Therapists for college students near San Diego State University
Navneet Sandhu
Picture a supportive therapy room infused with the excitement of a treasure chest full of self-discovery. My therapy style is all about providing support, and education, and enhancing your understanding of how stressors may impact your life. In our sessions, we'll embark on a journey together, armed with curiosity and compassion. With my background in health psychology and biology, I bring a unique perspective to our care. Depending on your needs, we can process, develop useful coping skills, or do both to help find a balance that nourishes your mind and body. Together, we'll unravel the knots, celebrate the victories, and maybe even share a virtual high-five or two along the way. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.
Jane Johnson Wall
My practice specialization is focused on women’s issues and perinatal mental health. In response to the recent changes in access to women's reproductive healthcare, many of us are feeling confused, scared, (and p*ssed off!). I provide a safe space for women to process whatever emotions they may be feeling as a result of their direct experiences or related to future concerns. I believe that the relationship between clinician & client is the foundation for a successful therapy experience. Please know that I realize how difficult it is to connect with a “stranger” when you are feeling overwhelmed and vulnerable. Therapy can be challenging, but it can also be very enlightening. It can also be light-hearted & fun. (I guarantee a few laughs during each session!) I utilize a variety of therapy techniques, which ultimately allows for flexibility in making sure that you get what you need in a way that works for you.
Sheri Rose-McCashin
I am interested in working with motivated students who are willing to invest themselves in the therapeutic process. I provide a safe place to talk and a supportive place to address what "hurts", "what's really hard and stressful in their life". Therapy is a relationship based on team work and a willingness to invest attention and time from me as well as from the client. Some issues are resolved quickly while others require more attention and time to resolve.
Dayae Kim
I support students who put a lot of pressure on themselves to succeed—whether that’s in school, relationships, or planning for the future. Many of my clients appear to “have it all together," but inside they feel anxious, burned out, or unsure of how to manage the stress. My clients come to me because they’re struggling to balance everything on their plate or want support navigating big changes like moving away from home, figuring out their identity, or making decisions about what’s next. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or like you’re carrying the weight of expectations (your own or others’), you’re not alone. In our work together, you’ll have a space to slow down, feel understood, and learn practical tools to feel more grounded and confident in your everyday life.
Miles Levy-Nordhoff
Navigating life’s transitions can feel overwhelming—whether it’s moving to a new city, starting college, getting married, going through a divorce, changing careers, or grieving a loss. I specialize in working with adolescents and adults who are struggling with anxiety and depression, particularly when these challenges arise during times of change. At the heart of my work is the belief that meaningful change begins with a strong, genuine relationship between therapist and client. What makes my practice unique is my commitment to helping clients discover and connect with their authentic selves. So often, conflict and distress arise when we feel out of alignment with who we truly are—or when we’re not even sure who that self is. My goal is to help you move toward a life where you feel more genuine, grounded, and whole. I strive to create a space where you feel both validated and challenged, using an integrative approach that draws from psychodynamic, narrative, and emotion-focused therapies. Together, we will explore patterns, reframe perspectives, and connect with the parts of yourself that feel most authentic. In our early sessions, you can expect us to spend time building trust, exploring what brings you to therapy, and clarifying your goals. We’ll focus on understanding your unique story and laying the foundation for the work ahead, at a pace that feels right for you. Therapy, to me, is about introducing you to yourself—sometimes for the very first time. If you’re ready to begin that process, I’d be honored to walk alongside you.
Larissa Adler
Trying to balance the responsibilities of school, work, relationships and self care can be overwhelming. Do you find yourself struggling to be perfect, or comparing yourself to others that seem to be doing it "so much better"? Or maybe you have been having a hard time quieting opinions from family and friends that keep you from pursuing your goals. Pretending to be someone you are not can be stressful and often results in feeling burnt out. We can't control our external circumstances but we can control how we respond. Learn ways to feel more confident and calm. Reach out today for a 20 minute complimentary consultation.
Donna Cohen Cretcher
I believe life is a journey and everyone has their personal challenges. I enjoy the experience of understanding you and helping you. I am an active participant in sessions by asking questions to fully understand who you are and how best to support you. I individualize your treatment based on what you want, need and who you are. I see myself as a coach to support you in obtaining your goals and a sense of wellness in your life. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.
