Therapists for college students near 90089
Ronna Spiegel, LCSW
Hi there! Feeling overwhelmed by the whirlwind of transitions, anxieties, and "what ifs" that come with this exciting, yet sometimes challenging, chapter of life? You're not alone. I'm Ronna, an LCSW with 18+ years of experience supporting women like you through the ups and downs of adjusting to college life. From homesickness and relationship hiccups to career-path stress and future worries, I've seen it all, and I'm here to help you navigate it with confidence and clarity. ✨ My approach is all about you and your unique journey. We will work together to identify your strengths, understand your challenges, and develop personalized strategies for managing stress, enhancing interpersonal relationships, and making confident decisions about your future. My solution-focused style empowers you to identify practical coping skills and strategies that actually work, paving the way for the positive change you can see and feel. I offer a safe and supportive space where you can explore your experiences without judgment. I am here to be your guide, your cheerleader, and your partner in progress as you navigate towards a fulfilling college experience and a bright future. Remember, you've got this, and I'm here to help. Reach out today and let’s start building your brighter future together! My areas of expertise include: • Adjustment to college life • Stress management and anxiety reduction • Building healthy relationships • Managing academic pressures and career exploration • Fostering self-compassion and resilience
Madison Holland
I became a therapist because I genuinely care about people and believe we can all use a little extra support sometimes. We are complex, unique individuals shaped by our emotions, relationships, and life experiences. My goal is to create a space where you feel safe, accepted, and supported as you grow. Wherever you are in your journey, I’m here to meet you there and root for you along the way. I believe therapy works best when it feels collaborative. You are the expert on your life, and I tailor our work to your individual needs, experiences, interests, and goals. Therapy can feel intimidating, especially at first, so we can move at a pace that feels comfortable. I will never force you to discuss or do something you are not ready for. At the same time, meaningful growth can sometimes ask us to step outside our comfort zones. Part of my role is to gently encourage and support you as you explore difficult emotions, experiences, or new ways of coping. You won’t have to navigate those moments alone. I bring honesty, authenticity, compassion, and a little creativity into the therapy room. I enjoy incorporating your interests into our work to make difficult topics feel more relatable and approachable. Most importantly, I want you to feel heard, understood, and supported while gaining a deeper understanding of yourself and building tools that work for you. I’m human, too. While I can’t know exactly what you are experiencing, I understand what it is like to feel angry, lonely, discouraged, anxious, or misunderstood. In my own life, I find comfort in simple things like spending time in nature, hugging my cat, coloring, or settling in with one of my favorite movies.
Patrick Tully
I am an LGBTQIA+ Affirmative psychotherapist who helps people with anxiety, stress, life adjustments, and other issues. Please reach out to me. My website is: https://www.patricktullytherapy.com
Bernadette Melick
For me, becoming a therapist was really about wanting to support people through difficult and sometimes lonely parts of their lives. I’ve always been drawn to deep conversations and understanding what makes people feel seen, heard, and safe. Over time, I realized that being present for someone-without judgement-can be incredibly powerful. I wanted to offer that space where people can explore their story, grow, and feel more connected to themselves. It’s a privilege to be part of that process. My priority is to create a space where you can be fully yourself-without pressure, judgment, or expectation. I’ll be listening closely not just to your words, but also to what’s underneath-your emotions, your experiences, your patterns. I’ll check in with you often to make sure I’m understanding you the way you want to be understood, not just how I interpret things. We’ll move at a pace that feels safe for you, and if there’s ever a moment you don’t feel heard or something doesn’t feel right, I want to know. This is your space, and your voice matters here. In the beginning, it’s really about getting to know you-what’s going on in your life, what’s important to you, and what you’re hoping to get out of therapy. I won’t push you to share anything before you’re ready. We’ll move at a pace that feels right for you. Building trust takes time, so I focus on showing up consistently, being real with you, and making sure you feel safe to be yourself. I’ll check in with you often about how things are going-what’s helpful, what’s not, what you want more or less of. This a therapeutic partnership, and I want it to feel like we’re working together-not me telling you what to do, but us exploring things side by side.
