Therapists for college students near San Francisco State University

Hi There! I'm Monica. Sometimes life feels hard—even when everything looks fine on the outside. You might be dealing with anxiety, worry, stress, depression, loss, grief, or self-doubt and wondering how to find your way back to feeling like yourself again. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself. I offer a safe, judgment-free space where you can talk openly, feel heard, and begin to make sense of what you’re experiencing. With over 30 years of counseling experience, I help clients learn practical coping skills, manage difficult emotions, navigate life transitions, and build confidence from the inside out. While I welcome anyone seeking support, my heart is in working with women, especially those facing challenging life transitions or feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from themselves. Reaching out for counseling takes courage. If you’re ready to take that first step, I’d love to connect with you.

I became a therapist because of my personal experience with finding hope and healing with the right person, at the right time in my life. It’s very vulnerable to open yourself up to a provider and I strive to always respect that courage by recognizing we work as partners in bringing hope and healing to your life, at your pace. I strive to provide a warm and safe place for my clients to feel they can be transparent without fear of judgement. I then openly let my clients know my perceptions so that they have an opportunity to provide clarification on their individual needs and correct any assumption I may have. I work hard to ensure my clients have a full understanding of what is happening in their treatment so they can feel empowered as an equal partner in the process. I often hear my clients express appreciation from being informed and having the power to determine the direction they want their treatment to go. As someone who works with fostering/rescuing animals, I find so much joy in getting to meet many of my clients pets. It brings a lot of comfort to have my pets near me, and it is comforting to know my clients are supported by their pets.

I was inspired to become a therapist because I feel we are living in an age that devalues deep listening and I decided I wanted to invest my life and my soul in creating safe spaces wherein people feel heard and held. I wanted to dedicate my life to helping others feel validated, understood, and truly empowered in their journey toward self-discovery. I think it’s important to give people the space and patience to gradually sift through their thoughts and emotions in order to better understand the core reasons why they want to change. My practice involves unconditional positive regard, active listening, and creating a consistent container of respect and curiosity toward my clients. Trust requires a consistent safe presence of curiosity and nonjudgment, both of which I provide and exhibit with my clients. Therapy is a space for both therapist and client to become connected with their inner curious nature, so as to better gain deeper perspectives on the process of thinking and the ways in which our thoughts and beings are influenced by a complex layer of factors. I hope to show that my therapeutic style is an open-minded and reflective container.

I work best with students who are feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of school, work, relationships, or major life transitions. Many of my clients come to therapy because they're struggling with anxiety, stress, depression, self-esteem, burnout, or feeling stuck. Others are adjusting to college, navigating difficult family dynamics, substance and alcohol abuse, processing relationship challenges, or trying to balance everything life is throwing at them. You don't have to have everything figured out before starting therapy. Whether you're looking for support through a difficult season or want to build healthier coping skills and greater confidence, I'll provide a supportive, nonjudgmental space where you can feel heard, understood, and empowered to create meaningful change.

Find Your Balance, Center for Growth & Change Inc. Real support for real life—because college isn’t easy. Balancing school, work, relationships, and your future can feel overwhelming—and you don’t have to figure it out alone. At FYBC, we provide therapy that meets you where you are, whether you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, burnout, relationship challenges, or just feeling “off” and not sure why. We make getting started simple, with flexible scheduling, insurance options, and a team that truly understands the pressures students face today. Whether you need short-term support or a space to grow long-term, we’re here to help you build clarity, confidence, and balance in your life. You don’t need to wait until things get really bad to talk to someone. If something feels off, that’s enough. Please feel free to contact us directly for any questions at 818-927-0478 and send your referrals to this link: https://www.findyourbalancecenter.com/referral

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.

Embark’s Virtual IOP will guide you through a DBT and Trauma Focused CBT curriculum where you can gain skills like emotional regulation and mindfulness to help you navigate the stress of college. Our therapists and specialists help young adults struggling with issues like depression, anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We are serving young adults (18-26) in nine states: California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Georgia, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland (including Washington, D.C.). Our program includes group therapy, individual sessions, and as needed, family counseling, while also providing psychiatry and medication management support. Our team of highly experienced clinicians lead a virtually-curated intensive outpatient program that focuses on individualized treatment goals and objectives with therapeutic alliance and outcomes-focused approach taking the forefront. Our young adult programming is engaging, focusing on TF-CBT and DBT modalities, and we offer an OCD-specific track that brings exposure therapy to life. Reach out to learn more!

