Therapists for college students near 94117

College can be overwhelming. Stress, identity questions, relationship issues, and big life decisions often collide all at once. I work with college students who want support that feels real, thoughtful, and tailored to who they are. My approach is collaborative. We focus on practical tools, honest conversations, and building insight so you can feel more steady, confident, and clear about your next steps. I offer a free, no-pressure phone consultation to help you decide if working together feels like a good fit.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who provides support for individuals and families. Throughout my career, I have supported individuals experiencing a wide range of emotional challenges. I specialize in working with anxiety, depression, identity, relationship issues, self-esteem issues, stress management, trauma, and life transitions. I am passionate about creating a collaborative relationship to support and empower people to achieve their goals and strengthen their innate resilience. I understand the importance of creating a space where you feel safe and heard. My style is interactive, experiential, and adaptable; guided by the following post graduate trainings/certifications: ACT, EMDR, and motivational interviewing. I work collaboratively with you and support you in finding a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you. You’ll be met with warmth and curiosity. I intend to get to know you - your story, your hopes, your needs, and your goals. It takes courage to seek therapy, and I look forward to supporting you.

My interest in mental health began from a desire to understand how our experiences shape who we are. This curiosity grew into a passion for helping others explore these influences, gain deeper insight, and create healthier ways of relating to themselves and the people around them. The more we understand ourselves, the more we can understand others. Whether you’re coming to therapy during a difficult time or seeking support for accountability and personal growth, what matters most is simply showing up for yourself. That act of showing up can be one of the hardest things we do. Yet it is also essential, not only for your own well-being, but for your ability to show up more fully for the people and things you care about. I view therapy as an act of kindness toward yourself, an intentional pause to check in, look inward, and take meaningful steps toward becoming your best self. Over time, this process can create a ripple effect of growth, both within yourself and across all areas of your life.

Experiencing genuine empathy in my own life deeply shaped the therapist I am today. I know firsthand how powerful it is to feel truly seen, heard, and understood. That experience inspires me to offer the same compassionate space to every person I work with. In our work together, you will be met with warmth, curiosity, and respect—never judgment. I believe healing begins in a safe relationship where you can explore your thoughts, emotions, and patterns at your own pace. Therapy is not about “fixing” you; it is about supporting you in reconnecting with your authentic self. Life’s transitions, grief, stress, and uncertainty can feel overwhelming, yet they can also open the door to growth. Together, we will gently explore the coping strategies and protective patterns that have helped you survive, while discovering new ways to move forward with greater clarity, resilience, and self-compassion. My hope is to create a welcoming space where you can breathe deeply, feel supported, and step into meaningful change with confidence.

What inspired me to become a therapist comes from both my professional journey and my personal understanding of how complex life can be. Over the years, I have worked in multiple healthcare and community-based settings, and across each of those environments, one thing became very clear: people are not just one problem or one diagnosis. Our experiences are shaped by a combination of emotional, relational, environmental, and even systemic factors. When those pieces are not addressed together, healing can feel incomplete or out of reach. I was drawn to therapy because it allows me to work in a way that honors the full picture of a person’s life. I believe deeply in a “whole systems” approach—where we explore not only what is happening, but why it is happening, how it connects to other areas of life, and what meaningful change can look like for you specifically. My goal is not just to help resolve a single concern, but to support a process where growth in one area begins to positively influence others. In addition, my own life experiences—including moments of navigating professional and personal challenges—have given me a strong sense of empathy and respect for the courage it takes to seek support. Therapy, to me, is a space where people can safely explore, rebuild, and move forward in a way that feels authentic and sustainable. Helping you feel genuinely heard is one of the most important parts of our work together. I approach this by creating a space that is intentional, unhurried, and centered around you. That means giving you the time to express yourself fully, without interruption, and without feeling like you need to filter or edit your thoughts. I use active listening throughout our sessions—not just hearing your words, but paying attention to underlying emotions, patterns, and meanings. I will often reflect back what I’m hearing and check in with you to make sure I’m understanding you accurately. This kind of back-and-forth dialogue helps ensure that your experience is not only acknowledged, but deeply understood. Research consistently shows that when clients feel heard, respected, and involved as active participants, they experience stronger engagement and better outcomes in care. Equally important, I strive to create a non-judgmental and inclusive environment where all parts of your identity and experience are welcome. Whether you are sharing something difficult, uncertain, or even hard to put into words, my role is to meet you with openness and respect. You are not just being listened to—you are being understood, validated, and taken seriously. Working together is a collaborative and evolving process. In the beginning, we spend time understanding what brings you in, what feels most important to you, and what you would like to change or explore. From there, we develop shared goals and a plan that reflects your needs, preferences, and pace. This might include structured approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, along with other evidence-based methods that align with your situation. As therapy progresses, sessions often involve exploring patterns, building insight, developing coping strategies, and practicing new ways of responding to challenges. There is also space for reflection, processing emotions, and making meaning of your experiences. Importantly, you are actively involved in shaping the direction of our work—we regularly revisit goals and adjust as needed. Building trust and a strong therapeutic alliance is something I approach with intention from the very first session. This includes being consistent, transparent, and respectful, as well as clearly outlining what you can expect from therapy. I also invite your feedback openly, so we can address any concerns and ensure that the process feels supportive and aligned for you. A strong therapeutic alliance—built on trust, collaboration, and mutual understanding—is one of the most important factors in successful therapy outcomes. This alliance is not something assumed; it is something we actively build together through open communication, shared goals, and a sense of partnership. My role is to create a space where you feel safe enough to be honest, supported enough to take risks, and empowered enough to make meaningful changes. I believe that therapy works best when the space feels human and relatable, so I will share small, lighthearted parts of who I am to help build connection. For example, I enjoy songwriting, spending time with my pets, gardening, and participating in community activities. These interests are meaningful to me because they bring balance, creativity, and connection into my own life. Sharing them can sometimes help create an easy point of connection and remind clients that while therapy is a professional space, it is also a genuine human relationship. Thoughtful and appropriate personal sharing can help strengthen rapport and trust, making it easier for clients to feel comfortable and engaged in the process. Ultimately, my goal is to create an environment where you feel both supported and at ease—where meaningful work can happen, but where you can also feel comfortable being yourself.

