Therapists for college students near San Diego State University
Our clients come from all walks of life, but tend to have one thing in common when they reach out to set up an initial appointment: they’ve realized they want more out of life. More joy, more freedom, greater emotional and relational health – in short, a more abundant life. In your first few sessions with us, it’s typical to breathe a sigh of relief – as you realize that there’s finally a space where you can be completely, authentically yourself. We start by processing your story – where you’ve been, where you are now, where you want to be. Stephen Covey writes that “to touch the soul of another human being is to walk on holy ground.” Being invited to be a witness to your story – in all the pains and triumphs and tragedies and victories – this is not an honor I take lightly. As our work together progresses, we unpack what hasn’t been working – self-defeating beliefs, unprocessed events and emotions, stale relational patterns… and we explore and process and practice new ways of being. Over time, the “ah ha” moments start to add up into the “I can’t believe how far I’ve come” moments as we reflect on your journey toward healing and abundance.
I bring extensive knowledge and clinical expertise to create an inclusive and supportive environment where you can achieve the changes you want. My services are designed to address, treat, and manage interpersonal conflicts and mental health challenges with a culturally sensitive approach. I'm here to provide the support and guidance when you're ready for change and growth.
I’m a collaborative therapist passionate about working with people navigating anxiety, low self-esteem, OCD/phobias, and non-traditional relationship structures. I value building a strong therapeutic relationship with an approach that centers warmth, compassion, humor, and authenticity. I lead with curiosity to unravel whatever may be weighing on you and guide you in reaching alignment with your favorite version of yourself. Feel free to send me a message and we can schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if we’re a good fit. I’m excited to meet you!
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
We often find ourselves in a place in our lives where we face challenges or uncertainty, making it hard to move on or cope with stressors. Perhaps it is a difficult job, relationship turmoil, loss of a loved one, or another major life transition. Perhaps you are feeling depressed, anxious, angry, or feeling stuck and unable to find clarity or move forward. This can negatively impact our overall well-being and happiness. Psychotherapy can provide a haven to explore your circumstances and allow for greater insight and progress to move forward with a clearer headspace and intention. I can help you to explore your emotions and understand your experiences, behaviors and thoughts in a nonjudgmental and supportive environment to facilitate growth and change. Through psychotherapy, you can become empowered to take hold of your life. I provide an approach that is individualized and supportive, offering insight and the ability to help you process and understand possible maladaptive coping strategies or patterns in order to help you lead the life you want.
I work frequently with young adults as they manage increasing independence, college and work. I understand the challenges involved with balancing academic requirements, personal stressors and self care. Additionally, I am experienced in helping clients who are wanting to change their relationship patterns and behaviors, and those struggling to find effective ways to deal with symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and codependency. As a clinical psychologist, I assist my clients in meeting their goals and improving their relationships. Therapy is used to improve communication, coping skills and problem solving. One of my areas of expertise is in helping clients who are working through a particularly challenging time in their lives, and having difficulty moving forward from their experience. By encouraging self expression, increased insight and problem solving in therapy, I work collaboratively with clients to facilitate positive changes. Improving self esteem through greater understanding and acceptance of oneself is part of that work.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Therapy is a partnership between you and me. My desire is to help you achieve your goals, to find your life purpose, to resolve your issues, whatever they may be. Change comes from within you—and that’s where we focus—on your body and the traumas it holds—so with can release them through various techniques that can really create true change inside you. Whether you are an individual or a couple, whatever you bring into the therapy office can be transformed. I believe in movement—that together we will make changes in your life. Let's not dwell on the traumas of your past—instead, we can work on releasing them from your body and your soul. Specialties include couples counseling, divorce mediation, spiritual growth, and life transitions. If you are in a relationship that is stuck in some way, or it looks like it’s getting worse, couple’s counseling can be very helpful and supportive for both parties. If you are an individual, working with me can be very supportive and expansive.
