Therapists for college students near San Diego, CA

I work best with clients who are passionate about self-discovery, social change, and navigating life’s challenges. Many of the individuals I support are exploring identity, facing societal pressures, or advocating for human rights, including LGBTQ+ issues, women’s rights, and other radical movements. College can be a time of immense growth and uncertainty, and I help students manage stress, relationships, and personal identity while balancing academic and social expectations. Whether struggling with anxiety, self-esteem, or navigating systemic injustices, I provide a supportive, affirming space to explore these challenges. My goal is to empower clients to embrace their authentic selves and build resilience in the face of adversity.

My name is Erika Arias MSN, FNP-BC, PMHNP, I believe that mental health treatment needs to be personalized so that individuals in need of help are provided with unstigmatized care, to be heard, validated, and treated like human beings. I provide psychiatric evaluations and medication management for patients between the ages of 18-70 years old. I diagnose and treat significant depressive disorders, generalized anxiety disorders, PTSD, insomnia, schizophrenia, ADHD, OCD, and mood disorders and provide services in addiction medicine.

I am a registered associate marriage and family therapist and associate professional clinical counselor who offers in in person (Los Angeles) and virtual psychotherapy (California). I specialize in working with adolescents and young adults navigating eating disorders and their underlying emotional experiences, as well as anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, identity and sexuality exploration, life stressors and transitions, acculturation, neurodivergence, and self-esteem. College can be an overwhelming time, but you don't have to be all alone. Through collaboration and support, I aim to create a warm, supportive space for clients to take a moment for themselves, explore their experiences, and deepen self-understanding. My practice is specifically tailored to each client's needs and goals. I utilize trauma-aware, systemic perspectives with skill-based teachings of CBT and DBT. My approach to psychotherapy is grounded in 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming care.

Whether you need support through a big life change, you’re ready to address recent and/or past trauma, or would like to understand yourself and your relationships better, I bring an engaged, empathic, non-judgmental attitude to our time together. My approach is collaborative, attachment focused, and trauma informed; I will seek and welcome your feedback throughout our time working together to make sure you agree with and understand how we're working on your concerns.

As a mental health clinician, I find a great joy in working with young individuals in their early 20's and 30's who may struggle with depression, anxiety, and trauma. Through active listening and communication, client's have found therapy to be a place to "think out loud" and allow themselves to feel or experience emotions that would otherwise be ignored and forgotten. Therapy is a place to being authentic, to grow in self awareness, and to be empowered by one's successes and shortcomings. I am passionate about supporting the Asian American community. As an Asian American therapist, I want to support Asian American individuals who may struggle with cultural identities, family relational issues and addressing culture specific topics that impact one's social and emotional wellness.

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As a QTPOC clinician, my passion is working with folks who experience multilayered marginalized identities to help us all learn, grow, and evolve.

Are you someone who feels like they’re always “on”? Your mind rarely rests; constantly replays moments, worries about what’s next, or wondering if you're doing enough? For some, this shows up as anxiety and overthinking that keeps them feeling disconnected from themselves. For others, it’s the exhaustion that comes with work, school, parenting — wanting to be patient and present, but feeling triggered or stretched too thin. Underneath it all, you desire to feel calm and grounded. You want to understand why you react the way you do, how your past experiences influence your emotions today, and how to begin responding differently. My work helps you move from self-criticism to self-understanding, and from constant reactivity to clarity and connection — within yourself and your relationships. I create a space that feels safe, supportive, and curious — one where you can learn to regulate your nervous system, reconnect to your needs, and build a sense of trust in yourself.

In my practice, I always make the effort to meet my clients where they're at in their lives in a non-judgmental and non-pathologizing manner as I assume that many of the behaviors people want to change may have served a really important purpose at some point in their history. Life is hard and we're all trying to navigate its challenges as best we can. Clients who tend to work well with me are often curious about their history and willing to explore how previous experiences contribute to the concerns they are wanting to address in the present. This information will be used to help clients reconnect with who they truly are so they can begin to live a life that is authentic and satisfying.

Hello, I am Kathleen Mates-Youngman, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, International Speaker and Author of Best Selling COUPLES THERAPY WORKBOOK. I have worked for Student Psychological Services at Chapman University, as well as students from other local universities, and find it very important and rewarding to help with the many social & emotional challenges during the college years,

HeartWork Psychology offers individual therapy services to adolescents and adults. We promote wellness and vitality through integrative and personalized care. We believe that therapy is a collaborative process that can lead to powerful transformation and personal fulfillment. Our approach is to collaborate with you and use what matters most to you as a guide towards making important changes in your life. The specific strategies and tools that we offer help shift your relationship to difficult thoughts and feelings, and facilitate movement towards your personal goals. We have extensive training in evidence-based approaches, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). We use these research-informed approaches within a culturally sensitive framework and strive to create a space that is respectful, warm, and welcoming to all. In an effort to promote social distancing and help slow the spread of COVID-19, we are currently conducting all therapy sessions via secure video or phone.