At Full Vida Therapy, we work with college students who feel overwhelmed, anxious, stuck, or unsure of who they are or where they’re headed. Whether you're struggling with academic pressure, relationship stress, anxiety, trauma, or life transitions, we’re here to support you. Many of our clients are navigating big changes—new independence, identity shifts, burnout, or the feeling that they’re “supposed to have it all figured out.” Therapy with us is a place to slow down, make sense of what you’re feeling, and build real tools for coping, communication, and confidence. We offer online therapy across California, making it easy to get support from wherever you are—no commute, no judgment, just a supportive space to be yourself and grow.

I’m inspired by the desire to support every person I work with in feeling heard, seen, and validated in ways that are indispensable to exploring our individual growth and healing. While we cannot change any experiences or limitations in our history, I don’t believe it is ever too late to challenge erroneous or self-limiting beliefs that hinder us from evolving onto our best selves. I reassure that I trust my clients as the expert in their own personal experience. I seek to understand what familial, cultural, political, etc. circumstances influence their everyday experience. The alliance is built through curiosity and learning what an individual client values, what is most meaningful to them, and what they believe in. Additionally, trust is built through consistency and reliability from all parties. Trust should not be demanded or expected, but rather earned through time and a deeper understanding of what the client needs from the therapeutic relationship to feel safe.

I am Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 8 years of experience providing psychotherapy to individuals and families. I received my Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology with an emphasis in Counseling and Social Change from San Diego State University and my Master’s of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of La Verne. I have extensive experience working with clients across the lifespan, with a primary focus on supporting individuals navigating Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD, often in conjunction with co-occurring mood disorders. My background is rooted in behavioral work, including providing social skills training and addressing social anxiety among children on the spectrum. Additionally, I have experience working with victims of crime of all ages, supporting them in processing and healing from trauma.

I work with young adults navigating anxiety, low self-esteem, stress, relationship issues, boundary issues, emotional overwhelm, and life transitions. I also specialize in postpartum/perinatal issues and supporting survivors of narcissistic abuse. My goal is to help you reconnect with your authentic self, strengthen your mind-body connection, and create a life aligned with your values. I believe you are the expert of your life, and therapy is a space to grow and deepen your self-exploration. My style is warm, compassionate, and collaborative. I act as a supportive guide using somatic therapy, mindfulness, ACT (values-based therapy), and family systems work. I don’t give quick advice—instead, we slow down and listen to your inner wisdom, building skills to support clarity, calm, and emotional resilience.

I love to help clients better understand their life experiences, wants, needs, and values. I work with people experiencing anxiety, sadness, grief, and sometimes just generally feeling lost. I have worked across differences in race, gender, sexual orientation, age and religion, and I deeply respect and appreciate the diversity of life experiences my clients come in with.

