Therapists for college students near San Diego State University

If you are struggling, please contact me right away. As a therapist with over a decade of experience, I specialize in counseling college students and adults in the community who are navigating complex relationships or experiencing depression, shame, or trauma. You are not alone in struggling with profoundly difficult things in your life. You need a place to talk about whatever it is that is troubling you with somebody who can actually help. My counseling approach involves individual one-on-one appointments in a safe and confidential space. In our sessions, I will guide you through processing whatever it is you are struggling with. Through this work you can reach peace, better understand yourself, and find rewarding relationships. There is hope.

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.

Hi, I'm Saloomeh Saz, a psychotherapist committed to guiding individuals and couples toward emotional wellness, personal growth, and meaningful change through tailored therapeutic approaches. In addition to my therapeutic practice, I'm an author exploring themes of trauma, healing, relationships, and transformation through psychological fiction and insightful nonfiction. My published works, including my recent book, "Mirrors Edge," aim to inspire readers toward deeper self-understanding and emotional healing. I'd be happy to connect and explore how I can support you in reaching your therapeutic and personal aspirations. 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.

Have you ever wondered if life could feel less stressful or more fulfilling? Whether you’re in school, starting your career, or navigating life as a first-generation adult, I’m here to support you. Together we’ll find practical ways to handle challenges, build coping skills, and help you feel more confident and resilient, one step at a time. During our sessions, you’ll have a caring, judgment-free space where your story matters. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other proven approaches to help you shift negative patterns, tap into your strengths, and make meaningful progress toward your goals. Ready to find out if we’re the right fit? Reach out for a free 15-minute consultation. I accept insurance and sliding scale. I offer flexible telehealth so starting therapy is convenient and accessible. Let’s connect and take your next step forward together.

The students I work best with are often balancing a lot at once. They may be trying to keep up with classes, work, family responsibilities, relationships, or uncertainty about their future while also managing stress, anxiety, burnout, or self-doubt. Many of the students I see are high-achieving and hardworking, but underneath the surface they feel overwhelmed, exhausted, stuck, or like they're carrying more than other people realize. Some are adjusting to college life, navigating major life transitions, or trying to figure out who they are and what they want for themselves. You do not need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, academic stress, confidence, or simply feeling lost, therapy can provide a supportive space to better understand yourself and develop tools to move forward. My goal is to create a welcoming, judgment-free environment where you can be yourself, explore what's getting in the way, and build the skills and confidence needed to thrive both in college and beyond.

My approach to therapy is to create a secure and comfortable space for anyone to address their mental health needs and concerns; I am not here to judge but to understand and help. My goal is to meet you where you are and collaboratively work towards the goals that you set. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as a treatment modality to aid in processing thoughts and feelings with regard to certain stressors and identify helpful coping skills. 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.

I went into psychology to address what I believe is a growing imbalance of work/life stress and personal guilt in modern day society. I want to help clients struggling with this both individually and as couples or families. Experiences from past careers has given me an appreciation for diverse learning methods and cultural attitudes, as well as how to be flexible and creative in my coaching with clients of all ages. Managing the ups and downs of any chronic condition is the unacknowledged full-time job of millions of people, and yet there is little credit given for it. I am here to be supportive, inventive, encouraging, and sympathetic to clients struggling with the ongoing stress of managing their lives, and help them lead an enjoyable life no matter what they may be handling. I believe that when people connect, lives get better. I have always been an advocate for others’ growth, and enjoy helping people gain insight into themselves and their world. As a marriage and family therapist, I help individuals address elements of their lives and themselves that are interfering with their relationships. As an individual therapist, I focus on unlocking and identifying core motivations and strengths in clients that are unique to them, and which often provide clients with the direction or guidance they are seeking. My psychotherapy practice is tailored to give clients exactly the kind of supportive opportunity they need to focus inward, realign with their personal needs, and heal from stress as they learn to manage it. I have a warm communication style that clients describe as encouraging, analytical, and direct. I use a Cognitive Behavioral approach, with elements of Emotionally Focused Therapy to explore deeper memories, and Solution-Focused principles to create measurable progress between sessions.