Caitlin Blair
Hi, I’m Caitlin, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW and LICSW) and founder of Tiny Cottage Therapy. I offer online therapy for college students and young adults across California and Washington who are navigating anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, and cultural or family expectations. College can bring a lot of pressure: to do well, to meet expectations, to have everything figured out. I provide a space where you don’t have to hold it all together. Together, we’ll work on understanding what’s been feeling heavy, learning tools to manage stress, and building more balance and self-trust. I take a warm, collaborative approach and focus on what feels most important to you. We’ll start where you are. My goal is to help you feel more grounded, confident, and connected to yourself as you move through this season of life. Most of the students I work with share a few things in common: they care deeply, try their best, and often feel pressure to keep it all together — even when they’re exhausted. They might overthink things, struggle to set boundaries, or feel torn between their own needs and what’s expected of them. Many of my clients identify as Asian American, AAPI, mixed-race, or multicultural, and are trying to balance family, culture, and school while figuring out who they want to be. Others are high achievers or caretakers who want to learn how to slow down, manage anxiety, and build a healthier relationship with themselves. If you’ve ever felt like you’re “too much” or “not enough,” or like you’re living your life on autopilot, therapy can be a place to pause, make sense of things, and start finding your own rhythm again.
Linda Ormiston
For the past 35 years, I have been helping people explore and work through barriers to living and loving well. If you are feeling stuck or overwhelmed, therapy can provide space to understand and experience ourselves in a new way. I work with people to change the way they think about and experience the challenges they face, to effect positive change and resilience. I can work with you to navigate the ups and downs of anxiety and depression, the hopes and fears of life transitions, the joys and challenges of creative pursuit, the pain of grief and loss, and the wounds of trauma, abuse, and oppression. I work with adults and young adults and people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. I have particular interest and experience in working with people in the helping professions and people going through transitions such as career, parenthood and relationship (e.g. divorce) transitions. In addition, I also work with people to help resolve and move through creative blocks, including those who struggle with the question of whether they are or can be creative and those struggling with questions of spiritual identity and practice. My approach is warm, compassionate, and collaborative. I believe in creating a therapeutic experience responsive to your unique needs and life situation and respectful of your strengths. We can work to help you understand yourself better, identify and shift patterns that no longer serve you, and develop ways to increase your sense of well-being.
Carlos Duarte
I am a Los Angeles based psychotherapist and counselor committed to supporting my clients on their journey of learning and personal growth. My areas of focus include working with adults who are facing difficult life transitions or facing challenges in their relationships. I earned my Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California. My clinical experiences range from providing individual psychotherapy to adults in outpatient clinics, and crisis intervention and group psychotherapy with adults and adolescents in inpatient psychiatric hospitals. I have also worked with our homeless population across LA County, providing outreach, brief psychotherapy, and referrals to community resources and mental health services. My approach when working with all clients is client-centered and strengths-based. I value the person-in-environment perspective, so I can better understand my clients and their mental health in the context of their environment, and not just through their behavior and psyche.
Lisa Tahir LLC
* I'm licensed in Louisiana and California and would love to work with you virtually by FaceTime, Zoom, or phone. Reach out at 504-261-4443 (text) * I am in-network for many health plans for students from California through Headway Therapy. You only pay your copay through the portal. Start here: https://headway.co/providers/lisa-tahir-3?utm_source=pem&utm_medium=direct_link&utm_campaign=63753 * I am a Tulane Alum and teach in the Glass Art Department. * Check out my podcast, "All Things Therapy" on Spotify and iTunes * I've written a book on self-forgiveness and empathy endorsed by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, "The Chiron Effect: Healing Our Core Wounds through Astrology, Empathy, and Self-Forgiveness." Give me a text to 504-261-4443 to start your healing journey!
Kasey Phillips
I work with students who feel overwhelmed, anxious, burned out, or like they’re barely keeping up even if they’re still functioning on the outside. You may be juggling school, work, relationships, family pressure, and big life transitions, while internally feeling exhausted, stuck, or constantly behind. Many students I work with are high-achieving on the outside but struggling privately with anxiety, depression, overthinking, procrastination, self-doubt, or feeling disconnected from themselves. Others are navigating relationship stress, identity questions, or the lingering impact of past experiences that still affect how they show up in daily life. Therapy with me is a space where you don’t have to hold it all together or figure it out alone. Together we slow things down, understand what’s underneath the stress, and start building clarity, steadiness, and emotional relief in a way that actually feels manageable in student life. My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in both emotional insight and practical tools to help you feel more regulated, confident, and connected to yourself.
Teri Joens-White
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
California Psychology Marriage & Family Therapy Inc.
