Therapists for college students near San Diego State University
Cathryn Waters
I take a dynamic approach, helping others through developing the courage and confidence to build new skills, change unhelpful views of the self, and increasing insight and understanding and acceptance of where you are, while working toward where you want to be. The more open and willing you are to share, the better we can work together to come to a shared plan, view of the problem and work toward more distress tolerance. I use practices like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, validation, insight, socratic questioning, breathing exercises, exposure therapy, mindfulness, and shame resilience to helping others overcome cognitive and emotional obstacles toward improving the view of the self or creating behavioral change. I am a therapist at Octave, a behavioral health practice creating a new standard for mental health care that’s both high-quality and accessible. To learn more about my availability, please reach out to our Client Experience team by emailing or calling.
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.
Meg Jones PsyD
Clients I work with are typically struggling with perfectionism, eating disorders, body image issues, anxiety, depression, and difficulty with the college transition. I want to learn about your unique story so that we can create meaningful positive change in your life. As your therapist, I like to focus on staying in the present moment, finding skills to regulate emotions, and tapping into your mind/body/spirit. Because of my own background and identities, I am passionate about working with athletes, LGBTQ folks, People of Color, and trans-racial adoptees. I am located in Los Angeles and work with clients throughout California using a secure Telehealth platform, Simple Practice.
Michael Kirihara
Congratulations in starting this journey! Initially reaching out for support is often one of the most challenging steps of treatment. I love working with clients who have found the courage to take on that first obstacle and started looking for help. I believe in people where they are at in terms of their emotional lives and working to guide them where they want to be. I love working with people who are willing to put in effort to reduce their own suffering and lead a more authentic life.
Kendall Ponce
I am here to help you negative life’s ups and downs with understanding, practical tools, and care because I understand what it means to struggle and need that person along your journey. Whatever you’re facing, I’d be honored to walk alongside you as you find your way. My approach is all about balance. I focus on understanding your emotions and unique journey, while also helping you take meaningful steps forward. I believe in creating a safe, welcoming space where you can feel heard and supported as you rediscover your strengths and sense of agency. I’m mindful of all aspects that make you who you are, and I’m here to help you find clarity, connection, and confidence on your path.
Fariba Mansouri
If a person has grown up without much care or consideration for their uniqueness or has gone through personal trauma and tragedy as an adult, psychotherapy can help. Psychotherapy can be a way to increase our life satisfaction and to regain a sense of aliveness. In a non-judgmental and compassionate space, we can start a conversation about what matters in life. In therapy, we talk about life’s problems with no criticism or blame. Often our conversation helps to release emotions and to reflect inwardly. One might begin to see life from a different perspective and access the solutions to life’s problems. The overall benefit is to gain freedom from negativity and to feel more joy in life and relationships. I am a therapist at Octave, a behavioral health practice creating a new standard for mental health care that’s both high-quality and accessible. To learn more about my availability, please reach out to our Client Experience team by emailing or calling.
Danielle A Haynes
I partner with individuals offering compassionate, trauma-informed care that promotes healing and personal growth. Partnering as a relational helper, I hope to expand from problem-focused stories to those of strength and resilience, matched with empowerment and a clearer sense of agency, working together to create the desired changes. I have experience working with individuals, from diverse backgrounds. My areas of work have included but are not limited to struggles around anxiety, depression, identity concerns, self-esteem issues, trauma, life transitions, relational issues, and daily stressors. I use an eclectic approach, drawing from various practices such as relational therapy, narrative therapy, client-centered therapy, attachment theory, some features of dialectical behavioral therapy, psychodynamic framework, and I approach therapy through a mindfulness, justice-orientated, culturally sensitive, queer-affirmative and a trauma informed lens. I believe in a relational process in which finding a therapist that is a "good fit" as the groundwork for a supportive, transformative process. I believe that every individual can examine their life's journey and own their story; all while strengthening self-compassion and working to navigate who and how to be in relationships. Stepping into the therapeutic process is the first movement towards self-discovery and growth! "Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do" -Brene' Brown
Aligned Minds Care
I’m Sarah N. Karamat, a California Licensed Clinical Social Worker (#29329) and an ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP) through Evergreen Certifications. I provide individual telehealth therapy to adults across California. You may be managing ADHD-related stress, feeling stretched by responsibilities, or trying to balance your own needs with family, cultural and career expectations. I offer a warm, collaborative space to explore those pressures and work toward practical changes that fit your life. My approach draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Interpersonal Psychotherapy. Together, we can work on coping, boundaries, self-understanding and the everyday challenges that leave you feeling overwhelmed. I offer services in English, Urdu and Hindi through Aligned Minds Care, also doing business as Aligned Minds Alliance for Culturally Competent Care.
Kerianne Stephan
Hi, I'm Kerianne! I'm a mixed-race and queer Asian-American therapist. I enjoy working with a diverse range of clients with various issues relating to identity development, anxiety, multiculturalism, life transitions, and ADHD. I work collaboratively to cultivate a open, warm, and welcoming space for processing your experiences and beliefs. I often ask a lot of questions to help best understand yourself and what might work best for you.
Adrian Tiller
Whether borderline, narcissistic or simply toxic, wounded and self-centered parents create wounded children. And these children grow up without the basics of warmth and kindness, acceptance and encouragement. In order to survive, we adapt to the needs of our demanding parents. That might mean we learn to parent our parent. Or we develop antennae and quickly respond to their changing moods and needs, simultaneously ignoring our own. We hope if we do and say the right thing long enough, then one day they will be strong enough to finally take care of us. But that day may never come. We can spend our whole life looking for what we didn't get in our childhood. Attract partners who are carbon copies. Perceive other people's innocent remarks as attacking or critical. Maybe we're never quite satisfied with the attention we receive. Or no amount of success is enough. Therapy is a way to find answers and chart a new course; transcend the past and move forward. My approach is pragmatic and straightforward. I do more than just say, "Um huh," or "How does that make you feel?" I offer acceptance and encouragement, as well as feedback and suggestions.
