술치료는 뭔가요? As a practicing visual artist, I have a diverse understanding of art materials and techniques that can be incorporated into our sessions. Art therapy is a form of therapy that utilizes art-making and visual expression to deepen or facilitate the therapeutic process. It’s open to everyone, no artistic experience is necessary and the goal is not the end product, but the creative process. Trained in both art and talk therapy, I’m equipped to guide you through both the creative and verbal aspects of therapy. I practice art therapy as a collaborative process where we explore the meaning of your work together. Instead of reading or interpreting your art, we explore what you felt and thought while creating your piece. Kind of like an artist interview! Whether you’re interested in exploring new materials, want to try an activity catered to a particular challenge, something to fidget with during sessions, or using art as a medium to express yourself, I’m here to facilitate a safe, non judgemental space. 저는 현재 활동하는 예술가로서, 다양한 미술 재료와 기법을 알고 있습니다. 미술치료는 누구나 참여할 수 있고, 미술 경험이 전혀 없어도 괜찮습니다. 목표는 완성된 작품이 아니라 만드는 과정입니다. 저는 미술치료와 대화 상담 둘 다 훈련을 받았기 때문에, 두 가지를 함께 진행할 수 있습니다. 미술치료는 함께 의미를 찾아가는 과정입니다. 작품을 만들면서 어떤 생각과 감정을 느꼈는지 같이 나눕니다. 새로운 재료를 써 보고 싶거나, 고민에 맞춘 활동을 해보고 싶거나, 상담 중에 손으로 만질 수 있는 것을 원하거나, 말로 하기 어려운 마음을 표현하고 싶을 때, 안전하고 편안한 공간에서 함께 할 수 있습니다. Experience/경험 In 2020, several experiences pointed me to become an art therapist and counselor alongside my path as an artist. Beginning with the gap in mental health services I witnessed at the time, I saw how many people with marginalized identities were struggling to access affirming, inclusive care. A pivotal moment was when someone I cared about shared the depth of their pain as a way to ask for help, which led to the decision to become a therapist. My own experience of therapy helped me understand how essential representation and cultural understanding are in mental health care. I went on to earn my MA in Art Therapy and Counseling and BFA in Studio Art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. My training includes art therapy, DBT, and narrative therapy, grounded in strengths-based, relational, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive approaches. I also bring LGBTQ+ and disability allyship into my work. In my work as a therapist, I’ve supported clients across both clinical and community settings. This has included leading teen wellness groups through UChicago Medicine, facilitating art therapy and psychosocial rehabilitation programs for adults with chronic mental health and intellectual disability diagnoses, and organizing community art workshops. I’ve also worked with immigrants, refugees, neurodivergent adults, and BIPOC/ALAANA communities. These experiences helped me cultivate a trauma-informed, culturally responsive lens. 2020년에 여러 경험을 통해 미술치료/상담사가 되기로 했습니다. 미국에서 정신 건강 서비스에 다양한 정체성을 가진 사람들이 안전하고 더 깊은 상담을 받기 어렵다는 것을 보았고, 제가 아끼는 사람이 힘든 마음을 나누며 도움을 요청한 순간이 큰 계기가 되었습니다. 상담을 받으며 문화적 이해와 대표성의 중요성도 깨달았습니다. 저는 시카고예술대학(SAIC)에서 미술치료와 상담 석사, 그리고 순수미술 학사를 받았습니다. 미술치료, DBT, 내러티브 치료를 배웠고, 사람의 강점을 살리고, 관계를 중요하게 생각하며, 트라우마를 이해하는 방법으로 상담합니다. LGBTQ+와 장애 인식에 대한 지지도 중요하게 생각합니다. 그동안 청소년 그룹, 성인 프로그램, 그리고 커뮤니티 워크숍을 진행했습니다. 이민자, 난민, 신경다양성, BIPOC 커뮤니티와도 함께 하며, 각자의 문화와 경험을 존중하는 상담을 해왔습니다. Languages/언어 한국어를 가볍게 사용하는 것은 환영합니다! 저는 한국어와 영어를 섞어서 대화하는 것이 편한 클라이언트와 잘 맞습니다. 제가 한국어로 일상적인 대화는 할 수 있지만, 심도 있는 대화 주제나 위기 상황, 진단, 치료 계획과 같은 중요한 치료 논의에서는 모든 내용을 명확하게 표현하기 어려울 수 있습니다. 이상적으로는 번역하거나 언어에 적응하는 부담이 클라이언트에게 있어서는 안 됩니다. 이 정도의 언어 능력이 괜찮으시다면, 편하게 연락 주세요! Speaking Korean lightly is welcome! I am a good fit for clients who are comfortable mixing Korean and English. While I can engage in everyday conversations in Korean, it may be difficult to clearly express everything in in-depth conversations, crisis situations, diagnoses, and treatment planning, as well as other important therapeutic discussions. Ideally, the burden of translation or language adaptation should not fall on the client. If this sounds like a fit for you, feel free to reach out!