I'm a therapist offering virtual individual sessions to help you navigate the challenges that come up in your life. I am currently under the supervision of Krystal Smith, PsyD (PSY34381) working toward California licensure. I pride myself on being able to create a compassionate, safe, authentic, and collaborative space where you can express yourself freely, explore difficult topics, and gently strategize to help you move forward in your healing and goals. I specifically tailor my approach to meet your unique needs using CBT, DBT, Narrative, Interpersonal, Grief, and other trauma-informed therapies. I have extensive training and a particular passion for working with women, young adults, and adolescents experiencing anxiety, depression, women’s health issues (including prenatal and postpartum mental health), sexual violence, trauma, grief, transitional stress, and family, parenting, or relationship conflict. If you feel we may be a good fit, or would like to learn more about my specialties, experience, and approach to therapy, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for considering me and I look forward to hearing from you!
If you're self-aware or just discovering yourself, I can help you find perspective and direction that's right for you. I don't just listen; I like to help you make changes that you desire. I get excited by progress. And I love working with couples (or more) because so much of the growth happens right in the room. I'd welcome the opportunity to talk if you'd like to know more.
As a dedicated mental health professional, I am committed to guiding adolescents and young adults. My practice is deeply rooted in systemic thinking, seamlessly blending psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, and attachment-based approaches to deliver a nuanced and tailored intervention. In cultivating a warm and collaborative environment, I facilitate a process where clients explore personal and relational intricacies, fostering insights for a more fulfilling life. Rejecting a one-size-fits-all approach, I acknowledge the uniqueness of each client in treatment planning. Navigating trauma, codependency, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and OCD, my practice emphasizes the impact of traumatic events and recognizes the influential role of relationships on an individual level. Embark on the journey of transformative growth by reaching out for support. Remember, you don't have to face things alone; you are the expert of your own life, and you hold the power to make transformative change. In this journey, I'm here to empathetically walk alongside you, offering understanding and guidance every step of the way.
My clinical practice is devoted to helping teens, women, and parents who are struggling with a range of issues including stress, life transitions, anxiety, depression, past trauma experience, ADHD, self-harming behaviors, women’s issues, and parenting and relationship challenges. As a Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, I am passionate about supporting clients learn how to uncover their resources, build upon their strengths, discover unhelpful patterns, and make the changes necessary to improve daily functioning, health, and relationships.
I provide therapy in English and Spanish. I received my Master's Degree from JFK University. I have been in the Mental Health field for 18 years. In my first 10 years I worked with children, teens, young adults, and families. Since then I have been working with adults. My focus is to help individuals heal, energize, and become aware of their inner strengths. I achieve this by providing a neutral safe space, listening to your concerns, and customizing a treatment plan. I utilize evidence based treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy, problem solving therapy, behavioral activation, and EMDR. I promise to be there for you every step of your journey. My goal is to help you grow from your struggles, heal from your pain, and move forward to where you want to be in your life.
Individual Work: Individual work is core to my practice. I work with adults and adolescents. Together we can explore whatever you feel to be disturbing your experience of life, particularly depression, anxiety, grief, loneliness, spiritual and creative blocks, illness, childhood abuse, trauma or issues related to sexuality, gender expression, and intimacy. Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy: I have extensive training in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, and am a Journey Clinical KAP provider. In addition to traditional psychotherapy, I offer a therapeutic modality called KAP: the use of ketamine as a compliment to psychotherapy. I deliver KAP in my practice in partnership with an organization called Journey Clinical, which has a specialized medical team that determines eligibility for KAP, prescribes ketamine lozenges where appropriate, and supports me in monitoring outcomes. If you are interested in exploring KAP, please contact me to discuss eligibility and next steps. Areas of Specialty Depression, Sadness, Loneliness and Grief Anxiety Career and Life Transitions Men's Issues Business Partner Struggles Sexuality, Intimacy and Relationship Concerns LGBT, Kink and Queer Community Issues Spiritual Exploration Shame HIV and AIDS Compulsive Behaviors Adult Children of Alcoholics End of Life Issues Integration of psychedelic experiences
