Therapists for college students near San Diego, CA

My work is grounded in supporting individuals through challenges such as anxiety, depression, relationship conflict, and grief and loss. I also have a strong passion for working with women navigating life transitions, including academic stressors, body | self-esteem issues, shifts in identity, and intimacy-related concerns. These experiences can feel so isolating, and I strive to create a space where you feel understood, supported, and not alone.

My ideal client feels overwhelmed by the "trial and error" of mental health treatment and seeks a grounded, scientific approach to relief. They may be struggling with persistent anxiety, mood instability, or burnout, feeling like their current strategies aren't enough. They need a provider who respects their autonomy and looks at the whole person, not just a diagnosis. Their goal is to regain mental clarity and emotional resilience through a plan that balances clinical safety with their personal values for long-term health. I specialize in evidence-based medication management integrated with holistic values. By combining the latest clinical findings with a focus on lifestyle, nutrition, and stress resilience, I help you achieve optimal outcomes. I offer precise, data-driven care designed to minimize side effects while maximizing your quality of life and mental well-being. You deserve to feel supported by a provider who truly listens and views you as a partner in your own healing. Taking the first step can be daunting, but you don't have to navigate this journey alone. I invite you to reach out so we can discuss how a collaborative, science-backed approach can help you reclaim your balance and thrive.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience working with adults with depression, anxiety, work stress, self esteem and relationship issues.

I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and graduated from USC in 2014. In my practice, I support people healing from trauma, including those living with C-PTSD/ PTSD, dissociation, depression, and anxiety. I often work with clients who identify as LGBTQ, neurodivergent, or disabled, and those navigating the impact of systemic oppression.

Clients who have experienced trauma, substance abuse and family issues. Struggling with depression and anxiety. Career and college challenges are all important to process. I use various research-based modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Motivational Interviewing, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) . I offer a safe, non-judgmental space to process emotions and traumatic experiences. I consider all aspects of an individual and implement a bio-psycho-social-spiritual, culturally-sensitive and client-centered approach with individuals, couples, and families.

I believe the therapeutic relationship is essential to therapy. Together we will work to accomplish the goals you have for yourself. I believe that your core beliefs about yourself will impact the way you behave and feel; therefore, by considering and examining these beliefs, you can gradually alter them and consequently, alter your behaviors and emotions. I practice Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; however, my roots in client-centered have served me well by giving me the tools needed to build the therapeutic relationship. I am also skilled in Motivational Interviewing. My belief is that we can all use someone to support us in processing our thoughts and feelings. It can be difficult finding time, money and energy to find the right therapist. I would love to be of service to you on your journey. 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.

As a therapist, I find inspiration in helping individuals tap into resilience and strength as they navigate their mental health journeys. Witnessing their transformations and moments of clarity, hope, and healing fuels my passion for this field. I am motivated by the opportunity to create a safe space for clients to explore their thoughts and emotions, knowing that every conversation and intervention holds the potential to spark meaningful change in their lives. Ultimately, it is the privilege of walking alongside others in their struggles and triumphs that drives my commitment to the mental health profession. As a therapist, I prioritize creating a safe and empathetic space where clients feel fully understood and validated. I actively listen, maintaining eye contact and using reflective statements to convey that I am engaged in their experiences. I encourage open dialogue and ask clarifying questions, ensuring clients feel comfortable expressing their emotions and thoughts. My goal is to foster a trusting relationship where clients know their voices are valued and their feelings matter. As a therapist, I prioritize building trust and rapport with my clients to create a safe and supportive environment where they feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings. I believe that establishing a genuine connection fosters open communication, allows for deeper exploration of personal challenges, and ultimately enhances the therapeutic process. By actively listening, validating their experiences, and demonstrating empathy, I aim to empower clients and help them feel valued and understood throughout their journey.

I am a licensed professional counselor with over 10 years of experience providing quality mental health care and career counseling services. I value supporting clients and the communities I serve by providing individual therapy for LGBTQ+ concerns, anxiety, body image concerns & disordered eating, ADHD, and career development concerns. My approach focuses on exploring what makes each individual thrive, providing empathy and understanding, free from judgment and societal expectations.