Jennifer Seidner
My goal in sessions is for clients to feel self-aware, empowered, and grounded in who they are to better connect with the person they want to become. This kind of therapy leads you toward a happier home life, better communication with family/friends, feeling accomplished and relaxed at the end of the day, or feeling confident in your ability to tackle roadblocks. I am committed to creating an environment for clients to feel safe and comfortable to open up about difficult topics. This safe space is where we can honor those feelings and experiences, gain a sense of acceptance, and work together to create a journey forward towards a purpose-filled path. My areas of focus are trauma, anxiety, grief, behavioral issues, anger management, social skills, self-esteem, family dynamics, personal growth, high-stress environments, and more.
Marsaides Mercier
Early on, friends would often come to me for advice, and they told me I was a good listener. That made me curious about becoming a therapist. But once I started studying psychology, I realized therapy isn’t really about giving advice. It’s more about helping people explore their experiences, understand themselves better, and find their own solutions. Making sure you feel heard and understood is really important to me. One of the main ways I try to do that is by listening closely and reflecting back what I’m hearing, so we can check that I’m understanding you the way you intend. I’ll also ask questions to help clarify things and give you space to talk at your own pace. If at any point something I say doesn’t feel right or I misunderstand you, I really welcome you telling me so we can adjust together. My goal is for this to be a space where you feel comfortable sharing openly Building trust is really something that develops over time. My role is to create a space where you feel respected, not judged, and able to speak openly. I try to do that by listening carefully, being honest and consistent, and checking in with you about how our work together is feeling. If something isn’t working for you, we can talk about it and adjust. Therapy works best when it’s collaborative, so we’ll be figuring things out together. I really enjoy writing when I have the time and motivation for it. It’s something I’ve always found helps me think and reflect. Lately I’ve also been on a bit of a health kick—going on walks and taking some quiet time to myself. I’ve found it’s a really nice way to reset and clear my mind.
Brooke Rubin
Other than helping others create change and learn to love themselves because they deserve to, I want to help others understand themselves on a deeper level. In my professional experience, I see how much clarity and knowledge about ourselves can foster our relationships within ourselves and with others. I ensure that my client feel heard and understood by providing an affirming, open minded, and empathetic approach. I find it important to actively listen to my clients and paraphrase or summarize what they had said to make sure I heard them right. I create a non-judgmental and encouraging space that allows for my clients to open up and express themselves authentically.
Sharyl Ratkovic
I have had the honor of working as a therapist for 30 years in various settings such as a battered women’s shelter, Child Abuse Reunification programs and the Private Sector. My style as a therapist is calm, empathic and compassionate while using my training, experience and humor to assist my clients on their journey of growth and healing. My practice is focused on helping individuals and couples live a more connected and authentic life, overcoming trauma, managing anxiety and depression, and creating a life that they have always dreamed of. I specialize in working with women and young adults who are moving away from a negative relationship or who are in transitional stages of their lives. I work collaboratively with the client to explore the patterns in their life that are inhibiting them from living the life they desire. I focus on the whole person, mind body and soul to heal the pain from the past and create new and more effective means of communicating with others and in the world in which they live. In my practice I utilize Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Mindfulness Cognitive Therapy and Visualization to provide the most effective ways to regain balance and mental health.
Hailey Perez
I am present, supportive, and I hold space for all of my patients to feel safe. I have a passion for working with the LGBTQ+ community and youth who have experienced the foster care system. I come from a Humanistic and Jungian approach in which we will build insight and tend to your strengths in order to stimulate the growth of self. Within therapy, we will connect the mind, body, and soul. I am a therapist at Octave, a behavioral health practice creating a new standard for mental health care that’s both high-quality and accessible. To learn more about my availability, please reach out to our Client Experience team by emailing or calling.