Giving and giving to others has left you feeling lonely and empty. You often feel like everyone around you has it better than you and you just don't want to keep suffering alone anymore. Your past continues to haunt you and you are realizing it is time to finally become the best version of you. Therapy with me can help you get there. I bring you a decades worth of experience in helping individuals transform their relationships. My integrative approach to healing will match your cultural experience. Clarity regarding your relationships, improved self-worth, and overall wellbeing will be gained. My approach is collaborative and strength-based, empowering you to be the best you. The day for you to start your journey towards feeling strong and secure in your decisions is here. Through our work together you will discover how resilient you are, making better choices for your future. Let’s start your healing process now, you are ready. Call me today for your free consultation to get started.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
My Background Hello and welcome! I have been helping people heal and live more fulfilling lives for over 20 years. I am just as passionate today as I was when I first began. My formal training began while studying psychology at UC Berkeley where I became interested in learning about the mind, human behavior and emotions, personality and developmental psychology. For several years after undergrad, I helped people with developmental disabilities by providing them with vocational, recreational and social opportunities so they can live their best lives. I later received my Masters in Clinical Social Work from Boston College where I dove deep into understanding human behavior in the context of environment. My post-masters work involved coaching parents on helping their children with autism and behavioral issues express their needs in safe and effective ways; managing a substance use helpline and providing crisis intervention and family therapy for people who were hospitalized due to severe and acute mental health issues. For three years, I provided group, family and individual therapies to clients at an Intensive Out Patient program in a bay-area hospital, teaching mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness skills. My Journey Growing up I was never taught how to appropriately identify and express my feelings or process pain. This caused me to direct any pain I experienced either inward towards myself or outward towards others. This resulted in hurtful and angry outbursts towards those I love or turning inward and experiencing numbness, anxiety, depression and shame. In my own therapy, I came to discover the power of changing the relationship I had with my emotions. I explored past wounds and destructive patterns and as a result, have experienced deep healing and changes that have significantly improved the quality of my life and have allowed me to experience more intimacy, happiness, deeper fulfillment and peace in all areas of my life. The work I have done in therapy has also had a powerful impact on my ability to serve my clients. My Approach I am compassionate, caring, and non judgmental. My clients have told me they appreciate my authenticity, kindness and creativity. I create a safe environment allowing people to feel comfortable discussing even the most sensitive issues. Clients also feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings on my approach to their therapy. This has lead to an open dialogue encouraging meaningful conversations, improving both the therapeutic relationship and outcomes for my clients. About Me A California native, I love spending time in nature, hiking, singing and recording songs, playing guitar, yoga, meditation, reading, traveling and spending time with friends and family. I also enjoy writing and reading about spirituality, psychology and personal development. I currently live in the San Francisco Bay Area.
My name is Volker Nabavi. I am a board certified Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. I had received trained in both medical and nursing fields. This diverse background enables me to apply both medical and nursing theories to manage my client’s mental health holistically and meet them at their level. I believe in a strong connection between our mind and body. My approach is based on the holistic care model involving all aspects of life including psychological, biological, emotional, social and spiritual dimensions. I understand that our mental health is inseparable from those aspects and our environment, relationships and lifestyle play crucial roles in our mental health. My area of interest includes: Depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, substance use, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and Bipolar disorders. I am an avid listener and authentic provider. I meet my client’s at their level and provide them with holistic care. I believe in multifactorial approach in managing my clients’ mental health. Combining psychotherapy , lifestyle change and medication is the optimal approach may lead to best clinical outcome and long term relief.
I specialize in working with young adults, teens, caregivers, and families navigating overwhelm, transitions, chronic stress, and challenging relationship dynamics. I provide therapy to help restore stability and trust for those who have experienced trauma or relational wounds such as loss, chronic invalidation, coercive control, neglect, and abuse. I also work with athletes and performance-driven individuals whose ambition, discipline, and high standards fuel their lives yet may conceal pain. I integrate a sports psychology lens when achievement pressure intersects with self-concept, trauma, or burnout. I support high-level performers facing intense demands, competitive dynamics, setbacks, identity shifts, and life beyond sport, drawing on my experience as a former Division I collegiate athlete. Seeking support is a meaningful step. From the start of our work together, we will create a space that feels grounded, intentional, and deeply human, with open and honest communication at its foundation. I invite you to reach out for a free consultation call to explore whether we are a good fit.