Therapists for college students near Los Angeles, CA

Many of the people I work with have spent a long time feeling like they're just trying to get through each day. They may be overwhelmed by anxiety, stuck in repetitive thoughts or behaviors, carrying the weight of past experiences, or feeling disconnected from themselves and the people they care about. Some have experienced trauma that continues to affect their relationships, confidence, or sense of safety, while others find themselves caught in cycles of fear, self-doubt, or uncertainty. You don't have to have everything figured out before starting therapy. Whether you're struggling with the effects of a difficult past, feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, or finding that your thoughts and emotions are interfering with the life you want to live, therapy can provide a space to better understand what you're experiencing and begin moving toward meaningful change. I strive to create a supportive, compassionate, and nonjudgmental environment where you can feel heard, respected, and understood. Together, we'll work at a pace that feels right for you, focusing on your goals and helping you build greater confidence, resilience, and hope for the future.

We are a group practice of cognitive behavioral therapists located in the Bay Area. We offer a number of empirically supported treatments including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), compassion-focused therapy (CFT), mindfulness-based therapies, and schema therapy. We apply behavioral principles while emphasizing an attachment and relational frame that considers the whole person.

I love being a Mental health Therapist. I have been licensed as a Marriage and family child therapist, since January, 5 1985. I have worked in private practice and with Medical groups to provide the best mental health care available to each individual and to our community. I enjoy working with individuals, families, and with adolescents to improve daily functioning and improved mental health. I see each client as an individual with past experiences that only they can share their own history. It is very important to listen to what the client has experienced and to share their history. Trust and an empathetic relationship is paramount to have the client feel heard and safe.

I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and graduated from USC in 2014. In my practice, I support people healing from trauma, including those living with C-PTSD/ PTSD, dissociation, depression, and anxiety. I often work with clients who identify as LGBTQ, neurodivergent, or disabled, and those navigating the impact of systemic oppression.

I am passionate about teaching others how to access their deep knowing and watching people grow and learn in new and successful ways. I find the work of psychotherapy to be fulfilling and purposeful and I look forward to being on the journey of improving your mental health wellness with you. I use empathetic listening, curiosity, and my excitement for helping others in order to provide a sense of validation to my clients. I believe that we heal through meaning making and I help you do this in an supportive and understanding space. I also believe that being heard and acknowledged for who we are and what we feel is so important for the human experience and I work hard to offer this to my clients. I work to build a strong therapeutic relationship with my clients by creating a collaborative, compassionate and respectful therapeutic relationship. I offer a safe and supportive container for individuals to explore and strengthen their abilities. I am honored to help my clients and feel humbled to be trusted enough to be invited into the pain and experiences of those whom I get to work with.

Hi, I’m Ellie, and I’m so excited to meet you! :) College can be a time of growth and excitement—but also stress, pressure, and uncertainty. Maybe you’re feeling anxious in social settings, overwhelmed by academic expectations, unsure about your future, or stuck in a loop of perfectionistic thinking. You might be on the edge of burnout—constantly doing but never feeling like it’s enough. Or perhaps you’re navigating challenges in your relationships—feeling disconnected, misunderstood, or unsure how to communicate what you need. If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to navigate it on your own. I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California, and I specialize in helping preteens, teens, college students and young adults navigate generalized anxiety, social anxiety, performance-based anxiety, perfectionism, relationship stress, and academic/career or life transitions. Together, we’ll create space to explore what’s going on beneath the surface and build strategies to help you feel more grounded, confident, and in control of your life. My approach is warm, relational, and collaborative. I primarily draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you understand the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors—and make practical, meaningful shifts. I also integrate techniques from mindfulness, attachment-based, and relational approaches so therapy feels personalized to you. In our first few sessions, I’ll take time to get to know you and understand what’s bringing you in. You can expect a calm, supportive space where you’re free to be real—no judgment, no pressure. We’ll move at your pace, and I’ll check in regularly to make sure therapy is meeting your needs. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure where to start, that’s okay. Reaching out is a strong first step—and I’d be honored to support you from here. Feel free to call/text me at (949)490-2819 or email me at ellie.mourey@gmail.com. You can also schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation directly through my website, whatever feels easiest for you :)

College is a time of tremendous growth, but it can also bring stress, uncertainty, and pressure from many directions. Balancing academics, relationships, family expectations, cultural identity, and planning for the future can feel overwhelming—especially if you're a first-generation, international, or multicultural student trying to navigate different worlds. Therapy offers a space that's truly yours, where you don't have to meet anyone else's expectations or have everything figured out. Together, we'll explore what's weighing on you, gain insight into the patterns that may be keeping you stuck, and develop practical tools to help you manage life's challenges with greater confidence and self-compassion. My goal is to help you reconnect with your authentic self, build resilience, and create a life that feels aligned with your own values rather than the expectations of others.

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.

Hi, I'm Breanna Aguirre, PMHNP-BC. I provide virtual mental health care for children, teens, and adults throughout California. I offer comprehensive psychiatric evaluations and medication management for ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma-related conditions, mood disorders, and other mental health concerns. My approach is evidence-based, collaborative, and personalized, with the goal of helping each patient feel heard while creating a treatment plan that supports their goals. I accept several major insurance plans and offer convenient telehealth appointments throughout California.

I support folks in exploring how they want to walk through the world. I believe each person can define themselves and find their healthy. Therapy is a collaborative experience; you bring your life experience, and I bring support from a mental health standpoint.

