Therapists for college students near San Diego State University

Currently accepting new clients! Do you sometimes feel unheard or want to better navigate your relationships? Are you struggling with stress, self-doubt, or the constant pressure to meet expectations? Maybe you’re adjusting to college life and trying to find balance. If you’re looking for a safe, supportive space, therapy can be incredibly helpful. Whether you’re hesitant or ready to dive in, you’ve already taken an important step by seeking support. My goals are to validate your experiences, offer a safe and judgment-free space, and help you work through whatever you bring into therapy. I support college students from all walks of life with a compassionate and person-centered approach. Many of my clients are navigating relationships, anxiety, depression, OCD, self-doubt, and major life transitions. Together, we’ll identify your goals, explore your feelings, and develop some helpful coping skills.

Avoid traffic & travel time with Video/Phone Telehealth sessions (I do not offer in person counseling). Do you enjoy learning about yourself, seeking joy, purpose and growth all while keeping a sense of humor about life and yourself even when facing challenges? Are you dealing with stress, anxiety, major life changes or adjustments (career, moving, marriage, separation, break-up or divorce), trauma or grief and loss? These have been my areas of specialty for 20+years. I also love working with those in the entertainment industry or in the helping professions (healthcare, mental health, caregivers, spiritual / coaches). Sound like you? I may be a fit! Time does not heal all wounds. But, what you do with your time can make a HUGE difference. Using grief, loss, CBT, and stress management techniques, together we can work on everything from individual support for children, teens or adults to couples or family counseling. I like seeing the results in my clients feeling happier, healthier and satisfied. Whether it's your first time in therapy or you have had experience in the past and life circumstances have led you back to searching for someone new, I hope I can help. I know from personal experience that weeding through all the therapists is a daunting task, and finding the best fit for you is essential. Note: I don't take insurance and provide paperwork for you to submit to any PPO for Out of Network Benefit reimbursement.

Empower Youth Therapy provides individualized therapy for college students navigating academic pressure, anxiety, relationship stress, identity development, transitions, and trauma. Our approach is warm, validating, and practical — focused on helping students understand themselves more deeply while building real-life coping skills they can use in classes, friendships, and daily routines. We serve students from San Joaquin Delta College, CSU Stanislaus, CSU East Bay, Sac State, and surrounding Central Valley / Bay Area campuses. We offer a non-judgmental space to talk honestly, process what’s overwhelming, and explore who you’re becoming — especially during transitions like moving away from home, choosing a major, or preparing for your next step after graduation. We also support executive functioning, stress management, and strengthening healthy habits. We offer individual therapy for college-age students. We accept insurance and private pay. Free 15-minute consultations are available.

When people come to treatment with problems, it is important to remember that they are trying to cope with them in the best way they can. With that in mind, I offer a reflective and engaging partnership with my clients, working toward the goal of helping them to be autonomous, authentic and compassionate in a world that can be extremely stressful. Although my work is solidly grounded in psychodynamic, cognitive/learning, and systems theories, my approach is client-centered, practical and strengths-based. I bring honesty, warmth, and humor to the therapy relationship. I am LGBTQ affirmative and invested in doing cross-cultural therapy which is culturally sensitive. I have a dog, Bracket, who works with me, and I have been doing AAT since 2002. There is a growing body of research which suggests that AAT (Animal-Assisted Therapy) can be helpful with a range of diagnoses, including Depression, PTSD, and Autistic Spectrum. Many therapists know little about online games such as World of Warcraft and Second Life. They may dismiss it as unimportant, or assume it is a problem. I am a gamer-affirmative therapist, meaning I’m more interested in understanding your in-world experience and activity than pathologizing it.

I love working with college students navigating this important chapter in their lives. I understand a lot of the challenges many students encounter during this time in their lives and have a variety of ways to offer support. Some of the ways I can offer support are by helping students understand the underlying issues fueling the challenges they are facing as well as learning coping tools and finding access to resources or practices that can benefit them and help them move through the places they feel stuck to obtain their bigger goals. I offer a variety of techniques and ways of working with students, including but not limited to, tools based, interventions, dream work and hypnotherapy which can be especially helpful in resolving ineffective habits that get in the way day-to-day.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience providing psychotherapy to adults in the Bay Area, both in non-profit agencies, schools and in my private practice. My therapeutic style is authentic, warm, supportive and interactive and my focus is to collaborate with my clients to create realistic goals, personal growth, and meaningful change. I am unique in that I balance listening and reflecting with offering concrete ideas and interventions, and am honest and straightforward when I sense resistance or ambivalence that might be keeping the client from moving forward. I am passionate about helping adults struggling with depression and anxiety as the symptoms can be extremely challenging to overcome and they can create significant emotional pain, isolation and affect quality of life. I also specialize in working with young adults, relationship issues, substance abuse, grief and life/career transitions. I feel that therapy is successful when my clients' goals have been reached, effective new coping strategies and communication styles have been developed and they are feeling more fulfilled in their career and personal life. Part of this journey often includes increasing self-care, creating a better work/life balance and focusing on how to experience more joy, gratitude and self-compassion despite life's many challenges. My therapeutic approach is to use an integrative model utilizing Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT), psychodynamic therapy and mindfulness aimed at specific symptoms, patterns of behavior and unhelpful core beliefs. Feedback from the client is encouraged and welcomed during the therapeutic process, as I believe it creates a more collaborative and productive experience.

