Therapists for college students near San Francisco State University

I am direct and respectful in my professional approach to every person I treat. I view our work as a collaborative effort and will do my best to meet you where you are at. Together we will create a treatment plan that will best meet your needs. I specialize in working with patients who suffer from depression, anxiety, relationship issues, loss and grief. I also have expertise studying the emotional strain associated with immigration and growing up the child of immigrants.

At Lightway, we believe life is worth living, and living to the fullest. But we know that sometimes it certainly doesn’t feel that way. Dr. Bleeker and her team of therapists help clients to identify what it is that's holding them back, so they can find a way forward. They specialize in working with college students and young adults who are struggling with issues related to anxiety, depression, adjustment, identity formation, academic caseloads, and trauma.

Do you struggle with motivation and focus troubles that affects more than just your ability to get your homework done? Do you feel overwhelmed by basic tasks that you can’t seem to get started? Do you ever wonder that life could be better, your mind a little quieter? Now more than ever, young adults, are feeling overwhelmed with the life presented to them, with ADHD diagnosis becoming more frequent. I believe you can find the motivation to get control of your life again. I work primarily with young adults with ADHD and we can work on your goals together. We will start with learning how your struggles manifest uniquely in your life I approach therapy from a humanistic/person centered place, with true Unconditional Positive Regard towards you as a client and human. We will collaboratively create a plan to work towards your goals together. When we are struggling, we need a place to show up in all versions of ourselves without judgement, and I strive to create that environment for you

Prior to being a therapist, I worked in community mental health care in San Diego and San Francisco for nine years. I believe community care and mental wellness are so important for the well-being of individuals and our communities as a whole. I practice therapy from a strengths-based, trauma-informed perspective. Engaging in therapy can be a big step, and I aim to be a supportive guide on my clients’ therapeutic journeys. I like working collaboratively with clients to identify specific solutions that can help improve overall quality of life. I practice therapy from a solution-focused, strengths-based, trauma-informed approach. I utilize elements of CBT, DBT, Person Centered, Narrative and Mindfulness-Based Therapy in sessions to support my clients toward well-being and growth.

Therapy for college students and young adults navigating identity, stress, and life transitions, with a focus on those in creative and performance-driven environments. As a therapist with a background in entertainment and training from a performing arts college, I understand the unique pressures of balancing artistic passion with academic and personal demands. My approach is solution-focused and practical, helping clients build coping skills, strengthen self-awareness, and create sustainable balance in both their creative and everyday lives.

I have always had a strong desire to help others, and working in the field of mental health has given me a meaningful way to live out that purpose. I truly consider it a privilege to be part of someone’s journey—to support them as they navigate challenges, grow, and move toward their full potential. Being able to positively impact others’ lives, even in small ways, is what continues to inspire me every day as a therapist. In our work together, I prioritize creating a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where you feel comfortable being yourself. I do this by actively listening, reflecting your emotions, asking clarifying questions, and always focusing on your perspective and needs. My goal is for you to feel genuinely heard and understood, not just by what you say, but by the meaning behind your experiences. I also use evidence-based approaches tailored to your unique needs, including EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), when appropriate. EMDR can be especially helpful for processing difficult or distressing experiences so they feel less overwhelming and more manageable over time. Building trust is a process that takes time, and I approach it with patience, consistency, and openness. In the beginning, we’ll focus on getting to know you—your experiences, your goals, and what you hope to gain from therapy. I’ll meet you where you are and move at a pace that feels comfortable for you. I believe that collaboration is key. I encourage you to share feedback about our work and our relationship at any time, and I want you to know that your voice is always welcomed and valued. My role is to support and guide you while respecting that this is your journey. As trust develops, we can explore deeper challenges, build meaningful coping skills, and, if it feels like a good fit, incorporate EMDR to help process past experiences and support lasting healing and change. One lighthearted thing I like to share is that I really enjoy finding small ways to relax and recharge—whether that’s watching a favorite show, spending time with loved ones, or just taking a moment to unwind. I think those simple moments are so important, and I often encourage clients to find what helps them feel grounded and refreshed, too.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Welcome! I provide an environment where you can share your past experiences and current stressors to shed what no longer serves you. My journey to becoming a therapist began while I was working in the education system. As I worked with students struggling academically, I became aware of how relationships, stressful life events, and home dynamics could impact their overall well-being. This led me to discover my passion of helping others heal and grow. I focus on creating a therapeutic relationship centered around comfort and safety. As treatment progresses, I help you gain awareness of the thoughts and habits that are negatively impacting your well-being. I will challenge you to use the knowledge and tools you're gaining during our sessions to make the necessary changes to become your best self. If you feel that I can provide you with the support you deserve reach out so that we can connect.

I can help you cope with academic stress, anxiety, issues with parents, relationships, eating and body image, health problems, trauma, and friendships. I combine EMDR, CBT, and Mindfulness. Ally to BIPOC and LGBTQIA+. Online or in person sessions available.