Megan Yoshihara
I provide a safe and nurturing environment where you can explore and understand your emotions, relationships, and personal challenges. I am dedicated to making a space in therapy for all of you: from struggles with depression and anxiety to relational woes and life's changes and challenges. Whether you are seeking support as a couple, for your child, or for you! I am here to guide you on your journey towards healing and growth. My goal is to help you know and enjoy yourself more deeply, so that you can do the same with others in your life.
Elevating Mental Health
I hold certification for integrative psychiatric care and ADHD treatment. I hold a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Psychiatric-Mental Health from State University of New York Upstate Medical University where I received comprehensive training in both the theoretical and practical aspects of psychiatric care. My education equipped me with knowledge of mental health disorders, advanced clinical skills, and evidence-based treatment approaches. This rigorous academic background, combined with hands-on clinical experience across diverse settings, has prepared me to offer compassionate and effective care to individuals with a wide range of mental health needs.
Yanyan Hollingsworth
Hi, I’m YanYan. I’m a psychiatric nurse practitioner certified by both the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), as well as a physician assistant certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). I completed my education at the University of California-Davis and the University of Texas, and I’ve found my true passion in mental health care. I have been with Advanced Psychiatry Associates for seven years. As a certified psychiatric nurse practitioner, my goal is to guide you through your mental health journey and help you discover effective coping skills to manage life’s challenges. I’m here to support you every step of the way. I ensure each patient has a tailored treatment plan to meet their needs. I specialize in treating a variety of mental health conditions, including ADHD, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. I approach each of my patients with compassion and make it a priority to really listen and understand their needs. I grew up in Shanghai, China and also has bachelor’s degrees in English literature and Chinese literature. In my free time, I enjoy reading and hiking. I hope I can use my skills to help you through the life journey.
Brittany Gregory
Welcome to my profile! I am a licensed marriage and family therapist. I have worked with clients for almost a decade in both county behavioral health agencies and private companies. I work with adults and adolescence that are looking for support with anxiety, depression, OCD, school issues, and relationship concerns. My approach to therapy is a blended approach in which I Incorporate cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), and Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). I want clients to have a warm, positive experience where they feel listened to and heard.
Jennifer Broege
I utilize techniques to help alleviate symptoms, keep you grounded in the present, challenge unhelpful thoughts and work on plans for a more hopeful future. I work with adults. I offer a BIPOC & safe place. My therapeutic approach is strength-based, building on self-care and mindfulness. My focus is treatment for the whole person; integrating practices in Cognitive Behavior Therapy, EMDR, mindfulness, and strengthening your innate resilience. I am a therapist at Octave, a behavioral health practice creating a new standard for mental health care that’s both high-quality and accessible. To learn more about my availability, please reach out to our Client Experience team by emailing or calling.
Travis Buchanan
Therapy is an important investment in you. A foundation to my approach is forming an impactful relationship committed to helping. I offer a safe space to help support you through the challenges you bring to session. My therapeutic style is from a positive place of encouragement and insight while providing support to align your goals. I work to find strength within to help you find happiness. I've worked in private practice as well as in outpatient treatment, community mental health, and partial hospitalization programs. 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.
Hillary Harper
Each person generates their own understanding of life. My goal is to help each individual create their own meaning of life and gain a better understanding of the challenges that they may face. From a small child to a grown adult, there is the capacity for change within each one of use. Regardless of age, I look at each client as an individual and treat each person for who they are and the struggles that they may be facing. I offer a supportive. healing environment that is catered around each person's needs. I have been practicing as a therapist since 2015 and have worked in clinical settings, non-profit, and in a private practice. I mainly utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution Focused modalities as a part of my therapeutic approach. I will bring my knowledge, experience, and training to help you achieve the goals that you want to obtain. I look forward to learning more about you and helping you to take your first step in your treatment. 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.
Heidi Camacho
Heidi Camacho is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with close to 15 years of experience supporting people through trauma, anxiety, depression, and big life transitions. She is a certified EMDR therapist and holds a Perinatal Mental Health Certification, and she especially loves helping young adults and students who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of what comes next. Heidi's style is warm, down to earth, and collaborative. She will meet you where you are, help you make sense of what you are carrying, and work with you to build practical tools for feeling more grounded and in control. Whether you are navigating school stress, relationships, identity, or the weight of past experiences, therapy can be a space to breathe and sort things out. Heidi sees clients online through WellQor across California. To get started, fill out the Get Started form on the WellQor website. A member of the WellQor team will then text you with next steps and help you find a time that works, so booking your first session stays simple.
Dennis Goldenson, LMFT
I provide mental health support to students and young adults who are going through life transitions and want to ensure that therapy is accessible, affordable and safe to a culturally and diverse population. I work with students and young adults to help them cope and manage mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship issues, emotional dysregulation, and other conditions. I want to share my experience in providing emotional support, helping students through challenging times, and teaching students strategies to manage stress so that they can grow, develop and thrive!
Clarissa Gonzalez
I’m passionate about promoting growth. I’m excited to work with you and support you on your journey to self-healing and personal development. My goal is to create a safe space where everyone feels seen, heard, and in a non-judgmental environment. I understand how hard that first step can be, and I would love to walk this journey with you.