Therapists for college students near San Francisco, CA

I was inspired by my mother who was always there for me. She spent time talking, guiding, supporting, encouraging, and nurturing me. She helped me get through difficult times in my life. She was a positive role model and cared and guided others. I know how one person can make a drastic difference in someone’s life. I have always wanted to help others and that is why I went into a helping profession. I am a good listener and utilize empathy. I validate your life experience and understand how that may impact your life. My goal is to help you feel understood and guide you on how to understand your thoughts and behaviors so you can make changes to improve your life. I like to start where the client is. I collaborate with client on identifying treatment goals that they want to work on. Respect, open communication, and self-determination is important in building trust in relationships. My goal is to help you feel safe, heard, and understood.

I specializes in providing individual and family therapy services. I offers a supportive and empathetic environment to help clients navigate through life's challenges and improve their mental well-being. I enjoy working with young adults as they learn and gain their understanding on their journey.

Santa Cruz Therapy Collective (SCTC) is a place for support, healing, and growth. We understand what you’re going through: work burnout, childhood trauma, panic, family distress, sadness. As a group of experienced colleagues who have worked together for years, we have numerous specialties, making sure you connect to a therapist who understands and can help you overcome your struggles. We’re trained in science-backed techniques that help you become more mindful, reflective, and connected as you build resilience, manage distress, and feel more fulfilled. As a therapy client at SCTC, you’ll have engaging, thought-provoking sessions that give you clarity, perspective, and self-compassion.

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.

What inspired me to become a therapist was my own personal experience with therapy as a young child. I wanted to help other people with their journey to become mentally healthy, mindful, and self-aware for a new lifestyle that is encouraging and fulfilling to them. My goal is to create a safe space for clients during sessions by being an observant, nonjudgmental, and an empathetic therapist. My philosophy is “Aim Small to Hit Big”, which means to be present in the moment and set small attainable goals for yourself to build upon your successes and celebrate accomplishments one goal at a time.

My experience covers a wide variety of presenting concerns and backgrounds. Working for a decade in higher education I spent a great deal of time with high achievers who were managing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship and identity concerns. I am a strengths based, person centered therapist at my core, who utilizes perspectives and interventions from many areas of treatment, e.g., identity development models, systems theory, interpersonal and cognitive behavioral therapy. I believe people often have the answers for themselves if given the proper conditions for reflection and growth.

I am a bilingual therapist helping individuals dealing with trauma, depression, anxiety, behavioral issues, life-stage transitions, and other debilitating situations. My work is client-centered and culturally sensitive. I use evidence-based practices to provide focused treatment and positive outcomes. I incorporate solution-focused, narrative, cognitive-behavioral, and family systems techniques. Through talk therapy, I guide clients to overcome issues affecting their everyday lives. I work with individual adults addressing depression, anxiety, and trauma, and their effects on mood, functioning, and relationships. I focus on your strengths, thoughts, feelings, and dynamics for a healthier you. I also work with the LGBTQ community on youth-at-risk issues, coming-out, and exploring the lifestyle you want to create.

Stress, Anxiety, Overwhelm, and Uncertainty. How long can we go on like this? What happens when it gets to be too much? Living like this can push you past your limits. I notice that people tend to seek help for "mental health" when the symptoms of stress that affect their "physical health" worsen. My approach to helping clients is rooted in my understanding that mental, physical, and emotional health are all inextricably intertwined. I work with Highly Sensitive Persons (see the self questionnaire at: www.hsperson.com) who struggle to cope with the fast paced, overwhelming and uncertain environment our lives have become. I also work with many people who recognize their childhoods as having been painful or traumatic.I am trained in EMDR. Therapy can help develop the tools you need to create the life you want to live.

I conduct psychoeducational evaluations to assess children and adults for Learning Disabilities including Dyslexia, Attention/ADHD, Executive Functioning, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Giftedness, Depression, Anxiety, and other educationally relevant mental health concerns. Comprehensive evaluations may include assessing a student's cognitive functioning, processing abilities, academic achievement, social/emotional functioning, and/or adaptive behavior. Psychoeducational evaluations for adults are conducted on those who may need support within higher education, in the workplace or to seek employment, and with high-stakes professional exams. Comprehensive evaluations allow us to identify needs and areas of concern, as well as highlight areas of strength. They allow us to best determine a student's learning profile and what supports they may need to access their education, which is why assessment is a crucial first step. Please reach out for your assessment and consultation needs.

Looking for a fresh approach to therapy? Student life is beyond stressful, and sometimes words are not enough. My approach is collaborative and creative. We step outside traditional talk therapy by incorporating drama therapy and other creative arts to imagine new possibilities, gain practical tools, and reawaken joy. Healing Arts Counseling Center specializes in depression, anxiety, life and cultural transitions, chronic illness/disability and neurodivergence.

