Therapists for college students near San Diego State University

I love to watch the process of personal growth and transformation, knowing that my support supplements the hard work clients put into being the best version of themselves that they can be. I learn from my clients while they learn from me, and I am honored to enter into clients’ unique worlds. I hope to impact my clients by providing them the compassion and nonjudgmental presence that they deserve, along with the coping skills and insight that will help them face future challenges with strength and wisdom. My therapeutic inspiration comes from a variety of perspectives and sources: Aaron Beck (cognitive-behavioral therapy), Susan Johnson (Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy), Carl Jung (classic analysis), Daniel Siegel (neurological growth and attachment), Gabor Mate (trauma, addiction, and attachment), and Murray Bowen (family systems theory). This list will continue to grow as I do- like yours, my journey and growth is a work in progress. I enjoy working with clients in emerging adulthood (approximately age 16 to 26). This is an exciting period of life, where identity is solidified and major life decisions are made (education, career, relationships). Another population I have had a lot of success with is adult survivors of childhood abuse and neglect, as I use a trauma-informed approach. I am open and respectful of various religious and spiritual communities, understanding that this may be a source of strength and identity for a client, or a source of tension and pain as a client questions their faith background. Previously, I provided therapy at a non-profit agency in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California, where I had the honor of walking alongside at-risk youth and their families on paths toward functional and adaptive mental and relational health. I also have experience in various school-based settings, where I provided frequent on-campus crisis management as well as on-going counseling services as part of students’ Individualized Education Plans. Gaining a deeper understanding of youth and the struggles they face gave me a richer and more holistic view of the adults they become.

At The Centered Self (CSP), our interest in the practice of psychotherapy is founded in the idea that all people want to be the best version of themselves and are capable of achieving that-- whatever that may mean to them. We want to help individuals cope with the challenges that can interfere with achieving their goals and what they want for their lives. All humans struggle and fall short of their own ideals at times, learning to successfully cope through these moments of difficulty can lead to a more fulfilling life and an ability to thrive more completely during moments of success. We believe the most caring and compassionate thing that we can do as therapists and coaches is help our clients achieve their own goals. Sometimes this requires pushing towards change and other times it requires working on acceptance. We value creating a warm and validating environment for you to feel safe to focus on your own growth. The Centered Self is anti-racist and LGBTQIA affirming. We are dedicated to utilizing interventions and skills based in science so that we can most effectively help you reach your goals. We value you.

Dr. Cawkwell is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry. Having been trained at several elite institutions including UPenn, NYU, Harvard/MGH, and Stanford, Dr. Cawkwell has a specific interest and expertise in ADD/ADHD, Executive Functioning, Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD), Bipolar Disorder, and Early Psychosis (Schizophrenia/Schizoaffective Disorder).

I joined Thriving Campus because college students are faced with a variety of challenges, including adjusting to being in college and becoming self-sufficient as a young adult, and these challenges have an impact on the mental health of college students. I find it is very important to work with college students to meet them where they are currently and help them build on their strengths in order to navigate college life and its challenges.

Hi, I’m Stacy, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who works with neurodivergent adults, especially those with ADHD. I help clients learn how to manage executive functioning challenges, emotional regulation, and relationship struggles with more confidence and self-compassion. As a late-diagnosed neurodivergent adult, I bring both professional and lived experience to my work with clients. Together, we’ll explore how your past experiences and environments have shaped the way you see yourself and the world. Then we'll create a plan that works with your brain and utilizes your strengths. My style is warm and conversational. My approach integrates Adlerian priniciples and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Adlerian therapy helps individuals understand how early experiences shape beliefs like shame or "being lazy." ACT adds tools to manage overwhelm, relate differently to difficult thoughts, and take values-based action. Finding the right therapist is important. If you think I may be a good fit, please feel free to reach out.

I feel inspired to help individuals figure out how to manage challenges they are are facing and learn new skills to manage changes that are occurring so that they can feel more in control of their lives. I use a person centered approach to make sure that my clients feel understood, heard, and validated. I make sure to create a safe space for individuals so that they feel secure in opening up and working on issues that they are struggling with. I build a strong and therapeutic alliance with my clients through open and honest communication and creating a safe space for clients to share and explore their challenges and struggles.

