Therapists for college students near San Diego, CA

Hi, I'm Jessica Taylor Vara, LMFT, a Certified EMDR Therapist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. On paper, your life might look pretty good. You're responsible. Capable. The person everyone turns to when they need help. But underneath it all, you're exhausted. Maybe you're constantly overthinking, struggling with anxiety, second-guessing yourself, or feeling like you're never quite enough no matter how hard you try. Maybe you're stuck in unhealthy relationship patterns, carrying the weight of childhood experiences you thought you should be over by now, or finding yourself overwhelmed by stress, perfectionism, and self-doubt. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. I help college students, graduate students, young professionals, and adults heal from anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, people-pleasing, relationship difficulties, and the lasting impact of difficult life experiences. Many of my clients are thoughtful, high-achieving people who have spent years trying to understand themselves but still feel stuck repeating the same emotional patterns. My approach is warm, collaborative, and deeply compassionate. I integrate EMDR therapy and traditional talk therapy to help clients move beyond insight and create real, lasting change. Together, we'll work to heal the root causes of your struggles, build healthier relationships, strengthen your confidence, and help you feel more grounded, resilient, and connected to yourself. You don't have to keep carrying everything on your own. I provide online therapy for residents of California and Florida.

WE WERE BORN TO SERVE - THIS IS HOW WE DO IT! Encouragers Counseling and Training Centers, Inc. often referred to as ECTC offers services to address the whole person, including mind, body, and spirit. Our endeavor to assist worthy active-duty military and veterans, along with children, families, and those underserved in Richmond, Virginia, and surrounding areas. With a decade-long commitment to providing comprehensive mental health services, we are proud to share that not one person in our care has been lost to suicide. We understand that societal challenges are taking a toll that plague our communities leading to Grief/Loss, Uncertainty, Confusion, Trauma, Addictions, and Relationship Distress. Every day, thousands of individuals are feeling anxious, fearful, and depressed, however, many are unable to find mental health providers who can help. Statistical analysis shows our youth are suffering the consequences of educational, social, medical, and economic limitations however, many cannot afford the high rates for therapeutic intervention. At Encouragers Counseling and Training Centers, Inc. our mission at is to create a positive impact for purposeful change. Our providers have a passion for helping, but even more than that, we feel called to serve. Reach out today at 951-900-4414 or send us an email at to see how we can best serve you.

You might be feeling stuck: disconnected from yourself, your relationships, or the kind of life you want to be living. Maybe you're navigating stress from high expectations or caregiving roles, or struggling to feel close to others even when you crave connection. You may carry pain from earlier experiences or feel like you've had to hide parts of yourself just to get by. Whatever brings you here, you're considering the brave and vulnerable work of change, and that is huge. I work with people who are ready to feel more grounded, more connected, and more like themselves. I bring a particular focus on working with LGBTQ+ and multiply marginalized clients navigating the emotional toll of invisibility, hypervisibility, or living in systems not built for them, but enjoy working with clients of all identities who may be feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or stuck in patterns that no longer serve them. I am neurodiversity-affirming, use an attachment-based lens, and provide letters for gender-affirming medical services. You don’t have to go through this alone, and you don’t have to explain your existence before we can get to the heart of things. In addition to individual therapy, I offer CNM-inclusive relationship therapy. I use Emotionally Focused Therapy and an attachment-based lens to help partners feel safer, more seen, and more emotionally connected. We focus on shifting out of reactive cycles and into more secure, responsive ways of relating. I bring a warm, relational, trauma-informed approach that honors your wisdom and your goals. Together, we can explore what’s getting in the way, deepen your emotional insight, and create space for more authenticity, clarity, and intimacy in your life. When you feel safe and seen, amazing things can happen.

I work primarily with adolescent and adult men who feel stuck and want more from life. Whether you're facing social difficulties, academic pressures, anxiety, family transitions, or adjusting to life away from home, I can help. Being a young adult is hard. Therapy is a safe place to discuss the things that are difficult to talk about with your family or friends.

Adulting is hard. As we go through transitions in our lives, it can be a time that is both exciting and stressful. In my work, I enjoy supporting college students as they tackle all the ups and downs that come their way. I especially love helping those who are the first in their families to go to college because I've been in their shoes. In my practice, I specialize helping individuals who have experienced trauma and I love blending my passions for music, dance, fitness, and yoga with my professional experience to help young people find their way, develop, and overcome challenges.

Many of the students I work with are the people others assume are "doing fine" because they're successful, responsible, and high-achieving. On the inside, though, they may be struggling with anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, self-doubt, or feeling like they have to hide parts of themselves to fit in. I also work with students who are navigating life transitions, relationship challenges, family stress, or discovering they may be neurodivergent later in life. Together, we'll work to better understand what's been keeping you stuck, build on your strengths, and help you create a life that feels more authentic, balanced, and sustainable. My goal is to provide a space where you feel understood, supported, and never judged.

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.

