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Community & wellness
Wellbeing isn’t just about what happens in a therapy room. Connection, creative expression, movement, purpose, and belonging are all part of it — and when those needs go unmet, it can look and feel like a mental health problem.
This directory is for anyone: someone who can’t yet afford therapy, someone supplementing their current care, or a clinician looking for resources to share with a client. Everything here is free or low-cost.
What are you looking for?
Forest Preserves of Cook County
Free70,000 acres of restored natural lands across Chicagoland — hiking trails, birdwatching, paddling, and nature programming at 50+ sites. Free to enter. Trail maps and program calendars on the website.
Garfield Park Conservatory
FreeOne of the largest conservatories in North America — free admission, year-round. Walking among tropical and temperate plants has documented cortisol-lowering effects. Located on the West Side with CTA access.
Chicago Botanic Garden
Free entry, $35 parking385 acres of cultivated gardens and natural areas in Glencoe (30 min from downtown). Free to enter — parking is charged. Seasonal programming includes walking tours, horticulture therapy programs, and self-guided trails.
Free with Metra or carpool
Lincoln Park Zoo
FreeFree admission, always. 35 acres in Lincoln Park with mammals, birds, reptiles, and naturalistic habitats. Easy CTA access. Especially good for clients who want low-stakes outdoor time without a destination in mind.
North Park Village Nature Center
FreeA 46-acre nature preserve on the North Side — free programs including bird walks, nature journaling, and seasonal hikes. Rare urban woodland habitat. CTA and drive-in accessible. Managed by the Chicago Park District.
Chicago Park District Outdoor Programs
Low-costKayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, open-water swimming, nature walks, and fitness programs across Chicago parks. Programs vary by season and location. Registration often required; fees are low.
Openlands — Public Lands & Events
Free to low-costConservation organization with public nature walks, birdwatching events, and volunteer restoration programs across the Chicago region. Events are free or low-cost and open to all experience levels.
Insight Timer
FreeThe largest free meditation library available — 150,000+ guided meditations, sleep music, and talks from teachers worldwide. Completely free tier with no paywalled core features. Works offline. No account required to start.
Woebot
FreeCBT-based conversational chatbot — daily mood check-ins and structured CBT exercises delivered through text conversation. Built with Stanford researchers; published peer-reviewed evidence for reducing depression and anxiety symptoms. Not a substitute for therapy.
MindShift CBT
FreeFree app developed by Anxiety Canada — specifically designed for anxiety management using CBT and ACT tools. Thought journals, relaxation exercises, coping cards, and check-ins. Clean and accessible interface.
Sanvello (formerly Pacifica)
Free tierMood tracking, CBT tools, mindfulness exercises, and a peer support community. Free tier includes mood tracking and basic tools. Premium adds guided journeys and therapist-assisted tracks. Evidence base for anxiety and depression.
Daylio
FreeMicro-mood journal — no writing required. Select a mood icon and tap activities to log each day in under 30 seconds. Over time, it surfaces patterns between mood and activities. Free core features; clean design.
Finch — Self-Care Pet
FreeSelf-care app built around a virtual bird that grows as you complete daily wellbeing goals. Gentle gamification for building small habits — hydration, sleep, movement, mood check-ins. Free. Unusually low resistance from clients who've rejected other apps.
What's Up? — CBT & ACT Tools
FreeFree app with CBT and ACT-based tools — thought diaries, breathing exercises, grounding techniques, and a 'positive chat' mode. Developed with clinician input. Simple interface. Completely free with no premium tier.
PTSD Coach
FreeDeveloped by the VA National Center for PTSD — free app with psychoeducation, self-assessment, coping tools, and crisis links. Designed for people managing PTSD symptoms. Not just for veterans.
CBT-i Coach
FreeVA-developed app for improving sleep using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-i) — the first-line recommended treatment for chronic insomnia. Sleep diary, structured program, and education. Free.
Bearable — Health & Mood Tracker
Free coreComprehensive health and mood tracking — logs mood, symptoms, medications, sleep, energy, weather, and custom factors. Surfaces correlations over time. Useful for clients with complex presentations or chronic health conditions alongside mental health concerns.
Calm
PaidMeditation, sleep stories, breathing exercises, and soundscapes. Well-designed and evidence-adjacent — not deeply research-backed itself but uses established meditation frameworks. Strong sleep content.
Headspace
PaidStructured meditation programs with a course format — beginner basics through advanced topics (sleep, stress, focus, relationships). More structured than Calm. Published research on efficacy for stress and anxiety.
Looking for peer support groups?
NAMI, DBSA, recovery groups, grief support, and more are on the Support & Services page.
Peer & community support →These resources are educational and informational. Nothing here is a clinical referral or medical recommendation. Verify details with each organization before referring clients. If you are in crisis, visit the crisis resources page.