My personal background, culture, and values play a large role in my inspiration to be a therapist. I recognize how everyone has their own history, which will shape who they are and how they react to positive and negative situations. My cultural and educational background are a constant reminder of the importance of empathy when hearing someone’s individual story. I’m passionate about helping others who need support in current childhood challenges, processing childhood trauma, creating healthy communication habits to form strong relationships, and processing the impact of anxiety and depression. We will be working as a team to help you get closer to the goals you want to meet. With strength based approaches, I hope to empower you to reflect on your emotions and utilize the learned skills to start implementing them into your life, outside of our sessions. My priority is to include your own background, experiences, and values to set goals for treatment. Communication is key in all relationships and is necessary to feel safe and understood in your treatment. Building rapport is a vital part of beginning the trust between a client and a therapist. During my first session with adults, I like to review your goals and expectations of treatment, as well as any previous experiences in therapy, as those can shape our view of treatment. I want to make sure I take your most important values into account in order to create a safe therapeutic environment. From my experiences, children and teens have a harder time building that trust. Therefore, my first session with them includes a whole session dedicated to getting to know one another with an ice breaker activity. I find this helps form the foundation to that safe space to begin opening up.

Hi! I’m Jen, a therapist living & working in Santa Monica, CA. I offer in-person and virtual therapy for teens, adults, and couples, with a special focus on supporting college students navigating life’s big transitions. College can feel like a constant pressure to have it all figured out, like keeping up with classes, planning your future, maintaining relationships, becoming independent. It’s easy to go on autopilot and miss the internal struggles happening under the surface. In our work together, we’ll take a closer look at the patterns, beliefs, and experiences shaping how you move through the world - not with judgment, but with curiosity. That might mean noticing how the past shows up in the present, tuning into what actually feels good (which often gets overlooked), or learning how to ask for what you need with more confidence and empathy. I know firsthand what it’s like to seem “fine” on the outside while feeling overwhelmed inside. My own experiences navigating high-pressure environments, family dynamics, and personal growth have shown me how powerful it is to have a space for reflection, connection, and honest support. My approach is insight-driven, relational, and strength-based. This means we'll work on understanding why you do what you do, not to label it, but to learn from it, and build on the strengths you already bring to the table. The relationship we build in therapy becomes a space to practice things like vulnerability, setting boundaries, and getting your needs met, so that over time, the changes you make here can ripple into your everyday life — in classes, friendships, dating, and beyond.

My passion for working in mental health care is deeply rooted in my personal and professional experiences. As a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) I hold an M.A. in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Drama Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies, and a B.A. from Oberlin College. I have spent the past decade working in outpatient settings, providing support to individuals navigating the trauma of substance abuse, incarceration, and violence. I have also worked extensively with members of the LGBTQIIA+ community and understand the profound impact homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia can have on mental health and access to care. These experiences have fueled my commitment to promoting healing, empowerment, and inclusive care for those who face unique and systemic challenges. To ensure that clients feel heard and understood in sessions, I approach my work from a strength-based, client-centered perspective. I believe that you are the expert on your own journey, and my role is to help you identify and uncover your strengths and resources. Together, we’ll (re)learn how to apply them to your goals while connecting with new sources of support. Throughout our work, we’ll also focus on addressing challenging relationships and exploring new ways to build meaningful connections with others, ensuring that your voice remains central in the process. Building trust and a strong therapeutic alliance with my clients is rooted in empathy, transparency, and respect for each individual’s unique journey. While I primarily use drama therapy, humanistic, and narrative techniques, I tailor our work to create a plan that best fits your needs. I firmly believe that everyone has inherent worth, a meaningful story, and valuable contributions to make in the world. My approach is collaborative, ensuring that you feel heard and understood throughout the process. Additionally, I am trained in both abstinence and harm-reduction approaches and am familiar with 12-step/Recovery language and culture.

I am a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with experience in telehealth care. As a registered nurse, I worked inpatient psychiatric adolescent and child units. I also have experience as a school nurse for the special education division. Mental health tends to have a stigma attached to it. What inspires me is the people I encounter who are brave enough to be honest and open with me about their mental health struggles. I like to reciprocate the same energy they’re bringing to our meetings and look forward to helping them reach their own mental health goals. I use a lot of open-ended questions and encourage my patients to be active in their care. I am here for support and provide expertise in areas where I can. At the end of the day, I prioritize the patient’s confidence and comfortability with the treatment plan. All psychiatry providers at Foresight have specialized experience in treating a wide range of common mental health conditions, including but not limited to ADHD, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, depression, and PTSD. In addition, I specialize in the following areas: academic stress, deprescribing, holistic approaches to psychiatry, autism spectrum disorder, first responders, grief, women’s issues (PMDD, PCOS, perimenopause, menopause, etc.)