My approach to therapy is collaborative, non-judgmental, and action-oriented. I practice evidence-based treatments, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). CBT focuses on changing problematic thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. DBT provides skills for regulating emotions and behaviors and improving relationships. Cultivating compassion can help you learn to face the challenges in your life with courage, wisdom, and kindness. I can help you improve well-being and life satisfaction and establish more compassionate relationships with yourself and others. In therapy together, I will listen closely and without judgment, helping you to uncover and pursue what you value most. I will help you change ingrained, self-defeating patterns and replace them with new, healthier ways of meeting needs. And I will offer you tools, support, and therapeutic techniques with your personal needs and preferences in mind.

We are trauma therapists who provide trauma-focused therapy through EMDR therapy, relational trauma therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), AEDP, and IFS. We work with BIPOC & AAPI students and international students who have a history of trauma or PTSD. If you are a student who is struggling with past or ongoing difficult family dynamics, a history of eating disorders, substance use issues, sexual assaults or abuse in childhood, or struggling with intimate relationships, friendships, and social relationships, please reach out. We can help! We help you process what happened so you are no longer stuck in the past or in pain.

I specialize in transitional aged youth (18-26) and work best with highly sensitive people who are struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, substance abuse, and intense and unmanageable relationships.

My name is Terry Alcántar Nelson and I am a licensed clinical social worker who has been providing counseling for over 25 years. After all this time, I still love my work and am passionate about helping people heal. Every day is a new opportunity for me to join with clients in healing past hurts, traumas, and relationships, and addressing current life stressors and painful experiences. I am privileged to do this work and hope to be doing it for many years to come. I am trained and have expertise in the following modalities: -Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)- a type of therapy that helps to examine negative thinking and long held beliefs which make us feel bad and stuck; it is modality that is particularly helpful for depression and anxiety -Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) which focuses on improving relationships by increasing emotional safety with loved ones, and takes into account past attachment injuries originating in childhood and current and/or past relationships -Mindfulness, which works on increasing our focus on the present by using breath, body and grounding techniques -Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) which uses eye movements and other types of bilateral stimulation to process traumatic experiences and memories I see my role as a mental health provider as a guide to clients who are looking for a path to wholeness and healing. Working with with a therapist should be a collaborative process in which the client feels empowered with every session. I consider successful therapy to be one in which clients says that they feels shifts in behavior, feelings, and life circumstances. I am a proud Latina woman who was born and raised in a small town, but was transplanted many years ago to a big city and I can see the value in both experiences. I have worked with a vast array of ethnicities and cultures and feel comfortable with diversity. I am unique in that I am bicultural, bilingual and come to every client session ready to hold big emotions in compassionate ways. I know trauma and relationship injuries can make us feel very vulnerable and I want my clients to feel safe and emotionally held so that the work of healing brings peace and restorative experiences in all areas of life.

College is a massive transition, and it is incredibly easy to feel overwhelmed by academic pressure, perfectionism, or the constant anxiety of trying to balance it all. If you are feeling stuck, burnt out, or struggling with racing thoughts, you don’t have to navigate this alone. I am an LMFT practicing via telehealth in California. I specialize in helping college students and young adults manage anxiety, quiet their busy minds, and build practical tools for real relief. Rather than relying on traditional talk therapy, we will use active, evidence-based, and somatic tools tailored to how your brain and nervous system actually work: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): To help you break the cycle of chronic worry, mental loop-thinking, and OCD. EMDR and Brainspotting: Specialized, brain-body modalities to help process stress, reduce anxiety, and release the pressure of academic perfectionism. My Approach My style is warm and collaborative. I understand the unique high-pressure environments of schools and I design our sessions to give you practical, real-world tools. Format: 100% Telehealth (secure video sessions anywhere in California) Let's help you find some relief and get back to feeling like yourself. Reach out today for a free, low-pressure consultation call.

While therapy can be challenging to face, I try to make the process as easy as possible, hopefully even enjoyable. I enjoy working with adult individuals and couples who are curious about themselves, introspective/reflective and interested in personal growth and identity development. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 19 years of experience working with individuals/couples/families. My training has been heavily focused on helping people work through relationship issues and overcome feelings of anxiety, depression and grief/loss. I have also worked extensively w/individuals working through addiction recovery. Because I believe it is important to utilize the quickest yet most effective treatment, the treatment modalities I use are tailored to the individual and their unique needs. I like to see patients experience relief, empowerment, and personal growth as quickly as possible, yet without compromising the therapeutic process. It is important to me that individuals can easily and conveniently obtain the help they need in order to maintain continuity of care. For this reason, I am available to meet via secure video conferencing platforms if needed.

Hello. CLCC offers telehealth, and in-person sessions in the South Bay. CLCC employs a team of clinically rich clinicians who offer a variety of appointment options. CLCC has just opened a NJ practice. This office does is not contracted with insurance, but can provide superbills. The NJ location is in Marlton (South Jersey) and offers telehealth and in-person services also.

