Therapists for college students near San Diego State University

Hello and welcome to Bellator Psychological. We created the trauma clinic that the San Diego Police and Fire departments use for their intensive PTSD care. We are expert providers of trauma care and other mental health issues that can interfere with success and daily functioning. If you’re looking for quality Private Counseling sessions with providers who care, then you’ve come to the right place. We guide our patients every step of the way and implement methods to help them develop new attitudes towards all of life’s most complex matters. Clearing away obstacles and dysfunction can occur faster than expected and allow us to engage life with a clear mind, a healthy view, and joy. We specialize in treating trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, moral injury, crisis, codependency, substance abuse, and family/relational. We are trained in the evidence-based trauma therapies highly recommended by the American Psychological Association for treating PTSD, including CPT, PE, and EMDR. Whether you are looking for intensive treatment or personal growth, most clients discover their ability to reach far beyond the basic skills necessary to achieve their initial goals. There can be a lot of joy in understanding ourselves and growing into the person that we can be proud of. The journey is judgement free and at any pace that we need to take it.

Are you a tween, teen, or college student in need of a little extra support? Perhaps recent transitions at home, school or work gotten you down? Or you may feel worn out from the impact on your life of COVID-19? Are you feeling isolated or struggling with relationship issues? You are not alone; we've all been there! Our goal is to provide you a short-term, confidential space where you can talk openly about your challenges, feel supported and learn some new, perhaps more adaptive tools and strategies for working through current problems and issues. Utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), our aim is to help you improve your mental health and provide you with tools which you can use throughout the course of your life to best manage life's challenges.

I work with individuals, couples, and families who are navigating challenges such as relationship conflict, life transitions, cultural identity, and the effects of trauma. I have particular experience supporting immigrant and refugee communities, including those impacted by domestic violence. My approach is grounded in Narrative therapy and Solution-Focused therapy, and informed by a decolonial poststructural feminist lens. I see therapy as a challenging space where we can explore the stories that have shaped your life and create new possibilities for healing, growth, and connection. My background as an Iranian-American therapist influences my perspectives, providing me the ability to offer therapy services in both English and Farsi. My research and clinical work have focused on relationship dynamics, domestic violence, immigrant and refugee experiences, the intersection of identity and emotion, and families challenged with high levels of conflict. I also specialize in working with couples facing high conflict or violence, and I strive to provide a safe and supportive environment where change feels possible.

Tamara Halperin, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in working with children, adolescents, and young adults to help them reach their full potential. Her passions include working with parents, people who have experienced trauma, and client’s with anxiety. Within parenting, she focuses on helping children and parents form healthy relationships and manage difficult behaviors through strengths-based integrative approaches. She is a certified Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) therapist. It is of utmost importance to practice cultural humility in the care provided. Dr. Halperin attended UCSB for her undergraduate education and received her Masters and Doctorate of Psychology at Alliant International University.

College can be a daunting experience, for many the first time away from home. Imagine feeling in control of your life again and confident in yourself to leave your house, dorm, or apartment and not worry about what others think about you. Like your living space but not your housemates so much suddenly? We can help you learn how to set better boundaries and communicate them to others more adaptively so that you can enjoy your space and those you're living with, again. Imagine feeling able to manage your emotions enough to get through a whole day and not feel controlled by them. Imagine having your life back. It’s possible. One of the hardest things about finding a therapist is the concern about feeling judged for needing help. Know that my role is only in empowering you to remember what you are capable of, and I do so from a very supportive and nonjudgmental approach. Let's explore together what is blocking you from feeling able to fix this on your own. My approach is meant to create a safe space in which you feel comfortable processing the feelings that have been preventing you from achieving your goals for yourself. I help you achieve those short-term goals that bring you here, while planting seeds of empowerment so that one day you will feel self-confident and capable on your own once again. Over the years I've had many clients from a variety of backgrounds let me know they have found me to be the "safest" and "easiest person to talk to" about uncomfortable things, I'm just one human doing my best to help other humans through their own Life journey. Shoot a message or call w/ any questions you may have. Free 15 min ph consults. LBTQIA affirming.

