Therapists for college students near San Francisco State University

The people who come to me are curious to get to know themselves in a deeper away. I work with people to help them heal from trauma, interrupt unhelpful patterns, set healthier boundaries in relationships, dismantle crippling perfectionism, bolster their sense of self, increase self-esteem, mindfully manage anxiety, and live a more authentic existence. Together, we can work toward both short-term and long-term change.

Whatever difficulty is bringing you into therapy, ultimately it's an opportunity to learn about who you are, and how your personal and intergenerational history is affecting your experience of yourself and how you perceive the world. I work best with people who are hungry for this understanding, so they can untangle themselves from whatever is holding them back from living their best life. The truth can bring immense relief, but it is also often painful. I take seriously the need to create a relationship that is deeply compassionate and supportive, one that feels safe enough that you can confront whatever truth needs to be faced. We are embedded in cultures and political institutions that shape our experience. It is essential to consider larger social forces to fully make sense of our lives, and including these factors in the therapeutic process can help empower you by relating your personal difficulties to systems of power and oppression. Reaching out can be hard. I invite any skepticism or questions you have about me or how I work. I expect to earn your trust and respect, and I won't take it for granted.

My practice speciality areas include working with Anxiety, Panic, OCD, PTSD and Depression and relationship issues. My approach is warm, client- centered and with an aim to get you feeling better and back into living your best life possible as quickly as possible. The techniques I use most in practice involve methods from CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and EMDR.

As we move through life, we collect wounds that often never had the nourishment needed to heal properly. Our painful feelings hide deep inside, and we adapt in a variety of ways. Similar to how someone might go to a physical therapist for knee pain, only to find out that their knee pain exists because they hurt their hip years ago and compensated with misaligned posture, in life we experience psychological wounds that lead us to adapt our personality and behaviors in ways that are not aligned to who we actually are. In therapy, we listen to your thoughts and feelings and let them guide us toward the core parts of yourself that need healing. I provide a non-judgmental, grounded space where we can explore the ways you have adapted that are no longer working, welcome in the wounds that need healing, and allow you to become who you truly are.

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

Welcome! After my work on multiple college campuses, I have welcomed college students into my private practice. I work with all levels of students and programs. Being a student brings dynamic changes and stressors, I can help. Stress, family dynamics, extra curricular activities, roommates, and relationships are just a few areas I help students navigate at this unique time. Booking online is often a feature students appreciate as it is quick and easy. My practice is paperless and HIPPA compliant. Booking online is available: https://stephanie-fletcher.clientsecure.me/home

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Jessica C. Lief, MSW, LCSW, MLS Speciality: Eating Disorders, Body Image, Borderline Personality Disorder, Self-Harm, Substance Use LCSW and Psychotherapist Jessica C. Lief, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, body image, Borderline Personality Disorder, self-harm, and substance use. Jessica completed psychoanalytic training through the William Alanson White Institute of Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis, and Psychology in the Eating Disorders, Compulsions, and Addictions (EDCAS) Program. She also completed the advanced clinical supervision training program through Smith College School for Social Work. Her approach is primarily psychodynamic but combines aspects of self-psychology, feminist/womanist theories, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Seeking Safety, mindful self-compassion, and mindfulness. She is particularly interested in the treatment of eating disorders as a social justice issue, as they relate to people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. She is also adept at treating individuals diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Her grief and loss work is broad but focuses on motherless daughters, maternal grief and wounding, and emotional abandonment. Jessica also works with individuals who have experienced miscarriage, fertility-related issues, post-partum depression, anxiety, and psychosis, as well as post-partum PTSD. She also works with individuals undergoing IVF and who have struggled with women’s health issues, such as Endometriosis and PCOS, as well as individuals who are pregnant and struggling with an eating disorder. Jessica’s favorite part of being a therapist is guiding each client in their transformation and witnessing each step as it is achieved. Jessica will work with the client to identify what is deeply meaningful and important in that person’s life. The client will develop concrete skills to get their needs met directly. Jessica will help the client to develop powerful, inner resources, including self-compassion, emotion regulation techniques, radical self-acceptance, and confidence. Jessica earned her undergraduate degree from Sarah Lawrence College with a concentration in literature, nonfiction writing, and French. She earned a master’s degree in Advanced Clinical Practice in Social Work from New York University. She also earned a Master of Studies in Law with a concentration in Health Law with high honors from UC Law San Francisco. Currently, she is enrolled in a doctorate in social work program through Simmons University. LCSW# 87286 “Jessica’s style has been described as nurturing, empathetic, and empowering. She is direct, authentic and will never blame you for your suffering. She enjoys using humor in psychotherapy.”

The challenges and struggles we face in life can leave us feeling helpless and hopeless. Perhaps you’re overwhelmed with responsibilities. You might be taking care of other people and neglecting yourself. Or you might be struggling hard to make an important relationship work. You’ve tried more traditional kinds of self-help or therapy, and you’re ready for a different kind of therapy which integrates the mind, body and spirit.

