Taylor Gardner, MHP, Clinical Intern
Kids (3-10), Adolescents, College, Young Adults, Adults, Families
Anxiety, Depression, Sport Performance, Sports Anxiety, Performance Anxiety, Self-Esteem, Friendship and Relationship Stress, LGBTIA+, Stressful Life Transitions, Women’s Issues, Quarter-Life Crisis
Hello! My name is Taylor Gardner, and I am a graduate student at Adler University earning my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Before moving to Chicago, I grew up in the South and have lived in Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina! I earned my bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in sociology from Presbyterian College, where I was also a member of the women’s golf team.
Sports have always been a huge passion of mine, and I love working with athletes of all levels. I’m currently interning at Evanston Township High School, where I provide mental skills training to student-athletes. My own athletic experience has shaped my understanding of mental health and the mental side of sport—it’s what inspired me to pursue a career in this field. I want to support athletes in ways I didn’t have access to when I was competing.
In addition to working with athletes, I support adolescents and young adults navigating anxiety, self-doubt, friendship and relationship stress, and challenges within peer dynamics and friend groups.
I am particularly interested in helping clients build self-confidence, improve communication, and develop healthier patterns in their relationships. My approach is strengths-based and collaborative, helping clients better understand themselves while building practical tools for managing stress and navigating social and interpersonal challenges.
I believe a strong therapeutic relationship is the foundation of growth. I strive to create a space that feels warm, steady, and nonjudgmental, where clients feel genuinely seen and understood. I view therapy as a collaborative process rooted in trust, authenticity, and mutual respect. When clients feel safe enough to explore their thoughts and emotions openly, change becomes possible
Although I’m passionate about working with athletes, I also love the broader clinical side of counseling. Therapy has helped me feel supported through life’s many challenges, including grief and major transitions such as the “quarter life crisis.” I want to offer that same support to others.
When working with me, you can expect a nonjudgmental, honest, and supportive space where you’re encouraged to be your full self. I believe that a strong client-counselor relationship built on openness and honesty is key to growth and healing.