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.
Not every storm is visible, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t real. Whether it's the whirlwind of ADHD, the quiet complexities of autism, or the relentless loop of anxious thoughts, I help individuals navigate what others often don’t see. I specialize in supporting neurodivergent clients and those managing anxiety, with a deep commitment to honoring each person’s unique wiring. My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in evidence-based and scientifically proven practices tailored to your lived experience. We work together to customize therapy to meet you where you are—authentically, collaboratively, and with curiosity. In our work together, you’ll find a space that’s safe, curious, and empowering. I aim to guide my clients through the messiness of growth with compassion and clarity—helping them build self-understanding, reduce overwhelm, and rediscover their inner calm. To me, therapy is not about “fixing” but empowering—offering tools, insight, and support I’ve had the honor of walking alongside clients of all backgrounds as they reclaim confidence, build coping skills, and find language for what once felt unspeakable. Healing isn’t linear, but it is possible—and you're not alone in the journey. Together, we’ll make space for growth, resilience, and meaningful change.
Hi, I’m Jocelyn Foust—thanks for stopping by. College is a time of change, discovery, and a lot of pressure—whether it’s figuring out who you are, navigating relationships, dealing with anxiety or depression, or just trying to keep your head above water. If life feels overwhelming or like you’re stuck in a cycle of overthinking, sadness, or self-doubt, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to go through it alone either. As a therapist, I believe that healing happens through connection. My approach is warm, collaborative, and centered around you—your goals, your values, your unique experiences. Together, we’ll create a space where you can feel safe enough to explore what’s really going on beneath the surface, and start to build more clarity, confidence, and direction in your life. I often use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which means we’ll work on getting some distance from those painful thoughts and feelings that tend to pull you off track. We’ll also practice making space for your emotions, while moving toward the life you want—step by step, in ways that feel manageable and real. Therapy with me isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about waking up to your own story with compassion and curiosity. You’re the expert on your life—I’m just here to help you reconnect with your own strength, your inner wisdom, and what matters most to you. If you’re feeling stuck or weighed down right now, that makes sense—and it’s okay to ask for help. Therapy can be the place where things begin to shift. Let’s take the next step together when you’re ready.
