Therapists for college students near San Francisco State University

College can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming at times. Many students struggle with stress, depression, anxiety, or relationship challenges while trying to balance school, work, and personal life. You don’t have to figure everything out on your own. I offer a supportive and non-judgmental space where you can talk openly about what’s going on and feel heard. Together, we can work on practical strategies to help you manage stress, improve relationships, and feel more confident navigating this stage of your life. Reaching out for support can be a powerful first step toward feeling better.

Being a student is demanding. Add athletics, performances, or other high-pressure activities, and it can feel like you're constantly balancing expectations from every direction. You may be managing anxiety, stress, performance pressure, perfectionism, injury recovery, relationship challenges, or simply trying to figure out who you are beyond your sport. Whatever brings you here, you don't have to navigate it alone. I'm Buffy, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with advanced training and certification in Sports Social Work. I specialize in supporting student-athletes and young adults through the unique challenges that come with balancing academics, athletics, and everyday life. Using evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and strengths-based interventions, we'll work together to better understand your experiences, develop practical coping skills, and build resilience, confidence, and emotional well-being. My goal is to help you thrive—not just in your sport, but in every area of your life.

Feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of who you really are? College can be exciting—but it can also feel like too much. Maybe you’ve always been the one who holds it all together, gets straight A’s, and never lets anyone see you struggle. But now, you're anxious all the time, you're exhausted from trying to be “on” 24/7, and even small things feel like a big deal. You might feel pressure to meet expectations—yours or your family’s—and you’re starting to wonder if any of it really feels like you. Maybe you feel like you’re constantly performing. Like you can’t ever fully relax. Or maybe you’re starting to ask big questions about your identity, your future, your values—and it’s scary to realize you don’t have all the answers yet. You don’t have to figure it out alone. I work with college students who are high achievers, perfectionists, and deep thinkers—especially those who are struggling with anxiety, depression, people-pleasing, burnout, or questions around identity and family dynamics. In therapy, you can slow down, breathe, and start untangling the pressure from what you really want. We’ll work together to help you feel more grounded, more like yourself, and more in control of your life. Sessions are confidential, affirming, and tailored to who you are—not who others expect you to be. I provide inclusive and affirming care and create a space where you don’t have to explain or defend your experiences. Online sessions available for students in CA & WA. In-person sessions available in Santa Monica, CA. If this sounds like what you need, reach out. Things can be different—and therapy is a good place to start.

I work best with students who may be feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or unsure of themselves and are looking for a safe place to talk. Many are dealing with anxiety, low mood, past experiences, low self-esteem or challenges with friendships, school, or family, and want support in figuring things out. They’re often ready to better understand themselves, learn ways to cope, and feel more confident in their daily lives. In our work together, I offer a warm, supportive, and culturally affirming space where you can be yourself without fear of judgment. We’ll take things at your pace while building practical tools and helping you feel more in control, connected, and supported.

First, I want to honor that you being here is a huge step as you look to improve your emotional wellbeing. My trauma-informed approach provides short-term, solution-focused, and culturally responsive cognitive therapy. I enjoy working with students and understand the stressors of dealing with school, work, family, and other life events! My goal is to use effective techniques to help you achieve your goals. My practice aims to provide affirmative psychotherapy for the LGBTQI community. Being a first-generation college grad myself, I can relate to the frustrations and feelings of isolation that can come up. My goal is to guide you on strategies to manage anxiety, depression, life adjustments, trauma, acculturation, "imposter syndrome," and first-generation higher education adjustment. I look forward to working with you. ****All telehealth services can only be provided in the state of California.****

I became a therapist because I believe everyone should have access to a safe space where they can feel truly heard and seen. Life’s challenges may have you feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or wondering why certain patterns keep repeating. My goal is to provide a safe, collaborative, and non-judgmental space where you can feel supported and understood. I strive to ensure that clients feel heard by providing a non-judgmental perspective and supporting them in reconnecting with themselves in a deeper and more compassionate way. I also regularly encourage clients to share feedback and discuss any concerns they may have about the therapy process. In sessions I work to build trust and a therapeutic alliance by providing a warm and welcoming space and stressing collaboration and the client’s role as the expert in their life. I’m passionate about working with individuals navigating life transitions, anxiety, depression, stress and burnout, relationship challenges, and identity related concerns. I use humor, warmth, cultural sensitivity, and curiosity to help clients gain insight into their experiences and make deeper connections with parts of themselves that they have been struggling to access. I enjoy sharing my belief in the power of routines and spending time in nature when possible, even if it’s just sitting by your window or in your yard or patio and soaking up the sun because these small habits can help alleviate at least some of our day to day stress. This often helps clients become aware of things they are already doing or may have done in the past that can have a positive effect on their well-being.

