Therapists for college students near UCLA

Clients that I see in my practice are frequently struggling with life transition, academic stress, family concerns, and issues in their interpersonal relationships, all while trying to succeed as students. I also work with many clients either diagnosed with ADHD (or suspecting that they have it) who are seeking support to improve functioning. My practice is also LGBTQ+ affirming and welcoming.

I was drawn to becoming a therapist because I saw how meaningful it can be for people to have a safe, supportive space to talk openly and work through challenges. I really enjoy listening to others stories and helping them better understand themselves, their relationships, and their emotions so they can move toward positive change. I will work to make sure you feel heard and understood by really listening to you without judgement and taking your experiences seriously. I will reflect back what I am hearing to check that I’m understanding you accurately, and I will ask questions when I need more clarity rather than making assumptions. I also want you to know that your feedback matters, if at any point you feel misunderstood or something doesn’t sit right with you, I encourage you to tell me so we can adjust and make this space feel as safe and supportive as possible for you. Working together is very collaborative. We will move at a pace that feels comfortable for you, and we will focus on what matters most to you and what you would like to change or better understand about your life. Building trust takes time, and I see it as something we create together. I do that by being consistent, honest, respectful, and nonjudgmental, and by following through on what I say I will do. I will check in with you about how our work is going and invite your feedback so we can make sure this feels helpful and safe for you. My goal is for this to feel like a supportive partnership, where you can be open, ask questions, express concerns, and know that you are respected and taken seriously every step of the way.

If you are struggling, I would like to help. I have experience working with clients who are living with depression, anxiety, OCD, low self esteem, grief, trauma, communication difficulties, relationship issues. Working with individuals, we can explore life's challenges and how to move towards happiness and fulfillment. I have experience working with couples and families helping them to cultivate and improve interpersonal relationships. I believe that the client is the expert in his/her life and may need some help to process and move through challenges. Life can be difficult and finding the right therapist can seem overwhelming. I help my clients navigate therapy in a caring way that sets them on a path towards self discovery that instills hope and empowers them. Therapy is a process and together we develop a treatment plan specific to their needs.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Women who find me often describe feeling disconnected from themselves in ways that are hard to explain. Most are in their 20s, many of whom are Latina, navigating identity shifts and redefining who they are after major life transitions. They may have ambition, potential, and clear goals, yet still feel held back by something invisible. That “something” often goes by many names: depression, low self-worth, insecure attachment, abandonment and rejection wounds, and unresolved relational trauma from childhood. My approach has two phases. First, we begin with depth-oriented, insight-driven work—making the unconscious conscious and getting to the root of your experiences. Once we understand the why, we shift into a more practical, change-oriented phase. Here we begin to reconstruct your inner world and sense of self in noticeable ways: reshaping your belief system, identifying priorities, developing healthier habits, letting go of self-sabotage, and learning how to stop abandoning yourself. I care about offering something more lasting than a way to cope. The woman you’re becoming isn’t someone you have to create from scratch; you are already her. Let’s find your way back to yourself.

Hi! I’m Jen, a therapist living & working in Santa Monica, CA. I offer in-person and virtual therapy for teens, adults, and couples, with a special focus on supporting college students navigating life’s big transitions. College can feel like a constant pressure to have it all figured out, like keeping up with classes, planning your future, maintaining relationships, becoming independent. It’s easy to go on autopilot and miss the internal struggles happening under the surface. In our work together, we’ll take a closer look at the patterns, beliefs, and experiences shaping how you move through the world - not with judgment, but with curiosity. That might mean noticing how the past shows up in the present, tuning into what actually feels good (which often gets overlooked), or learning how to ask for what you need with more confidence and empathy. I know firsthand what it’s like to seem “fine” on the outside while feeling overwhelmed inside. My own experiences navigating high-pressure environments, family dynamics, and personal growth have shown me how powerful it is to have a space for reflection, connection, and honest support. My approach is insight-driven, relational, and strength-based. This means we'll work on understanding why you do what you do, not to label it, but to learn from it, and build on the strengths you already bring to the table. The relationship we build in therapy becomes a space to practice things like vulnerability, setting boundaries, and getting your needs met, so that over time, the changes you make here can ripple into your everyday life — in classes, friendships, dating, and beyond.

Starting therapy can be an exciting and daunting process. Working with a therapist allows you to have an unbiased third party listen to your story, validate your feelings and emotions and help foster and provide insight and support. Therapy can help you learn new strategies and techniques to help you better tolerate distress and view thoughts, feelings and situations differently. My goal as a therapist is to provide a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental space where we can work together to identify and process issues you have been facing. Together we can reflect on previous thinking patterns and behaviors that have led to distress and discuss new options and possibilities.