Have you ever thought, “Nobody will understand what I’m going through?” Do you struggle with anxiety, depression, self-isolation, or a negative internal voice? Have you had an experience making it difficult to move forward and live a fulfilling life? Are you feeling “stuck?” Though I will never know exactly what it’s like to step into your shoes, I thank you for the opportunity to let me enter your support system. I believe in normalizing mental health and these feelings we experience as humans. Attending to our physical, personal, social, and spiritual wellness is important. Healing is holistic, and though it may not always be easy, it is achievable. You are allowed to feel like this, and you are also allowed and able to live a more free and fulfilling life. I believe therapy is about inspiring self-growth and exploration, beginning with the therapeutic relationship. I want you to feel like you’re in the driver's seat, and I’m a passenger cheering you on, helping you navigate your personal story. I want to help you explore how your habits and self-talk impact how your story is told. I am here to aid you in handling your challenges and stressors and find meaning throughout the journey. I hope to build a safe and non-judgmental space for you to explore, feel unconditionally supported, and grow during and beyond our time in session. I want you to feel comfortable and empowered while you learn how to best support yourself as you experience life's intricate human emotions. Therapy is a brave step, and I’m so glad you’re taking the time to attend to your needs. I’m excited to meet you, work alongside you, and help you meet your goals! I completed my Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). I have had the privilege of working with individuals from diverse backgrounds and people of different races, ages, gender identities, religions, and sexual orientations. I have worked previously in substance abuse and crisis-intensive outpatient settings. I work with clients who may be struggling with anxiety or trauma related to past negative experiences. During our initial sessions, we will delve into your current stressors, and collaborate to create a plan for addressing them in a way that helps you get your life back. I use EMDR to address trauma to help people live in the present instead of the past without having to retraumatize themselves. I practice from a person-centered lens, working collaboratively with you to determine the best interventions for you. I will use EMDR therapy to help specific memories, beliefs, and experiences become "unstuck" so you can live in the now and develop adaptive thoughts. I believe the most important aspects of our work together are the trust and respect we cultivate with each other. I focus on using a strength-based approach and attention to habits, self-talk, attachment styles, and trauma-informed care. I use different theories and techniques depending on what works best for each individual because every person is different and unique. I hope to work alongside you collaboratively to explore how to support you best. It would be an honor to meet you and learn more about how I can fit into your support system. You matter right now and at every stage of your journey. You are worthy of a more joyful future.
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.
Everyone has a story. We want to understand yours. Everyone's life is a unique and powerful story – one that deserves to be heard. At Elevate Counseling, our purpose is not just to listen but to uncover the individual narrative of every person we work with. With this deep understanding, we are able to move clients toward enhanced emotional health and balance in life. At Elevate Counseling, we believe that beauty, comfort, diversity, equity and inclusion are the keys to providing stigma-free mental health services for our clients. These ideals are held in deep regard in order to help ensure an environment that is positive, welcoming, effective, and completely stigma-free so that we can deliver exceptional results for all of our clients.
Relational Psychology Group, Inc. is a psychotherapy practice focused in providing quality mental health care to LGBTQIA* children adolescents, adults, families, and intimate relationships. We believe that by fostering healthy interpersonal skills and relationships with our clients, they will be able to enact change in their personal lives and within their communities.
The first step to seeking help can be intimidating and the most difficult. Therapy can bring clarity and an expanded view of what’s possible. The more we understand ourselves and our experiences, the more control we have over living a life that is congruent with who we are. As your therapist, I will support you in navigating difficult emotions, better understanding yourself and accessing your strengths so you can feel like yourself again. I specialize in treating adults who are experiencing life transitions, anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship issues. I create a non-judgmental space that promotes curiosity and healing. As a registered art therapist, I’m trained in providing art-based and traditional therapy sessions. I want to help you thrive and to not feel defined by the challenges you face but the resilience you possess. If you are looking for relief from challenging symptoms or looking for someone to offer consistent care and support, I encourage you to reach out and schedule a free consultation.
We face struggles in this life and through introspection, humor, and support, we persevere. From the development and focus on our individual resources, we gain the momentum to overcome. It is my belief that supportive relationships tend to be of utmost value to us when we are faced with struggle. Through these relationships, we find direction. It is my desire to support you in finding that very direction. My approach is purposeful, collaborative, and authentic. I will work hard to develop a strong therapeutic alliance with you. I see the client-therapist relationship as the foundation of the change-making journey. I am warm, welcoming, and validating while also direct and goal-focused. I operate from a strength-based approach and am devoted to helping you to explore the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I am committed to helping you to increase self-awareness and to develop resources to better cope. My areas of expertise include working with adolescents and young adults who present with challenges that may include anxiety, depression, and trauma. In addition, I am skilled in helping clients to manage urban stress, navigate life transitions, and enhance their self-worth. We will begin exactly where you are at, and I will be honored to assist you in creating that life that you so desire.
Therapy should be a place to not only get to know yourself but to grow, change, and flourish. If you have been looking to reconnect with yourself in a space free from outside noise and judgement this is the place for you! I specialize in working with LGBTQIA+ individuals, survivors of intimate partner trauma, and those navigating PTSD, anxiety, depression, as well as the unique experiences of being neurodivergent. We will work collaboratively to honor your individual needs and identities, and create a space where you feel safe, valued, and empowered to live authentically.