I work with adults (18+) who are having difficulties with depression, anxiety, and stress. These difficulties can often create problems in our relationships, self-care, self-esteem, and functioning at work or school. I am here to support you with these challenges. Looking for a therapist can be difficult in addition to facing current struggles in our life. Feel free to call for a free 15-minute consultation to see what I can do for you. I earned my doctorate in clinical psychology in Chicago. I have specialized training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Cognitive Processing Therapy for trauma. I also teach skills that include increasing awareness with mindfulness, tolerating distress, regulating difficult emotions, and being more effective in relationships. I approach therapy by helping you identify what you want your life to look like and then working through any of the barriers that get in the way of achieving what you want. I am eager to get to know you. Let's work together to help you with developing new coping skills, challenging negative self-talk, and moving you closer to achieving your goals.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

"Create Wellbeing Therapy Collective provides integrative mental healthcare to students using a compassionate and supportive approach. We will meet you non-judgmentally where you are at and help you with the skills to make changes. Our innovative wellbeing model addresses the needs of the whole person. We will help you to CALM the distress, ENGAGE your whole self, and INTEGRATE healing into your life. We provide expert care to complex situations including: pregnancy, parenting, marriage/divorce, eating struggles, trauma, grief, life stage and older adult care.

If you are looking for an individual to LISTEN to you about YOUR issues. You found her. We will work in a collaborative environment. What this means is that I will meet you wherever you are on your journey. Who knows YOU the best? YOU DO. That’s what you bring to the table. We will explore different ways to increase the benefits that you’ve always wanted from life. Therapy is scary. Change is scary. But you know what’s not scary? Feeling comfortable in your own body and mind. Feeling like who you are truly meant to me. Feeling content with life and yourself every day. My job is to guide you through your therapeutic journey. I have two goals: 1. To help you reach your goals. 2. To help you have the life you’ve always wanted. As a therapist and Clinical Social Worker, I have worked with many individuals who have struggled with the roles they play in their families, work, friendships or even how they see themselves. My passion is helping individuals find whom they’ve always dreamt of being and guiding them to their authentic selves through multiple modalities. Contact me today.

Sometimes life throws us a curve-ball that we just didn't expect. Whatever the curve-ball is, either large or small, it is common to cause anxiety, even if it is something exciting. If your curve-ball is something that isn't so exciting, maybe you feel traumatized. This can happen for any situation that causes disruption to your daily routine, your thinking and ultimately your ability to function at your full potential. Whatever your anxiety or trauma is about, we can help! We are a team of therapists that work extensively with anxiety provoking issues. These could be about relationships, life events, or any negative experience that is holding you back. If you are struggling with moving past a traumatic incident, or finding it difficult to overcome anxiety of any sort, please contact us. We will have one of our experienced therapists contact you as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you!

Black Lives Matter. I will listen to you, get to know you as a person, identify strengths, build self- awareness, and create a safe environment where positive change happens. I like to view therapy as a puzzle, we have some missing pieces, we have some broken pieces, and we have some whole pieces, lets work together to put the puzzle back together. My background is in treating, but not limited to: anxiety, attachment issues, trauma, emotional regulation, grief/loss and women’s issues. My office is a safe place where all are accepted and treated with compassion. Some of the treatment modalities I practice include: trauma informed, CBT, play therapy, attachment based, mindfulness, and solution focused

I specialize in integrative therapy, which is a progressive form of psychotherapy that combines different therapeutic tools and approaches to fit the needs of each individual client. This means treatment is customized to meet your needs. We will work together to identify and address the source of your discomfort or distress, then develop strategies to promote change that make a difference — in mood – in relationships – in life. Psychotherapy is helpful for a variety of clinical disorders, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD and interpersonal difficulties. My clinical specialties include anxiety disorders, healing after trauma, gender and sexual identity (LGBTQIA+ Affirmation therapy), and much more. I believe in the potential for emotional and individual growth, striving to provide a safe and warm environment in which client can explore and thrive. My work has been with individuals from many different cultural backgrounds in inpatient, outpatient, residential, and private practice settings.​

"I am here to get it right, not to be right" - Brene Brown. My role as a therapist is to listen with both an open mind and open heart as well as validate and understand your own lived experiences. I believe you are the expert of your life and posses many beautiful strengths that are yet to be uncovered. Sometimes when we are struggling with symptoms related to our mental health, we may feel out of control and powerless, I want to help you fight back against some of those negative thoughts we experience and feel confident in not only yourself, but in your ability to implement your communication and coping skills when needed. I have experience working with individuals whom have experienced trauma and are struggling with symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and PTSD. I enjoy working with clients on regaining their sense of safety and helping them better understand their mind/body response to trauma. I am trained in TF-CBT & EMDR. I provide services in both English and Spanish. I strive to help my clients not only have positive connections with others, but also with themselves, promoting the importance of self love. I strive to create a safe environment for healing, growing, learning, and maybe doing some unlearning of old habits that no longer serve us.