College can feel like a lot. Classes, deadlines, money, relationships, family pressure, and trying to figure out who you are all at once. When the stress keeps stacking up, it can feel hard to focus, sleep, or even slow your thoughts down. If your head feels like it’s constantly spinning, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to power through it by yourself. I work best with college students and young adults who feel overwhelmed, anxious, burned out, or stuck. That might look like anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, or just feeling off and not sure why. I offer virtual therapy for students in Illinois and California, with a focus on helping you feel more grounded, more in control, and more like yourself again. Therapy with me is practical, supportive, and collaborative. We focus on what’s actually getting in your way right now and what will help you feel better moving forward. You don’t need to have everything figured out before starting. If you’re ready for some relief and want support that meets you where you are, I’d be glad to work with you. When you’re ready, you can reach out by email or schedule a first session through therapywithmicah.com.

When people ask me what my ideal client I actually wonder what's people's ideal therapists? I think this is important when thinking about an ideal client and therapists because I see it as a collaborative work. I'm not here to force you what I think is best for you, therapy is something both the client and therapist figure out together to meet the clients' needs and goals. I find it important to keep in mind intersectionalities and how society and culture play an important role. I enjoy working with different diversities such as LGBTQ+, culture, and etc. I also work with trauma using informal exposure, art therapy, teen therapy, and couples therapy. I also love doing work involving aspects of DBT therapy such as mindfulness. I know the therapy process is hard, but I want to try to make anyone feel they can be themselves (sometimes I use humor when appropriate). Searching for the right therapist is hard so whether it's me or not I encourage you to keep looking and find who's right for you out there. Feel free to reach out for a phone consult or email!

You want to be a better person than what you grew up with. You want to provide the love and support that always felt conditional to you. Growing up, you learned to believe the other shoe would drop at any moment and you had to be ready. It was only a matter of time. Instead of being made to feel like you were the problem, you wish you could have grown up to trust in yourself, to feel all of the feelings without shame or judgment, to have healthy relationships. You want this, but just because you know in your head that there is a better way doesn't mean you know how to recognize it, trust in it, or believe in your heart that you deserve it. I enjoy providing a compassionate, non-judgmental space for you to come and just be. We'll work together to identify the unhelpful patterns you've learned, to build a sense of safety, and your ability to trust in yourself. We'll build up the compassionate self you wished you got when you were young, and build in skills and supports to lean on along the way. I help adults who feel like they are always on edge, ready for someone to make you the problem and say it's your fault. Here's the truth: You are allowed to be different, to take up space, to feel all the feelings, that doesn't make you 'the problem.' We'll work together to help your brain believe it and keep you safe. Hi, I'm Allyson! I'm a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT #136508) and Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC #12918) under the supervision of Elizabeth McGinnis, LPCC 8285. I received my Master’s from California Baptist University in Counseling Psychology and my Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from Biola University. In my career as a therapist, I’ve worked with children and adults of all ages. From preschool through adulthood, I’ve worked alongside my clients to process through their challenges and create patterns of relating that are most true and helpful for them. To find out more about me, check out https://empsychotherapy.net/therapists/allyson/

Welcome to Cultivate Grace Counseling and Consultation Services! I am a Registered Play Therapist™ (RPT™) and I specialize in therapy for children and teens navigating emotional ups and downs, life transitions and stress related to adjustment challenges. Through play therapy, parent-child relational work, and solution focused techniques, my goal is to help young people build confidence, strengthen emotional regulation, and feel more connected at home and at school. Parents are an important part of the process. I offer consultation and practical guidance to help you feel more equipped, supported, and less alone along the way.

I am an integrative psychiatrist board certified in both General Adult Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry who believes in a holistic approach to mental health. I specialize in assessing and treating multiple mental health disorders including anxiety, OCD, depression, ADHD, & bipolar disorder. I tailor treatment plans personalized to you to provide the best outcomes. Treatment modalities include lifestyle adjustments, integrative services (vitamins/supplements), laboratory testing, therapy, collaboration with other providers, and/or medications. Medications are only used when indicated. My approach includes improving awareness of your own strengths and challenges to achieve realistic goals while also being empathic towards yourself. My ultimate goal is to assist you in creating your own compass that will serve as a way to better tackle future stresses and enhance your intra and interpersonal relationships.