Melanie invites you to explore and embrace all the parts of who you are, recognizing that your intersecting identities shape your experiences and the way you interact with the world. She takes a thoughtful, down-to-earth, and at times, direct approach that blends working toward meaningful goals with staying present. With warmth, honesty, and just the right dose of humor, she creates a space where you feel safe enough to risk vulnerability. You might benefit from working with Melanie if: - You're facing a big change, like a breakup, a move, a new job, or a loss, and feeling untethered. - You've achieved a lot, but continue to be plagued by anxiety, depression, burnout, and self-doubt. - You're an athlete, artist, or high performer, whose inner life doesn't match your outer success. - You're processing trauma or childhood experiences that still impact you today. - You want support managing stress, emotion dysregulation, and executive dysfunction. - You're tired and frustrated by not getting what you want out of your relationships. - You wish you could set appropriate boundaries, find the words to articulate the internal workings of your mind, and have the confidence to express your needs.​

I believe that we each hold the solutions to our lives and sometimes we just need support as we figure things out. That’s my role! I get the privilege to walk beside you on your life journey and help you find solutions you already have. We get to do this together via a strength-based and solution-oriented approach that reminds you of your capabilities and just how powerful you truly are. Sessions can be tough as we work through challenges. But you’re not alone and clearly have survived all of your worst days because you are here! I’m excited to watch you grow and achieve your goals while providing you with a supportive environment to explore. 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.

When working with my patients, I approach therapy within a humanistic, client-centered approach. Our work is collaborative and I welcome your feedback throughout our sessions. I look forward to working with you in your journey of self-discovery and wellness. 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.

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!

We often find ourselves in a place in our lives where we face challenges or uncertainty, making it hard to move on or cope with stressors. Perhaps it is a difficult job, relationship turmoil, loss of a loved one, or another major life transition. Perhaps you are feeling depressed, anxious, angry, or feeling stuck and unable to find clarity or move forward. This can negatively impact our overall well-being and happiness. Psychotherapy can provide a haven to explore your circumstances and allow for greater insight and progress to move forward with a clearer headspace and intention. I can help you to explore your emotions and understand your experiences, behaviors and thoughts in a nonjudgmental and supportive environment to facilitate growth and change. Through psychotherapy, you can become empowered to take hold of your life. I provide an approach that is individualized and supportive, offering insight and the ability to help you process and understand possible maladaptive coping strategies or patterns in order to help you lead the life you want.

Hi, I’m Jeremy. I work with thoughtful, high-functioning graduate or university students who often appear successful on the outside but feel stuck, overwhelmed, or anxious underneath. Many are navigating life transitions, relationship challenges, or a persistent sense that something in their life or work isn’t quite aligned. Many have tried therapy before—or spent a lot of time thinking things through on their own—but still feel like something isn’t shifting. My approach is different. I combine depth with practical movement. We don’t only explore what’s going on—we focus on how to shift it in a grounded, realistic way that fits your actual life. Therapy with me is collaborative, active, and focused on helping you regain clarity, direction, and momentum in areas that feel stuck or uncertain—whether that’s relationships, work, identity, or decision-making. I have over a decade of experience supporting adults through life transitions and identity shifts. I received my clinical training at Columbia University’s School of Social Work and am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California and Washington.

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.

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.

Being a college student can be a lot. Between classes, exams, relationships, family expectations, and the pressure to figure out "what's next," it's easy to feel stretched thin, anxious, or unsure if you're doing any of it right. It can also feel hard to focus on your own life when world events feel heavy or overwhelming. You might be questioning a relationship, feeling disconnected from friends or family, or wondering who you are outside of what everyone expects of you. You deserve a space that's just for you, where you don't have to have it all figured out. Together, we'll work through the stress and anxiety of this season of life. We'll untangle relational patterns that feel stuck and get curious about what you actually want. Along the way, you'll walk away with practical tools to manage stress and anxiety so you can feel more grounded day to day. Getting clearer on your values and who you are can make the uncertainty feel a lot less overwhelming. My style as a therapist is authentic to who I am in everyday life. I show up with warmth, kindness, patience, and humor, and I want you to feel like you can be fully yourself in our sessions. We'll shape the work around what you need, blending honest self-reflection with practical steps forward. If this sounds like what you're looking for, I'd love to connect.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a doctorate in Social Work. I work with clients looking to overcome stress, anxiety, sadness, or trauma. We cultivate self-love, optimism, insight, and empathy while learning practical tools for lasting change. In our work together, we’ll focus on raising your self-awareness and nurturing your inner child with compassion and understanding. Whether your challenges stem from relationships, family dynamics, work or school stress, or personal struggles, I’ll help you create a clear, actionable plan to become the best version of you.

Are you tired of the same old patterns and anxiety holding you back in life? Perhaps you know what your goals are and you would like to gain some more insight and coping skills as you work towards them. You've been putting a lot of pressure on yourself and now you're wanting support as you figure things out. You’re realizing it’s time to take care of you. You are motivated and ready for a change. I'm here to help - I do my best to understand you and support you along your journey of living intentionally and wholeheartedly. I get that you want to feel confident about yourself and your decisions. You want to let go of unhealthy patterns, regain a sense of control and have some balance in your life. You’re ready to find love, peace, and acceptance, not only with others but with yourself. You want to reconnect with your partner and form an even stronger bond and relationship. I offer a nonjudgmental and safe space to help you work through life’s challenges and achieve your goals. I am passionate about my work in helping individuals and couples. I believe we all have the potential to heal and live our best lives. Reach out for a free phone consultation today- I look forward to hearing from you.

I work with unique, creative, and driven individuals. I work with people who are overachievers, people pleasers, and overthinkers. I work with neurodivergent, anxious, and highly sensitive people. I work with social justice warriors, allies, and 2Slgbtqia+ people. I work with people who are seeking therapy to figure themselves out, process some unresolved trauma, and gain skills to live the life that they seek for themselves.