What To Expect At Your Visit: Walking Together Down the Path To the Life You Desire Perhaps you're down or anxious - maybe you're unsure about the future of a relationship, or just feel that you aren't living the life you were meant to lead. Whatever your needs may be, we are here to offer support. Therapy is a process of growth and self-discovery, and during sessions I promote behavioral transformation by encouraging the adoption of new attitudes and behaviors to create the outcome YOU desire. We have the tools and professional experience to help you get on your ideal track.

As an observer of human behavior and relationship, I see the sticky interconnectedness of self, other, and systems that often imprisons us in behaviors, thoughts, and reactions that can feel unchangeable. I believe people often do the best they can to face the challenges of life, yet in doing so, some of what we discover works at first, fails us long-term. And it’s here that we often feel trapped—between doing what we know to do and knowing what we’re doing is no longer working. That’s where I come in. I’m here to help you find freedom in areas that seem unchangeable, freedom in living into your best self, and freedom in healthy relationship. It’s a journey, but a worthy one, and one that you don’t need to travel alone.

I consider myself to be a “down to earth” therapist who genuinely connects to clients on a person to person level. We explore together to see what approach is right for you, and therapy is truly a collaborative process. You can feel comfortable to be yourself and be vulnerable with me and that within itself is often healing. If you reach out, I guarantee a call or email back on the same day you reach out so we can connect and see if we are a good fit. I specialize in treating life transitions, anxiety, depression, trauma, body images issues and relationship issues. My other areas of focus include: LGBTQ+, teens, Latinx clients, couples therapy, and working with clients in the millennial and gen Z age range. I also enjoy working with neurodiverse clients who have been diagnosed with autism or ADHD. BOOK A FREE CONSULT BY PHONE/ZOOM CALL: https://p.bttr.to/3EOh5p2

I am a passionate and caring therapist who uses a lens of self-compassion to help you address and resolve issues or challenges that are negatively impacting quality of life. By changing the negative inner voice to a kinder, more compassionate voice we'll work together toward a greater sense of fulfillment and satisfaction in life.

College life is exciting—but it can also feel overwhelming. Between academics, relationships, family pressures, and figuring out who you are, it’s easy to feel stressed, anxious, or alone. Maybe you're struggling with a breakup, grieving someone you’ve lost, feeling disconnected from friends, or just totally burnt out. Maybe you’re questioning your path or feeling like no one really “gets” what you're going through. These moments can feel heavy—but you don’t have to carry them on your own. Reaching out for support isn’t a weakness—it’s a powerful step toward growth and clarity. I'm here to help you tap into your strengths, make sense of the challenges you're facing, and start building the kind of life and relationships that actually feel good and grounded. I specialize in working with college students, young adults, and teens—and I’m passionate about helping you navigate this messy, meaningful chapter of your life. In our work together, you’ll find a space where you can be honest, feel heard, and take real steps toward feeling more confident, connected, and at peace. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, grief, academic stress, identity questions, or relationship struggles, I’m here to walk alongside you. If you’re ready for something to shift, I invite you to reach out. You’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself.

Therapy is not a "one-size-fits all" approach and will be personalized to suit the needs of you and your specific life situations. You deserve to work with someone who has the training and experience necessary to help you get the most out of your efforts to feel better and achieve your goals. Every therapist at HM Psychological Services strives to provide the best therapeutic services to adults, teens, adolescents, and children in individual, family, and couples therapy. Each of our therapists at HMPS have different areas of specialization, providing excellent options to meet all of your needs. Some of our speciality areas include: Trauma, PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Addiction, OCD, Gender affirmation, LGBTQIA+, and more.

Chelsea Sterling is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). She holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of San Diego. Her clinical experiences include providing individual therapy, group therapy, crisis counseling and psychosocial assessments through work in short-term acute residential treatment (START) programs, outpatient mental health clinics and an alcohol treatment facility. She is a certified Domestic Violence Counselor. Chelsea has expertise in the following modalities: cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing and eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR).