Therapists for college students near San Francisco, CA

Currently prioritizing preteen, teen, and couple referrals! I believe that everyone has a story and that you are an expert of your lived experience. I enjoy working with preteens, teens, adults, and couples by helping them navigate the complexities of relational distress, trauma, and anxiety. I use trauma-informed approaches, including narrative therapy, internal family systems therapy (IFS), eye-motor desensitization therapy (EMDR), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), emotion-focused therapy (EFT), Gottman, and exposure response prevention (ERP). Every client that I work with is provided collaborative and trauma-informed therapy, and each session is tailored to their specific preferences. In my work with couples, I use EFT and Gottman interventions to help partners better understand each other, reduce unhelpful cycles, and build skills that support a stronger, more connected relationship. With each of my clients, I prioritize providing safe, compassionate, and collaborative therapy tailored to their needs as there is no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy. Together, we explore patterns, emotions, and experiences in a way that feels mindful and supportive of your pace. My goal is for you to feel seen, heard, and valued.

I specialize in anxiety, depression, body image issues, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder & college adjustment/ academic stress. My therapeutic approach is practical and flexible, grounded in psychodynamic psychotherapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and exposure therapy. I find that people often assume that they “should” know how to approach therapy. In reality, the process may not be quite so simple and may feel confusing. Thus, I frequently have conversations with my clients about how to use sessions and ongoing dialogues about our work together.

I am passionate about supporting individuals navigating grief and loss, anxiety, life transitions and work related stress/burnout. In addition to private practice, I have worked in school based mental health for many years and enjoy supporting students. I honor the mind-body-spirit connection through the use of talk therapy, EMDR, walk and talk therapy, mindfulness, and spirituality. My approach is warm, authentic and holistic. I see myself as a guide walking alongside you on your journey toward well being. Along the way, we will explore areas where you feel blocked and identify the tools you need to feel confident and empowered. My hope is that you leave sessions feeling supported and empowered.

My primary focus is meeting every client’s need to be seen, valued, and heard. I believe first and foremost in establishing a positive relationship and from there continuing to meet needs as continued levels of respect and trust are established. It is my goal to meet someone where they are at, and therefore different techniques will be helpful for different people. There are times where direct, actionable steps are appropriate, and there are times when what you really need is to sit and process your feelings. I can help navigate these things with you and give you the tools to go forward confidently.

Are you feeling stuck or overwhelmed? One key factor to predict positive change is the trust you have with your therapist. That is my goal. I utilize my cultural sensitivity to understand my clients' struggles. I have experience using mindfulness-based techniques and insight oriented approaches. I have worked with college students and older adults. Together, we will create a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs. I truly believe that we can profoundly better ourselves through the moments in our lives where we face challenges by defining how we will see the problem and take action, rather than letting the problem define how we see ourselves. I will work with you, as a member on your team, to help you live better.

You may feel stuck, anxious, depressed, or hopeless. However, just the courage to take the first step in knowing you want to experience your life differently takes strength. I work with my clients to expand that strength in a safe environment. When struggling with a family or friend relationship, or when experiencing increased stress from some changing circumstances in life, often unhealed issues start to surface. Now we really need support. These times are actually the ones where the most healing can occur. I provide a space that is safe for all the feelings, thoughts, issues, and fears to be brought forth so that there can begin to be healing. I help clients decide on goals they'd like to achieve in treatment, and with compassionate suggestions, help them make the changes they are looking for. If you want to understand yourself on a deeper level, if you believe you may have formed some distortions in the ways you talk to yourself, I will help you create a new narrative, one that promotes self compassion, peace and joy. I believe we all need help sometimes to move towards a life that is full and thriving. Please call for a free consultation!

Dr. Troy Kurz MD, MS is a board-certified child & adolescent psychiatrist, specializing in psychopharmacology, ketamine treatment, integrative psychiatry and psychotherapy. He sees patients of all ages, but has a keen interest in children and adolescence. He cares for a patients with a wide range of mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, bipolar, PTSD and personality disorders. Pertaining to pediatrics and adolescents—he concentrates on autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, LGBTQIA+ health, trauma, and mood disorders. Dr. Kurz received his medical degree from Creighton University and completed his general psychiatry training as well as child and adolescent psychiatry specialty training at the University of California Riverside. He is also certified in ketamine treatment through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute. Dr. Kurz brings a holistic and individualized approach to the diagnosing and treatment of patients. He applies up-to-date, evidence-based treatments with focus on each patient’s unique life experiences. He incorporates integrative psychiatry into the treatment of all patients.

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.

Exhausted by the way you think about yourself? We are often (if not always) our own worst enemies. Whether this pattern has caused you problems with guilt, shame, anxiety, depression, addiction or you name it - the starting point is generally the same. When we embark on the project of therapy you will be asked to put your painful thoughts and feelings into words. As the process unfolds, the strength and fervor used to overthink and condemn yourself will become accessible to use productively in reaching your goals.