https://care.headway.co/providers/alejandra-arias?utm_source=pem&utm_medium=direct_link&utm_campaign=195190

Dr. Aundrea helps people navigate life changes and relationship challenges so they can thrive.

Hi, my name is Aja (“Asia”). I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Oregon, Texas, and California, providing confidential telehealth therapy grounded in cultural responsiveness and trauma-informed care. As an African American woman raised in the Deep South, I bring a lived understanding of resilience, identity, and intersectional stressors. My work is informed by both personal experience and more than 17 years of clinical practice supporting diverse individuals through life transitions, relationships, and emotional healing. Supporting College Students Through Transition & Growth: College can be exciting—and overwhelming. I specialize in helping college students who are navigating: -Adjustment to campus life -Social connection and engagement -Communicating effectively -Building and maintaining relationships -Balancing academic, personal, and family pressures -Managing stress, anxiety, and self-doubt I provide a warm, evidence-based approach that helps students strengthen resilience, build confidence, and feel more grounded during a time of major change. If you’d like to explore whether we’re a good fit, please visit my website at www.jubcounseling.com to request an appointment. You can also schedule a free 15-minute consultation to ask questions and learn more. I look forward to connecting with you. Warmly, Aja

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

We are a group of Psychotherapists who provide treatment for an extensive range of mental and emotional disorders using psychological techniques aimed to improve a person’s overall psyche. We work with adults of all ages, adolescents and children as young as four. All of our Psychotherapists are Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists with extensive training in counseling psychology.

My experience working directly with students in school settings has been the most meaningful and rewarding part of my professional journey. I found that I connect naturally with students and genuinely enjoy supporting their emotional, social, and academic growth. Because of my passion for this work, I consistently sought out additional opportunities to work with students and often exceeded the minimum requirements in order to gain more experience supporting them. In my work with students, I focus on providing simple, practical, and easy-to-apply tools that help them successfully reach the goals we set together in session. I strive to create a supportive and encouraging environment where students feel heard, understood, and empowered. I make it a priority to ensure they know they have someone in their corner at all times, and I approach my role as both a strong supporter and advocate for their well-being and success.

As an individual who has some life experiences behind her, I understand the value of mental health services, and the importance of finding the right fit. I have a strong background in the field of social work, and appreciate the process of collaboration, being present and accompanying an individual in their journey of well-being. I strive to fully engage with you, not just to hear and to listen, but to be curious and inquisitive, to ask questions and to foster open communication. At the first session, I hope to convey to you that this is a safe and supportive spot to be heard, to speak up, and as we continue to meet, trust will be established. Building trust takes time as we get to know each other and establish rapport. I hope to meet you where you are at, to understand what will make you comfortable as we learn how to communicate. I never rush or apply pressure for you to act a certain way or provide information that you may not feel comfortable sharing. I welcome your questions and to please speak up.

Hi I'm Ariel, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I work with young adults struggling with relationship issues, perfectionism, body image, and trauma. I have a background in EMDR in order to support the processing of past trauma and aide in your recovery from past events. Take a look at my website and reach out to schedule a free 15 minute consult! Looking forward to hearing from you!

