Therapists for college students near San Diego State University

I was drawn to the field of therapy because I’ve always been deeply interested in understanding the complexities of human emotion, relationships, and resilience. Over time, I witnessed how meaningful it can be for people to have a space where they feel truly heard and supported through life’s most difficult moments. I am inspired by the strength individuals show in facing their challenges, and I am passionate about helping clients navigate their experiences, gain insight, and create meaningful change in their lives. Seeking therapy is an important step toward growth and healing, and I am committed to providing a supportive, collaborative environment where clients feel safe to explore their challenges and strengths. My clinical work is grounded in evidence-based practices and tailored to meet the individual needs of each client. I specialize in working with individuals experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, life transitions, and issues related to self-esteem and emotional regulation. My approach integrates trauma-informed care, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based interventions, and attachment-focused work. I work with clients to not only address current symptoms but also to identify and process underlying patterns that may be contributing to ongoing distress. With experience in both treatment facility and private practice settings, I bring a comprehensive understanding of complex clinical presentations. I am dedicated to helping clients develop insight, build effective coping strategies, and foster lasting personal growth. I believe that a strong therapeutic relationship is the foundation for meaningful work in therapy. From the very beginning, my focus is on creating a space where you feel safe, heard, and respected. I approach each client with genuine curiosity, empathy, and non-judgment, allowing us to build trust at a pace that feels comfortable for you. Through open communication, collaboration, and consistency, we work together to create a partnership where you feel supported in exploring difficult emotions and experiences. I am committed to honoring your unique story while helping you gain new insight and develop effective tools to support your growth. Working together will be a collaborative process where we move at a pace that feels right for you. In the beginning, we’ll spend time getting to know each other, learning about what’s bringing you in, what you’re hoping to get out of therapy, and what feels important to you. Building trust takes time, and I truly respect that.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

What inspired me to become a therapist is my belief that it’s never too late to make meaningful changes in life. My own path to becoming an LMFT began in my mid-30s, which gives me a personal understanding of how powerful growth and change can be at any stage. Since becoming licensed in 2010, I’ve enjoyed supporting people through challenges such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, life transitions, LGBTQIA+ concerns, and women’s issues. In our work together, my goal is to help you feel heard, understood, and supported. I believe you are the expert on your own life, and I work collaboratively with you to explore what’s getting in the way of the life you want. I often use tools from Solution-Focused Therapy, mindfulness, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you gain insight, build skills, and feel empowered to make changes. Building trust is an important part of the process. In the first few sessions, I focus on getting to know you, answering any questions you have about therapy, and creating a safe, supportive space where you can speak openly. Seeking therapy takes courage, and my goal is to create a respectful and collaborative environment where we can work together toward your goals. A lighthearted detail I sometimes share is that I really enjoy all forms of entertainment, especially movies, TV, listening to music and going to live music events. It helps me recharge and stay grounded, and it’s something that often resonates with people who are also looking for ways to care for their well-being.

Hello, I consider myself a collaborative therapist who will be as helpful as possible in the process of therapy, I really enjoy and love working with young adults who are adapting to new environments, dealing with stress and relationships, please feel free to ask me anything

Are you finding it difficult to stay focused, manage your time, and stay organized? Do you struggle with meeting deadlines, keeping track of tasks, or following through on projects? As an ADHD-CCSP (Certified Clinical Services Provider), I can help guide you with targeted strategies that you can use in your daily life to perform better at work, school or in your relationships. In addition to supporting adults with ADHD, I also enjoy working with emerging adults (ages 18-29) who are navigating the challenges of undergraduate or graduate school, as well as those in the early stages of their careers. If you’ve found your way here, it’s likely because you’re ready for change. Reaching out to begin therapy can be intimidating, so good for you for taking this step. Let's find out if we may be a good fit! I offer a free 15 minute consultation call.

Graduate school strains every internal system you have. The pressure to produce, the unspoken competition, the isolation, the feeling that everyone else is coping better than you—these are not small stressors. They shape how you see yourself, how you work, and how you relate to the people around you. Bay Psychology Group works with the parts of this experience that don’t show up on intake forms: the private self-doubt, the stalled motivation, the fear of failing publicly, the difficulty sustaining relationships while carrying a heavy intellectual load, the exhaustion of managing family expectations, cultural pressures, or the reality of being far from home. Our approach is slow, steady, and built for depth. We look closely at the patterns that keep you stuck—how you respond to stress, how you manage ambition, how you treat yourself internally—and we do this in a consistent therapeutic relationship where those patterns can actually shift. Many of our patients are international students, first-generation professionals, scientists, artists, doctors, and LGBTQIA students who carry layers of complexity no short-term model can address. We offer the kind of work that helps you understand why you feel the way you do, not just how to get through the next deadline. Therapy is available in English and Mandarin. In-person sessions take place in Oakland; telehealth is available throughout California.

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

If you’ve grown up in a family environment where manipulation or emotional abuse was present—particularly from someone with traits of a personality disorder, like narcissism or borderline personality—it can deeply shape how you relate to others. You may find yourself walking on eggshells, constantly adjusting your behavior to avoid conflict. This pattern of hyper-vigilance and people-pleasing often extends to other relationships, leaving you feeling anxious, drained, or uncertain about your own needs. Many of my clients struggle with setting healthy boundaries or asserting their needs, feeling compelled to prioritize the emotional demands of others, as they learned to do in childhood. However, through psychoeducation, we explore how these survival behaviors shape your beliefs about yourself and the world. Understanding where these patterns come from can be the first step in healing. In addition to psychoeducation, I use eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to help shift these survival strategies. EMDR can be highly effective in processing and healing past trauma, allowing you to build self-worth, strengthen your ability to set boundaries and develop healthier ways to relate to yourself and others. Together, we can work toward reclaiming your sense of self and creating more fulfilling, balanced relationships.

Welcome! My name is Erin and I am a therapist who loves working with college and grad students going through transition, building identity and community, or seeking support during difficult chapters. I aim to help my clients listen closely to the guidance of their inner voice as they find a way forward from confusion towards a vision of life that feels exciting. My approach is warm and collaborative, grounded in narrative therapy and a post-traumatic growth lens. I have years of experience supporting people through depression, anxiety, trauma, and social anxiety and isolation. I also emphasize community building and creativity as essential pillars of mental health. Together we'll find the approach that helps you move toward a life that feels more fully alive. I love being a therapist and am honored to do this work. If you think we would be a good fit, fill out the contact form on this page and we will be in touch!

We are a team of therapists dedicated to providing a safe and collaborative environment to help you achieve your therapeutic goals and facilitate meaningful change in your life. We strive to provide multiculturally sensitive care and we welcome working with people from many different backgrounds, systems, and beliefs. Your individuality is important to us and we will work with you to form goals that fit for you and your needs.

Navigating Rough Waters Therapy is my private practice. I'm Dr. Lara Kennerly, PsyD, a Licensed Psychologist with over two decades of clinical experience helping adults with a wide range of mental health challenges in various treatment settings (e.g. private practice, inpatient/outpatient, College Counseling Center, onsite PSP for Correctional staff & First responders in an active disaster zone), trained in most well-known evidence-based approaches, and am also certified in several other highly specialized approaches (EFIT, CPTSD, ADHD) I offer in-person psychotherapy in Sacramento and virtual therapy sessions for clients throughout California. I work with individuals navigating anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, PTSD, CPTSD, people pleasing, social anxiety, interpersonal difficulties, self-esteem struggles, body image issues, ADHD, OCD, perfectionism, Attachment Trauma, unprocessed pain from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE's), and other emotional challenges. My approach to therapy is Trauma-Informed, Psychodynamic, and Insight-oriented. That means we don't just focus on managing symptoms. Instead, we explore the emotional patterns and life experiences that drive how you think, feel, and relate to others. That kind of deeper work leads to real, lasting change. Many clients come to therapy because anxiety, past trauma, or chronic stress has begun affecting their emotional well-being, relationships, or sense of purpose, and are complicating current major life challenges like having to adjust to big changes in their lives or confidently make major life decision about their futures. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure about the next step in your life, therapy can help you gain insight and move forward with greater emotional balance and confidence.

Are you struggling and wanting to find help? I’m here to support you on your journey to feeling better. Are you finding yourself more anxious, depressed, having a low mood, or frustrated with reality? Through the exploration of current and past experiences and relationships, I can help you heal your personal struggles and improve your sense of strength in your inner self and find meaning in your life. My goal is to provide the highest quality psychotherapy in an atmosphere of safety and trust to help you live a satisfying and happy life. My specialties include ISTDP (Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy) and Brainspotting. These modalities assist the client in uncovering the blocks to their full potential by focusing on the brain and body towards the most efficient healing. I enjoy working with individuals who are struggling with anxiety, depression, and stress in their careers and relationships. I have expertise working with engineers, medical professionals, first responders, essential workers, therapists, and educators.