Hi there! Feeling overwhelmed by the whirlwind of transitions, anxieties, and "what ifs" that come with this exciting, yet sometimes challenging, chapter of life? You're not alone. I'm Ronna, an LCSW with 18+ years of experience supporting women like you through the ups and downs of adjusting to college life. From homesickness and relationship hiccups to career-path stress and future worries, I've seen it all, and I'm here to help you navigate it with confidence and clarity. ✨ My approach is all about you and your unique journey. We will work together to identify your strengths, understand your challenges, and develop personalized strategies for managing stress, enhancing interpersonal relationships, and making confident decisions about your future. My solution-focused style empowers you to identify practical coping skills and strategies that actually work, paving the way for the positive change you can see and feel. I offer a safe and supportive space where you can explore your experiences without judgment. I am here to be your guide, your cheerleader, and your partner in progress as you navigate towards a fulfilling college experience and a bright future. Remember, you've got this, and I'm here to help. Reach out today and let’s start building your brighter future together! My areas of expertise include: • Adjustment to college life • Stress management and anxiety reduction • Building healthy relationships • Managing academic pressures and career exploration • Fostering self-compassion and resilience

I was inspired to become a therapist by my experience working with adults with developmental disabilities. I found deep fulfillment in making a positive impact with the people in my community and wanted to make that the focus of my life. I offer a warm and kind presence that allows my clients to speak without judgment. My approach is highly focused on the underlying feelings that inform how we navigate life. Utilizing a balance between compassion and direct communication, my aim is to create an atmosphere that is kind and comforting while respecting the work we do and the need for honesty. I believe in the ideas of genuineness, empathetic understanding, and unconditional positive regard for my clients. My goal is to demonstrate acceptance for my clients from a holistic perspective that includes every aspect of who they are. Understanding all of the facets and intersecting identities that make up a person, allows me to support them at my best. I also wish to provide my clients with useful tools that can help them to be their best selves both within a relationship and individually.

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck in your head, struggling in relationships, or questioning who you are and where you're going, you’re not alone. College can bring a lot of pressure—academically, socially, and internally. I offer a warm, confidential space where you can slow down, make sense of what you're going through, and feel more like yourself again. Together, we’ll work to understand patterns that may be holding you back, build tools to manage stress and anxiety, and support you in developing a stronger sense of identity, confidence, and direction. My goal is to help you feel more grounded, more connected, and more able to navigate your life with clarity and self-trust.

Ombu Counseling specializes in helping those facing new challenges in life, those in the process of negotiating their place in an adoptive environment, and those seeking to assert themselves in relationships, groups and/or families in which conflicting values, beliefs and expectations prevail. Major life transitions are challenging, especially when they provoke questions about one’s identity, culture, core-values and sense of belonging. Trying to figure this out can result in feelings of confusion and emotional exhaustion. Counseling offers a process for reflecting on such questions and space for containing the emotions they produce.

Maybe what aches most is not the change itself, but the fear that someone you love is slipping out of reach — even if that someone is you. Everything feels different, yet somehow the same. One minute you are putting on pajamas, and the next you are spiraling because it is the first moment of quiet you have had all day. There is this gut feeling that your heart can no longer be bound with band-aids, but soul-searching is a lot before the alarm goes off tomorrow. You do not have to make sense of it all alone at midnight — that is what I am here for. I support clients ages 13–30s through this season of becoming — identity, relationships, independence, pressure, purpose, and transition. With evidence-based care and expressive arts, we use guided reflection, practical strategies, and creative exploration to turn overwhelm into clarity, awaken new direction, and find the light at the end of the tunnel. There is no perfect place to begin. Arrive as you are! I offer virtual therapy sessions for clients located in California, Indiana, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. I am available for a free 15-minute phone consultation, and I invite you to reach out. I look forward to connecting.

"Commit to loving yourself completely. It's the most radical thing you will do in your lifetime" - Andrea Gibson I am a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience helping individuals through transition and personal growth. After growing up in Colorado and graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara, my professional journey started with a passionate commitment to community building, leadership development, and health and wellness advocacy. I embarked on a profound exploration of autonomy and a deepening understanding of myself through working with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Mexico and then as a Director of an Environmental Educational program in Hawaii. Following my move to the Bay Area, my deep-seated desire to make a positive impact on individual lives motivated me to pursue and successfully earn a Master's in Counseling Psychology from Dominican University. Throughout my mental health professional journey, I have worked as a psychotherapist, consultant, supervisor, counselor and Founding Director of a New Parent Support Center, each contributing to my diverse skill set and holistic approach to well-being. With a firm belief in the transformative power of self-discovery, I specialize in working with emerging adults/college age individuals with their unique challenges and opportunities faced at different stages of life. My focus is helping my younger clients build inner strength, explore their identities, establish independence, and navigate important life decisions. My integrative approach utilizes my extensive training in research-based interventions as well as clinically efficacious modalities such as developmental psychology, attachment theory, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Somatic, and Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy. By combining these methods, I provide a tailored and holistic therapeutic experience while recognizing each individual as the expert of their own life. I am certified in Parent-Based Treatment for Childhood Anxiety at the Yale Child Study Center, a certified Gottman Educator, a certified Parent Coach as well as a Girls Leadership educator. I have completed trainings in Surf Therapy, Somatic Experiencing as well as Nature-Informed therapy. I enjoy surfing, hiking and exploring the outdoors and live with my husband and two teenagers in Encinitas, CA. Lic# MFT 51396 “You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf." Jon Kabat-Zinn Specialties College Students Women's Issues Identity Development Life Transitions Stress Management Relationship Concerns Anxiety and Worry Depression Attachment Theory Mindfulness and Somatic Based Therapy Parts Work