As a licensed psychotherapist I work individuals and couples. As an educator for over 25 years, I have also worked with colleges students, particularly international students, undocumented students, and the underserved population. I firmly believe that from childhood to adult years we face myriad of challenges, i.e relational, emotional, and life transitions. During these times if the right support is not available to us, we compensate by activating parts of our Self that may manifest themselves as anxiety, depression, trauma reactions, compulsive behaviors (e.g. gambling, substance abuse, internet addiction), etc. As a result, relationships with our others, as well as with ourselves, are affected. My goal is to guide you through healing these parts leading to a self who is more emotionally aware and connected. You will develop an awareness of your patterns, learn to live with more harmony in the present, and build stronger relationships.

Serving the San Fernando Valley, the greater Los Angeles area and conveniently located on Ventura Blvd, 15 minutes west of the 405 freeway with neighboring areas including Calabasas, Simi Valley and Malibu, Clearview Outpatient – Woodland Hills utilizes a combination of DBT, CBT, and experiential therapy to meet the individual needs of each client we serve. We specialize in treating adults, 18 years and older, who have mood disorders, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, and co-occurring autism spectrum disorder (ASD). At Woodland Hills, we’re committed to providing compassionate, comprehensive, and high-quality individualized psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care for adults who suffer from severe and persistent mental illness while maximizing social functioning in the real world.

You’ve always been the one others lean on, and the go-to problem solver. Your known to be the steady hand in chaos, but no one sees what it costs you. But lately, it’s been harder to hide how much it’s costing you. You come home drained, carrying the weight of everyone else’s needs. Even when your body screams for rest, you keep going because slowing down feels dangerous. You’ve trained yourself to stay calm, to keep it all together… even when you’re unraveling inside. Maybe you lie awake at night, replaying conversations, second-guessing decisions, silently asking, “Am I doing enough? Am I enough?” Therapy gives you something you rarely get: a space that’s just for you. No pressure to perform, no need to hold it all together, just room to breathe, and be real. I’ll ask the kind of questions that help you understand what’s really happening underneath the anxiety, the overthinking, or the emotional shutdown your may be feeling. In our sessions, we move at your pace. I’ll invite you to share what’s on your mind, and I’ll meet it with care and curiosity, not judgment. I might ask things like, “Can you tell me more?” or say, “I hear you say that… am I right?” Because your story matters, you deserve to feel seen in it. We’ll use tools like a feelings chart to gently reconnect you with your emotions especially the ones you’ve had to push aside just to get through the day. You’ll learn to set boundaries that could help you feel like your taking care of yourself without feeling guilty. Little by little, you start to feel different, more present, more steady, more like you. You start to trust your emotions instead of stuffing them down. You'll recognize your needs, and you honor them not with an apology, but with clarity. The constant pressure to be everything for everyone? It softens. The worry that you’re not enough? It quiets. You still show up for the people you love, but now, you’re showing up for yourself, too. You'll start to feel calmer, clearer, and more connected to yourself and others. Therapy can be the space where you finally feel seen, heard, and supported. If you’re ready, I’m here. Let’s talk.

Welcome! Working with a diverse population for many years widen my appreciation toward everyone I encounter in the therapy room. My new clients often ask me, “What is your approach or therapy model?” Learning from years valuable experience, I do not take a blueprint or “one-size-fits-all” approach for clients. Every client has an individualized curriculum. You may be feeling distressed, facing difficulties in your personal or professional relationships, contemplating a major life transition, or navigating a health crisis. No matter what challenge brings, I will help you in resolving conflicts and strengthening your relationships. I will explore your options in a collaborative way while taking into consideration the hopes, expectations, values, and preferences that are significant to you. Using clinical sophistication and expertise I incorporate humility, kindness, and passion to create a caring environment. My life experience encompasses living in the Eastern hemisphere and Western hemisphere; also working in East coast and West coast of the U.S. It enriches me to carefully examine things in different angles and not “boxing people in” with narrowly defined categories. I also provide supervision for all learning stages. I look forward to meeting you!

The students I help often experience anxiety in social relationships or work/academic related performance. They often share a lack of confidence and feeling if doubt about their competency going out into the “real world.” I help identify and enhance the qualities and strengths each client brings into therapy. By looking back at past distress or trauma, we are more able to see the present and future with more hope and optimism.

Life can be overwhelming and challenging at times. College can be a time of discovery and big questions about who you are and how you hope to live your life. I offer a warm and compassionate space to safety explore these curiosities as well as any past traumas, recent losses, and emotional challenges. I find symptoms often lead us to a deeper understanding of ourselves and believe therapy can be a place to find the road back to our center. I enjoy working with young adults as they navigate their personal journey of self-discovery or as they experience deep suffering in life. With dedication and commitment, therapy can be a space of growth and resiliency. Please feel welcome to reach out for a free consultation call or to schedule a session. I see clients online and in person in Petaluma, CA.