Struggling to achieve a semblance of work-life balance while juggling the demands of a heavy academic courseload, and research, training, teaching, and employment opportunities? It is a privilege to work together with college and graduate students on increasing a sense of well-being and actualizing potential. I typically work with clients who are looking to live their best life in both the personal and academic realms, often focusing on goals related to academic success, career/post-college life decisions, dating, and relationships. I earned my doctorate from Fordham University in New York, and have had a wide variety of clinical experiences throughout my training and career, including work in community mental health clinics, and public and private schools. My experiences working with college and graduate students in a college counseling center in Brooklyn, NY, and my own experiences as a college and graduate student, sparked my enthusiasm for providing quality and compassionate therapy for those on an academic journey. I aim to partner with you on building upon strengths while creating a manageable action plan to help you explore the solutions you seek, and improve outcomes and quality of life. I offer in-person sessions at my office in West LA, as well as via telehealth.

I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. I serve clients across California through secure and convenient telehealth visits bringing personalized care to you, wherever you are. My goal is to make psychiatric care feel accessible, judgment-free, and genuinely supportive. I specialize in working with adults navigating anxiety, depression, and mood disorders. My approach is integrative — combining medication management with education, mindfulness, and supportive therapy. I take time to understand the whole picture using a bio-psycho-social lens: looking at how biological factors (like vitamin deficiencies or hormonal imbalances), psychological stressors (like trauma or burnout), and social dynamics (like school or work pressure) all impact mental health. Before becoming a nurse practitioner, I spent several years as a registered nurse, and I’ve worked extensively in both inpatient psychiatry and as a clinical consultant. My training and experience allow me to treat each person as a whole not as a list of symptoms, and to create care plans that are practical, empowering, and tailored to you. Outside of work, I love traveling and spending time with my son and family. These connections remind me of the importance of balance, joy, and meaningful relationships — values I bring into my work every day. Here, you're not just receiving treatment — you're being seen, heard, and supported as a whole person. My mission is to help you move from just surviving to truly thriving.

Wellspring Family Therapy is a group of therapists dedicated to helping college students improve and maintain their emotional health and psychological well being. We provide support for teens and adults experincing anxiety, depression and other life stressors. We look forward to hearing from you!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Hi! Glad you’re here. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, I enjoy working with kids, adults, couples and families. I earned my Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego in 2005, and completed a clinical internship in UCSD’s Department of Family Medicine. There I collaborated with physicians in the care of patients and their family members. To this day, I follow a “bio-psycho-social” systems approach- looking at a client’s physical health (bio), emotional health (psycho), and current relationships and support systems (social). Because relationships can be both a source of worry - and also our greatest asset- a genuine connection (with family, friends, coworkers, etc) truly fosters improved emotional health. Considering our current stressors from a “systems perspective” allows us to cultivate a deeper understanding of how our family interactions and social connections affect our daily lives. We can enrich those connections, develop healthier boundaries, and connect meaningfully with people in our lives in a way that does not leave us feeling as drained or anxious. While it is certainly essential to address current challenges or problems, it is just as important to simultaneously identify strengths and assets already residing within. Looking at how to utilize coping skills, or learning new ones, helps bolster resiliency and brings new change. We work toward responding to adversity by changing course, healing, using new coping skills and then continuing forward. The act of seeking help can often feel overwhelming for anyone; it helps to not do it alone. I do my best to offer guidance, support, and dedicated focus on developing an approach tailored to meet a client’s particular set of current needs.

I work best with students who feel constantly overwhelmed, exhausted, or like life is harder for them than it seems to be for everyone else. Many of the students I support have spent years being told they’re “just anxious,” “too sensitive,” or “not trying hard enough,” even though they know something deeper is going on. They may struggle with focus, motivation, emotional overwhelm, sensory overload, or feeling like they have to present a certain version of themselves to get by. My approach is warm, supportive, and practical. Therapy with me focuses on helping you understand how your brain works, reduce self-blame, and build tools that actually fit your capacity so school and life feel more manageable.

I am passionate about helping individuals, teens, and families work through challenging parts of life. I have specialties working with the LGBTQ+ population and young adults working through difficult experiences and life transitions. I additionally use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) in my practice to assist in trauma processing. I believe strongly in finding a good "fit" in a therapist that best suites the individuals needs to have the best outcomes possible. If you choose to come to therapy, I can help explore and process your feelings openly in a safe and nonjudgmental environment. Although it may be difficult to do, I strongly believe that openly talking about positive and negative life experiences is the key to positive growth and change. In doing so, you will gain greater awareness and understanding about yourself. I have helped many people understand how their repetitive patterns and routines can make them feel stagnant. Which as a result, keeps them from moving forward in life. I will give you the skills and tools to utilize to successfully managing potential issues that may arise in the future. I look forward to speaking with you and beginning the road to positive growth and change.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Whether it is the first time reaching out or you have sought counseling services before, I can help! Through a genuine connection and mindfulness approach, I can help you work through your struggles. With more than 17 years of experience working with students, I understand the stress that academics and life transitions can cause. We can figure it out together.

Are you feeling stuck in recurring, painful patterns? Do you find yourself navigating challenges such as anxiety, loss, loneliness, irritation, or spiritual distress? In our personal journeys and closest relationships, we often struggle to lead the lives we truly desire. Through Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy and Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO) for couples, I offer a compassionate, nonjudgmental approach to help you move from internal conflict to a more satisfying, connected way of living.