Feeling weighed down by anxiety and often second-guessing yourself? Do you find yourself overthinking everything that could go wrong, procrastinating, or struggling to make decisions? Maybe anxiety leaves you feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, making it hard to get through the day or enjoy the friendships, opportunities, and experiences you really want. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Therapy can help. Taking the step to reach out for support can feel intimidating, but it’s also one of the bravest choices you can make. I’m glad you’re here. Together, we can work on tools to quiet the constant overthinking, build confidence, and help you create the life and relationships you want most. In sessions, I offer you evidenced based tools, teach you new skill development and strategies so that you can get relief, gain confidence and manage anxiety more effectively. We'll create a plan that feels practical, empowering and personalized. My treatment approach utilizes Cognitive-Behavioral therapy and Compassion Mindfulness-based therapy. Cognitive Behavioral therapy is considered one of the most effective, and evidenced based treatments for anxiety. Reach out today for a 15-minute free consultation. I look forward to connecting with you and being a partner on your therapy journey.

I help students who are struggling in their relationships or struggling with the demands of college expectations. I have unique specialties in anxiety treatment and eating disorder treatment as well. Reach out, and let's see if I can help!

I became a therapist because I believe everyone deserves a space where they can feel truly seen and heard, without judgement. Life’s challenges can leave us feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or uncertain about our path. My goal is to provide a space where you can show up exactly as you are, knowing you are supported and understood. With over 15 years of experience in health care settings, I work best with individuals who are motivated and ready to engage actively in their therapeutic journey. My ideal clients are open to partnering in therapy to learn practical skills for managing distress, improving emotional well-being, and enhancing daily functioning. They are eager to explore new strategies, reflect on their experiences, and take actionable steps towards personal growth. My approach integrates mindfulness practices, supportive therapy, somatic techniques, and cognitive behavioral strategies. Whether you’re navigating burnout, grief, life transitions, or seeking a deeper connection with yourself, I provide a compassionate, structured space, where meaningful change can happen. If this resonates with you, I invite you to reach out. Whether you’re beginning your healing journey or deepening your self-exploration, I look forward to offering you supportive space to help you navigate the path ahead. Let’s connect and see if we’re a good fit!

Welcome. Taking the first step to getting help can feel daunting. Thank you for being here. Sometimes, life can feel like a whirlwind of unexpected events that can leave you feeling overwhelmed, confused, and empty inside. Whatever it is that you have experienced, know that you have the right to find peace and tranquility. Encountering trauma is scary, but know that you are not alone. Know that YOU are valuable and worthy of living a peaceful life with meaning. Naturally, I incorporate a spiritually holistic approach and strive to connect people to what feels good to their soul. Overall, my approach is mostly centered around your distinct needs. I believe individuals need a warm, safe, and sacred space to begin the healing process. Your experience is important to me and my hope is to maintain a sacred space to help you explore challenges and find some understanding. My role is to be your anchor as we walk through difficult moments. My goal is to be your guide and provide you with a safe, non-judgmental space to find clarity. I strongly believe every person has natural strengths that make them resilient and my hope is to find these within you. It would be an honor to sit with you. If there is anything that resonates with you here. Let’s connect.

I work with individuals and couples who struggle with a variety if things including anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, self worth, goal setting, and life transitions. I enjoy working with college students and was also a therapist and academic coach at the University of Southern California.

As a clinician with a decade of experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a doctorate in clinical psychology, I bring a thoughtful, integrative, and person-centered approach to therapy. My work is grounded in a humanistic theoretical orientation, and I approach each therapeutic relationship with warmth, respect, and curiosity. I strive to create a space where clients feel genuinely heard and supported in making sense of their experiences, in their own words. While I prioritize a person-centered lens, I also draw from evidence-based practices such as CBT, DBT, and ACT, tailoring treatment to meet each client’s unique needs. I am deeply committed to multicultural awareness, equity, and advocacy in clinical practice. I have extensive experience working with individuals who are BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S, and first-gen. My approach is affirming, identity-conscious, and culturally responsive, with an emphasis on honoring the complexity and intersectionality of each client’s lived experience. In addition to English, I am fluent in Mandarin and Shanghainese, and I welcome clients who may benefit from therapy in their native language. It is an honor and a privilege to support individuals in navigating life transitions, identity development, and emotional well-being with care, openness, and collaboration. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

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Since I could remember, I knew that I wanted to be in a field that would give me the opportunity to help others. I chose to be a psychology major for many reasons but one of them is because I found psychology very interesting and fascinating. I also discover that being genuinely interested in people, wanting to help and having the ability to easily connect with others were strengths that would help me in my journey of being able to help others. I have a passion for helping clients enhance their personal strengths, develop coping skills for them to thrive during difficult times, life transitions and needed change. One of the most important thing for me as a therapist is on providing a safe environment to my clients. I do it by being genuine, empathetic and compassionate. I also use actively listening to really understand the client’s perspective on their situations, and also what they want out of treatment. One question that I found important is to ask my client about their previous experiences in therapy and what was something that they did not like or liked in order to understand more what they might need from out therapeutic relationship. I like working collaboratively with my clients to build healthier relationships with themselves and others. I truly believe that people are the experts of their lives. Using compassion, active listening, kindness and a collaborative approach has helped my clients feel safer in our sessions while working together. When leaving our sessions, clients will have a roadmap for their healing and personal development journey. Through out our work together, clients will feel empower, motivate and hopeful that they can improve and achieve their treatment goals.