Therapy is truly an odd place. It is a social, emotional, and mental experience unlike any other. You are plucked from your life and placed in a room or screen where the process and conversations revolve around you and your life. This can be daunting and debilitating, but also transformative, fascinating, and full of wonder and opportunity. Sometimes our lives ask that we be machines like everyone else, regurgitating what everyone else is doing. We are conditioned to disconnect from ourselves in order to function in this society. We are told there’s only one version of ourselves that is acceptable. My attempt will be in accompanying on your journey of building your individual unique identity and vitality. I have had multiple years of experience working with students that are navigating feelings of inadequacy, shame, and loneliness. I also have worked extensively with supporting students in highly competitive environments with pressure to conform, while building their authenticity and their voice. My practice is catered towards building a space for the client and their individual needs.

I am a Marriage & Family Therapist who uses a strength-based approach rooted in authenticity, compassion, and understanding. My approach is informed by Attachment Theory, Family Systems Theory, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. These theories guide me to help clients get unstuck from problematic relational patterns, nurture secure attachment bonds, develop more satisfying relationships, and work through challenges such as trauma, anxiety, and depression. I enjoy working with a variety of concerns including relational distress in families & couples, emotional & behavioral issues in children & adolescents & healing from past trauma. I place a high value on building a trustworthy collaborative therapeutic relationship with my clients. I believe therapy is most effective when clients know that their therapist respects, understands, and values them. I make it a priority to ensure my clients have this experience with me in therapy. I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with you and if you would like to explore the possibility of working together, I offer a free 15-20-minute consultation by phone. Please call or email me, and I will get back to you within 24-48 hours.

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I love working collaboratively with my clients to find a plan for mental wellness that is tailored to the individual. Each case presents a unique set of circumstances that cannot be fit into a one size fits all approach. While my primary area of expertise is on medication management, I do incorporate some holistic practices into my treatment plans. In addition to medication management, I use CBT, DBT, and Family Systems Therapy in my therapeutic approach. I typically work with clients with an array of mental health concerns ranging from depression and anxiety to bipolar disorders and schizophrenia. I have additional training in perinatal mental health and enjoy working with birthing persons in planning for pregnancy as well as managing mood symptoms during pregnancy and in the postpartum period.

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Venita Ninemire, APN is a caring and skilled practitioner, certified in both family practice and in psychiatry and mental health. Venita has over 7 years of practice experience and provides trust in caring for patients and families of all ages throughout their lifespan. She seeks to develop trust and rapport with the people she serves and is able to communicate openly and honestly to develop and build a good rapport. Her primary goal in your care is to help nurture patients' overall health and wellness issues considering all aspects of "being human", like success, failure, and coping with life issues, as well as taking action to address those areas where all people sometimes need some gentle guidance. Venita works with all facets of mental health including depression, anxiety, children's behavioral problems, sleep problems, mood disorders, and bipolar disorder. Outside of her work, she enjoys cooking and baking, entertaining friends, occasionally catering events, and most of all, spoiling her 3 grandchildren. She knows and understands the stresses of today's busy families and lives. She understands what it is like to be that busy mom or father with kids traveling all over participating in various sports events, and school activities, while trying to take classes, work full-time, and maintain a balance in family life. She is committed to providing excellence in mental health care for you and your loved ones.

Hi! I am a 2nd generation Taiwanese American woman who specializes in providing culturally-attuned psychotherapy to ethnic minority populations. Areas of clinical expertise include mood disorders, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, family conflict, intergenerational trauma, and minority stress. I am passionate about working with clients who find themselves dissatisfied with where they are in their relationships with themselves, with others, or with life in general and are looking for a change. I love to work with individuals who are driven to develop more insight into who they are and why they engage in certain patterns of emotion and behavior over and over again in order to move towards more fulfilling and healthy patterns. I specialize in providing culturally-attuned therapy to diverse, ethnic minority populations. The field of psychology is still largely White dominated, and I take pride in providing culturally-attuned psychotherapy for ethnic minority patients where we incorporate cultural stigma, intergenerational trauma, minority stress, and more into our work together. Life can be so complicated and challenging to navigate alone! Your presence here tells me that a part of you wants to seek safety, harbor connection, and to grow as a person. Finding a therapist who is a good fit can be very challenging. I would love to chat with you briefly over the phone to see if we would be a good fit to work together towards your goals.

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As a therapist, I’m here to be supportive of your goals and help you feel confident in taking your next step towards rediscovering you. I believe in being authentic and invite you to come as you are by being your true self. I’ll help challenge your perspective and reframe any unhelpful thinking that may be getting in the way of your life. Life is already difficult with enough uncertainty in the world, but having a safe place to talk freely about yourself and the things that impact you is greatly needed. My clients are typically women, BIPOC, LGBTQ and others that are looking for a place to take the mask off, improve their self-identity and esteem, improve their relationships, and take steps toward building the best versions of themselves.