If you are a spiritual/religious person, I am committed to helping you use the articles of your faith as a resource in a respectful way, but I do not approach therapy from a religious framework. I am open and accepting of LGBTQ+. I have been doing psychotherapy full time for over 3 decades, so I am a seasoned therapist. My first training was Cognitive-Behavioral, and it remains foundational to how I work with clients, but with experience I have incorporated parts of many other approaches, so "eclectic" is a label that also fits. I believe that education is important early in the therapy process, helping clients identify "what problem(s) are my symptoms trying to solve?" Utilizing our ability to think accurately is basic to constructing approaches to our challenges that are most likely to be successful. I am NOT a passive therapist who will sit with you while you "find your answers within." I've spent my career trying to find out what approaches work best in dealing with our challenges, and I like to think I have found some. I will actively share my thoughts as we explore your life issues. I will use humor in the therapeutic process so if you are looking for a "deadly serious at all times" therapist, I may not be a good fit for you. Ultimately, I am responsible for my "side of the street" in therapy, providing tools, insights, and respectful support with integrity. My clients' "side of the street" include being as open and honest as possible in session, and as brave as possible as you try new (and probably uncomfortable) things in order to improve your life. My best wishes for you to have a successful therapeutic journey. 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.

Becoming the parent of a child with autism was a catalyst that fundamentally reshaped my world. Initially, I attempted to navigate the complexities of raising a neurodivergent child in isolation, drowning in a sea of anxiety, grief, and anger. It wasn’t until I sought therapy and connected with a community of parents on the same emotional rollercoaster that the fog lifted. Therapy — and the support of others who understood — changed everything. That experience led me to this work. From the moment you log on for your telehealth appointment, the space belongs entirely to you. It is a place where you can cry, laugh, and share your highs and lows without fear of judgment. You don’t need to have a plan or know exactly where to start; just being here is the beginning of discovery. You will be seen, you will be heard, and we will take this first step together. I believe therapy works best when we walk the path together. My approach is built on your strengths and tailored to your unique needs. You will always be met with acceptance, empathy, and respect—never judgment. Rather than giving you answers, I am here to help you uncover your own truth and take the lead in your healing. I want you to leave our time together feeling deeply seen, supported, and ready to move forward with confidence. I’ve recently discovered a quiet peace in making soap and candles. There is something beautiful about the way we must melt down solid wax to reshape it, or how we must wait patiently for soap to cure before it is ready. It reminds me so much of therapy. We need time to soften, space to be molded, and patience to let our new insights settle. It has taught me that healing is a craft—one that simply cannot be rushed.

I take a person-centered approach to therapy, and am warm, interactive, and engaged. As a practicing therapist for 20 years, I have never stopped admiring the courage and strength it takes to seek help, become aware, and illicit change. I like to meet people where they are, identify treatment goals, and help people succeed in making the changes necessary to feel confident, fulfilled, and at peace. My goal is to create a safe, non-judgement space so people feel comfortable opening up and seeking help. I utilize many different therapeutic approaches based on what works best for the person seeking therapy and believe therapy works best when the individual is engaged in their own treatment and progress. 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 support clients who are navigating ADHD, OCD, anxiety, and depression, and I integrate practical strategies for emotional regulation, motivation, and executive functioning. Sessions with me may include skill-building, mindset shifts, medication support when beneficial, and space to process your experiences at your own pace.

Life is difficult. Yet when we accept this reality, our lives change dramatically for the better. Our fear, sadness, and anger is often what is keeping us from facing the vital facts of our lives which need to be addressed. The more effective we are at soothing ourself, the more courageous we become. For it is often overwhelming pain that paralyzes us or leads us to mindlessly react in ways that sabotage our peace and happiness. I teach you how to calm yourself and effectively solve the problems you face. I collaborate with you as you learn how to influence your subconscious mind which is as much as 95 percent of thinking. We work together so you can realize your dreams in your relationships and career.

I specialize in Substance Use and Trauma. I work with individuals, families, and provide support for partners and spouses of those struggling with Substance Use. Often underlying trauma, mental and physical disorders, stress and shame, fuel substance use, so without addressing those underlying forces its very difficult to manage your life and break free from addiction. I will come along side of you and provide a safe place to process, an individualized recovery plan, tools and insight through education, and together through discovery we will set goals around breaking free from those underlying issues that drive substance abuse as well as breaking addiction itself. Please check out my website for more information: www.myrecoveryworks.org

We provide comprehensive psychological services, empowering you to improve & protect your mental health. We specialize in providing personalized treatment of eating disorders, trauma, substance use disorders & obsessive-compulsive disorder. We also are experts in guiding young adults through life transitions, relationship difficulties, and identity development. We believe that with the right resources, support, and commitment, anyone can succeed.