Clint Nacar PMHNP
We support college and graduate students navigating stress, anxiety, mood concerns, burnout, and major life transitions. Our clinician-led team offers compassionate, evidence-based mental health care in a collaborative and nonjudgmental space, helping students build coping skills, resilience, and confidence as they balance academics, relationships, and personal growth.
Margo Rankins
My counseling style is very warm and interactive. I treat everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I believe in meeting everyone where they are, within their own unique experiences, and provide a safe, non-judgmental space to work on self-healing. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.
Sarah Ascheri
I am inspired to work in the field of mental health care because of my passion for fostering meaningful change in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. My dedication to helping individuals build on their strengths and navigate challenges allows me to empower them to heal, grow, and thrive. Guided by empathy, I aim to create a space where people can feel understood and supported in their journey toward better mental health. To ensure clients feel heard and understood in sessions, I create a safe, non-judgmental space where they can express themselves openly. I approach each session with empathy, active listening, and cultural humility, tailoring my support to honor the unique experiences of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including LGBTQ2+ individuals, low-income families, children, adolescents, and trauma survivors. By validating their feelings, recognizing their strengths, and fostering trust, I help clients feel truly understood and supported throughout their journey. I build trust and a strong therapeutic alliance by creating a warm, non-judgmental, and compassionate environment where clients feel safe to share their experiences. I honor each client’s unique strengths, values, and goals, fostering a sense of partnership and mutual respect. This approach helps establish a strong foundation for meaningful growth and healing, allowing clients to feel supported and understood throughout the therapeutic process.
Cathy Conway
My specialty areas are working with clients who have personally struggled with substance abuse as well as family members of those who struggle with substance abuse. I also specialize in working with clients who experience anxiety, panic, depression and bipolar disorder. My approach to therapy is down to earth, warm yet direct. My primary task is to get to know you, your challenges, strengths, and goals so that together we can find ways to build more joy into your life. I find it helpful to work with clients to understand lifelong patterns and also to seek out specific ways to experience personal growth. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.
Carla Hartshorn
Psychology is a fascinating field and I am passionate about helping people achieve their best selves. I have been practicing therapy for many years and in that time it has been a joy for me to see people find their joy and hope, and thrive! I believe in a collaborative working relationship and thus I approach therapy with a curious mind as we explore and discuss. I like to encourage self-empowerment, agency and independence and I like to check in with clients to confirm what I hear and give them the final say over their choice and life; I am merely the guide. I believe in practicing therapy collaboratively, working together where we will explore and discover the roadblocks and difficulties that brought them into therapy, and introducing new perspectives that will assist them in finding new ways to resolve their challenges. This is a recovery journey and I am merely the guide to assist each client in finding their best selves.
Andy Tam
If you’re feeling stretched thin as a parent, trying to adjust to a new culture, carrying trauma, or facing grief or a major life transition, this space is for you. I believe in the power of continuous growth—both for myself and for the people I work with. My hope is to support you on your journey of self-discovery as you work toward greater balance, healing, and fulfillment in your life. As a child of an immigrant family and a parent to three multicultural, multiracial children, I bring both professional training and lived experience into the therapy space. I understand firsthand the complexities of identity, belonging, and navigating multiple cultural worlds, and I strive to create a space where clients feel seen, respected, and understood. My lived experience as a BIPOC individual in a multicultural community informs my work and allows me to offer a space that offers cultural humility, empathy and openness. It takes courage to explore your story, and I honor that by creating a space where you can feel truly seen and heard. While my work is guided by proven methods like Trauma-Focused CBT and Motivational Interviewing, what that really means for you is a personalized experience focused on healing and resilience; we’ll work on gaining insight and building skills. I also believe in the healing power of a shared laugh; I often use humor to help us navigate the heavy moments with a bit more grace and perspective. My goal is to help you find lasting change and a deeper kindness toward yourself. I believe finding a community is essential for navigating life’s challenges. For me, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has been that vital mental health anchor for 13 years. Although training and coaching has been important, fostering the social connection and personal grit needed to stay mentally healthy has helped me through different life transitions.
Brenda Valenzuela
Brenda Valenzuela is a dedicated therapist who places building trust and engagement at the core of her practice. She takes a humanistic approach, focusing on understanding each individual's unique perspective and experiences. Brenda strives to create an environment rooted in empathy, respect, and authenticity, ensuring clients feel truly seen, heard, and understood. Her warm, inclusive style centers on meeting clients where they are, using thoughtful questions to tailor each session to their needs. Brenda is committed to fostering genuine connections, celebrating progress, and guiding clients through growth and healing. Outside of her professional life, Brenda is a mom, who enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, including her goldendoodle and fiancé, a firefighter in Southern California. She values family time, walks, farmers markets, and library visits, bringing the same warmth and authenticity to her personal life as she does to her work.
Jenna Stark
Starting therapy can be an exciting and daunting process. Working with a therapist allows you to have an unbiased third party listen to your story, validate your feelings and emotions and help foster and provide insight and support. Therapy can help you learn new strategies and techniques to help you better tolerate distress and view thoughts, feelings and situations differently. My goal as a therapist is to provide a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental space where we can work together to identify and process issues you have been facing. Together we can reflect on previous thinking patterns and behaviors that have led to distress and discuss new options and possibilities.
Michelle Dazalla
What inspired me to become a therapist was my own personal experience with therapy as a young child. I wanted to help other people with their journey to become mentally healthy, mindful, and self-aware for a new lifestyle that is encouraging and fulfilling to them. My goal is to create a safe space for clients during sessions by being an observant, nonjudgmental, and an empathetic therapist. My philosophy is “Aim Small to Hit Big”, which means to be present in the moment and set small attainable goals for yourself to build upon your successes and celebrate accomplishments one goal at a time.
Eloisa Bonilla
You Don’t Have to Navigate College Alone College can be an exciting time of growth and possibility, but it can also bring unexpected stress, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. Sometimes, the experience of adjusting to college can feel even more complicated when you’re balancing the expectations and values of your culture, family, and community with the person you’re becoming. I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who specializes in supporting individuals through life transitions, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. I understand that college is more than academics—it can be a time of figuring out who you are, where you belong, and how to create a life that feels authentic to you. My approach is collaborative, culturally responsive, and centered on you. I meet clients where they are and create a space where you can explore your experiences without judgment. Together, we can identify what matters to you, understand the experiences that may be affecting you, and work toward goals that you choose. Whether you’re struggling to adjust to college, feeling overwhelmed by expectations, navigating your cultural identity, coping with past experiences, or simply feeling stuck, therapy can be a space to slow down, make sense of what you’re experiencing, and reconnect with your sense of agency. You don’t have to have everything figured out before reaching out. Therapy can be a place to start.
Wendy Silva
My name is Wendy Silva, I am a bilingual (Spanish & English) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist offering Teletherapy in the State of California. I work with individuals who may be going through difficult times and may be struggling with managing their responses. You may be noticing patterns that continue to perpetuate thoughts and emotions that can be difficult to understand. In therapy, we can work together in identifying and understanding the “origen” of our patterns and work towards embracing growth, healing, and change. I believe therapy should be a safe space to process your emotions and thoughts without feeling judge and I aim to create a safe and trusting therapeutic space to facilitate growth and healing. I utilized an eclectic approach, utilizing therapeutic approaches and interventions that tailor to my clients needs. With that being said, I mostly work from a psychodynamic therapeutic approach and my focus is to support the client with self-reflection, self-examination and explore the source of your challenges. I will support you with identifying and implementing effective coping skills to live a healthy emotional lifestyle.