Therapists for college students near San Diego, CA

I'm a clinical psychologist with extensive expertise working with individuals facing a variety of life's challenges such as depression, anxiety, grief, relationship issues, and life transitions. I also incorporate EMDR to support my clinical work for clients who have experienced various types of trauma. You can expect to work collaboratively and at your pace to address your concerns. I prioritize the development of a safe and trusting therapeutic foundation that allows for deeper understanding and supports your growth. Additionally, I am able to practice via telehealth in over 30 states through PsyPact. If things are hard right now, as life can often be, please reach out. You don't have to do this alone. When you are ready to take the next step I am happy to provide a free consultation call to help determine if we are a good fit. I look forward to talking with you!

Students come to me for various reasons. Sometimes it is to understand why they are feeling the way they are feeling, to understand unwanted symptoms, or behaviors, to understand why their motivation has shifted, or to learn strategies to manage symptoms. I specialize in trauma and health

​Hi there, and welcome. The choice to begin the therapeutic process is a powerful step in the direction of growth, healing, and a deeper source of empathy for oneself. I view therapy as a foundation of support with moving through whatever hardships may come your way, whether that means navigating grief, trauma, or the struggles of daily life. My approach to therapy can be described as casual, warm, and engaging with a sprinkle of my own personality and sense of humor. I prioritize supporting clients with accessing validation for themselves that they might allow for others and emphasize internal acceptance while challenging thoughts that may prevent folks from moving forward. My hope is for sessions to feel like a space to settle in, collaborate, and investigate together how your past influences your present. I have over eight years of experience working within the mental health community and have been providing therapy for over five years. I work with a variety of issues such as day-to-day stressors, depression, anxiety, and life transitions. I have also received extensive training on crisis intervention and deescalation as well as interventions for passive suicidal ideation, superficial self-harm, and struggles with substance abuse. ​ Therapeutic modalities that I utilize in treatment include: Narrative Therapy Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Attachment Therapy Humanistic Therapy Feminist Therapy ​ In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my cats, gardening, camping, doing yoga, needle pointing, and playing video games.

Many of the students I work with feel overwhelmed by their thoughts, anxious about the future, or stuck in patterns they can’t seem to break. Some deal with intrusive thoughts, constant worry, or panic that gets in the way of school, relationships, or sleep. Others are coping with past experiences, burnout, or the pressure to “keep it all together.” I offer a space where you don’t have to pretend you’re fine. Together, we slow things down, understand what’s happening in your mind and body, and build tools that help you feel more grounded, confident, and in control of your life.

During challenging times, people often feel defeated and focus on what is wrong. I want to shift the focus from what is "not working" to identifying what is "working." We will work to uncover patterns (behavioral, thought beliefs, relationship), that will lead you to making better decisions. I want to offer a safe place to process thoughts and feelings around issues that can be challenging. I am interested in helping people who experience stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief/loss and challenges with relationships (social or romantic). Many conversations are around “adulting” and how to manage life, career, relationships, etc. I teach clients how negative thought patterns/language effect mood and behavior. Narrative and Solution Focused therapy assists in shifting from self-defeating language/thoughts to a positive life narrative. I utilize CBT and teach the basics of how thoughts effect behavior/mood. I teach ACT concepts- to learn how our emotions and thoughts are related. I teach mindfulness to help with coping.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

It is discouraging to navigate a world that doesn’t see you, that misunderstands you or makes you invisible based on your gender, race, sexuality, size, trauma history and a host of other factors. Systemic oppression impacts your mental health as much your history does. It can be intimidating to reach out to a therapist because you want to find someone who really understands you. Mental health has a history of victim-blaming and pathologizing. I am a queer therapist offering trauma-informed therapy for individuals and couples. I utilize an intersectional feminist and social justice lens. I specialize in working with queer, gender-blessed and other non-mainstream individuals and relationships, including non-monogamous, age-gap, cross-cultural and queer relationships.