I've been in private practice for 25 years and in mental health for nearly 40 years - I see all populations, youth, college, male, female, couples, families, specializing in Relationship Work, Codependency, Anxiety, Depression and Stress Management - my tools are primarily Mindfulness Based Protocol, Emotional Regulation and CBT & DBT

Hello, my name is Emily and I am the owner of Rose and Resilience Wellness. I work best with students who feel like they’ve been carrying too much for too long. Many of my clients struggle with anxiety, trauma, burnout, self-esteem, relationship stress, people-pleasing, or feeling overwhelmed trying to balance school, work, family, and life transitions. Some students come to therapy after years of “just pushing through,” while others are navigating painful experiences that still affect them today. I strive to create a space that feels warm, safe, affirming, and judgment-free — more like talking to a supportive human than sitting in a stiff therapy office. I especially enjoy working with LGBTQ+ students, young adults, and students who may feel misunderstood, emotionally exhausted, or disconnected from themselves. My approach is trauma-informed, collaborative, and compassionate. I use EMDR and other evidence-based approaches to help clients process difficult experiences, build healthier relationships, feel more grounded, and reconnect with who they are beneath survival mode. Therapy with me is not about “fixing” you — it’s about helping you feel more empowered, understood, and able to move through life with greater confidence and resilience.

You have to be strong all the time. You feel stuck. You can’t sleep. You feel your heart racing. There’s tension in your back and tightness in your body. And it feels so heavy. Sometimes you may even cry when you’re alone and have feelings you want to let out, but hide them in fear you will be judged. You’re exhausted. But life feels so busy it's hard to slow down. You find you are having doubts about yourself and abilities. Maybe you are repressing parts of who you are. You are struggling to say “no” and taking on more responsibilities that leave you feeling burnt out. Perhaps there are parts of you that desire personal growth. You deserves to slow down, prioritize yourself and heal. In therapy you can be you, rebuild and grow. This is your time! You are taking the first step by seeking therapy. You will have a space to feel safe and free from judgement. We can navigate your struggles together. You are worth the time and work. It would be my honor to guide you through this journey of personal growth and healing. You already have everything inside you to live the life you want. Let’s bring it out together. Contact me to schedule a FREE consultation. Si tienes preguntas contactame para una consulta GRATIS. *A few Reduced fee slots of $90 available.

My areas of emphasis are relationships, trans-affirming care, neurodiversity, LGBTQIA+ concerns, trauma, anxiety, sexuality, multi-ethnic/cultural identity & college-related concerns. I support my clients in unlearning shame, setting boundaries without guilt, embracing their identities and cultures with pride, and build more authentic, fulfilling relationships. I offer a compassionate space where you can safely explore yourself, challenge old patterns, and develop new ways of responding that support healing, confidence and lasting change. In addition to psychotherapy, I provide WPATH assessments and letters for gender affirming surgeries. Therapy with me is collaborative, affirming, and driven by the desire to support you in healing through your resilience and empowerment. I integrate psychodynamic and action-oriented methods and my approach is liberation-based, anti-racist and trauma-informed.

The Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program is for individuals with moderate to severe levels of anxiety whose needs have not been effectively met through weekly individual or group therapy sessions. It is also for individuals whose symptoms significantly disrupt daily activities such as work, school and relationships, which can result in isolation and depression. Clients work individually with a behavioral specialist so that each person’s unique needs are addressed. This level of service we offer is highly rare and unique as you will find that most facilities offer limited one-on-one treatment and focus more on a group based approach.

College can feel overwhelming. You’re juggling classes, work, relationships, and the pressure to have everything figured out. Maybe things look fine on the surface, but inside you feel stuck, anxious, or like something is missing. You want to feel more connected to yourself and to life, but it can be hard to know where to start. I work with students who are sensitive, curious, and deeply reflective. Many feel dismissed or misunderstood by traditional counseling services, and some are navigating neurodivergence, unconventional identities, or chronic health challenges. This is a space to explore your emotions, patterns, and experiences without judgment. My approach is grounded, trauma-aware, and holistic. We focus on what is happening in your body, your nervous system, and your inner life. Together, we create space for you to step out of old habits, hear your intuition, and reconnect with the parts of yourself that are ready to be seen and understood. If you feel like something is off or that life could feel more meaningful, this is a place to explore that safely, honestly, and deeply.

I help teens and young adults seeking help with depression, anxiety, stress management, self-criticism/perfectionism, and improving communication and relationships. I apply multiple techniques including CBT and mindfulness practices.

I work primarily with adolescent and adult men who feel stuck and want more from life. Whether you're facing social difficulties, academic pressures, anxiety, family transitions, or adjusting to life away from home, I can help. Being a young adult is hard. Therapy is a safe place to discuss the things that are difficult to talk about with your family or friends.