Therapists for college students near San Diego, CA

Do you ever feel like no matter what you do, it’s never enough? Maybe you’re caught in cycles of people-pleasing, anxiety, or perfectionism—always showing up for others but still questioning your own worth. On the outside you may look like you’re holding it together, but inside you’re exhausted. If you long for authentic relationships and the confidence to feel secure in yourself, therapy can help. Our work together is deeper than surface-level talk therapy. Through IFS and a warm, supportive approach, I’ll help you uncover the root of what’s keeping you stuck. Clients often say I bring a calming, compassionate presence while also gently challenging them to see things in new ways. I specialize in helping high-achievers in Bakersfield and across California heal the roots of shame, anxiety, and people-pleasing. My goal is for you to feel more confident, connected, and at peace with yourself. If you’re ready to take that first step toward lasting change, I’d be honored to walk alongside you.

Psychology is a fascinating field and I am passionate about helping people achieve their best selves. I have been practicing therapy for many years and in that time it has been a joy for me to see people find their joy and hope, and thrive! I believe in a collaborative working relationship and thus I approach therapy with a curious mind as we explore and discuss. I like to encourage self-empowerment, agency and independence and I like to check in with clients to confirm what I hear and give them the final say over their choice and life; I am merely the guide. I believe in practicing therapy collaboratively, working together where we will explore and discover the roadblocks and difficulties that brought them into therapy, and introducing new perspectives that will assist them in finding new ways to resolve their challenges. This is a recovery journey and I am merely the guide to assist each client in finding their best selves.

I am certified in utilizing interventions from multisystemic therapy, which specializes in working with families and adolescents that may be experiencing behavioral concerns with aggression, lack of following rules or boundaries in the home or community, commercial sexual exploitation, and substance abuse. I specialize in empowering clients to work on increasing their insightfulness and targeting attainable goals for their desired outcomes for counseling. I provide a safe environment to discuss strategies to help clients cope with their emotional obstacles so they can be better prepared to find effective solutions to their unique challenges. I can utilize interventions that are commonly utilized in multisystemic therapy to help empower caregivers to increase their parental hierarchy in the home to help decrease their adolescent’s at-risk behaviors. 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.

You and your life isn’t one note. You are multifaceted and the demands you face happen to be as well – particularly when you are a student. Currently, the sound-track of your life has moved away from the sounds of a harmonious symphony -or maybe from an upbeat pop song- to something more unnerving and stressful (like the alarm you use to wake up to in the morning or the background music in a horror film—building tension, bracing yourself from some known or unknown threat). It makes sense that life has been overwhelming -increased responsibilities and life demands alone would contribute to this feeling. Add fears about the future, a recent breakup, challenging relationship dynamics with family, and/or other stressors and you might find yourself tipping the scales of your emotional bandwidth. I help students focus on the unique aspects of their lives that are no longer serving them – with empathy, tools, problem-solving, and emotional healing and growth. I believe you can have a richer and higher-quality of life– free from the overwhelming influence of your current life demands, harmful past experiences, poor modeling, and environmental toxicities (psychological). Call me to schedule an initial consultation (415) 356-9897 or fill out contact form https://www.alexandrialeedy.com/take-action.

These are times of upheavel. Novel coronavirus pandemic, climate chaos, & violence on BIPOC and LGBTQ folks reinforced by our systems. Isolation induced depression. Overwhelm, numbness, and agitation with systems brutality and uncertainty. Despair with job and wage insecurity and loss. Lowered immunity and illness exacerbated by chronic fear, anxiety, oppression, and exhaustion. Unprocessed grief and anticipatory grief. In this time of uncertainty and great systems upheavel, we need to be intentional and creative in (re)connecting with each other and ourselves, families, and communities. Video sessions during this unprecedented time in the safety and comfort of your home. **Special outreach and focus to healthcare workers, elders, parents, people of color, and others on the frontlines — to pause and (re)ground in our day-to-day.** We need mending to sustain and to (re)imagine what is possible, for ourselves, families, communities, and systems.

Gather and Grow OC is a safe space to play, explore and grow together! We believe in high quality, knowledgeable therapy that honors the individual. We believe in sharing tools and education about healing. We believe that we’re all innately inclined to joy and growth, and we’re interested in connecting with other healers and truth seekers that believe the same!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

My approach to therapy is focusing on the present and working alongside clients to obtain the goals they have in order to implement a balance between emotional, social, and physical dimensions to improve their quality of life and well-being. 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.

My theoretical orientation can be described as eclectic, using techniques from various models of therapy as deemed appropriate with the current treatment and client. I utilize most from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as I assist clients in exploring and expressing thoughts, feelings/emotions, and behaviors in an attempt to identify maladaptive patterns contributing to distress. 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 was inspired by my mother who was always there for me. She spent time talking, guiding, supporting, encouraging, and nurturing me. She helped me get through difficult times in my life. She was a positive role model and cared and guided others. I know how one person can make a drastic difference in someone’s life. I have always wanted to help others and that is why I went into a helping profession. I am a good listener and utilize empathy. I validate your life experience and understand how that may impact your life. My goal is to help you feel understood and guide you on how to understand your thoughts and behaviors so you can make changes to improve your life. I like to start where the client is. I collaborate with client on identifying treatment goals that they want to work on. Respect, open communication, and self-determination is important in building trust in relationships. My goal is to help you feel safe, heard, and understood.