Living life as a human can be really hard sometimes. Maybe you’ve been feeling depressed for a while and haven’t been able to find a way out of it. Maybe anxiety has been holding you back from really showing up in your life the way you want to for too long. Maybe you’re feeling stuck in life, have lost your sense of purpose, or can’t seem to find your path. Whatever it is that brings you here, we’re happy you found us. We are located in Riverside, CA for in person sessions and offer telehealth session throughout California and Colorado. We are passionate about helping you create a life worth living. We work with people on a diverse range of issues, such as depression, anxiety, lack of fulfillment, life transitions, relationship issues, family issues, career challenges, work/life balance, grief, personal growth and LGBTQ issues. We know how hard being a human can be. Whatever challenge you are facing, we’re here to help you navigate it authentically with presence, integrity, and intention.

I work with adults (age 18 and older) on a variety of mental health concerns, such as trauma, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, acculturation and cultural identity, and career uncertainty/transition. My experience in multiple mental health settings, from community mental health, university counseling centers, and Kaiser Permanente, has provided me with the skills to work with people from diverse backgrounds and presenting concerns. As a first generation immigrant from South-East Asia, I would be able to use my background to empathize with and help minority clients who experience challenges of navigating being a first-generation college student, cultural identity concerns, or racial/cultural insensitivities. My previous profession in software engineering may also help some clients going into the technology field feel connected and understood. I have been trained in insight-oriented (psychodynamic) and cognitive-behavioral (CBT) forms of therapy. I am also a certified clinical trauma professional. My practice aims to help clients develop tools to make the necessary change(s) in their lives. I collaborate with my clients to understand their needs and set goals they want to achieve. My interactions and interventions with my clients are wrapped in cultural consideration, validation, regard, and acceptance of who they are.

Are you navigating life between two worlds, balancing family and cultural expectations with your own sense of self? Perhaps you're a child of immigrants, first-generation, or someone far from home asking deeper questions about who you are and where you belong. I'm a bilingual (English/Tagalog) psychotherapist specializing in depth-oriented, Jungian therapy. I work with Filipino Americans, Asian Americans, immigrants, and first-generation individuals doing the meaningful, sometimes difficult work of building an authentic identity, one that honors where they come from while making room for who they are becoming. My approach is exploratory and relational. Drawing from Jungian psychology, psychodynamic therapy, and somatic awareness, I work with the unconscious patterns, cultural conditioning, and intergenerational stories that shape your present life. This includes dream work, active imagination, and close attention to the body's wisdom alongside the mind's. If this resonates, I'd love to connect. I offer a free 15-minute consultation — reach out and let's talk. I also offer Walk & Talk therapy for clients in the Cupertino and Silicon Valley area - sessions conducted outdoors in nature for those who find that movement supports their process. Ask me about it when you reach out.

My areas of emphasis are relationships, trans-affirming care, neurodiversity, LGBTQIA+ concerns, trauma, anxiety, sexuality, multi-ethnic/cultural identity & college-related concerns. I support my clients in unlearning shame, setting boundaries without guilt, embracing their identities and cultures with pride, and build more authentic, fulfilling relationships. I offer a compassionate space where you can safely explore yourself, challenge old patterns, and develop new ways of responding that support healing, confidence and lasting change. In addition to psychotherapy, I provide WPATH assessments and letters for gender affirming surgeries. Therapy with me is collaborative, affirming, and driven by the desire to support you in healing through your resilience and empowerment. I integrate psychodynamic and action-oriented methods and my approach is liberation-based, anti-racist and trauma-informed.

Through a warm, mindful, and compassionate approach to therapy, I aim to foster a welcoming and safe space for you to explore your journey to meaningful healing and self-discovery. Welcome, my name is Vi! I hold different marginalized identities as a woman of color, an immigrant from Việt Nam, a former international student; and have lived experience with anxiety, depression, trauma, racism, and oppression. I also hold privileged identities: able-bodied, cisgender, straight, Christian, and grew up in a middle-class family. These identities allow me to discover life through these intersectional lenses, and I am grateful for all of them. Through my own healing journey, I instantly learned clinicians with similar identities and cultural backgrounds who could fully facilitate a space of growth in my identity as an Asian immigrant woman was lacking. This disheartening experience fueled my passion to provide a space to highlight and honor immigrant and AAPI experiences through my work as a licensed clinical psychologist. It is a privilege and blessing for me to be able to provide the space that was previously unavailable, and to collaborate with international students, immigrants, and AAPI-identified folks, as well as individuals who occupy an intersection of their identity that is marked by marginalization and oppression.

Trying to balance the responsibilities of school, work, relationships and self care can be overwhelming. Do you find yourself struggling to be perfect, or comparing yourself to others that seem to be doing it "so much better"? Or maybe you have been having a hard time quieting opinions from family and friends that keep you from pursuing your goals. Pretending to be someone you are not can be stressful and often results in feeling burnt out. We can't control our external circumstances but we can control how we respond. Learn ways to feel more confident and calm. Reach out today for a 20 minute complimentary consultation.