I work with couples and adults. I help college students who are dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, or feel overwhelmed by the transition to college, their workload, or have experienced a loss. I help couples rebuild/strengthen their friendship, learn how to manage their conflict and find ways to compromise, deal with differences in parenting, process past hurt, and deal with other stressors that can impact the relationship, such as OCD, Depression, in-law problems, work schedules, or working together. I also offer premarital counseling for couples hoping to navigate important conversations prior to marriage. I support adults with work stress, anxiety, family/relationship issues, grief, divorce, and acclimating to college or any other big life transition. I'm certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and received intensive training in the Gottman Method for Couples therapy. Both are research- based, which means they have been shown to be effective. It also means that there are many tools that I can draw from to support you. Reaching out for help is a vulnerable thing and finding the right therapist is KEY to a successful journey in therapy. I offer free phone or video consultations to make sure you get a sense of what it might be like to work with me, and for me to hear more about you and make sure I have the tools/experience to help you. I hope to hear from you soon!

Seeking feminist, body-neutral, LGBTQIA+ celebrating depth therapy? Society, culture, family, school are all imperfect & most of us have some stuff to unpack, process, & heal. Maybe you’ve come to a point where you know these old narratives aren’t serving you & you want to create more joy, freedom, and liberation in your life & community moving forward. Culture, race, ethnicity, gender, sex, & sexuality all impact the stories we are told about who we can be, should be & are. These narratives affect how we think about ourselves & require time, attention & care to unpack, process & heal. Life has been coming at us all at hyper-speed for the past few years, and it's normal to need some help. You may be feeling stuck, stressed, depressed, exhausted, unworthy, guilty, lost & not knowing why you don’t feel better yet. I use a collaborative approach that includes interventions from ACT, SFT, CBT, and MBSR through a feminist narrative lens to foster safety, skills & resilience. I aim to provide an environment of curiosity where your whole self can be recognized, affirmed, and celebrated. My work is affirming of enm, poly, kink, & bdsm. If this resonated with you we are probably a great fit & you’re in the right place :) Please get in touch via phone or email to arrange a 15-minute consultation and we’ll make sure it’s great fit, I’ll answer any questions you may have, & if its not I’m happy to help guide you through the process of finding someone who is. ** You can directly book a consult call via my website www.LaurenMatern.com **

Dating, love, and relationships today can feel overwhelming — from situationships and ghosting to the struggle of creating genuine intimacy in a digital world. If you’re tired of surface-level connections, repeating the same patterns, or feeling stuck in heartbreak, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Therapy can help you break cycles, heal from old wounds, and create relationships built on trust, authenticity, and lasting connection.  I’m Victor, a licensed therapist who works with individuals and couples under 50. Together, we’ll explore your attachment style, improve communication, and identify triggers that hold you back. My style blends evidence-based tools with honest, down-to-earth conversation.  Ready to stop repeating old patterns and start building relationships that feel real? Visit my website to learn more or book your first session through my online scheduling tool. Let’s get started on creating the kind of love and connection you truly want.

Mental health care that fits your life. Peak Mental Health makes getting support easier with convenient, high-quality virtual mental health care designed around your schedule. With a diverse network of 300+ licensed mental health providers, we help students, faculty, and staff connect with an experienced clinician who fits their individual needs, preferences, and goals. Appointments are available 7 days a week with highly flexible scheduling, making it easier to access care around classes, work, family, and everyday life. Our providers offer support for a wide range of mental health needs, including anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, relationships, life transitions, academic and work pressures, grief, and more. Our clinical team reflects a wide range of cultures, backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences, helping clients find providers with whom they can feel understood and supported. With care available in 10+ languages and expertise across a variety of evidence-based treatment approaches, we are committed to providing culturally responsive, personalized mental health care for the diverse communities we serve. Wherever you are, Peak Mental Health makes professional support more accessible, flexible, and personalized, so you can get the care you need, when you need it.

I strive to foster personal growth and understanding in order to heal from past wounds and resolve current psychological distress. I do this by providing a safe and non-judgmental space where people of all different backgrounds can feel comfortable sharing their struggles. It is a privilege to walk alongside you during difficult times and see you overcome your current obstacles. I seek understanding of your experience through questions, exploration, and taking on a learner’s perspective. Although I am well versed in mental health disorders and treatment, I see you as the expert of yourself. This is your life and your story. I want to collaborate with you to find the best solutions for you. I will offer tools, strategies, and skills. Most importantly, I offer a place for you to be heard and understood. Together we will learn what works best for you. My goal is for you to leave therapy feeling confident in trusting yourself and your ability to handle what life presents.