I’m inspired by the desire to support every person I work with in feeling heard, seen, and validated in ways that are indispensable to exploring our individual growth and healing. While we cannot change any experiences or limitations in our history, I don’t believe it is ever too late to challenge erroneous or self-limiting beliefs that hinder us from evolving onto our best selves. I reassure that I trust my clients as the expert in their own personal experience. I seek to understand what familial, cultural, political, etc. circumstances influence their everyday experience. The alliance is built through curiosity and learning what an individual client values, what is most meaningful to them, and what they believe in. Additionally, trust is built through consistency and reliability from all parties. Trust should not be demanded or expected, but rather earned through time and a deeper understanding of what the client needs from the therapeutic relationship to feel safe.

Having a comfortable and relaxed partnership with your therapist is so important when exploring the raw parts of ourselves. We often keep these tender sides hidden and experience shame that we don’t “have it all together.” In order to feel ready to illuminate issues that need attention, we must be able to deeply trust the person doing that work by our side. I’m compassionate, non-judgmental, real and a little messy – like all humans! I’ve been there too! While I’m learning about what makes you unique, I’ll draw upon evidence-based therapeutic modalities that have been proven to be effective in lessening suffering and formulating new habits. When we have healthier ways of interpreting emotions and behavior patterns, our relationships improve, not only with others but also with ourselves. 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'm a licensed clinical therapist in California with 5 years of professional work experience. My therapy style is mixed, although pleasant and educational. I believe in being truthful with my clients. I believe in treating them with respect and compassion. However, I’m able to tailor sessions and treatment plans to meet your unique needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life. Making a decision to take the first steps towards a change can be scary. I am here to support and empower you in that 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.

At New Wave Youth and Family Therapy Services, we provide affordable, trauma-focused mental health care to children, adolescents, and families. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we combine evidence-based therapies with compassionate, culturally inclusive care to make healing accessible for all. With in-person and telehealth services, we're building a healthier, more resilient community—one individual and family at a time.

My journey to becoming a psychotherapist began when I was thirteen years old. I remember listening to my radio every night just as I was falling asleep. It wasn’t music I was listening to, but a psychologist who ran a call-in talk program. Troubled listeners would call in seeking the good doctor’s advice and in just a few minutes time, they were soon at ease by her reassuring words. I thought, “What a wonderful job that must be; to help so many people in feeling heard and connected with a caring human being. I’d like to do that too!” The same issues that plagued those callers are still around today; feeling alone, confused, different, unloved, a sense of hopelessness. The list goes on. What inspires me to work in mental health care is my desire to help make the lives of others much easier, less burdened, more worth living. To make certain that my clients feel accurately heard and understood, I check in with them often throughout our sessions. This can be done by sharing with them what I think I heard them say and then by checking in with them to make sure this is fairly accurate or if I was off the mark. I learned long ago that if I don’t get it quite right, my client’s are quick to correct me! This is usually a positive. If I get it wrong and seek clarification, it’s my hope that I convey my genuine interest in my client’s experience and that they are worth the extra effort to be understood. Trust and a strong therapeutic alliance between client and therapist are two aspects of therapy I find to be essential for meaningful work to take place. I do this by starting and ending sessions at our agreed upon time, curating a mutually agreed upon treatment plan and perhaps most of all, relating with all of my clients as my equals. I see ours as a dimly lit journey we’re walking together. Our only difference is, I am carrying the lantern helping us to see ahead. When appropriate, I’ve even been known to share a personal story involving myself if that story will help drive home a particular point.

I'm a licensed therapist who works with children, teenagers, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, behavioral challenges (including ADHD, oppositional defiant behaviors, and self-harm), school-related difficulties, self-esteem concerns, stress, substance use, relationship issues, trauma/PTSD, and major life transitions. I help clients strengthen their ability to cope with mental health symptoms and life stressors so they can reconnect with their strengths, move toward healing, and become the best version of themselves. I tailor my approach to each client's unique needs, recognizing that no two healing journeys look the same. My practice is shaped by my background as a former teacher and current school psychologist, where I merged my love for education with my passion for mental health. This experience allows me to bring a trauma-informed, person-centered lens to my work. I am trained in Brainspotting, a powerful modality that helps process trauma and supports emotional regulation. I am deeply passionate about helping others find hope that moves beyond an abstract idea and becomes something tangible and actionable. I believe lasting change is possible when individuals have access to a safe space, compassionate support, and practical tools to navigate life’s challenges.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

We provide psychological testing and therapy to ages 1 and up. Specialize in ADHD and anxiety for all ages. Use mostly evidence based approaches.

You may understand your patterns—people-pleasing, self-criticism, or struggles with food—but still feel stuck. I help you work through the deeper patterns driving these experiences so you can feel less shame and build a stronger sense of self-worth.