I am Bicultural and Bilingual in English and Spanish. I offer culturally sensitive therapeutic care in my practice. I am a gender affirming clinician. I offer individual therapy to those struggling with anxiety, depression, grief and trauma. I have specialized training in treating trauma with a treatment called EMDR. I help those struggling with life transitions increase their coping mechanisms to thrive. I work with Octave Behavioral Health. At Octave, I am in-network with Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, and Health Net / MHN commercial insurance plans. If you have coverage under one of these plans, please visit findoctave.com to schedule an appointment. I am currently offering Telehealth appointments exclusively

The idea of therapy can be overwhelming for many. People sometimes associate therapy with a sense of inadequacy or inability to handle their own problems. They often do not recognize the act of seeking self-improvement as courageous, which, of course, it is. In my work with individuals, I create a safe space where they are able to heal, grow, and flourish. With compassion and empathy, I guide each person through the process of understanding the root of their problems so they may discover a greater depth of personal insight and self-awareness. Through that process, I find great satisfaction in witnessing each person heal their emotional wounds and develop self-love and self-compassion as they begin living a more fulfilling existence with inner peace and enriched relationships.

Trinette, a dedicated Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), emphasizes collaboration with her patients in treating psychiatric disorders and managing medications. She partners with them, integrating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and supportive and talk therapy to meet their unique needs. Together, they explore CBT techniques, where Trinette guides patients to identify and reframe distorted thoughts—say, tackling anxiety-driven fears—co-creating strategies that empower them to cope. In MI, she works alongside patients, sparking their motivation to embrace treatment plans, like sticking to meds or therapy for depression, ensuring their voice drives the process. Through supportive talk therapy, Trinette and her patients jointly unpack emotions, building trust as they process challenges like trauma, reinforcing their resilience as a team. In medication management, collaboration shines: Trinette assesses symptoms and histories with patient input, designing psychopharmacological plans together. She explains options—perhaps adjusting an antipsychotic for bipolar disorder—while they monitor effects and tweak dosages as a unit, balancing efficacy and comfort. For instance, a patient with OCD might co-develop a plan blending CBT for obsessions and a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, refining it based on shared feedback. This partnership fosters ownership, as patients feel heard and respected. By merging these therapies with tailored medication, Trinette and her patients collaboratively address mind and body, paving the way for sustainable mental wellness through mutual effort and understanding.

My name is Blanca Martinez Walter and I am a licensed Latina holistic and spiritual therapist, living in Denver, Colorado. I am licensed in both the state of California and Colorado. The fancy title I have earned is Licensed Clinical Social Worker, but I prefer the other title (spiritual therapist). I blend my experience working with Latinx in psychotherapy with my deep interest in spirituality and the mind, body, and soul connection. My therapeutic approach is holistic, incorporating intuition, signs that universe sends you, body awareness, inner child work, and a comprehensive understanding of your past and present experiences to understand how you came to be. In my practice I work with first generation latinas/latinos seeking change, wanting to get more attuned to their intuition, open to looking at past patterns and being challenged, all the while doing so with a therapist that has a cultural background similar to theirs. Common issues addressed in my practice include the effects of childhood parentification, perfectionism, self-care issues, life transitions, grief, relationship challenges, and other issues unique to the first-generation experience. As your therapist, I will be your cheerleader and I will also be that person that challenges you and disagrees with you, because without discomfort there is no growth. I balance both humor, gentleness and disagreement in my therapeutic sessions. And yes, I speak Spanglish. I offer a free 15 min consultation to determine what your needs are going to be, what you are looking for in treatment and with that determine whether we would be a good match. I can offer a special rate for college students of $90 for 45 minutes. *If you are dealing with suicidal thoughts, it may be determined that telehealth is not the option.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Navigating this world as a woman of color provides me with insight of a wide range of life experiences such as difficulty with change, inequalities, traumas, toxic relationships, workplace exploitation, managing a society that values binary labels and much more. Seeking therapy can be complex and multi-layered, so finding a therapist you connect with is essential. I believe in a working partnership with clients and strive to utilize client strengths to help with each intervention. Rather than work from any one theoretical orientation, I create interventions to match the specific needs of each unique individual, based on my years of accumulated knowledge and experience. The range of evidence based therapeutic modalities I utilize to help achieve goals include cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, EMDR, motivational interviewing, solution-focused, narrative, and psychoeducation. Allow me to join your journey of individual or group healing!