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly—what is essential is invisible to the eye” (The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry). As a therapist, I work to see people with my heart and hold a hopeful space of unconditional compassion and empathy. As a trauma survivor with personal experiences in therapy, I’m aware of how vulnerable and uncertain starting with a new therapist can be. I honor the courage and openness it takes to begin any healing process. Creating safety in the therapeutic relationship is essential to me. I believe everyone has the capacity for healing already within them, and I work to empower people to connect with themselves and their unique strengths. I believe we are relational beings, and our different experiences with attachment can have profound effects on us. I value flexibility and creativity in my therapeutic style, and I draw from and integrate diverse approaches to discover what resonates with each different person. It is important to me to be intentional and considerate when holding space for culture and how different forces of marginalization affect mental health, and I work to be culturally responsive and attuned. My approach is continuously curious and trauma-informed, and one of my many passions is affirmatively supporting people around intergenerational trauma and attachment wounds. As a therapist and a human being, I try to embody a tree. This means moving slow, breathing deep, and being grounded enough to nourish connection. My favorite place on earth is the old growth forest! I also love to surf and meditate, and I appreciate breathwork and somatic/body-based techniques along my own healing path. I’ve been working in mental health for about thirteen years. I received my bachelor’s degree in English from University of California, Santa Barbara, and I finished my master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at California State University, Long Beach, where I also started writing poems for people on an old typewriter. I view therapy as a poetic process where someone gets to tell their story and shape its continuation to best honor their soul. We all need to be heard, seen, and believed in, and as a therapist, I work to cultivate this heartfelt connection.

Welcome! Congratulations on taking a step towards prioritizing yourself through therapy. College can be an amazing time of freedom, self discovery, and growth. It also can be a time of overwhelming change, questioning, and anxiety. Whatever problems you face, I look forward to connecting with you, understanding you, and helping you towards your goals.

Kate Rifkin, LMHC (pronouns she/her/hers) offers individual mental health counseling sessions for adults (18+) to provide a safe space where folks are able to freely explore their thoughts, feelings, concerns, and goals in a non-judgmental space. She takes an individualized, holistic, and integrative approach to therapy, that draws upon cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, and multicultural-based therapies. Kate has expertise and interest in working with athletes, young professionals, college students, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Hi, I'm Kerianne! I'm a mixed-race and queer Asian-American therapist. I enjoy working with a diverse range of clients with various issues relating to identity development, anxiety, multiculturalism, life transitions, and ADHD. I work collaboratively to cultivate a open, warm, and welcoming space for processing your experiences and beliefs. I often ask a lot of questions to help best understand yourself and what might work best for you.

Do you find yourself asking “why is life so fucking hard?” Are you experiencing challenges in life or a relationship? I specialize in working with adults that are feeling like their lives or relationships are off track. I will help you identify what is important to you, how to communicate your wants and needs, and how to start aligning your life with your values. Together, we will get to know you and what’s getting in the way of living the life you want. We will develop new ways of looking at your problems and create solutions together. We will talk about who you are, what your values are, and who you want to be moving forward. I believe we can change when we feel safe, cared for, and understood. I tailor my approach to your needs to address depression or anxiety caused by trauma, relationship issues, or other life challenges. Your services are about you & what you need. I’ll help you explore your life in a way that you feel understood and safe as you learn and grow. I know that life can be overwhelming. Sometimes what we need is a place to unload & get some fresh perspective (or a kick in the ass). I started my private practice because I wanted to create a life in line with my values. Are you ready for that life? Schedule a consult & lets see if we are good fit for each other. The consult is free, and so are the jokes!

I became a therapist because I want to help people become their best selves. I always want to help you feel understood, safe, and supported, in a completely non-judgmental space, especially if these things are already lacking in your life. You should know that you can talk to me without fear of judgement and that I care about you, and all of my clients. I have experience with both children and adults. All ages are welcome! I make an effort to meet clients where they are and ask what they hope to gain from their time with me. I try to build trust by taking a nonjudgmental approach of positive regard for all my clients. I will tailor my approach to the situation and to what the client wants. For some that will mean more empathetic listening, for others it may mean more praise, positive feedback, coping skills, increasing awareness, reframing a situation or a certain level of coaching. I find that everyone is different and has different needs, so I adjust my approach accordingly. Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope to see you soon!

Catherine O'Brien is a licensed marriage and family therapist, author, speaker, educator and college professor. She has dedicated her life's work to helping new and expecting parents navigate the challenges of parenthood. As a mother of two children, Catherine understands the overwhelming nature of parenting and wants to help couples thrive during this transition instead of just surviving. She founded HappyWithBaby.com to provide counseling and coaching services for new parents and offers courses to help parents manage expectations of parenthood and understand the developmental milestones of infants and children. As a college professor, Catherine's perspective on parents' challenges while juggling multiple responsibilities is unique and valuable. Her life's work is about enabling parents to look at their own lives with the same compassion and unconditional love they generously give to their families. Take advantage of the counseling, coaching, and courses that Catherine offers. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience that can help you navigate the challenges of parenthood while also pursuing your academic goals.

The students I help often experience anxiety in social relationships or work/academic related performance. They often share a lack of confidence and feeling doubtful about their competency going out into the “real world.” I help identify and enhance the qualities and strengths each client brings into therapy. By looking back at past distress or trauma, we are more able to see the present and future with more hope and optimism.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Choosing a therapist is a deeply personal decision. It's important to find someone that you can relate to and most importantly someone that you trust. We will work together to create a secure relationship, where you begin to feel less alone experiencing emotional vulnerability. My capacity to truly see you, and your capacity to feel comfortable being seen, will be essential to your healing. It is my belief that lasting growth does not occur as a result of insight and understanding alone. Deep healing and change happen when you are able to explore new emotional experiences and to try new behaviors, in the presence of a supportive person (therapist). I work with adults and older adolescents to address old wounds, to increase self compassion and to develop increased emotional stability and flexibility. If you are interested in learning more about me and my practice, please visit my website or email/call to schedule a brief phone consultation.