A major inspiration for me was my five years as a Director of Programs for a Los Angeles nonprofit, where I supported youth and young adults transitioning out of foster care, as well as those recovering from trafficking situations. Through that work, I saw how powerful it is when people feel truly seen, heard, and supported. I was especially drawn to helping young people and families navigate complex emotions and relationships. That experience led me to become a therapist so I could continue supporting children, families, and couples in building stronger connections, healing, and growth. My approach is very client-centered, which means I focus on creating a space where you feel safe, respected, and able to be yourself. I listen closely, reflect back what I’m hearing, and check in often to make sure I’m understanding your experience accurately. Whether I’m working with a child, a couple, or a family, I make sure each person feels included, valued, and supported. I also integrate creativity and flexibility into sessions, because not everyone expresses themselves best through words alone. Working together is collaborative—you are the expert on your life. My role is to support and guide you. With couples and families, that often means helping improve communication, strengthen relationships, and create a deeper understanding of one another. With children, I may incorporate play, art, or creative activities to help them express themselves in ways that feel natural and comfortable. Trust is built over time through consistency, openness, and respect. I show up authentically, follow through, and create a nonjudgmental space where you can share at your own pace. I also invite feedback so we can adjust our work together in a way that feels most helpful to you. I love incorporating creativity into my own life—I’m always exploring new art activities or creative projects. I often bring that energy into sessions, especially with kids and families, because it can make the process feel more engaging and even a little fun at times.

When clients ask what inspired me to become a therapist, I share that I’m passionate about creating a safe, supportive space for children, couples, and families to feel seen and understood. As a first-generation Mexican-American, I’ve experienced how culture, family dynamics, and life experiences shape who we are, which led me to this work—helping individuals and families better understand themselves and each other. To help you feel heard, I focus on building a warm, nonjudgmental, and collaborative environment. Whether I’m working with a child, a couple, or a family, I approach each person with curiosity and cultural humility, making sure everyone’s voice is valued and understood. Working together is a partnership. I use a systems perspective, so we’ll explore how relationships, communication patterns, and family dynamics impact your experiences. With children, this may look like play-based or developmentally appropriate support; with couples and families, we’ll work on communication, boundaries, and strengthening connection. I build trust by being consistent, transparent, and genuinely engaged so you feel supported as we navigate challenges together. My ultimate goal is to understand you as an individual and provide a space where you can become your authentic self. I have had success working within the LQBTQ+ POC community as well as with children of immigrants. I enjoy joining my clients on their path to self-acceptance and self-empowerment.

Hola, Hello, thank you for reaching out and taking the time to see what NHFCC is all about. We are a group practice located in Downey, Santa Ana, and virtually in all of CALIFORNIA. We understand that therapy or coaching is a unique experience. We are here to support you in your journey.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I am very easygoing and like to provide a relaxed, judgment-free space for my clients to talk about the issues (and successes) currently in their lives. I am certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I have experience working with clients experiencing Trauma, Bi-Polar, Depression, Anxiety, and persistent mental illness and psychosis. My journey to mental healthcare Like many therapists who chose this path, I have some lived experience with family members who suffer from anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. I enjoy helping people find the light at the end of the tunnel and see themselves making improvements in their lives. Treatment can be brief (4-12 sessions) with a high focus on identifying the barriers preventing a better quality of life, and problem solving or learning new skills. Other times, treatment can be longer (several months) and more in-depth. It takes time to process how we got to this very spot, and reviewing our trauma and stressors. I enjoy using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help my clients learn to re-train their thought processes, so that they may find ways to independently identify and intervene in the negative, distorted thoughts that can sometimes rule their lives. My communication style I will always try my hardest to make my clients understand that I will never judge them. I am incredibly empathetic, humorous at time, but when necessary, I have to call out cycles of behavior that continue to hurt my clients. I try to approach all issues from an understanding perspective. My goals for you I enjoy collaborating with my clients on their goals. It's important that my clients buy into their goals, and typically that requires some partnership in the process. Our first session During our first session, I like to gather information on your past and then begin talking about what brings you to therapy. I like to know, if you've tried therapy before, what worked and what didn't? We will discuss diagnosis, goals and objectives, and the expected length of service anticipated to meet those goals.

Anxious, Overwhelmed, and Wondering: “What’s Happening to Me?” The truth is, this isn't laziness. It’s not a character flaw. And no — you're not broken. For many people with ADHD and anxiety, this cycle of procrastination, panic, and self-criticism becomes so normal, you don’t realize how deeply it’s running your life. You’re doing your best to hold it all together on the outside… but inside, it’s chaos. If you're a young, career-driven person who’s always been the “high achiever” or “the one who figures it out,” this moment of burnout can feel like hitting a wall — and not knowing how to get around it. Therapy That Helps You Live Without the Constant Inner Critic You don’t need more worksheets. Or another morning routine from Instagram. You need real connection — and some space to breathe. In our work together, therapy won’t feel like another task to complete or a performance to nail. It’ll feel like a break. A breath of fresh air. A place where sarcasm, humor, and being 100% yourself are not just allowed — they’re welcome. I help people like you: smart, creative, driven individuals who are so tired of anxiety and ADHD running the show. Together, we’ll start untangling the thoughts that keep you in panic mode and help you reconnect to yourself — the self that isn’t always in survival mode.