At Oakton, we know that academic success is closely connected to your mental and emotional well-being.
Our Counseling Team serves a diverse community of students that includes first-generation, veterans, working parents and others with unique needs. We offer free, confidential support tailored to your needs. Our services are designed to help you build resilience, stay focused and reach your goals. We also provide referrals when concerns require long-term or specialized care.
You may be balancing school, work and family commitments. You might be returning to college after time away or struggling with the demands of a new environment. Whatever challenges you're facing, our counselors are here to support you.
What We Offer We offer single-session support, short-term counseling, and crisis services. Services are available in person at our Des Plaines and Skokie campuses or virtually.
Ready to get started? Complete the online request form to meet with a counselor. If you have questions or need help completing the form, call us at 847-635-1885 or email wellness@oakton.edu.
A mental health crisis can include but is not limited to:
You are feeling unsafe You are hearing or seeing things that are not really there You have recently experienced violence (e.g., sexual assault, physical abuse, hate crime) You are thinking about hurting others You are considering suicide or self-harm You feel overwhelmed, panicked or unable to cope You are worried about your safety or the safety of someone else
Get Help Now
If you are in immediate distress or need urgent support, help is available now:
Immediate Danger Call 911
24/7 Support Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). Connects you with a trained crisis counselor 24/7. Chat is also available at 988lifeline. Text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line)
Same-Day Support Oakton's Counselor on Call is available during business hours Monday through Friday. Contact 847.635.1885.
Ways to Get Support
Counseling is free and available to currently enrolled Oakton students. Meet in person or virtually with one of our counselors.
Single-session counseling: A confidential, one-time appointment to talk through a specific concern or get immediate support and guidance.
Short-term counseling: Ongoing sessions with a counselor to address personal, academic or emotional challenges.
Crisis support: Same-day assistance for urgent mental health concerns during business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Group counseling: Supportive group sessions focused on shared experiences and skill-building.
Ready to get started? Request an appointment with one of Oakton's counselors. If you have questions or need help completing the form, call us at 847-635-1885.
You don’t have to figure things out alone. Oakton's Peer Support Leaders are trained student peers who provide a welcoming, judgment-free space to talk through challenges and share practical strategies for managing stress, staying motivated, and navigating college life.
What to Expect You’ll have a confidential, supportive conversation with a trained Peer Support Leader who will listen and help you think through your concerns. Sessions are flexible and student-centered. You can meet in person or virtually based on your needs and schedule.
A mental health screening is a quick way to check in with yourself and better understand how you’ve been feeling. These tools are free, confidential and designed to provide a general snapshot of your mental health.
Online mental health screenings can help you:
Identify patterns in how you’re feeling, so you can better understand what may be going on
Recognize potential areas of concern, such as anxiety, depression or stress
Decide on next steps, including whether to seek support from a counselor or healthcare provider
In addition to counseling services, the Wellness Center supports students’ mental, physical and emotional well-being through campus-wide programs and workshops. These include health screenings, educational events, and interactive activities designed to promote overall wellness.
Upon request, staff can also provide customized programming for campus groups on topics, such as stress management, coping skills, mindfulness, body image, healthy relationships and sexual health. Please call 847.635.1885 or email us at wellness@oakton.edu to learn more.
Meet our Counseling Team
Whether you're navigating life transitions, managing stress or working through trauma, our counseling team brings a range of experience to support you. Our counselors have expertise in areas including LGBTQIA+ mental health, culturally responsive counseling, relationships and personal growth.
Clinical Interests trauma, nervous system regulation, relational psychotherapy, wellness programming
Katia Muñoz (she/hers), MSW, LSW
Locations Des Plaines and Skokie
Clinical Interests LGBTQIA+ mental health, culturally responsive counseling, trauma, relationships, identify and personal growth, and biingual in English and Spanish
Herma Prieto (she/hers), Counseling Service Assistant
Location Des Plaines
Johnique Smith (she/hers), M.A., NCC
Locations Des Plaines and Skokie Clinical Interests Anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, stress management, relationship and family issues and culturally responsive counseling
Amy Wu (she/hers), MS, LMFT
Locations Des Plaines Clinical Interests culturally responsive counseling, immigration and acculturation, racial trauma, relationship and family issues
Make an Appointment
Our Counseling team is ready to help you. Complete the form so that we can match you with the right counselor based on your availability.