As someone who has experienced mental health both in myself and my loved ones, I feel inspired to provide care that is comforting, compassionate, and free of judgment. I am driven by being a support to those who need it, helping you improve, and guiding you towards fulfillment and your goals. I ensure you feel heard and respected by creating a comfortable environment where, together, we can explore the uncomfortable. I value establishing trust with you and I allow each client to set their own pace while I compassionately move you forward. I practice a talk therapy approach with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, and Acceptance Commitment Therapy influences. I am proud of my ability to establish trust and a strong therapeutic alliance with my clients. I do this by using humor and empowerment while also utilizing a direct approach. I recognize how difficult vulnerability can be so I do my best to create an environment that feels safe and enjoyable. I enter each session without judgment as I want to honor you and your experiences. I prioritize you feeling comfortable while sharing your innermost thoughts so, together, we can put the pieces back together and fortify your mental space.

College was supposed to be fun, exciting, adventurous! All you seem to feel though is dread, lost, on edge and alone searching for your place in the world. College is the perfect time to work towards who you want to be for the rest of your life and I am here to help!

I always felt that I was called to help others. Growing up in South Los Angeles, I developed a sense of culture and community amongst Black and Brown people as well as a respect for the struggle. I grew up around artists, musicians, poets, leaders, givers, and eccentrics from all walks of life. During this time, I discovered how much I enjoyed listening to people, problem-solving, and motivating others to succeed and explore their authentic selves. I started off as a mentor in undergrad, inspiring other young people of color to attend college and think outside of the box in regards to their futures. I continued working with children, teens, and adults with special needs until I landed a position as an intern at a non-profit mental health agency in South Los Angeles. After I obtained my license as a marriage and family therapist, I continued to grow as a clinician, supervisor, and manager at the nonprofit while also taking on teen and adult clients in the private practice setting. My intake process is a free-flowing conversation where I provide a warm environment for you to feel comfortable opening up about yourself and what brings you to therapy. I used a standard intake questionnaire that can be filled out online and reviewed during the first session in order to assist with goal-setting and creating our therapy journey together. Progress is something that we agree upon collaboratively. I do give assignments as appropriate and depending on the goals we have established together. These assignments are not designed to feel like work but rather stepping stones to help you along on your quest for inner healing and positive change. I enjoy working with clients who want to grow and learn about themselves while tackling life's challenges.

Wellness Therapy of San Diego is committed to providing high-quality, evidence-based psychological services to promote individual growth and relief from distress by providing wrap-around services meeting our clients’ various needs. The clinicians at Wellness Therapy of San Diego specialize in the treatment individuals across the lifespan using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and associated treatments. In addition to psychotherapy, the practice offers expert services in medication management and psychological assessments.

My therapy specialties are Anxiety, Addiction, family members of those with Addiction, Substance abuse Recovery and Trauma. I use a specific Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) material from a Rand Corporation Study on mood disorders to treat anxiety and related issues. I utilize an evidence-based therapy called Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) to treat trauma or related issues. I worked in high quality treatment centers for 14 years as a therapist so I know a lot about addiction related issues. I am also a certified Life Coach.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I am passionate about supporting clients to heal and thrive in their lives – reaching their goals and a sense of self that brings wellness and fulfillment. I have 15 years of professional experience working in social programs and services – including a diverse range of clients, including veterans, LGBTQI+, seniors, high-achieving professionals, students and young adults. I work with people experiencing PTSD, anxiety, depression, substance use/harm reduction, anger management, severe mental illness, workplace challenges and career goals. I am interested in working with individuals of all ethnicities, faiths, cultural/belief systems, genders, and sexual orientations. I earned my Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and my Masters Degree from the University of Southern California (USC). I work with clients as experts in their own lives. I focus on collaborating with clients to identify their intrinsic strengths to build resilience and achieve the life they want for themselves. I believe that developing awareness and understanding of one’s thoughts, feelings, and actions develops personal insights and motivation to support optimal mental health. I utilize evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches, combining motivational interviewing, narrative therapy, mindfulness, art therapy, coaching and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to build tools for healthy functioning and overall wellness.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

College can be exciting, but it can also be stressful, lonely, or overwhelming. If you're dealing with anxiety, relationship struggles, family issues, or just feeling stuck, you're not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself. I’m a therapist who helps people work through tough emotions, build stronger relationships, and feel more like themselves again. Whether you’re new to therapy or have tried it before, we’ll work together in a way that feels safe, honest, and helpful. You don’t need to have it all figured out to get started. Let’s talk.