Change is within reach. Are you struggling with burnout, anxiety, or depression? Do you feel trapped or overwhelmed by difficult emotions? Change is possible if you’re yearning for a shift in your life. I specialize in guiding individuals through transformative journeys, helping them break free from limiting patterns and heal past wounds that stand in the way of fulfillment. In my therapy sessions, you’ll find a safe haven—an open, compassionate, judgment-free space. Together, we’ll explore your inner world, uncover hidden truths, and develop new coping skills. Your authentic self awaits. My areas of focus include anxiety, childhood trauma, relationship challenges, women’s issues, and existential concerns. I help clients reclaim their vitality to live peaceful, heart-centered lives. My work with women centers on empowering them to embrace self-worth and inner strength. I utilize EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, and Hakomi Mindfulness techniques. I offer a holistic, personalized approach that integrates body, mind, and spirit. Certified in Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy, I work with ketamine (KAP) and offer preparation and integration sessions for medicine journeys with psilocybin, MDMA, and ayahuasca. Reach out today to schedule a complimentary phone consultation.
Shelby Swanson
Reaching out for help can be a BIG deal and I am here to make therapy a space where you can grow, be challenged, and learn how to live a life YOU are happy with. Have you been feeling an increase in Anxiety? Are you a young adult trying to navigate the world and figuring out where you fit? How about someone experiencing substance misuse? These are the areas I get excited to help people manage. I incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. My goal is to help you gain the control you deserve to have over your own life. Have you considered talking to someone but you’re not sure where to start? As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I am trained in working with people and specialize in young adults, as well as treating co-occurring disorders. I believe individuals experiencing addiction are often times also managing mental health symptoms. I treat the WHOLE person. My approach is meeting you where you are at and working together to ensure therapy is a beneficial space that improves your life. I am here to support your journey.
Georgiana Spradling PhD, MFT, CDVC
Hello! I am Dr. Georgiana Spradling. I have been practicing Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy and Relationship Coaching for over 25 years. I am a specialist on Emotional Intelligence. I will teach you Anger Management techniques, as well as communication, negotiation and Conflict resolution, help you use strategy in your decisions and achieve your goals. I will tell you what you need to hear rather than what you want to hear, while moving you forward with kindness.
Mitsue Karaman Therapy
Hi, I’m Mitsué. College and early adulthood can be an exciting time, but they can also bring uncertainty, pressure, and questions about who you are and where you belong. You may be navigating academic stress, relationships, family expectations, identity, or a major life transition, while trying to figure out what feels right for you. I offer a warm, culturally attuned space where you can slow down, make sense of what you’re experiencing, and feel more grounded in yourself. My approach is relational, somatic, and experiential. I have a particular interest in working with multicultural and immigrant young adults, who are navigating cross-cultural identities and belonging. Having grown up across cultures and lived internationally, I understand that some experiences can be difficult to put into words, especially when the people around you may not share the same cultural background. Whether you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, stuck, or simply wanting a space to better understand yourself, therapy can be a place to pause, reconnect, and move forward with greater clarity.
Jacquelyn Meissner
My areas of specialty include dealing with interpersonal conflict, loss, divorce, trust issues, chronic illness, depression, trauma, anxiety, substance abuse, and other life stressors that can be overwhelming. I am here to support you on your journey in reestablishing a connection with yourself. Life can get very complicated and challenging sometimes. My commitment to you is to provide a supportive place for us to collaboratively explore the challenges you are experiencing and the areas of your life you wish to change. If you are struggling to come to terms with your past, or feel as if something is preventing you from living the life you want, I invite you to explore this from a place of curiosity and without judgment. As a bilingual and bicultural therapist, I strive to support individuals, couples, and families who are experiencing difficult life events. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.
Intentional Family Therapy
Are you someone who on the outside everyone sees you as put together and accomplished but internally, you’re breaking. The overthinking, self- doubt & feelings of unworthiness are overwhelming. You are tired of feeling anxious, like you don’t measure up. You are ready to feel confident and whole in your own skin and at ease in your body. Many of my clients identify as overachievers, people pleasers and perfectionists. Are you tired of trying to please others and just want to find a way to hear your own voice and connect with your true self? You are insightful and want a deeper understanding of yourself and your past experiences and are ready to step into your power. You are not alone & have come to the right place. My focus as a therapist is to help my clients heal from past traumas, uncover their authentic selves, increase self-worth, discover their inherent resiliencies, strengthen their personal relationships, increase relational self-awareness, and build a lifelong toolkit of healthy, effective coping strategies for whatever challenges life may bring. Therapy has the potential to be transformative, empowering you to navigate life's challenges with newfound strength & resilience. I invite you to reach out for a complimentary 15-minute consultation, where you can gain clarity on my approach and how it aligns with your goals. I'm honored to accompany you on this journey towards positive change.
Free Association Clinic
For over 30 years, we have worked with individuals to confront experiences of suffering and conflict through existential psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. Our mission is to help you uncover the meaning behind your struggles and rediscover the passion, love, and joy that may feel elusive. Whether you seek clarity, healing, or growth, we are here to walk with you every step of the way.