Hi there! I’m a Filipina-American Associate Marriage & Family Therapist and Associate Professional Clinical Counselor at Ellie Mental Health. My goal is to create a safe and affirming space where adolescents, transitional age youth, and adults of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and everyone in between feel seen, heard, and valued. I approach therapy with compassion, cultural awareness, and a strength-based perspective, honoring your unique story and needs. I know that therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all, so I tailor my approach to you, incorporating evidence-based practices like Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, CBT, EMDR, and trauma-informed care to support your healing journey. Your journey is uniquely yours—shaped by experiences, strengths, and challenges. I’m here to create a space where you feel seen, heard, and supported. Together, we’ll explore healing, growth, and well-being as you uncover your inner strength, build resilience, and live your true authentic self.

Every step forward begins with a spark of hope. Whether you face life’s challenges, navigate family dynamics, struggle with difficult feelings, self-doubt, and being overwhelmed, you don’t have to do it alone. Together, we’ll uncover that sense of hope — a belief that things can improve. From there, we’ll take a meaningful journey, working side by side toward healing, growth, and renewed strength. Along the way, I’ll provide compassionate guidance, tailored support, and practical tools to help you reach your goals. My approach is collaborative, relational, and strengths-based, prioritizing a safe space, unconditional positive regard, and a strong therapeutic alliance. No matter where you are on your path, I’m here to walk with you. Every person has a unique story, and every journey is filled with opportunities for healing and connection. Let’s take that first step together.

College is a time of growth, discovery, and new opportunities—but it also comes with challenges. Balancing classes, relationships, and big life decisions can feel overwhelming, but you have the resilience and ability to navigate it all. I’m Dr. Mikaela, and I help students tap into their strengths, build confidence, and develop practical tools to thrive. My approach is down-to-earth, supportive, and action-oriented—we’ll work together to manage stress, set boundaries, and break patterns that no longer serve you. Whether you’re facing academic pressure, relationship challenges, or past experiences that still weigh on you, this is a space to gain clarity, build self-trust, and create a plan that fits your unique journey. Therapy isn’t just about working through struggles—it’s about unlocking your potential and equipping you with the skills to handle life’s ups and downs. If you’re ready to feel more in control and empowered, let’s connect and build resilience together.

Whether you're burdened by anxiety, depression, trauma, relationships, identity questions, transitions, or physical pain linked to stress or emotions, therapy can bring relief. I offer a compassionate space where you can slow down, be seen and heard, and reconnect with yourself and what you aspire for your life. I often use Internal Family Systems to help heal painful parts and foster self-compassion and inner harmony, and Somatic Experiencing to help regulate your nervous system and heal trauma. I also offer somatic movement therapy for those interested in deeper mind/body connection. I tailor my approach based on your needs. I have helped a wide range of people in a variety of situations over more than 20 years as a licensed clinical social worker. I strive to be an ally to people of color and to be culturally responsive. I work collaboratively and without judgment. I consider it a privilege to help you find joy and make the most of that which is in your control.

Working with students has been my life's work. For nearly a decade I have focused my practice on teens and young adults facing complicated situations and trauma. Navigating these unique difficulties takes experience. I look forward to meeting you and helping you through these challenges.

As an active listener, I provide individualized treatment utilizing a nonjudgmental approach through medication management and supportive therapy. Let’s start!

Feeling weighed down by anxiety and often second-guessing yourself? Do you find yourself overthinking everything that could go wrong, procrastinating, or struggling to make decisions? Maybe anxiety leaves you feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, making it hard to get through the day or enjoy the friendships, opportunities, and experiences you really want. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Therapy can help. Taking the step to reach out for support can feel intimidating, but it’s also one of the bravest choices you can make. I’m glad you’re here. Together, we can work on tools to quiet the constant overthinking, build confidence, and help you create the life and relationships you want most. In sessions, I offer you evidenced based tools, teach you new skill development and strategies so that you can get relief, gain confidence and manage anxiety more effectively. We'll create a plan that feels practical, empowering and personalized. My treatment approach utilizes Cognitive-Behavioral therapy and Compassion Mindfulness-based therapy. Cognitive Behavioral therapy is considered one of the most effective, and evidenced based treatments for anxiety. Reach out today for a 15-minute free consultation. I look forward to connecting with you and being a partner on your therapy journey.