I provide objectivity, experience and compassion to help you understand what's happening in your life in a comfortable, non-judgmental environment. If change is what you identify as your desired goal, then that is the next step. I help people deal with life transitions, grief and loss and ongoing relationship stress. If you are living an uncomfortable or unsatisfying daily life, we can work together to clarify what isn't working and develop ways to improve your life!

Hi! and welcome. I am Rachel Navarro, a licensed clinical social worker practicing in California with over 15 years of experience in the social services sector. My areas of focus include anxiety, depression, grief, ADHD, and coping with life changes. My therapy style is warm and interactive. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and I don't believe in stigmatizing labels. I will inquire about which communication method works for you and follow your lead in the pace you need to go at in order to feel comfortable and supported through your journey in exploring feelings and needs. My clinical approaches combine Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, and Internal Family Systems.

I’m Dr. Tanya Diaz, a licensed clinical psychologist, first-generation bilingual Latina, mother, and the founder of my private practice. I’m passionate about providing culturally responsive, evidence-based therapy to adults of all ages, with a special focus on those experiencing anxiety or recovering from trauma. You’re doing your best, but still feel disconnected, anxious, or on edge. From the outside, it may look like you have everything together. You show up for others, are responsible, and can point to accomplishments in your life. But inside, something doesn’t feel quite right. You overthink decisions, say yes when you really want to say no, or feel pressure to take care of everyone else before yourself. Over time, this can take a real toll and cause tense muscles, stomach discomfort, poor sleep, fatigue, or a lingering sense of dissatisfaction that’s hard to explain. Many of our emotional reactions and patterns happen outside our awareness. Therapy creates space to slow down, stay curious, and better understand what's happening beneath the day-to-day surface. It's an opportunity to get to know a deeper self, and with that often comes feeling more grounded, connected, and aligned with yourself. Many of the women and men I work with are thoughtful, responsible, and used to being the ones others depend on. Therapy with Dr. Diaz can be a place of support, and where you don't have to carry it all yourself. She'll provide guidance and warmth as she helps you get to the root of your concerns.

You have been trying to get pregnant and keep getting bad news. Or you are having problems staying pregnant and are feeling terrified about trying again. You are feeling guilty, overwhelmed, mad and afraid to keep moving forward. How can this keep going on ? Let me help. I understand and am here to help you with this rollercoaster. My clients come to me looking for something different. They report feeling feeling lighter, seen, and understood after our first session. Please check out my website and reach out via email or phone to schedule a free phone consultation. That is a great way to see if I am the best psychotherapist for you.

Hello, I am a board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with experience in both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care. I have an academic foundation in child development and psychology. I earned my Master’s degree in nursing with a focus on clinical nurse leadership. I am driven by my passion for mental health and committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care to support individuals on their journey toward improved mental well-being. After working inpatient/acute care medical floors for several years, I became inspired to work within the field of psychiatry and providing care to those who struggle with mental health issues related to chronic conditions and helping people through difficult stages in their lives. My goal is to meet each patient at whichever stage they are and deliver care that will provide them safety and lead them to a more stable, healthier life. I strive to give each person their best chance at achieving success. Each patient is provided an individualized plan of care. We collaborate to reach the safest and best treatment options for you, including education and appropriate follow-up care.

I believe that we all have an innate healing power within us, and that developing a safe and caring relationship with a therapist can be a wonderful means toward enlivening this power. By going within, we can discover the agency to overcome any obstacle and can bring into being a renewed sense of hope, purpose, and a life of fulfillment. I come from a holistic, humanistic, and mindfulness/spiritually-oriented tradition who believe that a therapist is only as skilled as they are evolved, or self-actualized themselves. I specialize in trauma, dissociation, & complex post traumatic stress disorder. I have trained in EMDR and utilize Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Ketamine as a means of accessing the Self. I work with adults and children alike, and enjoy incorporating meditation, art, and play therapy. As a former creative producer with 20 years in entertainment, I also receive a great deal of satisfaction working with artists in the industry. I provide a warm and compassionate space of acceptance that encourages growth to unfold. By expressing feelings openly and connecting authentically we learn to resolve family and relationship issues naturally. Inevitably, this clears a path for greater intimacy with oneself and others, uncovering the full measure of our potential for love and joy.