So often when we are going through a time of transition and change, we can feel consumed by thoughts of worry. We often feel pre-occupied with thoughts about the future, our relationships, our bodies, or how to get through so many changes at once. Not only are we struggling to cope with so many changes, we are losing sleep and feeling disconnected from the things that matter most to us. As a therapist, I strive to help clients get unstuck from all those thoughts and re connect with the parts of their lives that they value the most. I believe that my clients are the experts in their lives; they know what they feel like they are missing out on and what matters most to them. Together we get curious about their lives and what can help them begin to once again move close to what matters most. I am a people and relationship driven person who brings a mix of compassion, curiosity, and a sense of humor to my sessions. I offer a free 15 minute phone consultation to determine if we feel like we would be a good fit to work together. I would love to hear from you and be a support for you!
Lizzie’s therapeutic approach is client-centered and strengths-based, focusing on collaboration and respect for each person's unique journey. She uses CBT techniques to help clients identify and challenge negative thought patterns, develop coping strategies, and achieve their personal goals.Over her years in the field she has worked with a variety of clients with a multitude of diagnoses and issues, ranging from but not limited to addiction, alcoholism, anxiety, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and depression. She also has experience working with individuals on the Autism Spectrum and LGBTQ teens. Lizzie has worked in various settings, including schools, mental health facilities and community based practices and is passionate about advocating for social justice and equity. She believes in the transformative power of support and connection, and strives to create a safe, non-judgmental space for her clients. Whether you are facing personal challenges, family issues, or seeking guidance in your mental health journey, Lizzie is looking to help.
When navigating life, sometimes you don't have the feedback, tools, support or insights that will help you resolve issues or move ahead in your life. Sometimes you simply need a thought partner, accountabilibuddy or confidante. In this journey, you make many attempts to deal with the traumas and hardships you encounter. Sometimes, you need a knowledgable and nonjudgemental partner on that journey. I approach therapy by building a strong bond with clients that assists us in reaching your goals and making meaningful and informative connections between behavior and thoughts, between past and present and between your private and your public self. We will develop coping skills, reframe thoughts, redirect intentions and purposes. Take this opportunity to prioritize your mental health. Begin your highly personalized journey toward resilience, stability and personal advancement. I'd love to be your fellow journeyman and guide.
As a Syrian living in Chicago, I am sensitive to issues of race, ethnicity, cultural background, gender, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, and religion and their influence on mental health. Therapy is one of the rare safe spaces to explore sensitive cultural identity topics. Where you can explore your sense of belonging and recreate your place in this world and how you want to be in it. We cannot change the past but we can change our relationship with the past, which ultimately shifts our present and future.
Hello, My name is Ben De La Torre, and I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in my hometown of Chicago. I’ve been practicing therapy for over 20 years, working with individuals, families, children, teens, and adults across a range of clinical settings—including inpatient hospitals, outpatient behavioral health clinics, and public schools. I earned my Master’s degree from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice in 2005 and currently offer virtual therapy services throughout the state of Illinois. My approach to therapy is humanistic and solution-focused, rooted in mindfulness and personal exploration. I believe in helping clients reshape the narratives of their lives—on their terms and by their design. Therapy with me is a collaborative process where we’ll explore your unique experiences, thoughts, and emotions to identify practical paths toward the changes you seek. I draw from a variety of psychological theories and developmental perspectives to tailor treatment to your needs. In our first session, we’ll discuss what brings you to therapy and begin identifying meaningful, effective strategies for progress. Over time, we’ll explore different perspectives and opportunities to help you move forward with greater clarity and confidence. If you're feeling stuck or simply ready to explore your next chapter, I invite you to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. I’m happy to answer your questions and help you determine if this is the right fit for you. Feel free to call, text, or email to book a consultation. You can also visit my website for more information about my services, registration, insurance plans, and payment options. I accept most major insurance plans, and private-pay sessions can be made by credit card. I look forward to the opportunity to connect with you. Warm regards, Benjamin “Ben” De La Torre, LCSW