Ben’s professional training is as a Depth Psychotherapist, which means that his approach to helping others through difficult times always takes Soul into consideration when addressing the issues that his clients bring to their sessions. His work with others is also strongly influenced by his 36 years of meditation practice, which has developed into an ability to work with others with depth and wisdom.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Having had the pleasure of working with college students for over 12 years at Santa Clara University, SJSU, and UCLA, I help people feel better by addressing the specific concerns that bring them to therapy. I aim to listen carefully and offer a safe space to explore what’s on your mind, with the goal of helping you get what you want from therapy and feel more like yourself again. My work often focuses on relieving emotional distress, deepening connection to one’s feelings, gaining insight into recurring challenges, and fostering a greater sense of self-alignment and vitality. I've had the opportunity to help folks address many challenges in therapy from anxiety, depression, loss, and relationship challenges to questions about one's identity, life transitions, and processing difficult experiences from childhood. This approach to therapy is called psychodynamic. In my approach, I incorporate many principles from AEDP and have also been trained in other modalities such as CBT, ACT, and DBT. I sometimes draw from these modalities when someone may want to develop coping skills to deal with life’s ups and downs as they work towards their goals for therapy. I also welcome people to bring up issues of race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, pertinent political issues as well as any other aspects of their culture or themselves they wish to share, explore, or better understand in therapy.

Welcome to our practice. We have several terrific clinicians in Beverly Hills and DTLA who are privileged to work with individuals, couples and families. Our style is focused on helping you understand your development in a way that allows you to become unstuck from your concerns. Our common sense approach is aimed at helping you gain insight into your past and present, enabling you to make healthier choices about your present and future. We treat a range of concerns, and are available to work with you in many languages. It is important to us that you feel like you can be understood, on every level. Apart from psychotherapy for individuals and couples presenting with a wide range of concerns, we conduct psychoeducational assessments of ADHD, ASD and other learning disabilities and for test accommodations. We have several skilled and experienced multiethnic therapists available in both Beverly Hills and DTLA. We understand that feeling understood on every level is critical to being able to make progress in therapy and are committed to an anti-racist, fully inclusive perspective to psychotherapy.

Are you struggling with grief and loss, infertility, divorce, or past trauma from unhealthy personal or family relationships? Have these life stressors left you feeling fearful or lonely, struggling at work, or disconnected from what brings you joy? Do you feel exhausted, hopeless, or defeated by just trying to get through the day or go "back to normal" when life feels anything but? Do you question why this terrible thing happened and wonder if life can ever get better? Now more than ever, adults and teens are feeling overwhelmed about working through grief and loss, finding healthy relationships, and staying hopeful during tough life changes. I believe each person has the potential for healing, connection, and building healthier relationships with a good support systems. In my practice I provide individual therapy to help people experiencing different kinds of grief, loss and/or relationship related trauma. My approach incudes setting a couple of goals and identifying root causes of your pain. Next, I help you choose some new strategies and tools you can use to build more tolerance and acceptance for these painful life event(s). I offer compassionate, warm, and client-driven therapy treatment so you can begin creating healthier and more fulfilling relationships with yourself and others. Contact me today to book a free consultation to get started

Are you and your partner disconnected? Have tons of resentment? Feeling like roommates? Having the same conflict over and over again? Constantly met with defensiveness? Feeling like you are always misunderstood? Scared to bring things up because they'll "get upset" or shut down? Don't know where to start? If you are facing any of these challenges, you are not alone. Some conflicts in relationships never fully go away, but they don't have to keep hurting you. We can unpack whats really happening beneath the surface so the conflict stops feeling destructive and we can get the change you've been hoping for. I provide telehealth therapy for couples who want real and structured change, not just a therapist who is a mediator or referee. I use the Gottman Method, which is a research-based intervention with 50 years of research on how couples communicate and connect. I will bring those tools to every session to help you repair your relationship. Healing and change are possible, even when it feels difficult and uncertain. My approach is warm, structured, direct, and collaborative. I’ll help you understand why patterns keep showing up and give you tools you can actually use outside of session. Therapy with me is a space where you can slow down, feel understood, and start making changes that last.

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Luck, interest, fascination of the complexity of the human psyche and opportunity. I find meaning and purpose in the privilege that comes with another’s trust in navigating adapting to life’s inevitable uncertainties. Do you feel heard and understood currently? I understand the general concept, but can you please share what “heard and understood” currently means to you? Where do you feel most and least? Let’s explore that and identify your expectations of me as the provider. Collaborative, insight oriented, strength based skill development. Short term solution focused interventions with the intended strategy to encourage increased autonomy, emotional intelligence/resiliency in accepting and navigating life’s uncertainties and intricacies!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Are you someone who on the outside everyone sees you as put together and accomplished but internally, you’re breaking. The overthinking, self- doubt & feelings of unworthiness are overwhelming. You are tired of feeling anxious, like you don’t measure up. You are ready to feel confident and whole in your own skin and at ease in your body. Many of my clients identify as overachievers, people pleasers and perfectionists. Are you tired of trying to please others and just want to find a way to hear your own voice and connect with your true self? You are insightful and want a deeper understanding of yourself and your past experiences and are ready to step into your power. You are not alone & have come to the right place. My focus as a therapist is to help my clients heal from past traumas, uncover their authentic selves, increase self-worth, discover their inherent resiliencies, strengthen their personal relationships, increase relational self-awareness, and build a lifelong toolkit of healthy, effective coping strategies for whatever challenges life may bring. Therapy has the potential to be transformative, empowering you to navigate life's challenges with newfound strength & resilience. I invite you to reach out for a complimentary 15-minute consultation, where you can gain clarity on my approach and how it aligns with your goals. I'm honored to accompany you on this journey towards positive change.