Has your college experience been different from what you were expecting or hoping for? I’ll help you get to the other side of what you’re going through. College is a massive adjustment that while exciting, can be hard. I love supporting young adults cope with the stressors that can come up socially, academically, and emotionally. I'm dedicated to helping my clients overcome feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, and depression so that they can enjoy their college experiences. My approach is gentle and compassionate yet solution-oriented, ensuring you have the tools and support to move forward with confidence.

I provide therapy services in a safe online environment where clients can ask questions, seek guidance, and access support with issues related to mental health and wellness. Clients can seek my services for support with relationships, gender identity, cultural identity, career/educational goals, depression, anxiety and more. I offer support and guidance to my clients, taking their past life experiences and future goals into consideration. Together, we can come up with a plan to help you feel well. By working collaboratively with clients, I hope to encourage their understanding of self and their past experiences, as well as assist in clarifying and planning of future-oriented goals. I am trained in different clinical modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Solution Focused Therapy (SFT). My areas of specialization include LGBT+, College Students/Faculty, First Responders, BIPOC and Performance Improvement. I look forward to working with you! 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.

Welcome! Please see my website or contact me for more information about my practice.

Life is a series of changes and transitions that can create roadblocks in our lives. As a Licensed Psychologist, I work with individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, perfectionism, procrastination, histories of trauma, grief and loss, AAPI issues, and other life hurdles. In addition, I work on supporting individuals with the unique challenges of juggling life as a student. My practice is grounded in creating a safe, supportive space where clients can feel seen, heard, and empowered to grow. In session, I offer opportunities for introspection wherever one might be in their journey. With empathy and direct clear goals, we will work together on tailoring a plan specifically for you by breaking down larger goals into more manageable steps. Coming from a bicultural background, as an Asian American female, I understand the unique challenges that one faces when straddling two different worlds. I believe in providing therapy that honors multicultural perspectives and diversity. Whether you’re seeking support for yourself, your child, or your relationship, I’m here to walk alongside you with care and intention.

As a therapist grounded in Depth Psychology, I offer a compassionate and collaborative space for you to explore the layers of your experience. Whether you're navigating anxiety, grief, life transitions, or relational challenges, I work with you to make meaning out of struggle and to reconnect with your own inner wisdom. My approach is relational, psychodynamic, and trauma-informed, with deep respect for your individual journey. I’m especially attuned to how unconscious patterns, family systems, and early experiences shape who we are—and how we heal. I also welcome dreamwork, myth, and imagination into the room when appropriate. I work with adults and teens, and I’m particularly passionate about supporting those who feel stuck, sensitive, or like they don’t quite fit the mold. You're not too much—and you're not alone. Therapy with me is not about quick fixes; it’s about building an authentic relationship where transformation becomes possible. If you’re ready to begin or continue this work, I’d be honored to walk alongside you.

Avoid traffic & travel time with Video/Phone Telehealth sessions (I do not offer in person counseling). Do you enjoy learning about yourself, seeking joy, purpose and growth all while keeping a sense of humor about life and yourself even when facing challenges? Are you dealing with stress, anxiety, major life changes or adjustments (career, moving, marriage, separation, break-up or divorce), trauma or grief and loss? These have been my areas of specialty for 20+years. I also love working with those in the entertainment industry or in the helping professions (healthcare, mental health, caregivers, spiritual / coaches). Sound like you? I may be a fit! Time does not heal all wounds. But, what you do with your time can make a HUGE difference. Using grief, loss, CBT, and stress management techniques, together we can work on everything from individual support for children, teens or adults to couples or family counseling. I like seeing the results in my clients feeling happier, healthier and satisfied. Whether it's your first time in therapy or you have had experience in the past and life circumstances have led you back to searching for someone new, I hope I can help. I know from personal experience that weeding through all the therapists is a daunting task, and finding the best fit for you is essential. Note: I don't take insurance and provide paperwork for you to submit to any PPO for Out of Network Benefit reimbursement.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

You don’t have to carry this alone. If anxiety, depression, or people-pleasing—trying to make others happy—take over, I’m here: open, steady, ready to help. I work with adults facing life transitions, work stress, family conflict, and low confidence. My style is warm, direct, and collaborative. We’ll make sense of what’s happening and build practical skills. Using CBT and DBT, we’ll calm your nervous system, set boundaries, and move forward with clarity. You’ll be met with respect, curiosity, and a plan that fits you. Ready? Reach out—we’ll start where you are. 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.