Do you feel that your everyday challenges are beginning to overwhelm you? Have you set goals for yourself, but you have not been able to achieve them? The solution is in sight. With skill, professionalism, empathy, and compassion I can help you to achieve your goals and the life that you want. Because you are a unique individual, I will tailor my treatment methods to fit your unique situation and needs. I believe that we all have what it takes to meet and conquer life's many challenges and difficulties. I provide a warm, supportive, and interactive environment to explore and resolve your concerns by understanding their origin, acquiring the skills to utilize, implement, and attain the changes in your life that you want to achieve. Personal growth is the outcome, which enables happiness and success to follow. Each person is unique and the treatment method(s) that are utilized reflect this fact. I am highly skilled in a variety of clinical treatment methods and we will incorporate one of more of them during our work together. I look forward to helping you to become the person that you want to be.

Pain can quietly shape your life and sense of self, even when things look “fine” from the outside. It may show up as anxiety, depression, grief, anger, low self-esteem, substance use, or painful relationship patterns. You might notice yourself longing for closeness while also pulling away, or repeating dynamics you don’t fully understand. You may be navigating relationship challenges, life transitions, trauma, or longstanding attachment patterns that continue to surface in the present. Even when you can make sense of your experiences, something may still feel unresolved or unmoved. Together, we take time to know you and to understand how you experience yourself and others—how you relate, protect, and respond to closeness and emotion. We also pay attention to patterns as they emerge in your life and in therapy. My style is warm, collaborative, and relational. Our work supports greater awareness and a sense of safety, gradually loosening what has felt fixed so new possibilities can emerge. You’re welcome to reach out for a complimentary consultation. I reserve a few sliding scale spots for college students. Please reach out for more info.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I aim to provide a supportive environment that fosters reflection and growth. I am trained to provide evidence-based treatment in a flexible manner and often pull from CBT and DBT concepts and interventions. My approach emphasizes not only the building of skills to address your mental health symptoms but also skill development in the areas of communication and conflict management toward improving relationships. While I value maintaining a generalist practice, I have special interests in working with and supporting athletes and those who identify as a member of a marginalized group. I am also invested in helping people to access care that is right for them, and will make every effort to provide additional resources/providers if I am not the right fit.

We all need support to get through difficult times in our lives. Beginning with identifying your goals and areas of focus in therapy, we will work together at a pace that is comfortable for you. If you are struggling with feelings of depression, overwhelm, anxiety, grief or trauma, therapy can create space for transformation and healing. Whether you are looking for a sounding board when facing tough decisions about family, relationships, work or life transition, or you recognize a need for change, the therapeutic process can support you in making the changes you want to see in your life. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and EMDR Certified therapist with 15 years of counseling and psychotherapy experience, I provide short and long-term therapy to adults, adolescents, and families. My approach is individualized, and uses a combination of insight-oriented and cognitive behavioral therapies, as well as EMDR. I believe therapy should move at your pace, with a focus identified by you. In a non-judgmental and supportive atmosphere, we will work together to access your strengths and supports to find the most effective ways to cope.

I am from the Bay Area and went to residency at UCSF for psychiatry where I wad trained in student health. Since graduating residency in 2005, I have loved teaching and mentoring medical students, residents and peers at UCSF in many capacities such as: UCSF's Women, Mood and Hormone Clinic, Brain Mind and Behavior and a Dream Seminar. I have run a full time private practice in Cow Hollow from day 1 of graduating residency. It is therapy based with medication use/evaluations in that setting. I have an eclectic style and use many modalities: Psychodynamic, CBT, Dream interpretation, etc. In the last couple years, I have been more involved in organized psychiatry. I am currently an American Psychiatric Association (APA) Distinguished Fellow and Northern California Psychiatric Society (NCPS) Vice President. I look forward to connecting soon.

My practice is infused with warmth, care, and heart. Since childhood, I've held a deep curiosity for the relationships that make up our world. I greatly admire and honor these connections - whether between caregivers and children, friends, romantic partners, or animals we see in nature. This curiosity led me to become a relational therapist, where I now have the privilege of walking alongside individuals and couples on their journeys, creating an environment that brings to light the connection that has always existed between us and guiding relationships toward deeper, more resilient roots together. Integrative and relational in nature, the therapeutic work I do incorporates somatics, person-centered therapy, and mindfulness practices. I hold the belief that we all carry our own innate wisdom, and as such, I create space in the therapeutic relationship for my clients to be the experts on themselves and to articulate their needs, wants, and experiences in a safe, nurturing environment. The focus within my work is less on fixing and more on accompanying your human-ness. In addition to the work I do with couples, I am passionate about providing care to those navigating the journey to parenthood. This love for the perinatal space and supporting future and new parents started when I was a child and would spend a great deal of time caring for young children in my community and connecting with their caregivers. Since, this passion has expanded through advocacy work in the paid parental leave space and training I’ve completed as a Postpartum Doula. This beautiful time of transition into parenthood brings about inevitable change, and it is a true joy and privilege of mine to hold a nurturing space for people to process these changes, cultivate connection during a time when community is needed, and heal. I'm not a parent myself at this stage in my life, yet I feel deeply called to this meaningful work of supporting individuals and couples as they navigate these profound life transitions.

Before I became a psychotherapist I was a neuroscientist with the focus on neuropsychology. My approach in therapy is informed by my understanding of the brain/mind/body interplay. I practice solution-oriented evidence-based approaches, and enjoy working with high-functioning clients who want to boost their resilience and emotional intelligence.