Who I Work Best With: Most of my clients are people who've gotten really good at functioning — and really tired of it. You've probably figured out how to hold things together, stay busy, keep up. But something isn't working anymore. Maybe you're exhausted in a way you can't explain. Maybe you're finally asking questions you've been pushing down for years — about who you are, what you believe, how you want to love, or why your brain works the way it does. A lot of people I work with are navigating things like anxiety, depression, identity, relationships that don't fit a neat box, or a major life shift — faith deconstruction, a breakup, figuring out you're neurodivergent later in life. Some are just trying to get through the week without falling apart. If that's you, we'd probably work well together. What Working With Me Looks Like: I'm not going to sit quietly and just reflect things back at you. I'm also not the worksheet-and-homework type. My style is pretty collaborative and direct — I'll gently push back when I think it'll actually help, and I'll meet you where you are. I have 15 years of experience working with new parents and kids before becoming a therapist, which means I come in with a lot of real-world, people-first perspective. I also have personal experience with religious deconstruction — so if you're untangling a faith background or questioning things you were raised to believe, I genuinely get it, not just clinically. I work especially well with people who are neurodivergent, queer or questioning, in non-traditional relationships (like polyamory or ENM), or somewhere in the middle of a big life change. You don't have to have it figured out to reach out.

As a couple and family therapist, I have a strong conviction in the healing power of healthy relationships.  Connecting to your authentic self and fostering wellness in all relationships in your life is a primary focus of my work.  I provide individual, couple and family psychotherapy for youth and adults of all family and relationship constellations. My holistic approach incorporates body, mind and spirit to help you create your full personal and relational potential.  In my practice, I utilize psychotherapy, EMDR, somatic awareness, meditation and mindfulness practices, movement, and other modalities to facilitate the growth and change you seek.  I would be honored to support you on your journey.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I am deeply committed to helping people create the most fulfilling lives possible as they move through and beyond challenges such as anxiety, depression, stress, college adjustment, ADHD, as well as relationship and self-esteem issues. When life has thrown you off your path, I work with you to restore your natural capacity for self-compassion and healing and provide unwavering emotional support as you create a thriving life with healthier relationships.

I work best with students who might look like they have it together on the outside, but inside feel anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck. You might be dealing with school stress, burnout, relationship challenges, family conflict, or navigating individuation and identity as you figure out who you are and what you want. You may also be going through a big life transition. If you’re someone who wants a space to actually talk things through, feel understood, and also learn tools to manage what’s coming up day-to-day, we’ll likely be a good fit.

Telehealth in CA Do you know who you are, what you need, where you want to go in life, how to get there? Does it seem like others have their sh*t together while you sometimes can't figure out what you are doing? How do you make choices and decisions if you don't know which way to turn? How do you create healthy relationships if you didn't have the best role models at home? How can you calm your worry and anxiety about school, life, and your future? Do you have any physical or medical problems interfering with your life? Has life dumped a truckload of lemons on your doorstep? We don't always choose our circumstances, but we still have to figure out how to deal with them. It helps to have a non-judgmental, supportive person to help you sort through these big life issues. Call me to see if I might be that person for you. While I am white and cis gender, I have clients and family members from a range of personal identities. My schedule varies, so we'd need to see what fits for virtual sessions.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Our approach is one of compassion, providing a non-judgmental place to help you safely explore life's challenges and strengthen your connection to yourself; fostering lasting emotional well-being. We offer a wide range of specialties and interventions styles. Reach out and we will set you up with a therapist that best suites your needs and therapeutic style

I believe that anyone can benefit from therapy. Whether you’re facing life’s challenges, experiencing anxiety or depression, or you are just interested in growth and strengthening your sense of self; we all need a neutral person to talk to from time to time. I carry with me a warm, grounded presence. I have a nonjudgmental demeanor and prefer to avoid giving advice, but instead work together to explore options and possible solutions to issues. I have an eclectic approach that is primarily rooted in psychodynamics and tailored to the needs of the individual and their circumstances. I am open to working with anyone interested in pursuing therapy; some examples of challenges I am skilled at working with are anxiety, depression, interpersonal challenges, grief, life transitions, relationships, gender, sexuality, family issues, existential challenges, and individuation. I am LGBTQ+ friendly and poly friendly

Our Mission is to provide accessible, culturally responsive mental health care that empowers historically and systemically marginalized individuals, families, and communities to heal, grow, and thrive! As a community-focused agency, we are dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where clients and employees can show up as their full, authentic selves. Through compassionate, holistic, and collaborative treatment, we strive to increase access to high-quality, consistent, and effective mental health services that honor each person's unique experiences and needs.