Hi, my name is Esma. Clients come to my practice looking for a therapist who can get to the root of their problem. I specialize in working with sensitive, high-functioning people who look fine on the outside but feel stuck on the inside. My practice is integrative, trauma-informed, and centered around helping clients navigate trauma, complex PTSD, anxiety, relationship challenges, and attachment wounds. I draw from Brainspotting, IFS, ACT, CBT, and other holistic approaches depending on each client’s individual needs and goals. I’m not afraid of hard conversations, and I won’t tiptoe around the things that matter. Clients appreciate that I’m both caring and direct. I’m not cold or overly clinical, but I also won’t sugarcoat things or avoid difficult conversations. I help clients get underneath the surface and start making real changes. I also use humor naturally in session because sometimes humor creates the exact amount of honesty, perspective, and relief people need to finally let their guard down. Therapy can be deep and challenging without feeling rigid or performative. I’m both caring and straightforward. I bring warmth and honesty into the room equally. You’ll feel supported, but you’ll also be held accountable. I believe both are necessary for growth. I offer both in-person and online therapy services in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego. I especially enjoy working with young adults and creating flexible, accessible options for support. Some of the services I currently offer include: • Brainspotting Group Therapy — Self-Love & Secure Attachment (weekly with flexible attendance) • Brainspotting Group + occasional individual therapy as needed • As-needed therapy (individual or couples) • Weekly therapy (individual or couples) • Every-other-week therapy (individual or couples) • Therapy intensives (individual or couples)

Very often feels that if one area of your life is going well, another takes a nose dive. Often the clients I work with are determined, successful and focused but still, something feels like it is not correctly aligned. Many of my clients struggle with relationships, feeling comfortable with others, anxiety and depression. College is a formative time but can very often feel that you are alone trying to figure everything out: what do I want to do? How do I separate what I want from what my parents, friends, professors or peers want? Do I feel ready to be an "adult?" Therapy can help you figure out who you are and where you want to go. Most importantly, meeting with a therapist can help you make sense of it all.

As a professional counselor and family therapist who's spent the better part of the past decade helping teens and adolescents navigate the transition to college and the beginnings of their young adult lives, as well as helping international students acclimate to their new environment, I'm here to let you know that ... Despite what anyone tells you, you don't need to have it all figured out. What many people don't want to admit or face is that life is a continuous process of growth and change. However, once you realize and embrace that fact, everything else becomes much easier, more rewarding, and fun. This is what counseling for college students and young adults is all about: learning to embrace change, discover who you really are, and create the relationships and life you desire and deserve. My job as a psychotherapist is to help you explore your values and beliefs and align your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with who you really are, so you can let go of any unnecessary tension, cope with and move past anxiety and depression, communicate more effectively with others, and live a more authentic and joyous life. And it doesn't have to take a long time. You don't need to be in therapy until you're middle-aged! You decide on your goals for our work together, and we'll figure out the most effective and efficient ways of achieving them. If you're ready to embrace this time in your life, discover your personal power and feel confident and comfortable making big decisions, enjoy exploring all of the possibilities for the future, and make sure you’re on the right path for you, I encourage you to contact me today.

Hi there! I am Janna Spiegel, an LCSW with over 5 years of experience supporting college-aged women like you navigate life's twists and turns. Whether you're adjusting to campus life, facing relationship hurdles, grappling with the pressure of future choices, or feeling overwhelmed by anxiety and stress – I'm here to help you find your footing and thrive. I use a warm, empathetic approach, creating a safe space where you can explore your challenges without judgment. We will work together to understand your unique experiences and develop practical solutions that empower you to take control. I use a combination of solution-focused therapy, cognitive behavioral strategies and a client-centered approach, tailoring each session to your specific needs and goals. We'll work on building resilience, managing stress, navigating relationships, and making choices that align with your values and goals. Whether you are navigating through homesickness, academic pressures, career dilemmas, or relationship challenges, I offer a non-judgmental space, where you will have the opportunity to delve into your experiences without reservation. I am here to serve as your guide, be your biggest supporter, and your collaborator on your journey towards a rewarding college experience and a promising future.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Wellspace SF is an integrative practice of psychotherapists, certified coaches, and holistic health practitioners dedicated to a common goal: guiding, inspiring, and empowering individuals to live more authentic, happy and healthy lives. From navigating personal and professional roadblocks, to achieving optimal health and wellness, our mission is to provide individualized and innovative support centered on the whole person. Therapist specializations include: Gen Z and Millennials, "quarterlife crises" and life transitions, trauma, self-esteem, anxiety, social anxiety, OCD, depression, imposter syndrome, gender, racial and sexual identity, dating + relationships, career indecision, disordered eating, body image, children of emotionally immature parents, sleep disorders, and more. Our integrative services also include health and nutrition coaching, life and relationship coaching, and career coaching. We offer complementary consultations with all of our clinicians, in-person + virtual appointments, and a convenient downtown SF location for our local clients.