The Norooz Clinic Foundation is a non-profit public service and educational organization established in October of 2012. Norooz is a Farsi word meaning new day and a new beginning. At the Norooz Clinic Foundation, we strive to assist those who walk through our doors with their journey of discovery to find their new day, their rebirth, through mental health and wellness. The Norooz Clinic Foundation focuses on building and maintaining healthy relationships by identifying common struggles and providing new ways to approach them with success. We teach our clients effective skills and tools in order to give them alternative ways to think about daily problems and stressors and overcome them with more ease and balance.

Hello and Welcome! I am an SCU alumni and currently have a fully remote and in-person practice (In person on Thursdays only). Ultimately, we all hit bumps in the road associated with being human and making our way through LIFE. But you don't have to struggle and suffer alone. There is support, and I'm happy to help. I enjoy helping people work through issues around stress, addiction, codependency, anxiety, substance abuse, boundaries, family issues, relationship issues, and issues around life transitions. "Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional..." -Haruki Murakami

If you want to see the universe laugh, tell it your plans.” In my 30 years of practicing psychology, this is perhaps one of my most favorite client quotes. Life is a meandering, unpredictable adventure with fulfilling, joyous times and also some unexpected and difficult challenges included. It’s not always easy to create the life and relationships that will bring fulfillment and happiness. Sometimes it’s difficult to even imagine your goals, understand what’s going wrong and think of solutions to overwhelming problems. Whether you are struggling with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, low self-worth or just a general sense of dissatisfaction and unhappiness, therapy can help you gain insight into your feelings, clarify your life’s direction and help you create a life worth living by maximizing your true potential. I strive to create a safe, supportive, non-judgmental environment where we can collaboratively explore, understand and clarify your feelings as well as find more adaptive ways to cope and problem solve the issues in your life. I believe that you can’t really understand someone’s present world without understanding their past experiences and how that is negatively or positively impacting their life now. In therapy I can help you break out of old patterns that are not serving you well anymore, improve coping alternatives and psychological flexibility while concurrently providing you concrete strategies for managing overwhelming feelings in the moment and the support and empathy you need to move forward. Life is hard for everyone at some point, but in considering therapy now, you have demonstrated the courage to strive for more and take the first step towards healing and growth. Together we will create the life you’ve always wanted by exploring what is holding you back, getting in your way and answering the questions you were previously too afraid to consider. I have been practicing psychology/therapy for the past 30 years since receiving my PhD in 1993 from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I recently retired from my job of 21 years in university counseling so that I could start my own private practice and better serve the clients with whom I work. I am a “true generalist” in every sense of the word and have experience and comfort in working with many different types of individuals, couples and issues. Some of my areas of expertise are: *Transitional aged youth ages 18-35, * Relationship and Interpersonal issues * Rape/Sexual assault *Relationship Abuse *Depression *Anxiety *Couples Therapy *Sports Psychology/Performance Enhancement *Processing Childhood Emotional and Physical Abuse. *Life Transitions *Parenting Issues I am eager to join you on your journey towards happiness and fulfillment so please reach out for a free consultation and take the first step toward a better and more powerful you. I offer Telemental Health Treatment to all of California.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by high-stakes exams or a university system not built for your brain? As a Licensed Educational Psychologist, I’m here to help you navigate these challenges so you can secure accommodations and move forward with confidence. I work with students struggling with ADHD, learning disorders like dyslexia or dysgraphia, autism, and anxiety. My approach uses telehealth evaluations to provide diagnostic clarity and documentation for college or exams like the LSAT, MCAT, and Bar. Clients say they feel relieved and capable of handling academic challenges after working together. You can expect to: • Gain clarity on how you learn and what's holding you back. • Receive actionable accommodation recommendations and necessary documentation. • Feel empowered: Here’s How It Works: Schedule a Call – Free consultation to discuss goals. Complete Testing – Intake and testing via telehealth. Gain Clarity – Receive a comprehensive report. You don’t have to face this alone. Let's work together—you deserve a level playing field to show what you know. Schedule Your Free Consultation Today!